Lesson 3.1.4.6.1

3.1.4.6.1 Standardised procedures, instructions, randomisation, allocation, counterbalancing Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

In partnership with Revision Ninja

Lesson 3.1.4.6.1, Standardised procedures, instructions, randomisation, allocation, counterbalancing: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Psychology (8182), Unit 4: Research methods, written with Revision Ninja.

Host it live on the board and students join with a game code on their own devices, or revise alone with Free Play. The answers are revealed in the game.

Host this setFree Play

The 20 questions

  1. What is the purpose of standardised procedures in an experiment?

    • Every participant is treated the same way
    • Participants are told the hypothesis so they can respond accurately
    • Results are made more exciting for the reader to enjoy
    • The researcher can change the procedure whenever participants seem bored

  2. What is random allocation?

    • Testing every participant in the same condition in one session to save time and money
    • Asking participants to choose which condition they would prefer, so they feel more involved
    • Placing participants into conditions based on their age and gender so the groups look similar
    • Placing participants into conditions by chance so each has an equal chance of any condition

  3. What is counterbalancing used for?

    • Ensuring the researcher remains unaware of which condition is which
    • Varying the order of conditions across participants to reduce order effects
    • Making sure each condition has exactly the same number of participants
    • Giving all participants identical written instructions

  4. What is the purpose of standardised instructions?

    • They allow the researcher to change the task for each participant
    • They tell participants the hypothesis so they behave as expected
    • They ensure every participant understands the task in the same way
    • They remove the need for a consent form in a study

  5. In a repeated measures design, what is the best use of counterbalancing?

    • Choosing one random condition for every participant
    • Using AAAA ordering so all participants complete condition A first
    • Using ABBA or BAAB ordering so practice effects are spread across the conditions
    • Ordering the conditions by each participant's age

  6. Which is an example of a standardised procedure?

    • Reading the same script to every participant before the task starts
    • Giving feedback on performance to some participants but not others
    • Changing the wording of questions when a participant looks confused
    • Allowing some participants a longer time to complete the task

  7. A researcher writes names on slips and draws them from a hat to form groups. Why is this appropriate?

    • It is a random allocation that reduces researcher bias in forming groups
    • It ensures the groups are matched on intelligence and age
    • It guarantees each group has exactly the same mean score
    • It lets participants choose the condition they feel most comfortable in

  8. In a memory study, participants complete condition A then condition B. Which problem could counterbalancing address?

    • Participants may perform better in B because of practice from A
    • Participants may not understand the consent form
    • Participants may refuse to take part in both conditions
    • Participants may be too tired to complete the study at all

  9. A researcher reads the same instructions aloud to all participants and times each task with the same stopwatch. What is this an example of?

    • Use of a matched pairs design
    • Random allocation to conditions
    • Standardisation of the procedure
    • Counterbalancing of conditions

  10. What is the best way to randomise the order of word lists in a memory study?

    • Put the lists in the same alphabetical order for everyone in the memory test
    • Let each participant choose which list to start with, so they feel in control
    • Give the easiest list first to every participant so they settle into the task
    • Use a random number generator to decide each participant's list order

  11. A study has 40 participants in two conditions. Which allocation fits an independent groups design?

    • Allocate every participant to condition A and then to condition B
    • Allocate participants by surname order and then reverse it
    • Randomly allocate 20 participants to each condition
    • Allocate participants to a condition chosen by the experimenter

  12. Why does a researcher read a standard script to every participant?

    • So any differences in results are less likely to come from changes in the procedure
    • So the researcher can record the session more easily and keep the timing consistent
    • So participants feel more relaxed and perform better across all the tasks in the study
    • So the hypothesis is hidden from every participant, including the ones who ask

  13. Which design combination best controls order effects in a repeated measures study with two conditions?

    • Counterbalancing, with half the participants doing the conditions in each order
    • Using a single condition order for everyone to keep the study simple
    • Randomly choosing one condition for each participant only
    • Telling participants the order of conditions in advance

  14. Why is random allocation preferred over self-selection?

    • It reduces bias that could arise when participants choose their own condition
    • It guarantees the results will be statistically significant if the sample is large enough
    • It makes the study cheaper and quicker to run in a school with limited staff
    • It removes the need for a control group in any experiment that compares two conditions

  15. Which statement correctly describes a limitation of standardised procedures?

    • They always produce results that are impossible to replicate
    • They require the researcher to use qualitative data only
    • They cause participants to guess the hypothesis in every case
    • They make it harder to adapt to individual needs

  16. What is a participant variable?

    • The condition each participant is placed into by the researcher during the allocation stage
    • A characteristic of each participant, such as age or motivation, that could affect results
    • The number of participants included in the final analysis after any dropouts are removed
    • The measure used to record the dependent variable in each condition of the study

  17. What does allocation to conditions mean?

    • Deciding who will act as the experimenter during each session of the study
    • Deciding how long each participant will spend on the task before the session ends
    • Deciding which participants will take part in which condition of the experiment
    • Deciding which measures will be used in the analysis of the final results

  18. A researcher says 'take as long as you need' to one group and 'you have two minutes' to another. What problem does this create?

    • The study now uses a qualitative design
    • The sample is no longer representative of the population
    • The results can no longer be analysed statistically
    • The procedure is not standardised

  19. Why might counterbalancing be unnecessary in an independent groups design?

    • The design always uses the same participants for every condition
    • Each participant takes part in only one condition
    • Counterbalancing only applies to laboratory studies
    • Each participant takes part in all conditions, so order must be fixed

  20. Which statement best evaluates standardised instructions in a memory experiment?

    • They guarantee that participants will never misunderstand the study
    • They reduce variation caused by the researcher
    • They make counterbalancing unnecessary in all designs
    • They prove the independent variable caused the change

All AQA Psychology quizzes