Chapter 2 Questions (Methods of Enquiry in Psychology)

MCQs (Rote Learning)

1. Which goal of psychological enquiry focuses on identifying causal factors of behavior?

a) Description
b) Prediction
c) Explanation
d) Control

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2. The step in scientific research involving developing a tentative answer to a problem is called:
a) Data collection
b) Hypothesis formulation
c) Drawing conclusions
d) Conceptualization

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3. Naturalistic observation differs from controlled observation in that it:
a) Manipulates variables
b) Occurs in real-life settings
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c) Uses laboratory equipment
d) Requires participant involvement

4. In an experiment, the variable manipulated by the researcher is the:

a) Dependent variable
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b) Extraneous variable
c) Independent variable
d) Controlled variable

5. A correlation coefficient of -0.89 indicates:

a) Strong positive relationship
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b) Strong negative relationship

c) Weak relationship
d) No relationship
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6. Which method is best for studying attitudes toward privatization of education?

a) Case study
b) Survey
c) Experiment
d) Observational method

7. Psychological tests must demonstrate ________ for consistent results over time.
a) Validity
b) Reliability
c) Standardization
 d) Objectivity

8. The primary limitation of laboratory experiments is:

a) High cost
b) Low external validity
c) Ethical concerns
d) Inability to control variables

9. In participant observation, the researcher:

a) Remains detached from the group
b) Becomes part of the group being studied

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c) Uses structured questionnaires
d) Controls environmental variables

10. Which data type includes information about heart rate or brain activity?

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a) Demographic
b) Psychological
c) Physiological
d) Environmental
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11. A hypothesis stating "Increased peer pressure raises anxiety levels" has the independent
variable as:
a) Anxiety levels
b) Peer pressure
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c) Emotional adjustment
d) Academic performance

12. Quasi-experimentation is used when:

a) Random assignment is possible
b) Variables cannot be manipulated ethically
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c) High external validity is required

d) Laboratory settings are available

13. The purpose of debriefing in research is to:

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a) Obtain informed consent

b) Share results with participants
c) Remove post-study anxiety
d) Ensure confidentiality

14. Which method involves in-depth study of an individual with unique characteristics?
a) Survey
b) Correlational research
c) Case study
d) Experiment
15. A test measuring what it claims to measure has high:
a) Reliability
b) Validity
c) Standardization
d) Objectivity

16. Non-participant observation risks:

a) Low generalizability
b) Observer bias
c) Altering participants' behavior

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d) High cost

17. Demographic information includes all EXCEPT:

a) Family income

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b) Personality traits
c) Marital status
d) Education level
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18. The control group in an experiment:
a) Receives the independent variable
b) Is compared to the experimental group
c) Always has random participants
d) Manipulates extraneous variables
hm

19. A zero correlation between two variables means:

a) They have a strong relationship
b) One causes the other
c) No relationship exists
d) Both variables decrease together
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20. Ethical guidelines require researchers to:

a) Use deception frequently
b) Share benefits only with participants
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c) Protect participants from harm

d) Ignore informed consent

21. Which research step follows data collection?

a) Hypothesis formulation
b) Data analysis
c) Conceptualizing the problem
d) Revising conclusions

22. Qualitative data analysis is used for:

 a) Statistical comparisons
b) Narrative descriptions
c) Calculating correlation coefficients
d) Testing reliability

23. The goal of "control" in psychological research refers to:

a) Describing behavior
b) Altering antecedent conditions
c) Predicting future events
d) Applying theories

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24. Psychological tests classifying individuals based on age or gender use:
a) Validity scales
b) Norms
c) Reliability indices

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d) Power tests

25. A speed test assesses:

a) Underlying ability without time limits
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b) Items arranged by difficulty
c) Performance under time constraints
d) Open-ended responses

26. Confidentiality in research ensures:

hm

a) Participants cannot withdraw

b) Data is publicly available
c) Privacy of participant information
d) Mandatory participation

