Lesson 9.1.1

9.1.1 Data types, sampling and experimental designs Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Psychology, Unit 9

20 questions

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Lesson 9.1.1, Data types, sampling and experimental designs: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Psychology (9PS0), Unit 9: Psychological skills, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?

    • Qualitative data are always numbers, while quantitative data are always words
    • Qualitative data are always secondary, while quantitative data are always primary
    • There is no difference between the two types of data
    • Qualitative data are descriptive, such as words or themes, while quantitative data are numerical and can be measured

  2. Which type of data is collected directly by the researcher for the specific study being carried out?

    • Secondary data
    • Meta-data only
    • Archival data only
    • Primary data

  3. A researcher uses census figures collected by a government agency in their own study. What type of data is this?

    • Covert data
    • Secondary data
    • Primary data
    • Qualitative data by definition

  4. In a random sample, what is true about how participants are selected?

    • Only the researcher's friends are selected
    • Participants are chosen because they are easy to reach
    • Participants volunteer by responding to an advert
    • Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected

  5. A school has 60 girls and 40 boys. A researcher wants a stratified sample of 20 pupils in the same proportions. How many girls should be selected?

    • 20
    • 8
    • 16
    • 12

  6. A researcher recruits whoever is available in the library at the time of the study. Which sampling technique is this?

    • Stratified sampling
    • Volunteer sampling
    • Opportunity sampling
    • Random sampling

  7. A researcher places a poster asking for volunteers for a study on memory. Which sampling technique is most likely used?

    • Volunteer sampling
    • Systematic sampling
    • Random sampling
    • Stratified sampling

  8. In an independent groups design, what is true about the participants in the two conditions?

    • The same participants take part in both conditions
    • Participants are matched in pairs on a key variable
    • Participants take part in both conditions in a random order
    • Different participants take part in each condition

  9. In a repeated measures design, what is the main advantage over an independent groups design?

    • It requires fewer statistical tests
    • It removes the need for any control group
    • It controls participant variables because the same people take part in every condition
    • It eliminates all order effects without any further action

  10. A researcher matches participants on IQ and then allocates one of each matched pair to each condition. Which design is this?

    • Repeated measures design
    • Matched pairs design
    • Opportunity sampling design
    • Case study design

  11. Which design is most susceptible to order effects?

    • Case study
    • Matched pairs with random allocation
    • Repeated measures
    • Independent groups

  12. A researcher counterbalances the order of two tasks for half the participants. What problem does this address?

    • Lack of qualitative data
    • Ethical risk in a field experiment
    • Order effects in a repeated measures design
    • Low reliability of a questionnaire

  13. A study has 80 participants and 20 of them are excluded because they did not complete the task. Which sampling issue is most likely affecting the study?

    • Random allocation, which is always wrong
    • Demand characteristics only
    • Operationalisation of the dependent variable
    • Attrition, which may bias the results if those who leave differ from those who stay

  14. A researcher's sample consists of students at one university. Which limitation of this sample is most important to consider?

    • Inter-rater reliability of observations
    • Use of a repeated measures design
    • Random allocation to conditions
    • Generalisability to people who are not students at that university

  15. A study of memory uses a laboratory experiment with random allocation and measures recall in words. Which feature of the data is best described as quantitative?

    • The number of words recalled
    • The participant's description of their memory strategy
    • The participant's comment about the task
    • The researcher's notes on the room

  16. Which combination describes an experiment conducted in a natural setting with the researcher manipulating the independent variable?

    • Content analysis
    • Laboratory experiment
    • Case study
    • Field experiment

  17. A researcher uses random sampling from a list of all students. Which statement about the sample is most accurate?

    • It removes the need for ethical approval
    • It is more likely to be representative of the population than a volunteer sample
    • It is always identical to the population
    • It guarantees significant results

  18. A researcher wants to compare the effects of two teaching methods, each taught to a different class. Which design is this?

    • Repeated measures design
    • Independent groups design
    • Single case study
    • Matched pairs design

  19. Which design most directly controls for participant variables such as age and motivation?

    • Repeated measures design
    • Opportunity sampling design
    • Naturalistic observation
    • Independent groups design with no matching

  20. A study measures reaction time in 50 participants before and after a caffeine drink with no control group. What is the main weakness?

    • The study cannot collect any numerical data
    • The design makes random allocation impossible for all participants
    • No control group means changes cannot be confidently attributed to caffeine alone, as practice or time of day could explain them
    • The study uses too few participants to produce any results

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