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.