Lesson 1.2.4

1.2.4 Variables and their operationalisation Quiz: OCR Psychology, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 1.2.4, Variables and their operationalisation: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Psychology (H567), Unit 1: Research methods (Component 01), written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What type of variable is directly manipulated or changed by the researcher in an experiment?

    • Dependent variable
    • Independent variable
    • Extraneous variable
    • Confounding variable

  2. What is the variable that is measured by the researcher to assess the outcome?

    • Control variable
    • Independent variable
    • Co-variable
    • Dependent variable

  3. Defining variables in clear, measurable terms so they can be tested is known as what?

    • Randomisation
    • Standardisation
    • Operationalisation
    • Categorisation

  4. What term describes any unwanted variable, other than the IV, that might affect the DV?

    • Dependent variable
    • Target variable
    • Extraneous variable
    • Co-variable

  5. An uncontrolled extraneous variable that systematically varies with the IV is called what?

    • Participant variable
    • Co-variable
    • Confounding variable
    • Situational variable

  6. Differences in age, intelligence, and personality between participants are known as what?

    • Order effects
    • Experimenter effects
    • Participant variables
    • Situational variables

  7. What is the term for cues in an experiment that reveal its purpose to participants?

    • Order effects
    • Social desirability
    • Investigator effects
    • Demand characteristics

  8. A researcher measures memory using "number of words recalled from a list". What is this?

    • Manipulated IV
    • Situational variable
    • Operationalised DV
    • Extraneous variable

  9. A study compares caffeine's effect using 0mg vs 200mg coffee. What is "200mg coffee"?

    • Level of IV
    • Confounding variable
    • Operationalised DV
    • Extraneous variable

  10. Testing all participants at 9am ensures which type of potential variable is controlled?

    • Investigator effect
    • Situational variable
    • Participant variable
    • Demand characteristic

  11. Allocating participants to conditions using a coin flip helps to control which variables?

    • Situational variables
    • Order effects
    • Demand characteristics
    • Participant variables

  12. In a correlational study measuring age and reaction time, what are these variables called?

    • Independent variables
    • Confounding variables
    • Co-variables
    • Dependent variables

  13. Unintentionally giving subtle clues through body language that influence participant responses is an example of what?

    • Investigator effect
    • Demand characteristic
    • Order effect
    • Social desirability

  14. A researcher tests participants once in the morning and once at night. What potential issue arises?

    • Social desirability
    • Investigator effects
    • Order effects
    • Sampling bias

  15. To prevent order effects in a repeated measures design, half do condition A then B. What technique is this?

    • Standardisation
    • Counterbalancing
    • Randomisation
    • Single-blind

  16. Neither the researcher nor the participant knows who received the active drug. What control is used?

    • Double-blind technique
    • Counterbalancing
    • Single-blind technique
    • Randomisation

  17. Using identical written instructions and standardised scripts for all participants controls what?

    • Participant variables
    • Investigator effects
    • Order effects
    • Individual differences

  18. What is the main problem caused by an unmeasured confounding variable in an experiment?

    • Increases reliability
    • Eliminates investigator effects
    • Reduces internal validity
    • Reduces sample size

  19. When participants modify their behaviour simply because they know they are being observed, what occurs?

    • Participant reactivity
    • Counterbalancing effect
    • Order effect
    • Investigator effect

  20. What is a trial run of a research study used to check variable operationalisation called?

    • Case study
    • Control condition
    • Pilot study
    • Field experiment

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