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VCE Psychology Unit 1 and 2 RESEARCH
METHODS Questions and Answers (100%
Correct Answers) Already Graded A+
Psychology Ans: The scientific study of human thoughts, feelings and
behaviour.
Research method Ans: A particular way of conducting a research study
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(investigation) to collect accurate and reliable data on a topic of
interest.
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Sample Ans: A subsection or smaller group of research participants
selected from a larger group of research interest.
Population Ans: The entire group of research interest from which a
sample is drawn and to which the researcher will seek to apply
(generalise) the results of their investigation.
Research hypothesis Ans: A testable prediction of the relationship
between two or more variables (events to characteristics).
Experiment Ans: Used to test a cause-effect relationship between
variables under controlled conditions.
Variable Ans: Something that can change (vary) in amount or type and
is measurable.
Independent variable Ans: The variable that is manipulated in order to
measure its effect on the dependent variable. It is sometimes referred to
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as the 'treatment' variable to which participants may or may not be
exposed.
Dependent variable Ans: The variable that is used to observe and
measure the effects of the IV.
Operationalising Ans: Operationalising the IV and the DV involves
defining them in terms of the specific procedures or actions (operations)
used to measure them.
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Experimental group Ans: The group of participants that is exposed to the
independent variable (i.e. the treatment).
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Control group Ans: The group of participants that is not exposed to the
independent variable.
Extraneous variable Ans: Any variable other than the IV that can cause
a change in the DV and therefore affect the results in a negative way.
Confounding variable Ans: A variable other than the IV that has had an
unwanted effect on the DV, making it impossible to determine which of
the variables has produced a change in the DV.
Individual participant differences Ans: The unique combination of
personal characteristics, abilities and backgrounds each participant
brings to an experiment.
Non-standardised procedures Ans: When the research procedures are
non-standardised, they are no the same for all participants (except for
the exposure to the IV by participants in the experimental group).