#1
Which of the following is a fundamental principle of ethical research in psychology?
Informed consent
ExplanationEnsuring participants understand and agree to participate in the study.
#2
What is the Hawthorne effect in psychological research?
Participants altering their behavior due to being observed
ExplanationParticipants modify their behavior when they know they're being observed, leading to altered outcomes.
#3
What is the purpose of a pilot study in psychological research?
To test the feasibility of the research design
ExplanationTo assess the practicality, time, and resources required for the main study.
#4
What is the fundamental difference between a cross-sectional study and a longitudinal study?
Cross-sectional studies collect data from the same individuals over time, while longitudinal studies collect data from different individuals at one point in time
ExplanationCross-sectional studies compare different individuals at the same time, while longitudinal studies follow the same individuals over time.
#5
What is the primary advantage of using a double-blind procedure in a psychological experiment?
It prevents the participants from knowing the experimental conditions
ExplanationMinimizes bias by ensuring neither participants nor researchers know who is in the experimental or control group.
#6
What is the purpose of a control group in an experimental study?
To provide a baseline for comparison
ExplanationTo compare the effects of the independent variable against a group that doesn't receive it.
#7
In a correlation coefficient, what does a positive value indicate?
A positive relationship between variables
ExplanationAs one variable increases, the other also tends to increase.
#8
What is a quasi-experimental design?
A research design that lacks a control group
ExplanationA study where participants aren't randomly assigned to groups, often due to ethical or practical constraints.
#9
What is the purpose of a double-blind procedure in a psychological experiment?
To prevent the researcher from knowing the experimental conditions
ExplanationTo prevent bias by ensuring neither the participants nor the researchers know which group is receiving the treatment.
#10
In the context of research ethics, what is plagiarism?
Stealing someone else's ideas or work without giving credit
ExplanationPresenting someone else's work or ideas as your own without proper acknowledgment.
#11
What is the purpose of random assignment in an experimental study?
To minimize pre-existing differences between groups
ExplanationTo ensure that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group, minimizing the effect of pre-existing differences.
#12
What is the primary purpose of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in psychological research?
To ensure research participants' rights and well-being
ExplanationTo review and approve research studies involving human participants to protect their rights and welfare.
#13
What is the difference between reliability and validity in psychological measurement?
Reliability refers to consistency, while validity refers to accuracy
ExplanationReliability is about the consistency of results, while validity is about the accuracy of measuring what is intended.
#14
In a normal distribution, what percentage of data falls within one standard deviation from the mean?
68%
ExplanationApproximately 68% of the data.
#15
What is demand characteristics in a research study?
Cues that suggest the researcher's expectations to participants
ExplanationSubtle cues from the researcher that lead participants to behave in a way they believe is expected.
#16
What is a Type I error in hypothesis testing?
Rejecting a true null hypothesis
ExplanationIncorrectly concluding that there is a significant effect when there isn't one.
#17
What is the purpose of statistical significance in psychological research?
To indicate the likelihood that results occurred by chance
ExplanationTo determine the probability that the observed results are not due to chance.