30 multiple-choice (MCQ / objective) questions from this chapter, in the common exam-style shapes. Every question comes with an explanation along with the answer, so you remember why the option is correct, not just which one it is.
1 Direct Questions
Direct Questions
- 1 markWhich goal of psychological enquiry is concerned with identifying the antecedent conditions that lead to a behaviour?
(A) Prediction(B) Description(C) Explanation(D) Application - 1 markAccording to the chapter, the prediction of a behaviour becomes more accurate under which condition?
(A) When the hypothesis is framed after the data are analysed(B) When the number of persons observed increases(C) When only one participant is studied in depth(D) When the study is done only in a laboratory - 1 markWhat is the tentative answer to a research problem, developed before the data are collected, called?
(A) Norm(B) Variable(C) Datum(D) Hypothesis - 1 markIn the Latane and Darley smoke study, what percentage of students waiting alone reported the smoke?
(A) 75 per cent(B) 50 per cent(C) 38 per cent(D) 10 per cent - 1 markMeera, a researcher, joins a village women’s group, spends weeks building rapport until members accept her as one of them, and then records their meetings. Which method is she using?
(A) Non-participant observation(B) Participant observation(C) Quasi experiment(D) Controlled laboratory observation - 1 markIn the Latane and Darley experiment, which of these was the dependent variable?
(A) Speed with which smoke entered the room(B) Presence or absence of other persons in the room(C) Frequency of reporting the smoke(D) The preliminary questionnaire the students filled - 1 markRohan gives half of his participants task A followed by task B, and the other half task B followed by task A. Which control technique is he using?
(A) Counter-balancing(B) Random assignment(C) Matching(D) Elimination - 1 markA researcher compares children who lost their parents in an earthquake with children who lived through the earthquake but did not lose their parents. Which method is this?
(A) Quasi experiment(B) Correlational research(C) Field experiment(D) Laboratory experiment - 1 markA correlation coefficient of −.02 between two variables most likely tells us which of the following?
(A) There is a strong negative relationship(B) One variable causes the other(C) No significant relationship exists between them(D) There is a strong positive relationship - 1 markA counsellor gives a test to Class XI students, gives the same test again after 20 days, and correlates the two sets of scores. What is she estimating?
(A) Norms of the test(B) Split-half reliability(C) Validity of the test(D) Test-retest reliability - 1 markWhich type of test has no time limit and arranges its items in an increasing order of difficulty?
(A) Power test(B) Verbal test(C) Speed test(D) Group test - 1 markAn interviewer sits with eight parents together and guides a discussion on their views about homework. This is a variant of which interview situation?
(A) Group to group(B) Individual to individual(C) Group to individual(D) Individual to group - 1 markOn the basis of whose observations did Piaget develop his theory of cognitive development?
(A) Children of weavers in Varanasi(B) His own three children(C) Rajput children of Khalapur(D) Patients showing psychological disorders - 1 markWhich ethical guideline ensures that participants leave a study in the same physical and mental state in which they entered?
(A) Informed consent(B) Confidentiality of data source(C) Voluntary participation(D) Debriefing
2 Assertion-Reason
Assertion-Reason
- 1 markAssertion (A): Scores obtained in psychological studies have relative, not absolute, value.
Reason (R): Psychological measurements do not have a true zero point, so psychologists fix a zero point arbitrarily.
(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 - 1 markAssertion (A): A mailed questionnaire is a low-cost way of collecting information from many persons.
Reason (R): The main problem of a mailed questionnaire is that respondents send back too many replies.
(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 - 1 markAssertion (A): Laboratory experiments usually have high external validity.
Reason (R): Laboratory experiments only simulate situations that exist in the outside world.
(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 - 1 markAssertion (A): The interpretive paradigm emphasises understanding over explanation and prediction.
Reason (R): A case study usually employs multiple methods such as interview, observation and psychological tests.
(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
3 Match the Following
Match the Following
- 1 markMatch the researchers in List I with their case studies in List II.
