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Mock Exam: Experimental Psychology (Chapters 5–8)

Part I: Correlational and Quasi-Experimental Designs (1–30)

1. Identification:

The Latin term “quasi” means “______.”

→ Answer: Seeming like

2. True or False:

Quasi-experiments have random assignment to conditions.

→ Answer: False

3. Multiple Choice:

Which of the following best describes a quasi-experiment?

A. Randomly assigns subjects to treatment conditions

B. Manipulates antecedent conditions freely

C. Studies effects of preexisting conditions

D. Lacks external validity

→ Answer: C. Studies effects of preexisting conditions

4. Enumeration:

Give two examples of preexisting antecedent conditions that might be studied in a quasi-
experiment.

→ Answer: Life events (e.g., 9/11), Subject characteristics (e.g., having autism)

5. Identification:

The ability to conclude with confidence that an antecedent condition caused behavior is called
______ validity.

→ Answer: Internal validity

6. True or False:
Quasi-experiments are low in external validity.

→ Answer: False

7. Identification:

A study that determines the degree of relationship between two variables is called a ______
study.

→ Answer: Correlational study

8. Multiple Choice:

Which statistic is used to compute the correlation between two variables?

A. Chi-square

B. Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient

C. ANOVA

D. Regression Coefficient

→ Answer: B. Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient

9. True or False:

Correlation can establish cause and effect.

→ Answer: False

10. Enumeration:

Give the three possible outcomes of a correlation.

→ Answer: Positive, Negative, No relationship

11. Identification:

A graph that shows pairs of data points for correlation is called a ______.

→ Answer: Scatterplot

12. Multiple Choice:

The closer the correlation coefficient (r) is to ±1.0, the ______ the relationship.

A. Weaker

B. Stronger

C. Less predictable
D. More curvilinear

→ Answer: B. Stronger

13. True or False:

A curvilinear relationship can sometimes appear as no relationship.

→ Answer: True

14. Identification:

A correlation coefficient of –0.89 indicates a ______ relationship.

→ Answer: Strong negative

15. Multiple Choice:

Which property of correlation shows the strength of the relationship?

A. Linearity

B. Sign

C. Magnitude

D. Probability

→ Answer: C. Magnitude

16. True or False:

Correlation implies causation.

→ Answer: False

17. Identification:

The formula r² represents the ______.

→ Answer: Coefficient of determination

18. Multiple Choice:

If r = 0.60, what is r²?

A. 0.12

B. 0.36

C. 0.60
D. 0.40

→ Answer: B. 0.36

19. True or False:

A correlation study manipulates independent variables.

→ Answer: False

20. Enumeration:

List the four properties of correlation.

→ Answer: Linearity, Sign, Magnitude, Probability

21. Identification:

Extreme scores that disturb correlation trends are called ______.

→ Answer: Outliers

22. Multiple Choice:

Which of the following statements about positive correlation is TRUE?

A. As one variable increases, the other decreases.

B. Both variables move in the same direction.

C. There is no relationship between variables.

D. It always indicates causation.

→ Answer: B. Both variables move in the same direction.

23. True or False:

Negative correlation is also called an inverse relationship.

→ Answer: True

24. Identification:

A relationship in which both variables affect each other is known as ______ causation.

→ Answer: Bidirectional causation

25. Multiple Choice:

Which of the following is an example of the third-variable problem?

B. Insomnia causes depression

C. Depression causes insomnia

D. Depression and insomnia unrelated

→ Answer: A. Depression and insomnia both affected by family conflict

26. True or False:

Causal direction means it’s unclear which variable causes which.

→ Answer: True

27. Identification:

A design that compares treatments on preexisting groups is called a ______ design.

→ Answer: Nonequivalent groups design

28. Multiple Choice:

Which design measures the same group at different times?

A. Cross-sectional

B. Longitudinal

C. Experimental

D. Regression

→ Answer: B. Longitudinal

29. Identification:

A research method measuring behavior before and after an event without a control group is
called ______.

→ Answer: Pretest/Posttest design

30. True or False:

Practice effects can threaten the internal validity of a pretest/posttest design.

→ Answer: True

Part II: Formulating Hypothesis (31–60)

→ Answer: Hypothesis

32. Multiple Choice:

Which of the following best defines an experimental hypothesis?

