Year 10 Psychology

Topic 1: Science Inquiry Skills

PRACTICE TOPIC TEST

SUGGESTED ANSWERS
Time: 60 minutes

Total Marks = 60

Approved dictionaries and calculators may be used

1. The test paper consists of 7 short answer questions and 1 extended response.

2. You will have 5 minutes of reading time. You must not write in the question booklet during
this time but you may make notes on scribbling paper.

3. There is no need to fill all of the space provided; clear well expressed answers are required.
If you need more space use the back of the page and clearly indicate you have done this. If
you delete part or all of an answer you should clearly indicate your final answer.

Good luck!

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 SCIENCE INQUIRY SKILLS PRACTICE TEST
[60 marks]

SECTION A
(40 marks)

SHORT ANSWER RESPONSE

1. Describe one advantage of:

a. An observational research design.

Any one of the following:
 Allows study of more complex phenomenon that cant be studied in the lab.
 Allows the study of variables that are too unethical or impossible to manipulate
 Allows for bigger sample sizes

b. A qualitative research design.

Any one of the following:
 Can be more convenient
 Can collect significant amounts of rich, verbal data
 Opinions can be expressed
 Useful is little is known about the topic

2. State an example of a qualitative research method of assessing a psychological response.

Any one of the following:
 Survey
 Interview
 Picture
 Video footage
 Descriptions
 Questionnaire

3. State one example of an objective quantitative method.

Any one of the following:
 Standardised tests
 Physiological responses i.e. heart rate, blood pressure etc.

4. Describe two differences between an investigation classified as an experimental design and an

investigation classified as an observational design.
Need to make sure there are two separate differences referencing both designs.
Experimental
 IV is manipulated
 Controlled setting
 Random allocation
Observational
 IV is pre-existing/not manipulated
 Natural setting
 No random allocation – pre-existing groups

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 The next 2 questions (5 & 6) refer to the following graph

5. A researcher was interested in finding the effect that coffee consumption has on heart rate by
comparing the readings from heart rate monitors of subjects who had consumed coffee and those
who had not consumed coffee.

Effect of Coffee Consumption on Heart Rate

Control Group- No Coffee Experimental Group- Coffee
Participant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Heart Rate
(beats per 50 89 68 63 74 70 65 85 60 76 121 102 111 86 118 78 89 96 94 105
minute)
TOTAL 700 TOTAL 1000

a. Using the information from the table above, determine the mean of the heart rate scores for:
i. Control Group- No Coffee
70
ii. Experimental Group- Coffee
100

b. Using the information from the table above, determine the median of the heart rate scores for:
i. Control Group- No Coffee
69

ii. Experimental Group- Coffee

99

c. Using the figures from Part a and Part b, describe the effect of consuming coffee on heart rate?
The consumption of coffee increases heart rates. Refer to the scores above in answer.

d. State the Independent Variable

Coffee
e. State the Dependant Variable
Heart rates

f. State and describe the research design of this investigation.

Experimental
 There was random allocation
 IV was manipulated
 Controlled setting
 Hypothesis testing

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 g. State the research method of assessing this type of psychological response.
Objective quantitative – measuring heart rates – cannot argue with the results and they are in
number form.

6. Describe two of the main ethical principles in Psychology and illustrate your answers with examples.
Any two of the following with examples:
Informed consent
Voluntary participation
Confidentiality
Right to withdraw
Debriefing
Deception
General wellbeing

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 Section B: EXTENDED RESPONSE QUESTION
[20 Marks]

7. A research psychologist was interested in the effects on primary school students of solving a jigsaw
puzzle.

The psychologist tested a sample of 100 students in grade 2 at Happy Primary School. The
sample was split randomly into two equal-sized groups. Students in one group assembled a
jigsaw puzzle for 10 minutes, while students in the other group sat in silence in a separate area
for 10 minutes and did not assemble a jigsaw puzzle. When the session was over, all students
completed an anxiety questionnaire (AQ).

The following table shows the results of the psychologist’s investigation.

Students’ anxiety questionnaire scores

Discuss:

a) TWO factors that would make this an experimental design.

b) One advantage and one disadvantage of an experimental design.
c) Identify TWO possible extraneous variables that could have influenced the results.
d) Discuss TWO ethical issues which are relevant to this research.

a) Two factors explained well and in relation to example:

a. Random allocation of participants
b. Manipulation of IV (jigsaw puzzles)
c. Controlled setting

b) One advantage and one disadvantage explained well in relation to scenario.

Advantages:
a. Limits extraneous variables
b. Easy to replicate
c. Explanations between variables
d. Generalisations can be made

Disadvantages
a. May not be applicable to real world (lacks external validity)
b. May not represent entire population
c. May be unethical

c) Two extraneous variables explained well in relation to example:

a. Children’s prior knowledge/experience with jigsaw puzzles
b. Mood on the day
c. Time of day experiment was conducted
d. Who they were in the groups with (known to them or strangers).

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d) Ethical Issues – two explained well in relation to example
a. Informed consent – would need parental consent due to being under 18
b. Voluntary participation – may have felt obligated due to higher authority figure
c. Confidentiality – making sure the children’s IDs were not made public
d. Right to withdraw – does not specify if children had this right
e. Debriefing – making sure children are safe and can discuss concerns
f. General wellbeing – may be considered unethical to measure anxiety levels and possibly
increase anxiety in children.