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AP Psychology Psychological Research Methods — practice questions

Explore 23 free Psychological Research Methods questions in AP Psychology Psychology. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Psychological Research Methods questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–23 of 23.

A precise description of how a variable is measured in a study is called:Read the answer and worked solution →The variable a researcher manipulates in an experiment is the:Read the answer and worked solution →The variable that is measured for change in an experiment is the:Read the answer and worked solution →Observing behaviour in its ordinary setting rather than a laboratory is called:Read the answer and worked solution →Research focused on one person or just a few individuals is called:Read the answer and worked solution →Giving every participant an equal chance of landing in either group is:Read the answer and worked solution →The statistic that measures how strongly two variables move together is the:Read the answer and worked solution →Correlational research is useful because it reveals the strength and direction of a relationship, but it cannot establish:Read the answer and worked solution →A third factor that produces an apparent relationship between two variables is called a:Read the answer and worked solution →In a double-blind study, who is unaware of the group assignments?Read the answer and worked solution →The reason a control group is often given an inert treatment relates to the:Read the answer and worked solution →Before publication, a manuscript is evaluated by other experts in a process called:Read the answer and worked solution →Deductive reasoning in science starts from a generalization and then reaches:Read the answer and worked solution →An operational definition matters most because it lets other researchers:Read the answer and worked solution →Two variables can be correlated for which of these reasons?Read the answer and worked solution →Naturalistic observation is chosen when the researcher wants to know:Read the answer and worked solution →Random assignment supports causal conclusions because it makes the groups:Read the answer and worked solution →Peer reviewers send their feedback to the author and to the:Read the answer and worked solution →Which research method is it?Read the answer and worked solution →Match each research termRead the answer and worked solution →True or false: research methodsRead the answer and worked solution →Shows cause, or only association?Read the answer and worked solution →Complete the method rulesRead the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

A precise description of how a variable is measured in a study is called:

  1. An operational definition
  2. A working hypothesis
  3. A random assignment
  4. A correlation value
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Correct answer: A. An operational definition

1. Two researchers must measure the same thing the same way for a study to be repeatable. 2. An operational definition is a precise description of our variables. 3. It is important in allowing others to understand exactly how and what a researcher measures in a particular experiment. 4. A hypothesis states what is expected rather than how it will be measured. _Source: OpenStax Psychology 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 2 'Psychological Research', sections 2.1-2.4_

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The variable a researcher manipulates in an experiment is the:

  1. Correlated variable
  2. Independent variable
  3. Dependent variable
  4. Confounding variable
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Correct answer: B. Independent variable

1. An experiment tests whether changing one thing changes another. 2. Two important variables are attended to in any experimental study: the independent variable and the dependent variable. 3. The independent variable is the one the researcher changes. 4. The dependent variable is the one measured for a response. _Source: OpenStax Psychology 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 2 'Psychological Research', sections 2.1-2.4_

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The variable that is measured for change in an experiment is the:

  1. Dependent variable
  2. Independent variable
  3. Confounding variable
  4. Operational variable
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Correct answer: A. Dependent variable

1. In a research experiment we strive to study whether changes in one thing cause changes in another. 2. The two variables involved are the independent variable and the dependent variable. 3. The dependent variable is the outcome measured to see whether it responded. 4. Its value is expected to depend on the independent variable. _Source: OpenStax Psychology 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 2 'Psychological Research', sections 2.1-2.4_

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