A. A prediction of correlation between unrelated traits

B. A statement predicting how an IV affects a DV

C. A question that cannot be tested

D. A conclusion drawn from data

→ Answer: B. A statement predicting how an IV affects a DV

33. True or False:

A nonexperimental hypothesis predicts correlation but not causation.

→ Answer: True

34. Identification:

A hypothesis that can be true or false is known as a ______ statement.

→ Answer: Synthetic statement

35. Multiple Choice:

Why must hypotheses be synthetic statements?

A. So they can be creative

B. So they can be proven true or false

C. So they cannot be tested

D. So they remain abstract

→ Answer: B. So they can be proven true or false

36. Identification:

The property that allows a hypothesis to be assessed through manipulation of variables is called
______.

→ Answer: Testability

37. True or False:

→ Answer: True

38. Identification:

The preference for simple hypotheses over complex ones is called ______.

→ Answer: Parsimony

39. Multiple Choice:

Which statement illustrates parsimony?

A. “The more assumptions, the better.”

B. “Simpler explanations are preferred.”

C. “Complex hypotheses are always correct.”

D. “Use as many supporting theories as possible.”

→ Answer: B. “Simpler explanations are preferred.”

40. True or False:

The inductive model reasons from general to specific.

→ Answer: False

41. Identification:

Reasoning from specific cases to general principles is called ______.

→ Answer: Induction

42. Identification:

Reasoning from general principles to specific predictions is called ______.

→ Answer: Deduction

43. Multiple Choice:

Combining induction and deduction involves:

A. Using random samples

B. Developing propositions using induction, then testing them deductively

C. Skipping prior research

→ Answer: B. Developing propositions using induction, then testing them

44. True or False:

Both experimental and nonexperimental research can help develop new hypotheses.

→ Answer: True

45. Enumeration:

List two benefits of reviewing prior research.

→ Answer: Identifies unanswered questions; Suggests new hypotheses

46. Identification:

The openness to unexpected findings that lead to discoveries is known as ______.

→ Answer: Serendipity

47. Multiple Choice:

Which scientist would be more likely to recognize the value of unexpected results?

A. A dogmatic scientist

B. A flexible and informed scientist

C. A novice student

D. A random observer

→ Answer: B. A flexible and informed scientist

48. True or False:

Intuition is the process of reasoning through formal logic.

→ Answer: False

49. Identification:

Knowing without reasoning or through unconscious problem-solving is called ______.

→ Answer: Intuition

50. Enumeration:

List the three strategies suggested under “When All Else Fails” for developing hypotheses.
→ Answer:

1. Read a psychology journal

2. Observe behavior in public

3. Choose a real-world problem and find its cause

51. Multiple Choice:

What is the purpose of the Introduction section in an APA research paper?

A. To show the experiment’s procedure

B. To provide a selective review of related research

C. To list all raw data

D. To display conclusions only

→ Answer: B. To provide a selective review of related research

52. Identification:

The statistical analysis of multiple similar studies is called a ______.

→ Answer: Meta-analysis

53. True or False:

A meta-analysis is an experiment.

→ Answer: False

54. Multiple Choice:

Which of the following best describes what a meta-analysis does?

A. It measures individual differences in a single experiment.

B. It combines results from many studies to determine average effect size.

C. It provides qualitative feedback only.

D. It replaces literature review.

→ Answer: B. It combines results from many studies to determine average effect

55. Identification:
The strength and external validity of a causal relationship are supported through a ______.

→ Answer: Meta-analysis

56. True or False:

Reviewing prior literature helps identify variables that may mediate effects.

→ Answer: True

57. Multiple Choice:

Which of these is not a good way to develop a hypothesis?

A. Observing real-world problems

B. Reading psychology journals

C. Guessing without research

D. Reviewing past experiments

→ Answer: C. Guessing without research

58. Identification:

When scientists use previous findings to construct unified theories, they are applying the
______ model.

→ Answer: Inductive model

59. Identification:

Testing specific predictions that stem from general principles applies the ______ model.

→ Answer: Deductive model

60. True or False:

Parsimony helps researchers focus only on essential variables influencing the dependent
variable.

→ Answer: True

61. Identification:

The variable that the experimenter intentionally manipulates is called the ______.

