Measuring Human Behavior

Which type of measurement error is considered more detrimental to research outcomes and why?

A researcher consistently finds that a personality test yields similar results for the same individuals each time it is administered, but the test does not accurately predict real-world behavior related to those personality traits. What does this indicate about the test?

A study aims to measure the effect of a new teaching method on student test scores. However, higher test scores are observed not only in the group using the new method but also in the control group, possibly due to increased motivation among all students knowing they are part of a study. Which threat to internal validity does this situation exemplify?

In an experiment examining the impact of violent video games on aggression, researchers use a one-way mirror to observe participant behavior without their knowledge. Which threat to internal validity is most directly addressed by this method?

Which of the following steps is most effective for improving the construct validity of a study measuring anxiety?

A researcher is conducting a study on the effectiveness of a new drug for treating depression. To minimize experimenter bias, which strategy should be implemented?

What distinguishes internal validity from external validity?

Researchers studying the impact of a mindfulness app on stress levels find that participants in the treatment group report lower stress levels after using the app for a month. However, many participants in the control group dropped out of the study due to lack of interest. Which threat to internal validity is most evident in this scenario?

Which strategy is most effective in minimizing selection bias in an experimental study?

A researcher is developing a new scale to measure optimism. To assess its convergent validity, with which of the following should the new scale be correlated?

In the context of research, what does ecological validity primarily assess?

During a longitudinal study on cognitive abilities, a major historical event occurs that affects all participants. This event influences their cognitive performance, obscuring the effects of the intervention being studied. Which threat to internal validity is most relevant in this scenario?

Why is pre-registration of studies considered a beneficial practice in psychological research?

A new measure of job satisfaction shows strong correlations with established measures of employee morale and productivity but does not correlate with measures of employee age or gender. What does this pattern of correlations suggest about the new measure?

In a study on the effect of exercise on cognitive function, participants are given a cognitive test before and after a six-week exercise program. Some participants improve simply because they become more familiar with the test format. Which threat to internal validity does this illustrate?

A researcher aims to evaluate the impact of a new therapy on social anxiety. Participants are assessed before therapy, immediately after, and six months later. What kind of validity is most threatened if subjects improve immediately after, but their anxiety returns to initial levels at the six-month follow-up?

A study finds that participants who are told they are receiving a memory-enhancing drug perform better on memory tests, even though they are actually receiving a placebo. Which threat to internal validity is most directly demonstrated by this finding?

Researchers are conducting a study on the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance but decide to use different versions of a cognitive test for the pre-test and post-test. If the two versions of the test are not equivalent in difficulty, which threat to internal validity is most likely to occur?

Which of the following best describes the primary aim of using control groups in experimental research?

A researcher conducts a study on the effectiveness of a new tutoring program for struggling students. Students who score the lowest on an initial assessment are enrolled in the program. On a subsequent assessment, their scores improve. However, this improvement might be partly due to statistical regression. What does statistical regression suggest in this scenario?

Which factor is the most significant contributor to the Replication Crisis in psychology?

When evaluating a measure's content validity, what aspect is being assessed?

What is the primary purpose of random assignment in experimental designs?

In an experiment, participants in the control group unexpectedly learn about the treatment being given to the experimental group and begin to adopt similar behaviors. Which threat to internal validity is most relevant in this case?

A researcher is concerned that participants' responses on a survey are being influenced by social desirability bias. Which strategy could the researcher use to minimize this threat?

A study on weight loss involves tracking participants over a year. However, changes in the economy during that period affect participants' stress levels and eating habits. Which threat to internal validity is most pertinent in this situation?

What is the primary goal of using a double-blind procedure in experimental research?

A researcher finds that a new test of mathematical ability correlates highly with an existing, well-validated math test but does not correlate with measures of verbal ability. What does this suggest about the new test?

Researchers conducting a study on the effects of a new teaching method observe that the students in the experimental group were more enthusiastic and engaged than those in the control group before the intervention even began. Which threat to internal validity is most evident?

In a longitudinal study assessing the impact of early childhood education on academic achievement, some children drop out of the study due to family relocation. If the families who relocate are systematically different (e.g., higher socioeconomic status) from those who remain, what threat to internal validity is most likely?

To mitigate the potential for demand characteristics in a study, a researcher might:

A researcher aims to study the effect of a new teaching method on student performance. However, during the study, the school implements a new technology initiative that affects all students, regardless of their involvement in the study. Which threat to internal validity must the researcher consider?

A researcher is evaluating the reliability of a new personality questionnaire. Which of the following methods assesses internal consistency?

In a study on the effects of a new drug on reaction time, some participants drop out due to experiencing severe side effects. If these participants are primarily from the treatment group, which type of validity is most threatened?

What aspect of a research study does external validity primarily address?

A researcher develops a new measure of creativity, but experts in the field argue that the measure does not capture all aspects of creativity. Which type of validity is most lacking in this scenario?