Research methods in psychology worksheet with answers

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

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

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

In an experiment, the variable that is measured to see whether it is affected by the manipulation is the:

1. AIndependent variable
2. BDependent variable
3. CExtraneous variable
4. DControl variable

Which test compares two independent groups when the data are ordinal or clearly not normal?

1. AWilcoxon signed-rank test
2. BIndependent samples t-test
3. CMann–Whitney U test
4. DChi-square test

In a content analysis, inter-rater reliability is checked by:

1. AAsking participants afterwards whether the researcher's coding of their material is correct
2. BCoding the material twice in one day
3. CHaving two researchers code the same material and comparing results
4. DUsing a larger sample of materials

In observational research, event sampling means:

1. ARecording only events the participants report
2. BRecording behaviour only at fixed time intervals
3. CChoosing participants at random
4. DRecording every time a specified behaviour occurs

Effect size measures such as Cohen's d are reported because they:

1. ATell how many participants dropped out
2. BReplace the need for any hypothesis
3. CShow whether the result is statistically significant at the chosen alpha level
4. DShow how large an effect is, regardless of sample size

In qualitative research, reflexivity means that the researcher:

1. ARepeats the study to check reliability
2. BReflects on how their own background and assumptions may shape the analysis
3. CConverts themes into numerical data
4. DUses a random sample to remove bias