27. The interpretive paradigm in psychology emphasizes:

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a) Prediction over understanding

b) Quantitative data analysis
c) Subjective meaning of events
d) Laboratory experiments
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28. Counter-balancing in experiments minimizes:

a) Sampling bias
b) Sequence effects
c) Extraneous variables
d) Demand characteristics

29. Telephone surveys are limited by:

a) High response rates
b) In-depth data collection
 c) Superficial answers
d) Low cost

30. In structured interviews:

a) Questions are flexible
b) Responses are open-ended
c) Wording and sequence are fixed
d) Rapport building is unnecessary

31. Physical information in psychological data includes:

a) Intelligence scores

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b) Housing conditions
c) Parental education
d) Emotional states

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32. Matching participants in experimental groups controls for:
a) Independent variables
b) Organismic variables
c) Dependent variables
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d) Sequential variables

33. The application goal of research aims to:

a) Explain causal relationships
b) Describe phenomena
hm

c) Improve quality of life

d) Predict behavior

34. A power test is characterized by:

a) Fixed time limits
b) Items of uniform difficulty
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c) Increasing item difficulty

d) Speed-based scoring

35. Random assignment in experiments ensures:

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a) Identical participant characteristics

b) Elimination of all extraneous variables
c) No systematic group differences
d) High external validity

36. Box 2.1 (smoke experiment) demonstrated the effect of:

a) Group size on helping behavior
b) Noise on problem-solving
c) Temperature on aggression
d) Lighting on memory recall
37. A researcher studying tsunami survivors' trauma would likely use:
a) Laboratory experiment
b) Quasi-experiment
c) Controlled observation
d) Speed test

38. Content analysis is used primarily for:

a) Quantitative data
b) Statistical inference
c) Thematic categorization

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d) Calculating means

39. Lack of a true zero point in psychological measurement implies:

a) Absolute scores are possible

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b) Ranks are always equal-interval
c) Scores have relative value
d) Tests are universally applicable
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40. Informed consent requires participants to:
a) Withdraw data post-study
b) Understand the study's nature
c) Receive financial incentives
d) Share private information publicly
hm

41. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) is a type of:

a) Individual interview
b) Group interview
c) Non-participant observation
d) Case study
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42. A negative correlation is observed when:

a) Both variables increase
b) One increases, the other decreases
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c) No change occurs
d) Variables are unrelated

43. Galvanic Skin Resistance (GSR) falls under:

a) Psychological data
b) Demographic data
c) Physiological data
d) Environmental data

44. Revising research conclusions is necessary when:

 a) Data collection is complete
b) Hypotheses are disproven
c) Participants volunteer
d) Samples are small

45. Objectivity in psychological tests means:

a) Different researchers get similar results
b) Tests are administered individually
c) Subjective interpretation is encouraged
d) Items are open-ended

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46. The survey method's key weakness is:
a) In-depth data
b) Quick data collection
c) Inaccurate self-reports

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d) High generalizability

47. Case studies are rich in information because they focus on:
a) Large samples
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b) Unique individuals/groups
c) Controlled variables
d) Statistical analysis

48. "Beneficence" in ethics refers to:

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a) Voluntary participation
b) Protecting participants from harm
c) Sharing research benefits
d) Confidentiality

49. The alternative name for the interpretive paradigm is:

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a) Quantitative research
b) Positivist approach
c) Qualitative research
d) Experimental design
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50. A test-retest reliability coefficient is calculated using:

a) Cronbach's alpha
b) Correlation between two administrations
c) Split-half method
d) Content validity analysis

Answer Key
1. c
2. b
3. b
4. c
5. b
6. b
7. b
8. b
9. b
10. c
11. b
12. b
13. c

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14. c
15. b
16. c
17. b

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18. b
19. c
20. c
21. b
22. b
23. b
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24. b
25. c
26. c
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27. c
28. b
29. c
30. c
31. b
32. b
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33. c
34. c
35. c
36. a
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37. b
38. c
39. c
40. b
41. b
42. b
43. c
44. b
45. a
46. c
47. b
48. b
49. c
50. b

Competency Based MC Questions

Remembering (Recall Facts)

