AQA Psychology – Research Methods Practice Test

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• A significance level of 0.01 is sometimes used instead of 0.05 in situations requiring greater confidence. Which scenario best illustrates this?
• Which chart is used to display the distribution of a continuous variable and has bars that touch each other?
• Which sampling method relies solely on inviting people to take part?
• Which statement best describes extraneous variables?
• Which statement describes external validity?
• Which describes a potential drawback of participant observation?
• Which of the following is a disadvantage of the matched pairs design?
• Ambiguity in questions refers to what?
• In experimental design, which description best matches a control condition?
• Which of the following is a disadvantage of Repeated Measures Design?
• What is external validity?
• What is primary data?
• Which statement best expresses the relationship between the DV and the IV?
• Which step describes converting data for the sign test?
• What is a questionnaire?
• Which setting offers easiest replication?
• Which is a weakness of questionnaires?
• Bar Charts are true when data is:
• In statistics, what is the mathematical technique used to investigate an association between two variables?
• Which is an advantage of closed questions?
• Evaluation of Standard Deviation weakness?
• How are ties treated in the sign test?
• In a correlation study, what are the two variables being examined called?
• What term describes a small-scale trial conducted at the start of an experiment to check for flaws, such as whether questions make sense?
• Which statement about naturalistic observations is true as a limitation?
• Which measure is appropriate only for categorical data?
• What is a directional hypothesis?
• A scatterplot with an upward trend from left to right illustrates what kind of relationship?
• Which is an advantage of naturalistic observations?
• What is the main purpose of statistical testing in research?
• Which statement describes a semi-structured interview?
• Which of the following is an example of secondary data source?
• Which statement about self-report techniques is true?
• Content analysis is best described as...
• What is random allocation?
• What is an advantage of field experiments?
• Generalisation is more likely when the sample is what?
• How is the arithmetic mean calculated?
• What best describes a quasi-experiment?
• In the context of a lab experiment, what is done to extraneous variables?
• Which graph is used to display the distribution of a continuous variable?
• In a positively skewed distribution, where is the long tail, and where is most of the data centered?
• Extraneous variables: which statement is true?
• What does BPS stand for?
• What is the general term for any measure of the spread or variation in a set of scores?
• Which design is best to avoid carryover effects while keeping participant numbers reasonable?
• What to include on a graph?
• What is an extraneous variable?
• In a normal distribution, which measures of central tendency are equal and located at the center?
• A structured interview is characterized by
• Which statement best defines deception in psychological research?
• What is meta-analysis?
• What is a non-directional hypothesis?
• Which description matches a case study?
• Which measure is considered the most sensitive of the central tendency because it includes all data, though it can be distorted by extreme values?
• What is a baseline measure?
• Which sampling method uses a random technique so that every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected?
• A hypothesis is defined as which?
• Which measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme values?
• When are results considered significant in this test?
• What is qualitative data?
• Which measure is least affected by extreme scores?
• Which is a strength of an unstructured interview?
• When should participants be told about their right to withdraw?
• Which definition best describes the target population?
• What does the range measure?
• What does a baseline measure allow researchers to do?
• What is an advantage of natural experiments?
• Dependent Variable (DV) is:
• What is quantitative data?
• Protection from harm means researchers should avoid exposing participants to what?
• Structured observations differ from unstructured by which characteristic?
• Which statement about directional hypotheses is correct?
• Which statement about the median is true?
• What is the general term for any measure of the average value in a data set?
• Which sampling method selects groups in proportion to their frequency in the population in order to obtain a representative sample?
• What is a null hypothesis?
• Which design reduces the impact of individual differences by pairing participants with similar characteristics and assigning them to different conditions?
• What are demand characteristics?
• In a line graph, which axis typically shows the independent variable?
• Which statement about the evaluation of peer review is true?
• Which statement best describes an unstructured interview?
• Which design is quickest to administer?
• Debrief details: during debriefing, what should happen?
• Lab Experiment: which description best fits?
• Line graph usage is best described as:
• What is the central value in a data set when it is ordered from lowest to highest?
• Which statement best describes ABBA pattern?
• What is a disadvantage of open questions?
• In a lab experiment, which statement best describes the independent variable?
• Which statement accurately describes a normal distribution?
• What type of correlation occurs when one variable increases as the other decreases?
• A primary advantage of non-participant observation is that it...
• What is the critical value?
• Debrief: what should researchers do?
• Inter-observer reliability is demonstrated when...
• Which of the following is an example of primary data collection?
• Which is a drawback of using the range?
• In a negatively skewed distribution, where is the long tail, and where is most data concentrated?
• What is the calculated value in a statistical test?
• Which statement best distinguishes open from closed questions?
• Which design is associated with a high demand characteristics?
• Why add 1 to range?
• In Step 3 of the sign test, what does S represent?
• Order effects are defined as?
• What is a common risk when using self-report methods such as questionnaires?
• Counterbalancing is used to control order effects in which design?
• Which of the following is true about controlled observations?
• Which observation is easier to replicate?
• An interview is
• ABBA counterbalancing pattern is used to?
• Which sampling method is designed to ensure that subgroups are represented in proportion to their size in the population?
• Which is a potential drawback of anonymity in peer review?
