Psychology Degree Psychological Research Methods 5

Question 1

Which of the following describes the ecological validity of a study?

Accepted Answer

Whether findings apply to real-world settings and behaviors

Answer

Ecological validity concerns how well a study's conditions reflect real-world environments so that findings translate meaningfully to everyday life.

Question 2

A researcher finds p = 0.03 with a very large sample (N = 10,000). The best interpretation is:

Accepted Answer

The result may be statistically significant but practically trivial due to large N

Answer

With very large samples, even tiny, practically meaningless differences can reach statistical significance, so effect size must also be examined.

Question 3

In qualitative research, 'member checking' involves:

Accepted Answer

Returning findings to participants to verify accuracy and interpretation

Answer

Member checking is a trustworthiness strategy where researchers share their interpretations with participants to confirm they accurately reflect participants' experiences.

Question 4

The concept of 'demand characteristics' in research refers to:

Accepted Answer

Cues in the study that suggest to participants what the researcher expects

Answer

Demand characteristics are cues in the experimental situation that hint at the study's purpose, potentially causing participants to alter their behavior accordingly.

Question 5

Which research design is most appropriate for establishing the temporal precedence needed for causal inference?

Accepted Answer

Randomized controlled experiment

Answer

Randomized controlled experiments manipulate the independent variable before measuring the outcome, establishing temporal order and enabling stronger causal inference.

Psychology Degree Practice Test

Psychology Degree Practice Test

Psychology Degree Psychological Research Methods 5