A-Level Psychology Research Methods

Question 1

What is the key feature that distinguishes an experiment from a correlational study?

Accepted Answer

Manipulation of an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable

Answer

The use of a large sample size

Answer

Data being collected through questionnaires

Answer

The study taking place in a natural setting

Question 2

A researcher finds a correlation coefficient of r = -0.85. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

A strong negative correlation

Answer

A weak negative correlation

Answer

A strong positive correlation

Answer

No correlation

Question 3

What is a demand characteristic in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

A cue in the study that leads participants to guess the aim and alter their behaviour accordingly

Answer

The minimum number of participants required for statistical significance

Answer

A characteristic that the researcher demands participants must have

Answer

The ethical requirement to obtain informed consent

Question 4

Which experimental design involves each participant experiencing all conditions of the independent variable?

Accepted Answer

Repeated measures design

Answer

Independent groups design

Answer

Matched pairs design

Answer

Cross-sectional design

Question 5

What is the purpose of random allocation in an independent groups design?

Accepted Answer

To reduce the effect of participant variables (confounding variables) across conditions

Answer

To ensure every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected

Answer

To prevent order effects between conditions

Answer

To increase the ecological validity of the study

Question 6

A Type I error in hypothesis testing occurs when:

Accepted Answer

The null hypothesis is rejected when it is actually true (a false positive)

Answer

The null hypothesis is accepted when it is actually false (a false negative)

Answer

The sample size is too small to detect an effect

Answer

The wrong statistical test is used