LSP Research Methods & Psychological Theories 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which statistical test is most appropriate for comparing means across three or more independent groups?
- Independent samples t-test
- Paired samples t-test
- One-way ANOVA (Correct answer)
- Chi-square test
Correct answer: One-way ANOVA
One-way ANOVA is designed to compare means across three or more independent groups while controlling the familywise error rate.
Question 2: Albert Bandura's social learning theory emphasizes which mechanism as central to acquiring new behaviors?
- Classical conditioning through stimulus pairing
- Operant shaping through successive approximations
- Observational learning through modeling (Correct answer)
- Drive reduction through biological needs
Correct answer: Observational learning through modeling
Bandura demonstrated that people learn new behaviors by observing and imitating models, without requiring direct reinforcement.
Question 3: In a within-subjects experimental design, the primary advantage over a between-subjects design is:
- Reduced demand characteristics
- Greater generalizability to the population
- Each participant serves as their own control, reducing error variance (Correct answer)
- Elimination of order effects
Correct answer: Each participant serves as their own control, reducing error variance
Within-subjects designs use each participant as their own control, reducing individual difference error variance and increasing statistical power.
Question 4: Carl Rogers' person-centered therapy emphasizes which three core therapeutic conditions?
- Transference, interpretation, and free association
- Unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence (Correct answer)
- Systematic desensitization, modeling, and reinforcement
- Dream analysis, resistance, and catharsis
Correct answer: Unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence
Rogers identified unconditional positive regard, accurate empathic understanding, and therapist congruence as the necessary and sufficient conditions for therapeutic change.
Question 5: A Type II error in hypothesis testing occurs when a researcher:
- Rejects a true null hypothesis
- Fails to reject a false null hypothesis (Correct answer)
- Uses too large a sample size
- Sets alpha too stringently
Correct answer: Fails to reject a false null hypothesis
A Type II error (false negative) occurs when the null hypothesis is actually false but the researcher fails to reject it.
Question 6: Vygotsky's zone of proximal development (ZPD) refers to:
- Tasks a child can complete entirely independently
- The gap between what a child can do alone versus with guidance (Correct answer)
- The optimal age range for language acquisition
- The cognitive stage at which abstract thinking emerges
Correct answer: The gap between what a child can do alone versus with guidance
The ZPD is the difference between a learner's actual developmental level and their potential level when assisted by a more capable guide.
Question 7: Which sampling method ensures every member of the population has an equal probability of selection?
- Purposive sampling
- Snowball sampling
- Simple random sampling (Correct answer)
- Convenience sampling
Correct answer: Simple random sampling
Simple random sampling gives each population member an equal and independent chance of being selected, minimizing selection bias.
LSP Research Methods & Psychological Theories 3
Which statistical test is most appropriate for comparing means across three or more independent groups?