SparkNotes: Research Methods in Psychology: Sample Quiz Questions

1. Which of the following describes single-blind experiments?

(A) They are experiments in which the subjects don’t know whether they are receiving a real or fake drug or treatment

(B) They help reduce placebo effects

(C) They help reduce bias in research

(D) All of the above

2. What does it mean if two variables have a positive correlation?

(A) As one variable increases, so does the other

(B) As one variable increases, the other decreases

(C) The correlation between the two variables is 0

(D) The correlation between the two variables is greater than 1.0

3. In what type of study does a researcher study an individual subject in depth?

(A) Naturalistic observation

(B) Laboratory observation

(C) Case study

(D) Survey

4. How can we determine if a test has good validity?

(A) It produces the same result when it is given at different times to the same group of people

(B) It produces the same result no matter which version of the test is used

(C) It measures what it is supposed to measure

(D) All of the questions on it can be answered accurately by the subject

5. What is the variable called that a researcher manipulates in an experiment?

(A) Dependent variable

(B) Independent variable

(C) Extraneous variable

(D) None of the above

6. What is the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a data distribution called?

(A) Mode

(B) Standard deviation

(C) Range

(D) Median

7. The social desirability bias can affect which of the following?

(A) The validity of a test

(B) The reliability of a test

(C) Self-report data

(D) None of the above

8. Which of the following is a research method that allows a researcher to get information about a large number of subjects relatively inexpensively and easily?

(A) Naturalistic observation

(B) Case study

(C) Laboratory observation

(D) Survey

9. What is a common way of controlling extraneous variables in an experiment?

(A) Random assignment

(B) Double-blind procedure

(C) Single-blind procedure

(D) Using animal subjects

10. When doing research involving deception with human subjects, researchers have an obligation to do which of the following?

(A) Tell subjects the truth about the study’s purpose and methods after the study is completed

(B) Prevent mental and physical harm to subjects

(C) Let subjects withdraw from the study at any time if they don’t want to keep participating

(D) All of the above