Research fundamentals: meaning, purpose, problem formulation, variables, operational definitions, hypothesis, sampling and research ethics. - One Line Questions

1. What is an operational definition? — A precise statement of how a variable will be measured or manipulated
2. Which of the following best describes a research problem? — An area of concern, a condition to be improved, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or in practice that points to the need for meaningful understanding and potential solutions
3. In research, what is a variable? — A characteristic or attribute that can assume different values
4. A hypothesis is best defined as: — A tentative, testable statement about the relationship between two or more variables
5. A null hypothesis typically states: — There is no significant difference or relationship between variables
6. A non-directional hypothesis states that: — There is a relationship between variables, but the direction is not specified
7. A researcher defines 'anxiety' as a score above 20 on the Beck Anxiety Inventory. This is an example of: — An operational definition
8. Which of the following is an example of a qualitative variable? — Eye color
9. Confidentiality in research ensures that: — Participants' identities and the data collected from them are kept private
10. A researcher defines 'intelligence' as a score on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. This is an operational definition of: — Intelligence
11. Informed consent in research means that participants must: — Be fully informed about the study's purpose, risks, and benefits before agreeing to participate
12. If a researcher fails to protect the privacy of their participants, they are violating the ethical principle of: — Confidentiality
13. When a researcher uses every member of a target population in their study, this is known as: — Census
14. An Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee is responsible for: — Reviewing and approving research proposals to ensure ethical standards are met
15. The principle of 'do no harm' is central to which ethical consideration in research? — Non-maleficence
16. Which type of variable is manipulated by the researcher in an experiment? — Independent variable
17. A researcher is interested in the effect of caffeine on memory. They assign participants to two groups: one receives a caffeinated beverage, the other a placebo. Memory performance is then measured. The 'caffeine' is the: — Independent variable
18. A researcher suspects that a participant's mood might influence their performance on a memory task. If mood is not controlled or measured, it becomes a: — Confounding variable
19. A researcher is studying the effects of a new therapy on depression. They measure depression levels before and after the therapy. The therapy is the: — Independent variable
20. Which of the following is a potential ethical issue when studying vulnerable populations (e.g., children, individuals with cognitive impairments)? — Obtaining informed consent and assent
21. Justice in research ethics refers to: — Fair distribution of the burdens and benefits of research
22. The ethical principle of 'respect for persons' is most directly related to: — The requirement for informed consent
23. What are research ethics primarily concerned with? — Protecting the rights and welfare of research participants
24. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good research problem? — Uninteresting to the researcher
25. Snowball sampling is often used in research involving: — Hard-to-reach or hidden populations
26. The variable that is measured and is expected to change in response to the manipulation of the independent variable is called the: — Dependent variable
27. In the caffeine and memory study, 'memory performance' is the: — Dependent variable
28. Deception in research is permissible only when: — It is the only way to obtain valid data and participants are debriefed afterward
29. Which of the following is a key characteristic of a valid research problem? — It should be researchable within practical constraints
30. The principle of beneficence in research ethics means that researchers should: — Maximize potential benefits and minimize potential risks to participants
31. A variable that influences the relationship between the independent and dependent variables but is not controlled by the researcher is called a: — Confounding variable
32. Which type of sampling involves selecting participants in such a way that every member of the population has an equal chance of being included? — Random sampling
33. Purposive sampling is used when researchers want to: — Select participants who have specific characteristics relevant to the study
34. Debriefing in research involves: — Explaining the true purpose of the study to participants after data collection, especially if deception was used
35. In stratified random sampling, the population is divided into subgroups (strata) based on shared characteristics, and then: — Random samples are drawn from each stratum
36. A researcher wants to study the experiences of Olympic athletes. They start by interviewing one athlete and then ask that athlete to recommend others. This is an example of: — Snowball sampling
37. Convenience sampling is a type of non-probability sampling where participants are selected based on: — Their willingness to participate and ease of access
38. The statement 'Children exposed to violent video games will exhibit more aggressive behavior than children not exposed' is an example of a: — Directional hypothesis
39. When a researcher uses a sample that does not accurately represent the population from which it was drawn, this is referred to as: — Sampling bias
40. Systematic sampling involves: — Selecting every k-th individual from a list after a random start
41. Cluster sampling involves: — Dividing the population into clusters and randomly selecting entire clusters to sample
42. Which sampling method is most likely to introduce selection bias? — Convenience sampling
43. The process of ensuring that research participants are treated with dignity and respect, and that their autonomy is upheld, is a core component of: — Research ethics
44. What is sampling in research? — The selection of a subset of individuals from a larger population to participate in a study
45. A research problem needs to be specific enough to guide the research process. This relates to: — The formulation of the research problem
46. Which of the following is an example of a directional hypothesis? — Students who study for more hours will achieve higher test scores.
47. What is the purpose of a research proposal? — To outline the research plan, including problem, objectives, methodology, and ethical considerations, for approval and funding
48. What is the primary purpose of research in psychology? — To describe, explain, predict, and control behavior and mental processes
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