Research methods in psychology worksheet with answers

Free printable Research methods in psychology worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy

In psychology, the conventional significance level used to decide whether a result is statistically significant is:

  1. Ap < 0.05
  2. Bp < 0.20
  3. Cp > 0.95
  4. Dp < 0.50
2.Easy

A covert observation is one in which:

  1. AParticipants know about the study and agree to it
  2. BThe observer joins the group being observed
  3. CBehaviour is recorded in a laboratory
  4. DParticipants do not know they are being observed
3.Easy

A small-scale trial run of a study before the main research is called:

  1. AA pilot study
  2. BA replication
  3. CA meta-analysis
  4. DA field experiment
4.Medium

In a correlation, r = 0.40. What proportion of variance in one variable is shared with the other?

  1. A16%
  2. B4%
  3. C40%
  4. D60%
5.Medium

A study conducted only with American undergraduates may lack:

  1. APopulation validity
  2. BInter-rater reliability
  3. CInternal consistency
  4. DContent validity
6.Medium

The same 25 participants complete a memory test before and after caffeine. The scores are interval and roughly normal. Which test is appropriate?

  1. AMann–Whitney U test
  2. BPaired (related) samples t-test
  3. CChi-square test
  4. DIndependent samples t-test
7.Hard

The "replication crisis" in psychology refers to:

  1. ACopying of questionnaires without permission
  2. BMany published findings failing to reproduce in new studies
  3. CA shortage of participants for experiments
  4. DJournals being legally required to reject all replication studies submitted
8.Hard

A psychology department recruits participants only from introductory psychology courses. Critics say samples are "WEIRD". What does this refer to?

  1. ASamples that withdraw early from studies
  2. BSamples recruited using weighted random methods
  3. CWestern, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic samples that may not generalise
  4. DSamples that are unusually strange in their behaviour

Answer key

  1. 1. A · p < 0.05
  2. 2. D · Participants do not know they are being observed
  3. 3. A · A pilot study
  4. 4. A · 16%
  5. 5. A · Population validity
  6. 6. B · Paired (related) samples t-test
  7. 7. B · Many published findings failing to reproduce in new studies
  8. 8. C · Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic samples that may not generalise

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