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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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

In a matched pairs design:

  1. AParticipants are randomly allocated with no matching
  2. BOnly twins can take part
  3. CThe same participants take part in all conditions
  4. DParticipants are paired on relevant characteristics and one of each pair goes into each condition
2.Easy

Reliability refers to:

  1. AWhether results apply to other settings
  2. BThe consistency of a measure
  3. CWhether a measure tests what it claims to
  4. DWhether participants gave consent
3.Easy

A researcher places an advert asking for people to take part in a study. Which sampling method is this?

  1. AOpportunity sampling
  2. BStratified sampling
  3. CVolunteer (self-selected) sampling
  4. DSystematic sampling
4.Medium

A test is so easy that almost all participants score near the maximum. This is called:

  1. AA ceiling effect
  2. BAn order effect
  3. CA floor effect
  4. DA practice effect
5.Medium

To obtain a sample with the same proportions of first-, second- and third-year students as the university population, a researcher should use:

  1. AOpportunity sampling
  2. BStratified sampling
  3. CSnowball sampling
  4. DVolunteer sampling
6.Medium

Why are behaviour categories in an observation operationalised before data collection?

  1. ASo the observation becomes an experiment
  2. BSo participants know exactly what is being recorded
  3. CSo observers record the same behaviours consistently, improving reliability
  4. DSo the hypothesis can be changed after the data are seen
7.Hard

After analysing the data, a researcher writes the introduction as if an unexpected finding had been predicted all along. This is called:

  1. AHARKing (hypothesising after the results are known)
  2. BCounterbalancing
  3. COperationalisation
  4. DDebriefing
8.Hard

A researcher manipulates mood by showing a sad film, then asks participants to rate how sad they feel before the main task. Why is this rating included?

  1. AAs a manipulation check to confirm the IV worked as intended
  2. BTo debrief participants about the aims
  3. CTo counterbalance the order of conditions
  4. DAs the main dependent variable of the study

Answer key

  1. 1. D · Participants are paired on relevant characteristics and one of each pair goes into each condition
  2. 2. B · The consistency of a measure
  3. 3. C · Volunteer (self-selected) sampling
  4. 4. A · A ceiling effect
  5. 5. B · Stratified sampling
  6. 6. C · So observers record the same behaviours consistently, improving reliability
  7. 7. A · HARKing (hypothesising after the results are known)
  8. 8. A · As a manipulation check to confirm the IV worked as intended

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