What is research in psychology?
A systematic, objective, scientific investigation to discover knowledge or test theories.
What does psychological research systematically study?
Human behaviour, thoughts, and feelings.
How does psychological research study human behaviour?
Through collection and analysis of evidence.
What is behaviour in psychology?
Any observable action or response of a person that can be seen or measured.
What are thoughts in psychological terms?
Mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, storing, and using information.
What do emotions influence in people?
Behaviour, thoughts, relationships, and mental health.
Why is psychological research considered scientific?
Because it uses observation, testing, and evidence instead of opinions or guesses.
What distinguishes empirical research from assumption-based research?
It is based on direct observation, measurement, or real-world data.
How does controlled research link independent and dependent variables?
By keeping other relevant factors constant.
What does ethical research protect during a study?
Participants’ rights, dignity, and well-being.
What does informed consent require participants to receive before agreeing?
Complete information about purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits.
When is parental or guardian consent usually required for research participation?
When participants are under 18 or cannot legally provide informed consent.
What does confidentiality mean in research ethics?
The researcher knows identity but keeps it private.
What does anonymity mean in research ethics?
Identity is not collected or cannot be linked to data.
What right do participants have regarding withdrawal from research?
They can withdraw anytime without reason or penalty.
What must researchers do to protect participants from harm?
Protect from physical, psychological, emotional, social, or legal harm and minimize risks.
What is the first step in a research study process?
Identifying a problem.
Which step follows formulating a research question in a study?
Setting aims and objectives.
What step involves choosing the research design and sample?
Selecting a design and sample.
What ethical step must be met during a research study?
Meeting ethical requirements.
What step comes after collecting data in research?
Analyzing and interpreting findings.
What is the final step in a research study process?
Making recommendations.
What defines a hypothesis in research?
A clear, testable prediction about relationships between variables.
What font and size does APA 7th edition use for main text?
Times New Roman, 12-point.
How are main headings formatted in APA 7th edition reports?
14-point bold font.
What spacing and margin settings does APA 7th edition require?
Double spacing and 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins.
Where are page numbers placed in APA 7th edition reports?
Top-right corner of each page.
What is the independent variable in research?
The factor the researcher changes or manipulates.
What does the dependent variable represent in an experiment?
The outcome measured to see if it changes due to the independent variable.
What are controlled variables in an experiment?
Factors kept constant for all participants to isolate the independent variable's effect.
How do nominal data differ from ordinal data?
Nominal data classify categories without order; ordinal data have meaningful ranking.
What distinguishes interval data from ratio data?
Interval data lack a true zero; ratio data have a true zero indicating absence.
What is a key feature of interval data?
Equal differences between values without a true zero.
What does a true zero in ratio data indicate?
Complete absence of the measured attribute.
What does the null hypothesis state about observed results?
They are due to chance with no significant relationship, difference, or effect.
What does the alternative hypothesis state about relationships or effects?
A significant relationship, difference, or effect exists.
What does a directional hypothesis predict?
Both the existence and direction of a relationship or difference.
What does a non-directional hypothesis predict?
An effect exists without specifying its direction.
What is sampling in research?
Selecting a subset from a population to collect data and draw conclusions.
How does probability sampling select participants?
By giving every population member a known and equal or measurable chance through random methods.
How does non-probability sampling select participants?
Based on researcher judgment or participant availability.
What distinguishes random group design from repeated measures design?
Random group assigns each participant to one condition; repeated measures tests the same participants in every condition.
Who is a participant in psychological research?
A person who voluntarily takes part in a study.
When is research considered replicable?
When it is described clearly enough for others to repeat it using the same methods.
When are research findings generalizable?
When the sample is appropriate for the wider population.
Under what conditions may deception be used in research?
Only when necessary, ethically justified, and unlikely to cause harm.
What must happen after participation if deception was used?
Participants must be told the true purpose through debriefing.
What is a research problem?
A specific issue or question needing investigation.
What information is included on the APA title page?
Research-paper title, student’s name, institution, course name and code, instructor’s name, and submission date.
How is the APA title page information aligned and styled?
Centered with the title in bold.
Test your knowledge with 25 questions on Psychological Research Methods.
1. Which feature distinguishes research from a personal opinion?
2. What makes psychological research scientific?
Review the complete course in the study sheet for Psychological Research Methods.
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