List I: (i) Freud (ii) Piaget (iii) Minturn and Hitchcock (iv) S. Anandalakshmy
List II: (a) Socialisation among Rajputs of Khalapur (b) Childhood in a weavers’ community in Varanasi (c) Psychoanalytic theory from individual cases (d) Cognitive development from his three children
(A) i-c, ii-d, iii-b, iv-a(B) i-d, ii-c, iii-a, iv-b(C) i-c, ii-d, iii-a, iv-b(D) i-a, ii-d, iii-c, iv-b - 1 markMatch the types of tests in List I with their features in List II.
List I: (i) Verbal test (ii) Non-verbal test (iii) Performance test (iv) Speed test
List II: (a) Items are made of symbols or pictures (b) Objects are moved from their places in a particular order (c) Literacy is required to take it (d) Time limit, with all items of the same difficulty
(A) i-a, ii-c, iii-b, iv-d(B) i-c, ii-a, iii-d, iv-b(C) i-c, ii-a, iii-b, iv-d(D) i-c, ii-b, iii-a, iv-d - 1 markMatch the control techniques in List I with the examples in List II.
List I: (i) Elimination (ii) Matching (iii) Counter-balancing (iv) Random assignment
List II: (a) Giving tasks in A, B, B, A order (b) Testing in a sound-proof, air-conditioned room (c) Every participant has an equal chance of being in any group (d) Pairing participants of equal socio-economic status across groups
(A) i-b, ii-d, iii-c, iv-a(B) i-b, ii-d, iii-a, iv-c(C) i-b, ii-a, iii-d, iv-c(D) i-d, ii-b, iii-a, iv-c
4 Statement-Based Questions
Statement-Based Questions
- 1 markConsider the following statements:
I. Test-retest reliability indicates the temporal stability of test scores.
II. Split-half reliability indicates the internal consistency of a test.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(A) Only I(B) Only II(C) Both I and II(D) Neither I nor II - 1 markConsider the following statements:
I. In a structured interview, the interviewer is free to change the wording and order of questions.
II. Open-ended questions allow the respondent to answer in the way s/he chooses.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(A) Only I(B) Only II(C) Both I and II(D) Neither I nor II - 1 markConsider the following statements:
I. In a positive correlation, as the value of one variable increases, the value of the other also increases.
II. In a quasi experiment, the experimenter manipulates the independent variable in a laboratory.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(A) Only I(B) Only II(C) Both I and II(D) Neither I nor II
5 Arrange in the Correct Order
Arrange in the Correct Order
- 1 markArrange the steps of conducting scientific research in the correct order.
1. Drawing conclusions
2. Conceptualising a problem
3. Revising research conclusions
4. Collecting data
(A) 2-1-4-3(B) 2-4-3-1(C) 2-4-1-3(D) 4-2-1-3 - 1 markArrange these correlation coefficients from the strongest negative to the strongest positive.
1. +.85
2. −.02
3. −1.0
4. +.03
(A) 3-4-2-1(B) 3-2-4-1(C) 2-3-4-1(D) 1-4-2-3
6 Passage-Based Questions
Passage-Based Questions
Passage
In December 2004 a news magazine questioned 817 adults aged 25 to 55 in eight Indian cities to find out what makes people happy. One item asked each person to rate himself or herself on a 5-point scale running from ‘extremely happy’ to ‘extremely unhappy’, and nearly half picked ‘extremely happy’. About four in five people felt that money cannot buy happiness. Peace of mind and health topped the list of things that give maximum happiness, and listening to music was the most common way of coping with sadness.
- 1 markWhich method of enquiry does the study in the passage use?
(A) Naturalistic observation(B) Survey(C) Case study(D) Experiment - 1 markThe 5-point item running from ‘extremely happy’ to ‘extremely unhappy’ is an example of which kind of question?
(A) An item from a split-half test(B) An open-ended question(C) A performance test item(D) A closed-ended question using a rating scale - 1 markAccording to the passage, which answer was among the top sources of maximum happiness?
(A) Watching movies(B) Peace of mind(C) Owning more money(D) Success in examinations - 1 markWhich limitation of this method should the researchers in the passage keep in mind?
