Research Methods MCQ Exam: Quiz!

A researcher always comes up with two hypotheses; a null and an alternate/experimental hypothesis. At the end of a null hypothesis, the researcher will always add 'Any difference will be due to chance.'

The experimenter deliberately manipulates the IV, measures the DV, and has strict control over all other variables, meaning cause and effect relationships can be established.

The correct answer is "There will be no difference in aggression between boys and girls." This is because the null hypothesis is a statement that assumes there is no significant difference or relationship between the variables being studied. In this case, the null hypothesis suggests that there is no difference in aggression between boys and girls. The alternative hypothesis, on the other hand, suggests that boys will be more aggressive than girls.

The hypothesis does not predict the expected direction of the outcome but simply states that there will be a difference between the two events.

A repeated measures design involves using the same group of participants in all experimental conditions in order to compare their performance in each condition. This design is useful when the researcher wants to minimize individual differences and control for participant variables that could confound the results. By using the same participants, any variations in performance can be attributed to the different conditions being tested rather than individual differences between participants. This design also increases statistical power as it requires fewer participants compared to other designs.

Independent measures design involves using different participants in each of the experimental conditions. In this design, participants are randomly assigned to one of the experimental conditions, ensuring that each participant only participates in one condition. This allows for a comparison between groups and helps to control for individual differences. By using different participants, the design minimizes the potential confounding effects of individual variability, leading to more reliable and valid results.

The independent variable refers to the factor that the researcher intentionally changes or manipulates in an experiment. It is the variable that is believed to have an effect on the dependent variable, which is the outcome or result being measured. In this case, the correct answer is "The thing the researcher manipulates" as it accurately describes the role of the independent variable in an experiment.

The matched pairs design is a research method that involves comparing two similar groups of participants, with each participant in one group being matched to a participant in the other group. This design is advantageous as it helps to avoid order effects and individual differences, which could confound the results. However, a disadvantage of this design is that it can be difficult and time-consuming to implement as it relies on finding and using valid tests or measures to match the participants accurately.

A field experiment has the advantage of taking place in a natural environment, which increases its ecological validity. This means that the results obtained are more likely to reflect real-life situations and can be generalized to a larger population. Additionally, field experiments often have lower demand characteristics, meaning that participants are less likely to alter their behavior due to being in an artificial setting. This increases the validity of the results as they are more likely to represent the participants' true behavior.

The IV studied is naturally occuring e.g. gender, genetic disorders. This allows researchers to investigate areas that would otherwise not be available to them.