BAPSY Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Psychological Research Methods Questions and Answers Flashcards

A researcher finds a correlation coefficient of -0.85 between stress levels and immune function. What does this indicate?

Answer: A strong negative relationship

A correlation of -0.85 indicates a strong negative relationship, meaning as stress increases, immune function tends to decrease substantially.

Which sampling method gives every member of a population an equal chance of being selected?

Answer: Simple random sampling

Simple random sampling ensures each member of the population has an equal probability of selection, reducing selection bias.

What is the primary purpose of using a control group in an experiment?

Answer: To provide a baseline for comparison against the experimental group

A control group provides a baseline that allows researchers to determine whether the independent variable caused the observed changes in the experimental group.

A Type II error in hypothesis testing occurs when a researcher:

Answer: Fails to reject the null hypothesis when it is actually false

A Type II error, or false negative, occurs when a researcher fails to detect a real effect and incorrectly retains the null hypothesis.

Which ethical principle requires researchers to inform participants about the nature of a study before they agree to participate?

Answer: Informed consent

Informed consent requires that participants receive adequate information about the study's procedures, risks, and purpose before voluntarily agreeing to participate.

What is the main advantage of using stratified random sampling over simple random sampling?

Answer: It ensures proportional representation of key subgroups in the population

Stratified random sampling divides the population into relevant subgroups and samples from each, ensuring that important demographic categories are proportionally represented.