(A) Respondents may give answers they think the researcher wants to hear(B) The method cannot reach many people quickly(C) The method studies only one case in depth(D) The researcher must manipulate an independent variable
Answer Key and Explanations
Direct Questions
- (C) Explanation seeks the causal factors or determinants of behaviour, that is, the antecedent conditions that led to it, so that a cause-effect relationship can be established.
- (B) The book says prediction becomes more accurate with the increase in the number of persons observed.
- (D) After identifying the problem, the researcher develops a tentative answer to it, which is called a hypothesis; the study then tests it.
- (A) Box 2.1: 75 per cent of those waiting alone reported the smoke; groups of three naive students reported it 38 per cent of the time, and students with two confederates only 10 per cent.
- (B) In participant observation the observer becomes a part of the group being observed, after establishing rapport so the group accepts her/him as a member.
- (C) The book names the frequency of reporting of smoke as the dependent variable; the presence or absence of other persons was the independent variable.
- (A) Counter-balancing changes the order of tasks (A-B for half, B-A for the other half) to minimise the sequence effect.
- (A) Such a condition cannot be created artificially, so the independent variable is selected rather than manipulated, using naturally occurring groups: a quasi experiment, the book’s own example.
- (C) Values close to zero, such as −.02 or +.03, indicate that no significant relationship exists, i.e. the variables are unrelated.
- (D) Correlating scores on the same test on two occasions gives test-retest reliability, which shows temporal stability of scores.
- (A) A power test assesses underlying ability by allowing sufficient time, with items arranged in increasing order of difficulty; a speed test has a time limit and items of equal difficulty.
- (D) One interviewer interviewing a group of persons is the individual-to-group situation; one variant of it is the Focus Group Discussion (FGD).
- (B) The book says Piaget developed his theory of cognitive development on the basis of observations of his three children.
- (D) Debriefing, done after the study, gives participants the information to complete their understanding and removes any anxiety, so they leave in the same state as they came.
Assertion-Reason
- (A) Both are true and R explains A: because no one has zero intelligence, the zero point is fixed arbitrarily, and as a result scores are relative.
- (C) A is true: the questionnaire is a low-cost self-report method and can be sent by mail. R is false: the main problem of a mailed questionnaire is poor response.
- (D) A is false: because experiments only simulate the outside world, their results may not generalise, i.e. they have low external validity. R is true.
- (B) Both statements are true, but R is about the case study method and does not explain why the interpretive paradigm values understanding.
Match the Following
- (C) Freud: psychoanalytic theory (c); Piaget: his three children (d); Minturn and Hitchcock: Rajputs of Khalapur (a); S. Anandalakshmy: weavers of Varanasi (b).
- (C) Verbal needs literacy (c); non-verbal uses symbols or pictures (a); performance moves objects in order (b); speed test has a time limit with equal-difficulty items (d).
- (B) Elimination removes noise and temperature (b); matching equates background variables like socio-economic status (d); counter-balancing uses A, B, B, A (a); random assignment gives everyone an equal chance (c).
Statement-Based Questions
- (C) Both are correct: test-retest shows stability of scores over time; split-half, using odd-even items, shows internal consistency.
- (B) Statement I is wrong: in a structured interview the interviewer has little or no liberty to change wording or order. Statement II is correct.
- (A) Statement I is correct. Statement II is wrong: in a quasi experiment the independent variable is selected rather than manipulated, using naturally occurring groups.
Arrange in the Correct Order
- (C) Conceptualising a problem (2), collecting data (4), drawing conclusions (1), revising research conclusions (3).
- (B) The scale runs from −1.0 through 0.0 to +1.0: −1.0 (3), −.02 (2), +.03 (4), +.85 (1).
Passage-Based Questions
- (B) Many respondents were asked questions about their opinions and feelings through a questionnaire: this is survey research (Box 2.2).
- (D) The answers are fixed in advance and the respondent picks a point on a scale: a closed-ended question with a rating scale.
- (B) Peace of mind (52 per cent in the book) and health (50 per cent) topped the list.
- (A) A limitation of surveys is that people sometimes offer responses they think the researcher wants to hear, or give inaccurate information; surveys are in fact quick and can reach thousands.
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