PS 307 Test Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025-2026
A variable for which there is an infinite number of values between any two points on the scale is a
________ variable.
a) Discrete
b) Ratio
c) Continuous
d) Confounding - Answers Continuous
A medical researcher interested in asthma symptoms wanted to know how symptoms were affected in
dry versus humid conditions. The researchers recruited 18 asthma patients to spend four weeks under
two conditions: sleeping with a dehumidifier for two weeks to create a "dry" environment and sleeping
with a humidifier for the remaining two weeks to create a "humid" environment. Patients were asked to
rate their symptoms at regular intervals using a scale from "0 - no symptoms" to "20 - maximum asthma
symptoms." The change in asthma symptoms from dry to humid conditions was 5.82, showing an
advantage for humid conditions. What was the sample in this study?
a) change in responses on the scale of 5.82 on average
b) four weeks, with two weeks under each condition
c) 18 asthma patients
d) two sleeping conditions, dry and humid - Answers 18 asthma patients
In a between-groups research design, each participant experiences:
a) one, and only one, level of the independent variable
b) all levels of the independent variable
c) one level of the independent variable and the control variable
d) measurement before and after exposure to the independent variable - Answers one, and only one,
level of the independent variable
A researcher studies year in college, first through fourth year, and its relation to academic motivation.
To get the most detail out of her measures, she assesses each student in both the fall and spring
,semesters of each their four years in school. She finds that students have increasingly higher motivation
from their first to fourth year, with a trailing off in the last semester. What is the dependent variable in
this study?
a) year in school
b) semester in school
c) academic motivation
d) time of year in which the assessment was completed - Answers academic motivation
Hypothesis testing refers to:
a) drawing conclusions about whether a particular relation between variables is supported by evidence
b) the direct manipulation of an independent variable in an attempt to assess its effects on a dependent
variable
c) summarizing data using descriptive statistics
d) measuring a variable of interest using an operational definition - Answers drawing conclusions about
whether a particular relation between variables is supported by evidence.
What is the correct method for calculating a percentage?
a) Divide the total number of participants by the total number of participants in a group and then
multiply by 100
b) Divide the total number of participants in a group by the total number of participants and then
multiply by 100
c) Subtract the total number of participants in a group from the total number of participants and then
multiply by 100
d) Add the total number of participants in all groups and divide by 100 - Answers Divide the total
number of participants in a group by the total number of participants and then multiply by 100.
Use the following table to answer this question: This table represents some fictional data for pet
ownership. Imagine that pet owners were asked simply, "How many pets live in your home?"
Pets, Frequency
,1, 42
2, 39
3, 25
4, 16
5, 9
6, 12
7, 5
8, 2
If the average U.S. household has four members, how many pet owners in this sample have more
animals than people living in their homes?
a) 28
b) 16
c) 9
d) 44 - Answers all are correct
Use the table below to answer this question:
This table represents some fictional data for pet ownership. Imagine that pet owners were asked simply,
"How many pets live in your home?"
Pets, Frequency
1, 42
2, 39
3, 25
4, 16
5, 9
, 6, 12
7, 5
8, 2
What percentage of pet owners in this sample have between three and five pets (round to the nearest
whole number)?
a) 29%
b) 33%
c) 11%
d) 18% - Answers 33%
A bell-shaped curve is similar to all but which type of distribution?
a) symmetric
b) normal
c) unimodal
d) positively skewed - Answers positively skewed
Use the graph below to answer this question.
Graph description:
This polygon represents a fictional distribution of ages for speed-daters. The researcher wanted to know
how many people in their 20s attended such events. The polygon shows the number of people ranging
in age from 20 to 29.
How many speed-daters were 26 years old?
a) 5
b) 7
c) 6
d) 4 - Answers 4
A variable for which there is an infinite number of values between any two points on the scale is a
________ variable.
a) Discrete
b) Ratio
c) Continuous
d) Confounding - Answers Continuous
A medical researcher interested in asthma symptoms wanted to know how symptoms were affected in
dry versus humid conditions. The researchers recruited 18 asthma patients to spend four weeks under
two conditions: sleeping with a dehumidifier for two weeks to create a "dry" environment and sleeping
with a humidifier for the remaining two weeks to create a "humid" environment. Patients were asked to
rate their symptoms at regular intervals using a scale from "0 - no symptoms" to "20 - maximum asthma
symptoms." The change in asthma symptoms from dry to humid conditions was 5.82, showing an
advantage for humid conditions. What was the sample in this study?
a) change in responses on the scale of 5.82 on average
b) four weeks, with two weeks under each condition
c) 18 asthma patients
d) two sleeping conditions, dry and humid - Answers 18 asthma patients
In a between-groups research design, each participant experiences:
a) one, and only one, level of the independent variable
b) all levels of the independent variable
c) one level of the independent variable and the control variable
d) measurement before and after exposure to the independent variable - Answers one, and only one,
level of the independent variable
A researcher studies year in college, first through fourth year, and its relation to academic motivation.
To get the most detail out of her measures, she assesses each student in both the fall and spring
,semesters of each their four years in school. She finds that students have increasingly higher motivation
from their first to fourth year, with a trailing off in the last semester. What is the dependent variable in
this study?
a) year in school
b) semester in school
c) academic motivation
d) time of year in which the assessment was completed - Answers academic motivation
Hypothesis testing refers to:
a) drawing conclusions about whether a particular relation between variables is supported by evidence
b) the direct manipulation of an independent variable in an attempt to assess its effects on a dependent
variable
c) summarizing data using descriptive statistics
d) measuring a variable of interest using an operational definition - Answers drawing conclusions about
whether a particular relation between variables is supported by evidence.
What is the correct method for calculating a percentage?
a) Divide the total number of participants by the total number of participants in a group and then
multiply by 100
b) Divide the total number of participants in a group by the total number of participants and then
multiply by 100
c) Subtract the total number of participants in a group from the total number of participants and then
multiply by 100
d) Add the total number of participants in all groups and divide by 100 - Answers Divide the total
number of participants in a group by the total number of participants and then multiply by 100.
Use the following table to answer this question: This table represents some fictional data for pet
ownership. Imagine that pet owners were asked simply, "How many pets live in your home?"
Pets, Frequency
,1, 42
2, 39
3, 25
4, 16
5, 9
6, 12
7, 5
8, 2
If the average U.S. household has four members, how many pet owners in this sample have more
animals than people living in their homes?
a) 28
b) 16
c) 9
d) 44 - Answers all are correct
Use the table below to answer this question:
This table represents some fictional data for pet ownership. Imagine that pet owners were asked simply,
"How many pets live in your home?"
Pets, Frequency
1, 42
2, 39
3, 25
4, 16
5, 9
, 6, 12
7, 5
8, 2
What percentage of pet owners in this sample have between three and five pets (round to the nearest
whole number)?
a) 29%
b) 33%
c) 11%
d) 18% - Answers 33%
A bell-shaped curve is similar to all but which type of distribution?
a) symmetric
b) normal
c) unimodal
d) positively skewed - Answers positively skewed
Use the graph below to answer this question.
Graph description:
This polygon represents a fictional distribution of ages for speed-daters. The researcher wanted to know
how many people in their 20s attended such events. The polygon shows the number of people ranging
in age from 20 to 29.
How many speed-daters were 26 years old?
a) 5
b) 7
c) 6
d) 4 - Answers 4
