Lesson 1.2.2

1.2.2 Analysing social psychology data and BPS ethics Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Psychology, Unit 1

20 questions

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Lesson 1.2.2, Analysing social psychology data and BPS ethics: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Psychology (9PS0), Unit 1: Social psychology, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is the mean of the scores 2, 4, 4, 6 and 9?

    • 4
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5

  2. What is the median of the scores 2, 4, 4, 6 and 9?

    • 4
    • 6
    • 5
    • 9

  3. What is the mode of the scores 3, 5, 5, 7, 8 and 5?

    • 5
    • 7
    • 8
    • 3

  4. What is the range of the scores 2, 4, 4, 6 and 9?

    • 9
    • 7
    • 5
    • 4

  5. Which measure of central tendency is least affected by an extreme outlier?

    • The range, since it is the difference between the highest and lowest values in the data set
    • The total, since it adds together every value in the data set without any form of adjustment
    • The median, since it depends on the middle value of the ordered scores
    • The mean, since it is calculated using every value in the data set including the extreme value

  6. What is a frequency table used for?

    • To show how often each category or score occurs in a set of data
    • To show the probability that a result happened by chance alone in an inferential test
    • To show the thematic content of interview transcripts in a qualitative analysis of the data
    • To show the exact order in which participants completed the questionnaire during the study

  7. Which graph is most appropriate for displaying frequencies of discrete categories such as favourite colours?

    • A histogram, with bars touching each other to show continuous data across a range of values
    • A line graph, with a continuous line joining points to show change across time in a single group
    • A bar chart, with separate bars for each category and gaps between them
    • A scatter plot, with one point per participant to show the relationship between two continuous variables

  8. What does the standard deviation measure?

    • The most common score in the data set, which occurs more often than any other value in the set
    • How spread out the scores are around the mean
    • The difference between the highest and lowest scores in the data set, without any reference to the mean
    • The middle value of the scores once they have been placed in order from lowest to highest

  9. A data set has a mean of 10 and a standard deviation of 1. A second data set has a mean of 10 and a standard deviation of 5. Which statement is correct?

    • The first data set is more spread out around the mean than the second
    • Both data sets have identical spread around the mean, since they share the same mean value
    • The second data set is more spread out around the mean than the first
    • The standard deviation cannot be compared between data sets with the same mean value at all

  10. In thematic analysis, what is the first step?

    • Recruiting new participants so that the sample size is large enough for the qualitative analysis to proceed
    • Calculating the mean and standard deviation of the qualitative responses to show their central tendency
    • Familiarising yourself with the data by reading and re-reading the transcripts or responses
    • Writing the final report, which states the themes and the conclusions drawn from the whole data set

  11. Which of these is an example of a theme in thematic analysis?

    • Participants describe feeling pressured to conform to the views of the group around them
    • Participants' mean score was 6.4 on a ten-point scale measuring their agreement with the statement
    • Participants were recruited through an opportunity sample from the university's first-year student body
    • Participants were tested on a Tuesday afternoon in a room with a window facing the car park

  12. What is the purpose of coding in thematic analysis?

    • To assign a numerical value to each participant so that the data can be analysed with a statistical test
    • To label sections of data with short descriptions so that patterns can be identified across the data set
    • To calculate the mode of the responses, which shows the most common response given by the participants
    • To give each participant a unique identity number, which removes the need for any anonymised reporting

  13. Which BPS ethical principle is most directly concerned with keeping participants' personal data private?

    • Deception, which means participants are misled about the purpose of the study as part of the design
    • Protection from risk, which means the study must be designed so the participant gains a direct financial benefit
    • Debriefing, which means participants are told the full aims of the study after their participation has ended
    • Confidentiality, which means personal information is kept private and is not shared without consent

  14. Which BPS guideline requires participants to be told what they will be asked to do before they agree to take part?

    • Informed consent, which requires participants to understand the study before they agree to take part
    • Deception, which allows the researcher to withhold the purpose of the study until after the data are collected
    • Right to withdraw, which applies only to participants who have already completed the entire study procedure
    • Debriefing, which happens only after the study has ended and cannot be used before participation begins

  15. What is the purpose of debriefing participants at the end of a study?

    • To ask participants to sign a second consent form that gives the researcher permission to use their data
    • To deceive participants again about the purpose of the study, so their future behaviour is not affected
    • To collect additional data from participants about their personal lives, which extends the original study
    • To explain the full aims of the study and address any harm or distress caused during participation

  16. A researcher collects 20 questionnaires but finds three are incomplete. What is the best ethical and analytical response?

    • Ask the same three participants to complete a new set of questions that are then combined with the original data
    • Report the number excluded and the reason, and analyse only the complete responses without altering the data
    • Hide the incomplete responses from the report, so that the results appear to be cleaner and more convincing
    • Complete the missing answers using the researcher's own opinion, so that every questionnaire is fully filled in

  17. What is the mode of the scores 1, 3, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6 and 9?

    • 6
    • 4
    • 9
    • 3

  18. Which statement about the range is correct?

    • It is the number of times the most common score appears in the data set across all participants
    • It is the difference between the highest and lowest score in the data set
    • It is the middle score in the data set after the scores have been placed in order from lowest
    • It is the average of all the scores in the data set after they have been ranked in order

  19. What is thematic analysis?

    • A method of calculating the average of numerical scores from a questionnaire given to participants
    • A method of recording the reaction times of participants during a visual task in a laboratory setting
    • A method of testing whether two groups differ significantly on a numerical measure in a controlled trial
    • A method of identifying, analysing and reporting patterns of meaning in qualitative data

  20. Why does the BPS code of ethics require researchers to consider risk management?

    • So that the data can be analysed with more complex statistical tests, which improves the findings
    • So that the research can be published quickly, which gives the researcher more credit in the field
    • So that the sample size can be kept as small as possible, which reduces the cost of running the study
    • So that participants are protected from physical and psychological harm during the research

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