Psychology Degree Psychology Degree Research Methods and Ethics Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of research design allows a researcher to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables?
- Correlational design
- Experimental design (Correct answer)
- Case study
- Naturalistic observation
Correct answer: Experimental design
Experimental designs use random assignment and manipulation of independent variables, which are required to establish causation.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a debriefing session in psychological research?
- To collect additional data from participants
- To inform participants about the true nature and purpose of the study (Correct answer)
- To obtain written consent before the study begins
- To randomly assign participants to conditions
Correct answer: To inform participants about the true nature and purpose of the study
Debriefing occurs after participation and involves explaining the study's actual purpose, especially if any deception was used.
Question 3: A researcher finds a correlation coefficient of -0.85 between stress levels and sleep quality. What does this indicate?
- A weak positive relationship
- A strong negative relationship (Correct answer)
- No significant relationship
- A causal relationship between the variables
Correct answer: A strong negative relationship
A correlation of -0.85 indicates a strong inverse relationship, meaning as stress increases, sleep quality tends to decrease.
Question 4: Which ethical principle requires researchers to ensure that participants can withdraw from a study at any time without penalty?
- Beneficence
- Justice
- Voluntary participation (Correct answer)
- Confidentiality
Correct answer: Voluntary participation
Voluntary participation means subjects freely choose to participate and can leave the study at any point without negative consequences.
Question 5: What is the main advantage of using a double-blind procedure in an experiment?
- It increases the sample size
- It eliminates the need for informed consent
- It reduces both experimenter bias and participant expectancy effects (Correct answer)
- It ensures the study can be replicated
Correct answer: It reduces both experimenter bias and participant expectancy effects
In a double-blind procedure, neither the researcher nor the participant knows group assignment, minimizing bias from both parties.
Question 6: An Institutional Review Board (IRB) would most likely reject a study proposal if it fails to demonstrate what?
- That the research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal
- That the potential benefits outweigh the risks to participants (Correct answer)
- That the study uses a large sample size
- That the hypothesis is guaranteed to be supported
Correct answer: That the potential benefits outweigh the risks to participants
IRBs evaluate whether the anticipated benefits of research justify any potential risks or harm to participants.
Psychology Degree Psychology Degree Research Methods and Ethics Questions and Answers 2
Which type of research design allows a researcher to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables?