Psychology Degree Research Methods and Ethics 5

Question 1

Which of the following scenarios most clearly illustrates selection bias?

Accepted Answer

Only self-referred volunteers join a study on depression

Answer

Selection bias occurs when the sample is not representative because who joins the study is systematically different from the broader population.

Question 2

A psychologist wants to understand the lived experience of survivors of natural disasters. Which methodology is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Phenomenological qualitative study

Answer

Phenomenological research explores individuals' subjective lived experiences in depth, ideal for understanding disaster survivorship.

Question 3

What is the purpose of counterbalancing in a within-subjects design?

Accepted Answer

To control for carryover and order effects across conditions

Answer

Counterbalancing varies the order of conditions across participants so that order effects do not systematically bias any one condition.

Question 4

A therapist-researcher publishes a case study about a client without changing any identifying details. Which ethical principle is violated?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality

Answer

Publishing identifiable client information without consent violates confidentiality, one of the most fundamental obligations in psychology.

Question 5

In regression analysis, what does a standardized beta coefficient (β) represent?

Accepted Answer

The change in Y in standard deviation units per one SD change in X

Answer

Standardized beta (β) expresses the relationship in standard deviation units, allowing comparison of predictors measured on different scales.

Psychology Degree Practice Test