A-Level Psychology Research Methods 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'operationalisation' mean in the context of research?
- Defining variables in a precise, measurable way so they can be tested (Correct answer)
- The process of obtaining ethical approval for a study
- Choosing which statistical test to apply to the data
- The method of recruiting participants for the study
Correct answer: Defining variables in a precise, measurable way so they can be tested
Operationalisation involves clearly defining how variables will be measured or manipulated. For example, 'aggression' might be operationalised as 'the number of times a child hits a Bobo doll in 10 minutes'. This ensures the study is replicable and objective.
Question 2: Which sampling method involves selecting every nth person from a list of the target population?
- Systematic sampling (Correct answer)
- Random sampling
- Stratified sampling
- Opportunity sampling
Correct answer: Systematic sampling
Systematic sampling selects participants at regular intervals from an ordered list (e.g., every 10th name). It is more structured than random sampling but can introduce bias if the list has a periodic pattern that coincides with the sampling interval.
Question 3: Inter-observer reliability is best established by:
- Having two or more observers independently code the same behaviour and correlating their results (Correct answer)
- Giving the same test to participants on two different occasions
- Splitting a test into two halves and correlating the scores
- Asking participants to rate their own behaviour
Correct answer: Having two or more observers independently code the same behaviour and correlating their results
Inter-observer reliability checks whether different observers produce consistent results when coding the same behaviour. A correlation of r = 0.80 or above is generally considered acceptable. This is essential in observational studies to ensure objectivity.
Question 4: What is the main advantage of using a pilot study?
- It allows the researcher to identify and correct problems with the procedure before the main study (Correct answer)
- It provides the final data for analysis
- It eliminates the need for ethical approval
- It guarantees the results will be significant
Correct answer: It allows the researcher to identify and correct problems with the procedure before the main study
A pilot study is a small-scale trial run conducted before the main study. It helps identify issues with instructions, materials, timing, or procedures that could compromise the main study. Changes can then be made before committing resources to the full investigation.
Question 5: In the context of research ethics, what does the right to withdraw mean?
- Participants can leave the study at any time without giving a reason and can request their data be destroyed (Correct answer)
- Participants must complete the study once they have started
- Participants can only withdraw before the study begins
- The researcher can remove participants who do not follow instructions
Correct answer: Participants can leave the study at any time without giving a reason and can request their data be destroyed
The right to withdraw is a key ethical principle outlined by the BPS (British Psychological Society). Participants must be informed they can stop at any point, and their data should be destroyed upon request. This respects autonomy and ensures voluntary participation.
Question 6: Which measure of central tendency is most appropriate for ordinal data?
- Median (Correct answer)
- Mean
- Mode
- Standard deviation
Correct answer: Median
The median is most appropriate for ordinal data because it uses the rank position of values without assuming equal intervals between them. The mean requires interval or ratio data (equal intervals), and standard deviation is a measure of dispersion, not central tendency.
A-Level Psychology Research Methods 2
What does 'operationalisation' mean in the context of research?