1. The primary goal of psychological enquiry focusing on identifying antecedent conditions of

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behavior is:
a) Description
b) Prediction
c) Explanation
d) Application

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2. A research design where the researcher observes behavior without manipulation occurs in:
a) Laboratory experiment
b) Naturalistic observation
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c) Case study
d) Survey

3. The ethical principle violated when participants aren't informed about potential risks is:
a) Confidentiality
hm

b) Informed consent
c) Debriefing
d) Beneficence

Understanding (Explain Concepts)

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4. The purpose of random assignment in experiments is to:

a) Ensure identical characteristics in all groups
b) Eliminate all extraneous variables
c) Minimize systematic differences between groups
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d) Guarantee high external validity

5. Physiological data in psychological research typically includes:

a) Income levels and education
b) Heart rate and brain activity
c) Personality test scores
d) Housing conditions

6. A key characteristic of standardized psychological tests is:

a) Subjective interpretation of results
b) Flexibility in administration procedures
c) Established norms for comparison
d) Open-ended response formats

Applying (Use Knowledge)

7. For studying the immediate effects of noise pollution on concentration, the most appropriate
method would be:
a) Longitudinal survey
b) Laboratory experiment
c) Naturalistic observation

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d) Case study

8. In testing the hypothesis "Stress reduces problem-solving ability," the dependent variable is:
a) Stress levels

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b) Problem-solving ability
c) Participant age
d) Testing environment
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9. To ensure reliability in an observational study of classroom behavior, researchers should:
a) Use multiple trained observers
b) Rely on teacher reports
c) Conduct single observations
d) Ignore inter-rater differences
hm

Analyzing (Break Down Information)

10. A study reporting a correlation of -0.82 between sleep duration and irritability suggests:
a) More sleep causes less irritability
b) Less sleep is associated with more irritability
c) Irritability causes sleep loss
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d) No meaningful relationship exists

11. The primary limitation of using mailed questionnaires in survey research is:
a) High response rate
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b) Poor control over sampling

c) Difficulty in data analysis
d) Low return rate

12. In a quasi-experiment comparing trauma survivors with non-survivors, the lack of random
assignment primarily affects:
a) Internal validity
b) External validity
c) Reliability
d) Standardization
 Evaluating (Judge/Critique)
13. The strongest criticism of laboratory experiments in psychology is their:
a) High cost
b) Artificiality limiting generalizability
c) Difficulty in data collection
d) Inability to establish correlations

14. The most ethical approach when using deception in research involves:
a) Never revealing the true purpose
b) Debriefing participants afterward

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c) Avoiding any form of consent
d) Using it only in surveys

15. A case study would be most appropriate when investigating:

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a) Average memory capacity in adults
b) A rare psychological disorder
c) Group decision-making patterns
d) Universal emotional expressions
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Creating (Design/Synthesize)
16. To study the development of language in twins raised apart, the optimal research design
would combine:
a) Surveys and experiments
hm

b) Case studies and correlational methods

c) Naturalistic observation and lab tests
d) Interviews and physiological measures

17. An improvement to increase the validity of an aggression test would be to:

a) Add more items about happiness
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b) Correlate scores with real-world violent behavior

c) Make all items open-ended
d) Use shorter response scales
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18. For adapting a Western personality test for tribal populations, the essential modification
would be:
a) Keeping all original items
b) Changing only the response format
c) Including culturally relevant situations
d) Using the same standardization sample

Additional Higher-Order Questions

19. The experimental method demonstrates superiority over correlational research when the
research goal is to:
a) Identify relationships between variables
b) Establish cause-effect relationships
c) Collect large amounts of data quickly
d) Study real-world settings

20. In a study examining test anxiety, manipulating the difficulty level of exams serves as the:
a) Dependent variable
b) Extraneous variable
c) Independent variable

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d) Controlled variable

21. A researcher using content analysis to study childhood trauma in autobiographies is

employing:

