2.2.2 Variables, hypotheses and validity Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Psychology, Unit 2

The 20 questions

1. In an experiment, what is the independent variable?

   • The variable the participant chooses freely for themselves during the procedure with no link to the design
   • The variable the researcher deliberately manipulates or changes to see whether it affects the outcome
   • The variable the researcher measures as the outcome to see whether it has changed across conditions
   • The variable the researcher holds constant so that it cannot affect the results in any condition of the study

2. In an experiment on memory, what would be the dependent variable if participants recall words?

   • The number of words correctly recalled by each participant
   • The length of the words presented to each participant, which the researcher chooses in advance
   • The room temperature in which the participants complete the memory test during the session
   • The number of words presented to each participant in the list at the start of the study

3. What is an operationalised variable?

   • A variable that is removed from the study during the analysis stage, because it has no effect on results
   • A variable that is controlled by the operator of the machine used during the study, rather than the researcher
   • A variable that cannot be measured at all, so it has to be described only in qualitative terms in the report
   • A variable defined in measurable terms so that it can be tested and replicated by other researchers

4. Which hypothesis states that there will be a difference between conditions without stating the direction of the difference?

   • A non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis
   • A null hypothesis, which predicts that no difference will be found between the conditions in the study
   • A correlational hypothesis, which predicts that two variables will vary together in a linear way
   • A directional (one-tailed) hypothesis

5. Which hypothesis is most suitable when previous research clearly predicts that one group will score higher?

   • A non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis
   • A directional (one-tailed) hypothesis
   • A null hypothesis, which predicts that the groups will not differ in their scores at all
   • A sample hypothesis, which predicts that the sample will be representative of the wider population

6. What is the null hypothesis?

   • A prediction that the researcher's own opinion will be supported by the data collected from the participants
   • A prediction that there will be no significant difference or relationship between the variables measured
   • A prediction that the sample will be representative of the population from which it was drawn in the study
   • A prediction that there will be a significant difference in a specific direction between the conditions

7. Which statement about the alternative (experimental) hypothesis is correct?

   • It predicts that the sample size will be exactly the same as the population size in every case of the study
   • It predicts that the results will be the same for every participant in every condition of the experiment
   • It predicts that there will be no difference or relationship between the variables in the study at all
   • It predicts that there will be a difference or relationship between the variables in the study

8. A researcher's hypothesis says 'Participants recall more words when they are given a semantic cue'. Which type of hypothesis is this?

   • A non-directional (two-tailed) experimental hypothesis
   • A null hypothesis, since it predicts that there will be no difference between the two groups
   • A directional (one-tailed) experimental hypothesis
   • A correlational hypothesis, since it predicts a relationship between the cue and the participant's age

9. Which of these is an extraneous variable in a memory experiment that compares words and pictures?

   • The type of stimulus, words or pictures, which is the intended independent variable in the study
   • The noise level in the room during the learning phase, which could affect recall in both conditions
   • The type of recall test, which is an intended design feature that has been chosen by the researcher
   • The number of words recalled, which is the intended dependent variable that is measured as the outcome

10. What does validity mean in research on memory?

    • The extent to which the study measures what it claims to measure, and the results are meaningful
    • The extent to which the sample is large enough to be analysed with a statistical test at a 5% level
    • The extent to which the results are the same each time the study is repeated by the researcher
    • The extent to which the participants agree with the aims of the study and approve of its design

11. What is reliability in research?

    • The extent to which the sample reflects the population from which it was taken in the study
    • The extent to which the researcher's conclusions are accepted by other researchers in the field
    • The extent to which a measure gives consistent results when repeated under the same conditions
    • The extent to which a study measures what it claims to measure, regardless of consistency over time

12. What is internal validity?

    • Whether the results can be attributed to the IV, with control over confounds in the study
    • Whether the results can be generalised to other settings outside the laboratory in which the study took place
    • Whether the results will be the same when the study is predicted to happen again in the future
    • Whether the participants feel comfortable and well treated throughout the procedure in the study

13. What is ecological validity?

    • The extent to which the researcher is objective and free from personal bias throughout the study
    • The extent to which findings can be generalised to everyday, real-world settings
    • The extent to which a measure gives consistent results when the same test is repeated over time
    • The extent to which the study has controlled for all confounding variables in the laboratory setting

14. What is predictive validity?

    • The extent to which the sample predicts the population's average score on the test at a later date
    • The extent to which a measure predicts future behaviour or performance outside the study
    • The extent to which a measure predicts the researcher's future career success in the field of psychology
    • The extent to which a measure is completely free from error across all conditions in the study

15. Which is an example of experimenter effects on participants' results?

    • The statistical test chosen after the data have been collected and checked for normality by the researcher
    • The sample size, which is decided before the experimenter arrives at the testing room on the first day
    • The experimenter's tone of voice or expectations influences how participants respond in the study
    • The participants' own expectations about the study, which are unrelated to the experimenter in any way

16. Which strategy helps reduce demand characteristics in a memory experiment?

    • Using a cover story or single-blind design, so participants do not know the true aim of the study
    • Telling participants the exact hypothesis before the study so that they can prepare their answers carefully
    • Giving participants extra feedback after each trial to encourage them to perform in the way they expect
    • Asking participants to guess the aim of the study and then changing the procedure to match their guesses

17. Which evaluation point is most relevant to a researcher's claim that a memory test is valid?

    • The researcher should show that the test is simply fast to administer, since speed makes a test valid
    • The researcher should show that the test uses a large sample, since sample size alone guarantees validity
    • The researcher should show that the test was given in the same room to all participants, which guarantees validity
    • The researcher should show that the test measures memory and that its results link to real-world recall

18. Which pair correctly describes internal and external validity?

    • Internal validity concerns generalisation beyond the study; external validity concerns control of the study
    • Internal validity concerns the reliability of the measure; external validity concerns the sample's gender balance
    • Internal validity concerns control of the study; external validity concerns generalisation beyond it
    • Internal validity concerns the sample size; external validity concerns the statistical test used in the study

19. Which of these would reduce order effects in a repeated measures design?

    • Asking participants to complete the tasks faster, so that they have less time to practise between conditions
    • Using a single fixed order for every participant so that the order is identical across all participants
    • Counterbalancing, by alternating the order in which participants complete the conditions
    • Removing the second condition, so that participants complete only one test during the entire study

20. A study has high internal validity but low ecological validity. Which description is most accurate?

    • The study has perfect generalisability and no ethical issues, so its findings are fully applicable to everyone
    • The study has good control over variables but its findings may not apply well to everyday life
    • The study has no control over variables and its findings can never be used to explain any behaviour at all
    • The study has poor control over variables and its findings apply perfectly to every real-world setting

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