Psychological Research Methods Flashcards
7 cards from real Psychology Degree practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Psychological Research Methods flashcards as text
Which of the following describes the ecological validity of a study?
Answer: Whether findings apply to real-world settings and behaviors
Ecological validity concerns how well a study's conditions reflect real-world environments so that findings translate meaningfully to everyday life.
A researcher finds p = 0.03 with a very large sample (N = 10,000). The best interpretation is:
Answer: The result may be statistically significant but practically trivial due to large N
With very large samples, even tiny, practically meaningless differences can reach statistical significance, so effect size must also be examined.
In qualitative research, 'member checking' involves:
Answer: Returning findings to participants to verify accuracy and interpretation
Member checking is a trustworthiness strategy where researchers share their interpretations with participants to confirm they accurately reflect participants' experiences.
The concept of 'demand characteristics' in research refers to:
Answer: Cues in the study that suggest to participants what the researcher expects
Demand characteristics are cues in the experimental situation that hint at the study's purpose, potentially causing participants to alter their behavior accordingly.
Which research design is most appropriate for establishing the temporal precedence needed for causal inference?
Answer: Randomized controlled experiment
Randomized controlled experiments manipulate the independent variable before measuring the outcome, establishing temporal order and enabling stronger causal inference.
In ANOVA, the F-ratio compares:
Answer: Variance between groups to variance within groups
The F-ratio divides between-group variance (due to the treatment) by within-group variance (error), with larger values indicating a treatment effect.
A researcher uses a matched-pairs design by pairing participants on IQ before assigning them to conditions. The primary goal is to:
Answer: Reduce error variance by controlling a potential confound
Matching on a variable like IQ removes that variable's contribution to error variance, making it easier to detect the true effect of the independent variable.