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a) Quantitative method
b) Qualitative method
c) Mixed method
d) Experimental method
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22. The critical difference between participant and non-participant observation lies in the
researcher's:
a) Level of involvement with subjects
b) Use of structured checklists
hm

c) Focus on physiological measures

d) Reliance on self-reports

23. When a psychological test produces consistent results across multiple administrations, it
demonstrates high:
a) Content validity
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b) Construct validity
c) Test-retest reliability
d) Face validity
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24. The primary advantage of using structured interviews over unstructured ones is:
a) Greater depth of information
b) Standardization of responses
c) Flexibility in questioning
d) Lower researcher bias

25. In psychological research, the term "variable" refers to:

a) Any measurable characteristic that can vary
b) Only manipulated factors in experiments
c) Unchanging aspects of behavior
d) Theoretical constructs without empirical basis

47. The most significant limitation of psychological tests developed in one culture and used in
another is:
a) High cost of administration
b) Language translation difficulties
c) Potential cultural bias in items
d) Requirement of specialized training

48. A researcher studying the effectiveness of a new therapy for phobias would achieve the
strongest evidence by using:

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a) A single case study design
b) Correlational analysis of patient records
c) An experimental group with control group
d) Naturalistic observation in clinics

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49. The key purpose of developing norms for psychological tests is to:
a) Ensure all items are difficult
b) Provide comparative standards
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c) Eliminate the need for validity
d) Make tests shorter

50. When qualitative and quantitative methods produce similar conclusions about a
phenomenon, this strengthens the study's:
hm

a) Internal validity
b) Reliability
c) Triangulation
d) Standardization

Answer Key
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1. c
2. b
3. b
4. c
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5. b
6. c
7. b
8. b
9. a
10. b
11. d
12. a
13. b
14. b
15. b
16. b
17. b
18. c
19. b
20. c
21. b
22. a
23. c
24. b
25. a

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47. c
48. c
49. b
50. c

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Assertion-Reason Questions
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Instructions:
For each question, two statements are given:
- Assertion (A)
- Reason (R)
hm

Mark the correct choice:

a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
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1. Assertion (A): Naturalistic observation provides high ecological validity.

Reason (R): It studies behavior in real-life settings without manipulation.
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2. Assertion (A): The experimental method establishes cause-effect relationships.

Reason (R): It systematically manipulates the independent variable while controlling
extraneous variables.

3. Assertion (A): Case studies are unsuitable for generalizing findings to larger populations.
Reason (R): They focus on in-depth analysis of unique individuals or small groups.

4. Assertion (A): Psychological tests must demonstrate reliability to be considered valid.

Reason (R): A test cannot measure what it claims to measure if its results are inconsistent.
5. Assertion (A): Correlational research cannot prove causation.
Reason (R): It only measures the degree of association between variables.

6. Assertion (A): Debriefing is ethically mandatory after using deception in research.

Reason (R): Participants must leave the study in the same mental state as they entered.

7. Assertion (A): Quasi-experiments are more ecologically valid than laboratory experiments.
Reason (R): They study pre-existing groups in natural settings.

8. Assertion (A): Surveys are prone to social desirability bias.

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Reason (R): Respondents may provide answers they believe are socially acceptable.

9. Assertion (A): Random assignment eliminates all extraneous variables in experiments.

Reason (R): It ensures equal distribution of participant characteristics across groups.

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10. Assertion (A): Qualitative research emphasizes subjective interpretation of data.
Reason (R): It focuses on understanding meanings and experiences in context.
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11. Assertion (A): A correlation coefficient of 0 indicates no relationship between variables.
Reason (R): The variables change independently of each other.

12. Assertion (A): Informed consent is waived in observational studies conducted in public
spaces.
hm

Reason (R): People in public settings have no expectation of privacy.

13. Assertion (A): The control group in an experiment receives no treatment.

Reason (R): It serves as a baseline for comparison with the experimental group.

14. Assertion (A): Psychological data are always objective and measurable.
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Reason (R): Human behavior and mental processes can be directly observed like physical
phenomena.

15. Assertion (A): Standardized tests require norms for interpretation.

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Reason (R): Norms provide reference points for comparing individual scores.

16. Assertion (A): Participant observation reduces reactivity in research.

Reason (R): The observer’s presence becomes less noticeable over time.