→ Answer: Independent variable

62. Identification:
The variable that is measured as the outcome of manipulation is the ______.

→ Answer: Dependent variable

63. Multiple Choice:

Which of the following is required in every experiment?

A. At least one dependent variable

B. At least two levels of the independent variable

C. More than three participants

D. Two research hypotheses

→ Answer: B. At least two levels of the independent variable

64. True or False:

An experiment is confounded when an extraneous variable changes systematically with the IV.

→ Answer: True

65. Identification:

The exact meaning of a variable in an experiment is specified by its ______.

→ Answer: Operational definition

66. Multiple Choice:

An experimental operational definition defines:

A. How the dependent variable is measured

B. How the independent variable is created

C. How to report results

D. The control group’s behavior

→ Answer: B. How the independent variable is created

67. True or False:

A measured operational definition specifies how to manipulate the IV.

→ Answer: False

68. Identification:
Assigning items to distinct categories without magnitude defines a ______ scale.

→ Answer: Nominal scale

69. Multiple Choice:

A runner’s place in a marathon represents what kind of scale?

A. Nominal

B. Ordinal

C. Interval

D. Ratio

→ Answer: B. Ordinal

70. Identification:

A scale with equal intervals but no true zero point is a(n) ______ scale.

→ Answer: Interval scale

71. Identification:

A scale with equal intervals and an absolute zero is called a ______ scale.

→ Answer: Ratio scale

72. Multiple Choice:

Which scale allows you to say that one measurement is twice as large as another?

A. Interval

B. Nominal

C. Ordinal

D. Ratio

→ Answer: D. Ratio

73. True or False:

Reliability refers to the accuracy of a measurement.

→ Answer: False

74. Identification:
The consistency of measurement across time or items refers to ______.

→ Answer: Reliability

75. Multiple Choice:

If a scale shows the same weight three times in a row, it has high ______.

A. Validity

B. Reliability

C. Sensitivity

D. Specificity

→ Answer: B. Reliability

76. Identification:

When observers agree on their measurements of behavior, this is called ______ reliability.

→ Answer: Interrater reliability

77. Identification:

When a person’s test scores remain consistent over multiple administrations, this is ______
reliability.

→ Answer: Test–retest reliability

78. Identification:

When parts of a test measuring the same variable yield consistent results, this is ______
reliability.

→ Answer: Interitem reliability

79. Multiple Choice:

Validity refers to:

A. Consistency of scores

B. Accuracy of manipulation or measurement

C. Presence of confounding

D. Number of variables used

→ Answer: B. Accuracy of manipulation or measurement

The degree to which a measurement appears valid is known as ______ validity.

→ Answer: Face validity

81. True or False:

Content validity means the measure accurately samples the content it intends to measure.

→ Answer: True

82. Multiple Choice:

A college entrance exam that predicts GPA demonstrates ______ validity.

A. Content

B. Construct

C. Predictive

D. Face

→ Answer: C. Predictive

83. Identification:

How accurately an operational definition represents a theoretical idea is known as ______

→ Answer: Construct validity

84. True or False:

Internal validity is concerned with how well a study’s results generalize to other settings.

→ Answer: False

85. Identification:

The degree to which the IV truly causes changes in the DV defines ______ validity.

→ Answer: Internal validity

86. Multiple Choice:

A threat to internal validity that occurs when an external event influences results is called a
______ threat.

A. History
B. Testing

C. Instrumentation

D. Maturation

→ Answer: A. History

87. Identification:

Changes in participants over time that affect the DV define a ______ threat.

→ Answer: Maturation threat

88. True or False:

Using the same test repeatedly may create a testing threat to internal validity.

→ Answer: True

89. Multiple Choice:

If the measuring tool changes accuracy during an experiment, this is a ______ threat.

A. Selection

B. Instrumentation

C. Regression

D. Mortality

→ Answer: B. Instrumentation

90. Identification:

When participants drop out unequally across conditions, it is called ______ threat.

→ Answer: Subject mortality threat

91. Identification:

Variables in the testing environment that must be controlled, such as lighting and room
temperature, are called ______ variables.

→ Answer: Physical variables

92. True or False:

Only the independent variable should differ across experimental conditions.

→ Answer: True
93. Multiple Choice:

A psychologist testing one group in a noisy room and another in a quiet room has a problem
with:

A. Internal validity

B. Extraneous variables

C. Sampling bias

D. External validity

→ Answer: B. Extraneous variables

94. Identification:

Completely removing an extraneous variable from an experiment is called ______.

