Lesson 3.1.4.4.6

3.1.4.4.6 Strengths and weaknesses of each method and when each is suitable Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 4

20 questions

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Lesson 3.1.4.4.6, Strengths and weaknesses of each method and when each is suitable: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Psychology (8182), Unit 4: Research methods, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which research method gathers in-depth information about one individual or a small group over a long period?

    • Case study
    • Systematic observation study
    • Controlled laboratory experiment
    • Structured questionnaire

  2. A researcher controls the room closely and manipulates noise level to test its effect on memory. Which method is this?

    • Correlational questionnaire
    • Naturalistic observation
    • Laboratory experiment
    • Semi-structured interview

  3. What is the main weakness of laboratory experiments?

    • They always need a sample of over one thousand people
    • Findings may lack ecological validity
    • Participants can never be randomly allocated to conditions
    • Only qualitative data can be collected from participants

  4. Which is a strength of questionnaires?

    • They give unlimited time to probe each answer in depth
    • They let the researcher see body language directly
    • They collect data quickly and cheaply from a large sample
    • They guarantee every respondent answers fully and truthfully

  5. Which is a weakness of interviews?

    • Interviewer bias may influence how participants respond
    • Interviews cannot be used to study personal experiences
    • Interviews never allow the researcher to ask follow-up questions
    • Interviews can only produce numerical data that is hard to compare

  6. Which situation is best suited to a field experiment?

    • Measuring exact reaction times under strictly controlled lab conditions
    • Recording one rare individual's life history across many years
    • Collecting opinions from a large group using only closed questions
    • Testing a variable in a real-life setting where participants are unaware of the study

  7. What distinguishes a natural experiment from a field experiment?

    • Participants are always told the purpose of the study beforehand
    • The researcher does not manipulate the independent variable
    • The study always takes place inside a laboratory building
    • The researcher always uses random allocation to conditions

  8. Which is a strength of observation studies?

    • They record behaviour as it naturally occurs
    • They allow the researcher to manipulate the independent variable precisely
    • They completely avoid any form of observer bias or error
    • They always explain the reasons behind each behaviour observed

  9. Why is interobserver reliability important in observation studies?

    • It checks that different observers record behaviour in the same way
    • It shows that the independent variable caused the dependent variable
    • It ensures the sample of participants is representative of the population
    • It confirms that participants gave informed consent before being watched

  10. A study uses independent groups. What is a key advantage over repeated measures?

    • No order effects, because each participant takes part in only one condition
    • Participant variables are always controlled by matching
    • Fewer participants are needed, because each person does every condition
    • Practice and fatigue effects are removed completely

  11. Which is a weakness of repeated measures designs?

    • Order effects such as practice or fatigue may affect the results
    • It requires a larger sample than independent groups does
    • Participants find it hard to understand the instructions for the study
    • Each participant must be matched on several variables beforehand

  12. In a matched pairs design, what is matched between participants?

    • Relevant characteristics such as age or ability
    • The number of hours each participant spends in the experiment
    • The results each person achieved in previous studies
    • The exact time of day each person is tested in each condition

  13. What is a weakness of matched pairs designs?

    • They always require a laboratory setting to be run
    • They suffer from order effects because participants repeat the task
    • They are time-consuming, and it is impossible to match every relevant variable
    • They cannot produce any numerical data for analysis

  14. A researcher tallies how many times each child in a playground hits another. What kind of method is this?

    • A natural experiment on playground aggression levels
    • An interview asking children to describe their own behaviour
    • A case study of a single child's family history
    • A structured observation using behaviour categories

  15. A researcher wants to study in detail how one person with a rare brain condition experiences memory loss. Which method is most suitable?

    • Independent groups experiment in a school
    • Field experiment in a shopping centre
    • Large postal questionnaire
    • Case study

  16. A researcher needs attitudes from 2000 people quickly on a small budget. Which method is most practical?

    • Matched pairs laboratory experiment
    • Unstructured observation of one group
    • Case study
    • Questionnaire

  17. A psychologist compares two schools, one that adopted a new teaching method and one that did not, without manipulating either. Which method is this?

    • Structured interview of head teachers
    • Case study of one teacher
    • Laboratory experiment with matched pairs
    • Natural experiment

  18. Which method is best if the researcher wants high control over extraneous variables to show cause and effect?

    • Laboratory experiment
    • Case study
    • Naturalistic observation
    • Unstructured interview

  19. A study has high ecological validity but limited control over extraneous variables. Which method fits this description?

    • Field experiment
    • Laboratory experiment
    • Independent groups design
    • Closed questionnaire

  20. Which statement best evaluates observation studies of aggression in schools?

    • Observation is banned in schools, so the method cannot be used at all
    • The method is cheap but produces only numerical data that cannot be interpreted
    • Behaviour is recorded naturally
    • Behaviour is fully explained by observers' notes, so bias is impossible

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