• In a sign test, which option correctly describes S?
• Which statement best describes a disadvantage of controlled observations?
• Which statement is true about significance level?
• In matched Pairs Design, which statement is true?
• Overt observation is more ethically acceptable mainly because...
• Which statement is true about skewed distributions?
• Define Independent Groups Design.
• Baseline measure is derived from which condition?
• Which of the following is an advantage of Repeated Measures Design?
• Which of the following is an advantage of a lab experiment?
• Scattergrams show:
• Lab Experiment characteristics: which statement is true?
• Which of the following is an example of qualitative data?
• What are experimenter effects?
• What term describes the variables investigated within a correlation, such as height and weight?
• Naturalistic observation takes place in what kind of setting?
• What is publication bias?
• In behavioural observations, the target behaviour is...
• In overt observation, which statement is true?
• If a researcher wants to examine whether taller people tend to weigh more, which statistical technique would be used?
• In a quasi-experiment, which statement is true?
• What characterizes a loaded question?
• Which statement is true about graph construction?
• What does random allocation of participants refer to in a lab experiment?
• Which statement about the mode is true?
• Which statement is true about structured interviews?
• What is the purpose of random allocation?
• Compared to a questionnaire, a structured interview is more likely to involve
• Which measure should be used when extreme values are present to avoid distortion?
• What is the commonly accepted probability level (p-value) used to declare significance in psychology research?
• What is the value that appears most frequently in a data set?
• How is a significant S value interpreted with respect to the critical value?
• Event sampling involves...
• What data type is created when performing the sign test?
• Which is a strength of structured interviews?
• Which conditions are required to use the sign test?
• Which distribution is symmetrical and bell-shaped, forming a normal distribution?
• What does standard deviation measure?
• In matched pairs design, how are participants allocated to conditions?
• A disadvantage of unstructured interviews is which?
• In skewed distributions, which statement best describes the typical order of mode, median, and mean?
• Which of the following is a disadvantage of field experiments?
• Which is an advantage of Matched Pairs Design?
• What defines a confounding variable?
• Time sampling means...
• Which statement describes unstructured observations?
• Which is a disadvantage of Independent Groups Design?
• Generalisation is defined as what?
• Inter-observer reliability is demonstrated when two observers...
• Variable: which statement best defines a variable?
• Operationalising Variables: what does this process involve?
• How are directional and non-directional hypotheses related to the test?
• Experimenter effects are more likely to occur in which interview type?
• Which is an example of a quantitative data collection method?
• Which of the following is NOT an advantage of Independent Groups Design?
• In lab experiments, a common concern is about generalizing findings to real-world settings. Which of the following best reflects this concern?
• Which term describes the method used to select people from the population?
• Which term refers to using graphs, tables, and summary statistics to identify trends and analyse sets of data?
• Which graph represents continuous data and connects data points with a line, typically plotting the independent variable on the X-axis and the dependent variable on the Y-axis?
• In matched pairs design, what is a key feature of allocation?
• Independent Variable (IV) is defined as:
• Which statement best defines covert observation?
• Which measure is described as a crude measure because the mean and mode can be very different?
• In a normal distribution, do the tails touch the horizontal axis?
• Which statement best defines a double-barreled question?
• Which information do you need to use the critical values table?
• Which is NOT a strength of a structured interview?
• What should be included in the sign test write‑up?
• Non-Participant Observation is characterized by?
• When there is no relationship between the co-variables, the correlation is called?
• Field experiments are characterized by which setting?
• What is a typical disadvantage of natural experiments?
• In participant observation, the researcher may do what?
• What best defines a self-report technique?
• In Step 4, how is significance determined?
• Which statement about data in a structured observation is true?
• Which design helps prevent order effects?
• Inter-Rater Reliability is demonstrated by which statement?
• Open questions are defined as
• What is an advantage of open questions?
• What describes peer review?
• Which sampling method obtains a sample by selecting every 5th or 7th person?
• Controlled observation involves?
• What is a leading question?
• What is the arithmetic average, calculated by adding all values and dividing by the number of values?
• Which is a disadvantage of a lab experiment?
• How do natural experiments differ from laboratory experiments?
• Which sampling method involves selecting participants who are most easily available at the time of the study?
• Double-barreled questions are defined as which?
• What is secondary data?
• Inter-Rater Reliability is demonstrated by which statement?
• What type of correlation occurs when both variables increase together?
• Which statement about the mean is true?
• Where is psychological research published initially?
• Sampling techniques refer to what?
• Closed questions are defined as
• What is an experimental condition?
• Which is an aim of peer review?
• What does competence require for researchers?
• Which option best describes sampling bias?
• Which sampling method is most susceptible to bias due to convenience?
• An aim in research is best described as which?
• Which is a strength of questionnaires?
• What does ecological validity refer to?
• Which term is defined as the use of graphs tables and summary statistics to identify trends and analyse sets of data?
• Why is controlling extraneous variables important in a lab experiment?
• Content analysis in psychology is used to study...
• What does Step 2 of the sign test involve?
• A common ethical concern with covert observation is...
• What does informed consent entail?
• Which graph shows associations between co-variables not differences?
• Repeated Measures Design involves which of the following?