→ Answer: Elimination

95. True or False:

Constancy of conditions means testing all subjects under the exact same circumstances.

→ Answer: True

96. Identification:

The technique that distributes the effects of an extraneous variable evenly across conditions is
called ______.

→ Answer: Balancing

97. Multiple Choice:

Which is the correct order of controlling techniques?

A. Balance → Eliminate → Keep constant

B. Eliminate → Keep constant → Balance

C. Keep constant → Eliminate → Balance

D. None of the above

→ Answer: B. Eliminate → Keep constant → Balance

98. Identification:

Extraneous factors that arise from the relationship between subject and experimenter are called
______ variables.
→ Answer: Social variables

99. True or False:

Demand characteristics are cues that may influence subjects to act as they think the researcher
expects.

→ Answer: True

100. Multiple Choice:

To prevent subjects from knowing which treatment they are receiving, researchers can use a:

A. Cover story

B. Double-blind study

C. Single-blind study

D. Correlational design

→ Answer: C. Single-blind study

101. Identification:

When participants improve due to positive expectations from an inert treatment, it is called the
______ effect.

→ Answer: Placebo effect

102. True or False:

Cover stories should be used as often as possible to hide the true hypothesis.

→ Answer: False

103. Identification:

A false but plausible explanation given to disguise the real purpose of an experiment is a
______.

→ Answer: Cover story

104. Multiple Choice:

When the experimenter unintentionally influences participants’ behavior, this is called:

A. Demand characteristics

B. Experimenter bias

C. Subject mortality
D. Statistical regression

→ Answer: B. Experimenter bias

105. Identification:

The phenomenon in which experimenters’ expectations influence results is known as the

→ Answer: Rosenthal effect (or Pygmalion effect)

106. True or False:

In the Rosenthal effect, the experimenter becomes an extraneous variable.

→ Answer: True

107. Multiple Choice:

Which type of study controls both demand characteristics and experimenter bias?

A. Single-blind

B. Double-blind

C. Open-label

D. Randomized-only

→ Answer: B. Double-blind

108. Identification:

Experimenters’ personal traits that can affect subject performance are called ______ variables.

→ Answer: Personality variables

109. True or False:

Warm and friendly experimenters usually obtain better subject performance.

→ Answer: True

110. Multiple Choice:

Which is the best way to control personality variables when there is only one experimenter?

A. Avoid following any script

B. Keep face-to-face contact minimal and follow a script

C. Be overly friendly
D. Use deception at all times

→ Answer: B. Keep face-to-face contact minimal and follow a script

111. Identification:

Recording sessions to confirm consistent experimenter performance is a control for ______

→ Answer: Personality variables

112. True or False:

Volunteers and nonvolunteers often differ in personality traits such as sociability and
intelligence.

→ Answer: True

113. Multiple Choice:

Volunteers tend to be:

A. Less intelligent and authoritarian

B. More sociable and liberal in attitude

C. More anxious and conservative

D. Less motivated and quiet

→ Answer: B. More sociable and liberal in attitude

114. Identification:

Variables created by the research setting or assignment procedures are called ______
variables.

→ Answer: Context variables

115. True or False:

Titles such as “Memory Test Experiment” and “Heavy Metal Music Experiment” may attract
different participants, threatening external validity.

→ Answer: True

116. Identification:

Choosing friends as research participants may bias the sample and reduce ______ validity.

→ Answer: External validity

Which control method helps avoid biased participant selection due to experiment appeal?

A. Random sampling

B. Keeping experiment titles neutral

C. Using deception

D. Single-blind design

→ Answer: B. Keeping experiment titles neutral

118. Identification:

Subjects who sign up late in the semester may behave differently than those who sign up early;
this refers to ______ variables.

→ Answer: Context variables

119. True or False:

Rosenthal suggested that experimenter changes over time may explain differences seen early
or late in an experiment.

→ Answer: True

120. Multiple Choice:

Which of the following statements summarizes the best approach to control extraneous
variables?

A. Only use balancing techniques

B. Always eliminate, then keep constant, then balance as needed

C. Focus on social variables only

D. Control is unnecessary if results are significant

→ Answer: B. Always eliminate, then keep constant, then balance as needed