1
PYC3704 Psychological Research
Exam Questions and Answers
This document is a compilation of UNISA Exam Questions and Answers
Answers are motivated by a combination of:
• Short summaries/reasoning regarding the relevant topic(s) in question. (Incorrect options
are also marked where applicable, in order to identify and disregard red-herring alternatives)
Exams covered are:
• 2016 May-June
• 2016 October-November
• 2017 May-June
• 2017 October November
• Mock Exam 1
• Mock Exam 2
• Test yourself Questions and Answers from the Study Guide
Please note: This document is an additional tool for exam preparation. The Stuvia-user that compiled
and uploaded this document takes no responsibility for incorrect answers. Students must ensure
that they study the prescribed material and understand the content.
,2
May June 2016
Question 1
A theory can be described as an interdependent set of - - - - - relations between - - - - -
1. proposed, constructs
2. empirical, hypotheses
3. verified, variables
Answer: The correct option is 1
Reasoning:
Alternative 1 is correct because a theory is defined as a “network of postulated relations
between constructs”.
Alternative 2 is wrong because one does not test relations between hypotheses, but
between variables.
The relations are postulated (and therefore not verified) so that alternative 3 is also
incorrect.
Question 2
A measurement model of attention deficit disorder relates this - - - - - to its - - - - -
1. construct, intervening variables
2. hypothetical variable, observable instances
3. variable, parameters
Answer: The correct option is 2
Reasoning:
Alternative 2 is correct because (a) ‘attention deficit disorder’ is a hypothetical variable
used to refer to a cluster of observable symptoms, and (b) the symptoms are the
observable instances (of behaviour) which are used to measure (e.g. indicate the severity)
of the disorder.
Alternative 1 is incorrect because one requires manifest, not latent variables for
measurement.
Alternative 3 is also incorrect because a model is not a variable, but a theory of the
relationship between ‘referents’ (or hypothetical entities).
Use the following scenario to answer Questions 3 to 5
"Acute stress disorder among patients who suffer from this disorder can be explained in terms of how
the intensity of stress is affected by personality factors, by the nature of the stressors which they
experience, and by the support they experience in their social system. My research will investigate
whether the level of anxiety of these patients can be reduced by providing social support through
group therapy. More specifically, patients receiving group therapy are expected to score lower on the
Manifest Anxiety Scale than patients not receiving therapy"
Question 3
"Acute stress disorder among patients who suffer from this disorder can be explained in terms of
how the intensity of stress is affected by personality factors, by the nature of the stressors which
they experience, and by the support they experience in their social system” is a(n) - - - --
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1. hypothesis
2. theory
3. operational definition
Answer: The correct option is 2
Question 4
The dependent variable(s) in my research is/are - - - - -
1. personality factors, nature of stressors, support received
2. whether or not group therapy is received
3. level of anxiety experienced by patients
Answer: The correct option is 3
Reasoning:
In the hypothesis it is indicated the level or intensity of anxiety experienced ‘depends’ on other
variables such as personality factors, the nature of the stressors and support experienced in the
social system, showing that it functions as a dependent or Y-variable which is to be predicted or
explained in the study.
[The dependent variable is usually the one that the researcher is interested in, the variable that is
the focus of the research. The independent variable is something that the researcher manipulates,
to see how this affects the dependent variable (in other words, the dependent variable is
dependent on the independent variable).]
Question 5
When interpreting the results of this research I will assume that personality factors and the nature of
the stressors - - - - -
1. do affect level of anxiety, but their effects more or less cancel out over all my patients in the
research sample
2. do not affect level of anxiety
3. do affect level of anxiety, but according to the central limit theorem their average effect will
be zero
Answer: The correct option is 1
Reasoning:
Alternative 1 is correct because it is obvious that the type of stressor may have an effect
on the level of anxiety experienced, but if an unbiased (e.g. random) sample is selected
from the population, the influence of the type of stressor will be averaged over the
sample.
Alternative 2 is incorrect because there are no grounds for assuming that the type of
stressor will not affect anxiety.
Alternative 3 is also incorrect because the central limit theory is not applicable here (it
refers to the nature of the sampling distributions of sampling statistics and not to the
value of specific variables).
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Question 6
A psychologist conducts a study in which she measures the reaction times of students doing a
psychometric test. She proceeds from the assumption that a fast reaction time is a good indication
of high intelligence. In this study 'intelligence' is the---------variable
1. operational
2. latent
3. manifest
Answer: The correct option is 2
Reasoning:
Intelligence is a latent variable because it cannot be observed directly. The results of the
psychometric test can however be observed directly and can therefore be regarded as the
manifest variable.
Use the following scenario to answer Questions 7 and 8
Jeff's explanation of size perception in the natural environment states that the estimated size of a
distant object is affected by its true size, distance from the observer, and transparency of the
atmosphere. He decides to investigate whether the claim that estimated size increases with haziness
is valid.
Question 7
The statement "estimated size increases with haziness" represents the - - - - -
1. observed relation between two variables
2. research hypothesis
3. operational definition
Answer: The correct option is 2
Reasoning:
Alternative 2 is correct, because a specific hypothesis is now derived from the theory
presented in the scenario.
Alternatives 1 and 3 is incorrect because the terms ‘estimated size’ and ‘haziness’ have
not been operationally defined in the statement given.
Question 8
The dependent variable(s) in Jeff's research is/are - - - --
1. true size, distance from the observer, and transparency of the atmosphere
2. haziness
3. estimated size
Answer: The correct option is 3
Reasoning:
(The dependent variable is usually the one that the researcher is interested in, the variable that is
the focus of the research. The independent variable is something that the researcher manipulates,
to see how this affects the dependent variable (in other words, the dependent variable is
dependent on the independent variable).)
