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

The right to withdraw means that participants:

  1. ACan leave the study at any time and may ask for their data to be removed
  2. BCan choose which condition they are in and can switch conditions at any point
  3. CCan see other participants' results
  4. DMust complete the study once they have started
2.Easy

A double-blind procedure means that:

  1. ATwo independent researchers analyse the same data set and then compare their conclusions
  2. BParticipants are tested twice
  3. CNeither participants nor the researchers collecting data know who is in which condition
  4. DParticipants cannot see the materials
3.Easy

Social desirability bias in questionnaires means that respondents:

  1. ARefuse to answer sensitive questions
  2. BChoose answers at random
  3. CAnswer in ways that make them look good
  4. DAlways agree with every statement
4.Medium

A study conducted only with American undergraduates may lack:

  1. AContent validity
  2. BInter-rater reliability
  3. CPopulation validity
  4. DInternal consistency
5.Medium

A new depression questionnaire predicts which students will seek treatment over the next year. This supports which type of validity?

  1. APredictive validity
  2. BContent validity
  3. CFace validity
  4. DConcurrent validity
6.Medium

Demand characteristics are:

  1. AStatistical requirements for a test
  2. BCharacteristics of the sample
  3. CThe formal demands an ethics committee makes before a study can begin
  4. DCues that make participants guess the aim and change their behaviour
7.Hard

In Milgram's obedience studies, participants believed they were giving real electric shocks. Which ethical issue is most directly raised, and how was it partly addressed?

  1. ALack of a control group, addressed by randomly allocating participants to conditions
  2. BUse of children, addressed by parental consent
  3. CLack of confidentiality, addressed by publishing names
  4. DDeception and potential distress, addressed by a thorough debriefing
8.Hard

A participant takes a drug or a sugar pill but does not know which, while the researcher does. What design is this and what bias remains possible?

  1. ADouble-blind; no bias is possible
  2. BSingle-blind; demand characteristics are impossible
  3. CSingle-blind; experimenter bias is still possible
  4. DOpen trial; placebo effects are fully controlled

Answer key

  1. 1. A · Can leave the study at any time and may ask for their data to be removed
  2. 2. C · Neither participants nor the researchers collecting data know who is in which condition
  3. 3. C · Answer in ways that make them look good
  4. 4. C · Population validity
  5. 5. A · Predictive validity
  6. 6. D · Cues that make participants guess the aim and change their behaviour
  7. 7. D · Deception and potential distress, addressed by a thorough debriefing
  8. 8. C · Single-blind; experimenter bias is still possible

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