17. Assertion (A): The survey method is unsuitable for studying sensitive topics.
Reason (R): Respondents may provide inaccurate information due to privacy concerns.

18. Assertion (A): Content analysis is a qualitative method.

Reason (R): It involves systematic categorization of textual or visual data.
19. Assertion (A): A speed test assesses problem-solving ability under time constraints.
Reason (R): All items in a speed test are of equal difficulty.

20. Assertion (A): Confidentiality in research means anonymizing participant data.

Reason (R): It protects participants from potential harm if their responses are disclosed.

21. Assertion (A): The interpretive paradigm rejects the use of quantitative methods.
Reason (R): It prioritizes understanding subjective experiences over objective measurement.

22. Assertion (A): Field experiments have higher external validity than lab experiments.

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Reason (R): They are conducted in natural environments with real-world conditions.

23. Assertion (A): Open-ended questions in interviews provide richer data than closed-ended
questions.

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Reason (R): They allow respondents to answer in their own words without constraints.

24. Assertion (A): Matching is used to control organismic variables in experiments.

Reason (R): It ensures equivalent distribution of participant characteristics across groups.
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25. Assertion (A): Psychological measurements lack a true zero point.
Reason (R): Attributes like intelligence or personality cannot be absent completely.
hm

Answer Key
1. a
2. a
3. a
4. a
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5. a
6. a
7. a
8. a
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9. b (A is false: random assignment reduces but doesn’t eliminate all extraneous variables)
10. a
11. a
12. b (A is false: ethical guidelines still apply to public observations)
13. a
14. d (A is false: psychological data can be subjective)
15. a
16. a
17. a
18. b (R describes the method but doesn’t fully explain why it’s qualitative)
19. b (Both true but R doesn’t explain A)
20. a
21. b (Interpretive paradigm doesn’t reject but de-emphasizes quantification)
22. a
23. a
24. a
25. A

Competency Based Questions

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Remembering (Recall)

1. List the four main goals of psychological enquiry.

Keywords: Description, prediction, explanation, control

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2. Name three types of data collected in psychological studies.
Keywords: Demographic, physiological, psychological

3. Identify two ethical principles in psychological research.

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Keywords: Informed consent, confidentiality, debriefing

Understanding (Comprehension)

4. Explain why naturalistic observation has high ecological validity.

hm

Keywords: Real-world setting, no manipulation, natural behavior

5. Differentiate between independent and dependent variables with examples.

Keywords: Manipulated vs. measured, cause vs. effect

6. Summarize the purpose of a control group in experiments.

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Keywords: Baseline comparison, minimizes confounding variables

Applying (Application)
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7. How would you design a study to test the impact of sleep deprivation on memory?
Keywords: Experimental method, IV= sleep hours, DV= memory test

8. Suggest a method to study attitudes toward online learning in rural areas.

Keywords: Survey, structured interviews, sampling considerations

9. Propose a way to minimize observer bias in classroom behavior studies.

Keywords: Multiple observers, inter-rater reliability, blind observation

Analyzing (Analysis)
10. Compare the strengths of case studies vs. surveys in studying trauma survivors.
Keywords: Depth vs. breadth, qualitative vs. quantitative, generalizability

11. Interpret a correlation coefficient of -0.65 between stress and academic performance.
Keywords: Negative relationship, strength, no causation

12. Critique the limitations of using psychological tests developed in Western cultures.
Keywords: Cultural bias, item relevance, standardization issues

Evaluating (Evaluation)

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13. Justify why debriefing is essential after deceptive research.
Keywords: Ethical responsibility, psychological harm, transparency

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14. Assess the validity of a lab experiment on aggression for real-world applicability.
Keywords: Artificiality, external validity, controlled vs. natural settings

15. Defend the use of qualitative methods in studying subjective experiences like grief.
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Keywords: Narrative analysis, context, meaning-making

Creating (Synthesis)