PYC3704 Psychological Research
Exam Questions and Answers
This document is a compilation of UNISA Exam Questions and Answers
Answers are motivated by a combination of:
• Short summaries/reasoning regarding the relevant topic(s) in question. (Incorrect options
are also marked where applicable, in order to identify and disregard red-herring alternatives)
Exams covered are:
• 2016 May-June
• 2016 October-November
• 2017 May-June
• 2017 October November
• Mock Exam 1
• Mock Exam 2
• Test yourself Questions and Answers from the Study Guide
Please note: This document is an additional tool for exam preparation. The Stuvia-user that compiled
and uploaded this document takes no responsibility for incorrect answers. Students must ensure
that they study the prescribed material and understand the content.
,2
May June 2016
Question 1
A theory can be described as an interdependent set of - - - - - relations between - - - - -
1. proposed, constructs
2. empirical, hypotheses
3. verified, variables
Answer: The correct option is 1
Reasoning:
Alternative 1 is correct because a theory is defined as a “network of postulated relations
between constructs”.
Alternative 2 is wrong because one does not test relations between hypotheses, but
between variables.
The relations are postulated (and therefore not verified) so that alternative 3 is also
incorrect.
Question 2
A measurement model of attention deficit disorder relates this - - - - - to its - - - - -
1. construct, intervening variables
2. hypothetical variable, observable instances
3. variable, parameters
Answer: The correct option is 2
Reasoning:
Alternative 2 is correct because (a) ‘attention deficit disorder’ is a hypothetical variable
used to refer to a cluster of observable symptoms, and (b) the symptoms are the
observable instances (of behaviour) which are used to measure (e.g. indicate the severity)
of the disorder.
Alternative 1 is incorrect because one requires manifest, not latent variables for
measurement.
Alternative 3 is also incorrect because a model is not a variable, but a theory of the
relationship between ‘referents’ (or hypothetical entities).
Use the following scenario to answer Questions 3 to 5
"Acute stress disorder among patients who suffer from this disorder can be explained in terms of how
the intensity of stress is affected by personality factors, by the nature of the stressors which they
experience, and by the support they experience in their social system. My research will investigate
whether the level of anxiety of these patients can be reduced by providing social support through
group therapy. More specifically, patients receiving group therapy are expected to score lower on the
Manifest Anxiety Scale than patients not receiving therapy"
Question 3
"Acute stress disorder among patients who suffer from this disorder can be explained in terms of
how the intensity of stress is affected by personality factors, by the nature of the stressors which
they experience, and by the support they experience in their social system” is a(n) - - - --
,3
1. hypothesis
2. theory
3. operational definition
Answer: The correct option is 2
Question 4
The dependent variable(s) in my research is/are - - - - -
1. personality factors, nature of stressors, support received
2. whether or not group therapy is received
3. level of anxiety experienced by patients
Answer: The correct option is 3
Reasoning:
In the hypothesis it is indicated the level or intensity of anxiety experienced ‘depends’ on other
variables such as personality factors, the nature of the stressors and support experienced in the
social system, showing that it functions as a dependent or Y-variable which is to be predicted or
explained in the study.
[The dependent variable is usually the one that the researcher is interested in, the variable that is
the focus of the research. The independent variable is something that the researcher manipulates,
to see how this affects the dependent variable (in other words, the dependent variable is
dependent on the independent variable).]
Question 5
When interpreting the results of this research I will assume that personality factors and the nature of
the stressors - - - - -
1. do affect level of anxiety, but their effects more or less cancel out over all my patients in the
research sample
2. do not affect level of anxiety
3. do affect level of anxiety, but according to the central limit theorem their average effect will
be zero
Answer: The correct option is 1
Reasoning:
Alternative 1 is correct because it is obvious that the type of stressor may have an effect
on the level of anxiety experienced, but if an unbiased (e.g. random) sample is selected
from the population, the influence of the type of stressor will be averaged over the
sample.
Alternative 2 is incorrect because there are no grounds for assuming that the type of
stressor will not affect anxiety.
Alternative 3 is also incorrect because the central limit theory is not applicable here (it
refers to the nature of the sampling distributions of sampling statistics and not to the
value of specific variables).
, 4
Question 6
A psychologist conducts a study in which she measures the reaction times of students doing a
psychometric test. She proceeds from the assumption that a fast reaction time is a good indication
of high intelligence. In this study 'intelligence' is the---------variable
1. operational
2. latent
3. manifest
Answer: The correct option is 2
Reasoning:
Intelligence is a latent variable because it cannot be observed directly. The results of the
psychometric test can however be observed directly and can therefore be regarded as the
manifest variable.
Use the following scenario to answer Questions 7 and 8
Jeff's explanation of size perception in the natural environment states that the estimated size of a
distant object is affected by its true size, distance from the observer, and transparency of the
atmosphere. He decides to investigate whether the claim that estimated size increases with haziness
is valid.
Question 7
The statement "estimated size increases with haziness" represents the - - - - -
1. observed relation between two variables
2. research hypothesis
3. operational definition
Answer: The correct option is 2
Reasoning:
Alternative 2 is correct, because a specific hypothesis is now derived from the theory
presented in the scenario.
Alternatives 1 and 3 is incorrect because the terms ‘estimated size’ and ‘haziness’ have
not been operationally defined in the statement given.
Question 8
The dependent variable(s) in Jeff's research is/are - - - --
1. true size, distance from the observer, and transparency of the atmosphere
2. haziness
3. estimated size
Answer: The correct option is 3
Reasoning:
(The dependent variable is usually the one that the researcher is interested in, the variable that is
the focus of the research. The independent variable is something that the researcher manipulates,
to see how this affects the dependent variable (in other words, the dependent variable is
dependent on the independent variable).)
