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RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE
EXAM 2026–2027
## 215 HIGH-YIELD MCQS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES
**FIRST-TIME PASS READY — FOR
UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE EXAM
PREPARATION**
## TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Section | Title | Questions |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| 1 | Scientific Thinking & Philosophy of Science | 1–20 |
| 2 | Research Ethics (APA & IRB) | 21–40 |
| 3 | Experimental Design: Independent Variables, Dependent Variables, & Control | 41–
65 |
| 4 | Quasi-Experimental & Nonexperimental Designs | 66–80 |
| 5 | Correlational Research & Regression | 81–100 |
| 6 | Survey & Questionnaire Design | 101–115 |
| 7 | Sampling Methods & External Validity | 116–130 |
| 8 | Measurement, Reliability, & Validity | 131–150 |
| 9 | Descriptive Statistics | 151–165 |
| 10 | Inferential Statistics (t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square) | 166–185 |
| 11 | Qualitative Research Methods | 186–195 |
| 12 | Writing APA-Style Research Reports | 196–205 |
| 13 | Final Mixed High-Yield Exam | 206–215 |
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## SECTION 1: SCIENTIFIC THINKING & PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
(Questions 1–20)
**1.** A researcher claims that psychic powers exist because some people report
having had psychic experiences. This reasoning commits which error?
A) Falsifiability
B) Confirmation bias
C) Appeal to authority
D) Parsimony
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Confirmation bias = seeking/remembering evidence that supports
one's belief while ignoring disconfirming evidence. Here, the researcher focuses on
positive reports and ignores failures to replicate or alternative explanations (e.g.,
coincidence, memory errors). Science requires testing falsifiable predictions, not
collecting anecdotes.
---
**2.** A good scientific theory must be:
A) Complex
B) Falsifiable
C) Popular
D) Proven true
**Answer: B**
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**Rationale:** Falsifiability (Karl Popper) = a theory must make predictions that
could potentially be disproven by evidence. Unfalsifiable claims (e.g., "psychic
powers work but disappear when tested") are not scientific. Science never "proves"
theories true, only fails to falsify them.
---
**3.** Parsimony (Occam's razor) in science means:
A) The simplest explanation that accounts for the data is preferred
B) Complex explanations are always better
C) All theories are equally good
D) Only one variable can be studied at a time
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Parsimony = when two explanations fit the data equally well,
choose the simpler one (fewer assumptions). Not a guarantee of truth, but a guiding
principle. Example: prefer "gravity" over "invisible angels push objects down"
even if both predict falling.
---
**4.** A hypothesis is:
A) A proven fact
B) A testable prediction derived from a theory
C) A conclusion after research
D) An opinion
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**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Hypothesis = specific, testable prediction about the relationship
between variables. Derived from theory. Example: "Students who sleep 8 hours
will score higher on an exam than those who sleep 4 hours." Must be falsifiable.
---
**5.** Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of science?
A) Systematic empiricism
B) Publicly verifiable knowledge
C) Solvable problems
D) Reliance on authority
**Answer: D**
**Rationale:** Science relies on evidence, not authority. "Because Dr. Smith said
so" is not a scientific justification. Systematic empiricism = structured observation.
Publicly verifiable = others can replicate. Solvable problems = questions
answerable with evidence.
---
**6.** A theory that can explain every possible outcome is:
A) Very powerful
B) Unfalsifiable and therefore unscientific
C) Parsimonious
RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE
EXAM 2026–2027
## 215 HIGH-YIELD MCQS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES
**FIRST-TIME PASS READY — FOR
UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE EXAM
PREPARATION**
## TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Section | Title | Questions |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| 1 | Scientific Thinking & Philosophy of Science | 1–20 |
| 2 | Research Ethics (APA & IRB) | 21–40 |
| 3 | Experimental Design: Independent Variables, Dependent Variables, & Control | 41–
65 |
| 4 | Quasi-Experimental & Nonexperimental Designs | 66–80 |
| 5 | Correlational Research & Regression | 81–100 |
| 6 | Survey & Questionnaire Design | 101–115 |
| 7 | Sampling Methods & External Validity | 116–130 |
| 8 | Measurement, Reliability, & Validity | 131–150 |
| 9 | Descriptive Statistics | 151–165 |
| 10 | Inferential Statistics (t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square) | 166–185 |
| 11 | Qualitative Research Methods | 186–195 |
| 12 | Writing APA-Style Research Reports | 196–205 |
| 13 | Final Mixed High-Yield Exam | 206–215 |
,2|Page
## SECTION 1: SCIENTIFIC THINKING & PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
(Questions 1–20)
**1.** A researcher claims that psychic powers exist because some people report
having had psychic experiences. This reasoning commits which error?
A) Falsifiability
B) Confirmation bias
C) Appeal to authority
D) Parsimony
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Confirmation bias = seeking/remembering evidence that supports
one's belief while ignoring disconfirming evidence. Here, the researcher focuses on
positive reports and ignores failures to replicate or alternative explanations (e.g.,
coincidence, memory errors). Science requires testing falsifiable predictions, not
collecting anecdotes.
---
**2.** A good scientific theory must be:
A) Complex
B) Falsifiable
C) Popular
D) Proven true
**Answer: B**
,3|Page
**Rationale:** Falsifiability (Karl Popper) = a theory must make predictions that
could potentially be disproven by evidence. Unfalsifiable claims (e.g., "psychic
powers work but disappear when tested") are not scientific. Science never "proves"
theories true, only fails to falsify them.
---
**3.** Parsimony (Occam's razor) in science means:
A) The simplest explanation that accounts for the data is preferred
B) Complex explanations are always better
C) All theories are equally good
D) Only one variable can be studied at a time
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Parsimony = when two explanations fit the data equally well,
choose the simpler one (fewer assumptions). Not a guarantee of truth, but a guiding
principle. Example: prefer "gravity" over "invisible angels push objects down"
even if both predict falling.
---
**4.** A hypothesis is:
A) A proven fact
B) A testable prediction derived from a theory
C) A conclusion after research
D) An opinion
, 4|Page
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Hypothesis = specific, testable prediction about the relationship
between variables. Derived from theory. Example: "Students who sleep 8 hours
will score higher on an exam than those who sleep 4 hours." Must be falsifiable.
---
**5.** Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of science?
A) Systematic empiricism
B) Publicly verifiable knowledge
C) Solvable problems
D) Reliance on authority
**Answer: D**
**Rationale:** Science relies on evidence, not authority. "Because Dr. Smith said
so" is not a scientific justification. Systematic empiricism = structured observation.
Publicly verifiable = others can replicate. Solvable problems = questions
answerable with evidence.
---
**6.** A theory that can explain every possible outcome is:
A) Very powerful
B) Unfalsifiable and therefore unscientific
C) Parsimonious