16. Design a quasi-experiment to study the effects of peer tutoring on academic confidence.
hm

Keywords: Pre-existing groups, IV= tutoring exposure, DV= confidence scale

17. Develop a rubric to evaluate the reliability of an observational checklist.

Keywords: Inter-rater consistency, operational definitions, training protocols

18. Create guidelines for adapting a depression inventory for adolescent populations.
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Keywords: Age-appropriate language, cultural relevance, pilot testing

Higher-Order Integration
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19. How might physiological data enhance self-report measures in stress research?
Keywords: Cortisol levels, GSR, triangulation

20. Analyze how researcher bias could affect interview data on parenting styles.
Keywords: Leading questions, subjectivity, reflexivity

21. Propose a mixed-methods approach to study smartphone addiction in teenagers.

Keywords: Surveys + usage tracking, qualitative interviews

Method-Specific Questions
22. Describe the steps to ensure standardization in a newly developed anxiety test.
Keywords: Norms, administration protocols, scoring consistency

23. Explain how counterbalancing addresses order effects in repeated-measures designs.

Keywords: Sequence variation, fatigue, practice effects

24. Why is informed consent problematic in covert observational studies?

Keywords: Privacy, ethical dilemma, public vs. private spaces

Ethical Scenarios

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25. How would you handle a participant who withdraws consent midway through a study?
Keywords: Data exclusion, respect for autonomy, ethical guidelines

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26. Evaluate the trade-offs between scientific rigor and participant comfort in milgram-like
experiments.
Keywords: Deception, distress, knowledge advancement
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Data Interpretation

27. A study reports p<0.05 for the effect of meditation on focus. What does this imply?
Keywords: Statistical significance, null hypothesis
hm

28. Why might a researcher choose narrative analysis over statistical tests for trauma
narratives?
Keywords: Rich descriptions, thematic patterns, subjectivity

Critical Perspectives
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29. Debate: "Laboratory experiments sacrifice ecological validity for control."

Keywords: Artificial settings, replicability, real-world application

30. How can participatory research methods address power imbalances in psychological
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studies?
Keywords: Collaborative design, marginalized voices, empowerment

Competency-based open-ended questions (without 5w+h)

Remembering (Recall)

1. List three characteristics of standardized psychological tests.

Keywords: Norms, reliability, validity, objectivity
2. Name two types of observation methods used in psychological research.
Keywords: Participant, non-participant, naturalistic, controlled

3. Identify four steps involved in conducting scientific research.

Keywords: Problem identification, data collection, analysis, conclusion

Understanding (Comprehension)

4. Explain how correlational research differs from experimental research.

Keywords: Association vs causation, manipulation, control

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5. Describe the purpose of developing norms for psychological tests.
Keywords: Comparison standards, reference groups, interpretation

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6. Differentiate between speed tests and power tests.
Keywords: Time constraints, item difficulty, ability measurement

Applying (Application)
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7. Demonstrate how counterbalancing would be used in a memory experiment with multiple
trials.
Keywords: Sequence variation, order effects, experimental design
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8. Illustrate how a researcher might ensure confidentiality in a study about sensitive personal
experiences.
Keywords: Anonymization, data encryption, secure storage

9. Show how qualitative data from interviews could be organized for analysis.
Keywords: Thematic coding, categorization, narrative patterns
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Analyzing (Analysis)

10. Compare the advantages of field experiments versus laboratory experiments.

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Keywords: Ecological validity, control, generalizability

11. Examine potential sources of bias in self-report questionnaire data.

Keywords: Social desirability, response style, memory accuracy

12. Analyze why psychological measurements lack a true zero point.

Keywords: Relative scales, minimum thresholds, quantitative limitations

Evaluating (Evaluation)
13. Assess the ethical implications of using deception in a study about cheating behavior.
Keywords: Informed consent, debriefing, risk-benefit analysis

14. Critique the limitations of using case studies for making generalizations about human
behavior.
Keywords: Sample size, uniqueness, subjectivity

15. Justify the selection of a quasi-experimental design for studying natural disaster survivors.
Keywords: Ethical constraints, real-world conditions, pre-existing groups

Creating (Synthesis)

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16. Design a procedure to test the reliability of a new personality inventory.
Keywords: Test-retest, split-half, internal consistency

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17. Develop guidelines for researchers conducting cross-cultural psychological studies.
Keywords: Cultural sensitivity, instrument adaptation, local norms

18. Propose a mixed-methods approach to study workplace motivation.

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Keywords: Surveys, interviews, behavioral observations

Advanced Application
19. Predict challenges that might arise when translating a depression scale to another
language.
hm

Keywords: Conceptual equivalence, idioms, cultural expressions

20. Formulate strategies to minimize experimenter bias in behavioral observation studies.

Keywords: Blind procedures, operational definitions, multiple observers
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Case Based

Case 1: Experimental Study

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Scenario: A researcher investigates whether background music improves memory recall.

Participants are divided into two groups: Group A studies with instrumental music, while Group
B studies in silence. Both groups take the same memory test afterward.

1. (1 mark) Identify the independent variable in this study.

Hint: Focus on what is manipulated.

2. (2 marks) Explain two controls the researcher must implement to ensure valid results.
Hint: Consider environmental and participant-related factors.
Case 2: Ethical Dilemma

Scenario: A psychologist secretly observes children’s playground behavior to study aggression

but does not inform parents or teachers.

1. (1 mark) Name the ethical principle violated in this study.

Hint: Relate to participant rights.

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2. (2 marks) Suggest two modifications to make this study ethically compliant.
Hint: Address consent and privacy.

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Case 3: Correlational Research

Scenario: A study finds a correlation of +0.68 between social media usage and anxiety levels in
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adolescents.

1. (1 mark) Interpret the strength and direction of this correlation.

Hint: Numerical value significance.
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2. (2 marks) Explain why this finding does not prove that social media causes anxiety.
Hint: Limitations of correlation.

Case 4: Psychological Testing

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Scenario: A school administers a newly developed "Learning Motivation Test" but finds
inconsistent scores when the same students retake it after a month.
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1. (1 mark) Identify the psychometric property lacking in this test.

Hint: Consistency over time.

2. (2 marks) Recommend two steps to improve the test’s quality.

Hint: Reliability and standardization.
Case 5: Naturalistic Observation

Scenario: Researchers document helping behavior in a crowded metro station by recording how
often passengers assist others with heavy luggage.

1. (1 mark) State one advantage of using naturalistic observation here.

Hint: Ecological validity.

2. (2 marks) Describe two limitations of this method in the given scenario.

Hint: Subjectivity and external factors.

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Case 6: Survey Method

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Scenario: A university emails a 50-item questionnaire about campus safety to 5,000 students
but receives only 200 responses.

1. (1 mark) Identify the primary limitation affecting this survey’s results.

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Hint: Response rate issue.

2. (2 marks) Propose two strategies to increase response rates for future surveys.
Hint: Incentives and design improvements.
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Case 7: Quasi-Experiment

Scenario: A researcher compares academic performance of students from single-parent and

dual-parent households without random assignment.
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1. (1 mark) Define why this is a quasi-experimental design.

Hint: Lack of randomization.
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2. (2 marks) Discuss one strength and one weakness of this approach.

Hint: Real-world relevance vs. confounding variables.

Case 8: Case Study

Scenario: A psychologist publishes detailed findings about a child prodigy’s cognitive

development over 5 years.
1. (1 mark) Name the research method used here.
Hint: In-depth longitudinal analysis.

2. (2 marks) Justify why this method is appropriate for studying rare talents.
Hint: Uniqueness and depth.

Case 9: Interview Technique

Scenario: A clinical psychologist uses open-ended questions to explore depression experiences

in war veterans.

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1. (1 mark) State whether this is a structured or unstructured interview.
Hint: Question flexibility.

2. (2 marks) Contrast this with closed-ended questions in terms of data richness.

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Hint: Depth vs. quantifiability.

Case 10: Data Analysis

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Scenario: A researcher codes interview transcripts about workplace stress into themes like
"workload" and "managerial support."

1. (1 mark) Identify the data analysis method being used.

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Hint: Qualitative categorization.

2. (2 marks) Explain how this differs from quantitative analysis of survey data.
Hint: Themes vs. statistics.
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