Research Method Questions 1
Quantitative Qualitative data
1. State whether the data given in Table 1 are quantitative or qualitative. (1 mark) (June 08)
2. The type of data gathered in this study was quantitative.
Distinguish between quantitative data and qualitative data. (3 marks) (Jan 07)
3. (i) Identify one question in the extract above that would give quantitative data. (1 mark)
(ii) Identify one question in the extract above that would give qualitative data. (1 mark)
(iii) With reference to the question you have selected in your answer to (c) (ii), explain why it would provide qualitative data. (2 marks) (AQA A June 08)
Sampling
4. A health psychologist was interested in whether there was a relationship between nutrition and examination results. The psychologist predicted that, the more fat that a child consumed, the lower his or her average GCSE points score would be.
The psychologist conducted the study over two years at a local secondary school. A stratified sample of 20 14-year-old pupils was selected to take part in the study.
The psychologist obtained data from the following sources:
• records of daily fat consumption in grammes
• interviews with teachers and parents
• observations of behaviour in the classroom and the school canteen
• GCSE results.
For each pupil, the psychologist calculated the average fat consumption per day in grammes and the average GCSE points score.
The psychologist selected the pupils for this study by stratified sampling.
(i) Describe how a stratified sample might be obtained. (3 marks)
(ii) State one strength and one limitation of stratified sampling. (2 marks)
5. The psychologist used opportunity sampling, rather than random sampling, to select the original 50 people for this study.
(i) Outline what is meant by random sampling. (2 marks)
(ii) Explain why random sampling might be a better technique to use than opportunity sampling. (2 marks) (June 06) & (Jan 04)
Two psychologists observed a sample of children of three years of age. To save time, the sample was obtained from a nearby nursery. The aim was to investigate differences in play behaviour between same-sex pairs and boy-girl pairs.
The children were observed playing together in a laboratory playroom containing a selection of toys.
The psychologists assigned the children to pairs. There were ten boy-boy pairs, ten girl-girl pairs and ten boy-girl pairs.
As the children played, both psychologists recorded the frequency of friendly behaviours for each pair.
Friendly behaviours included sharing a toy, a positive verbal response to the other child and a positive behaviour to the other child, such as smiling.
The frequency of friendly behaviours in same-sex and boy-girl pairs is shown in the bar chart
(Figure 1).
6. Identify the sampling method used by the psychologists in this study. (1 mark) (June 04)
7. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of random sampling. (2 marks) (June 03)
At the end of the questionnaire the psychologist asked people if they would be willing to be contacted for a follow-up interview. Those who were willing gave their names and addresses.
The psychologist interviewed 10% of the people who had agreed to a follow-up interview.
8. (i) Describe one sampling method the psychologist might have used to select interviewees.
(2 marks)
(ii) State one advantage of the method you identified in (i) above. (1 mark)
(Jan 03)
A group of psychology students decided to investigate possible reasons for unhealthy behaviours: they chose to focus on smoking.
The students designed a questionnaire and gave it to other students at their university.
9. Identify one sampling method that could have been used and explain one limitation of this method. (3 marks)
(ii) In the context of this investigation, explain one reason for using the sampling method you have identified in your answer to (d) (i). (2 marks) (AQA A June 08)
A psychologist conducted a survey to discover the factors that motivate people to be blood donors.
The psychologist designed a questionnaire. After carrying out a pilot study, he distributed his questionnaires at two locations.
10. Suggest one advantage of using two locations to distribute the questionnaires. (2 marks) Jan 03
Aims & Hypotheses
A psychologist wanted to investigate whether or not relaxation therapy would reduce anxiety in people who suffered from phobias.
Fifty participants, who suffered from a phobia of spiders, were selected to take part in this study.
In Stage One of the experiment, the psychologist presented each participant with a large spider in a glass box. Each participant’s heart rate (number of beats per minute) was recorded as a measure of anxiety.
In Stage Two of the experiment, twenty-five of the participants each received thirty minutes of relaxation therapy. The remaining twenty-five participants, who did not receive relaxation therapy, were required to sit in silence for thirty minutes.
In Stage Three of the experiment, the psychologist presented each participant with the same large spider in a glass box. Each participant’s heart rate was again recorded as a measure of anxiety.
The mean heart rates recorded for participants at Stage One and Stage Three of the experiment are shown in the bar chart (Figure 1).
11. State an appropriate hypothesis for this study. (2 marks) (Jan 07)
Two psychologists observed a sample of children of three years of age. To save time, the sample was obtained from a nearby nursery. The aim was to investigate differences in play behaviour between same-sex pairs and boy-girl pairs.
The children were observed playing together in a laboratory playroom containing a selection of toys.
The psychologists assigned the children to pairs. There were ten boy-boy pairs, ten girl-girl pairs and ten boy-girl pairs.
As the children played, both psychologists recorded the frequency of friendly behaviours for each pair.
Friendly behaviours included sharing a toy, a positive verbal response to the other child and a positive behaviour to the other child, such as smiling.
The frequency of friendly behaviours in same-sex and boy-girl pairs is shown in the bar chart
(Figure 1).
12. State an appropriate hypothesis for this study. (2 marks) (June 04)
A psychologist wanted to investigate the relationship between mathematical ability and the driving skill of sixth form students.
The psychologist took a random sample of twenty students from the population of sixth form students enrolled in a school.
He used a mental arithmetic test to measure mathematical ability and a rally-driving computer game to measure driving skills.
For each student, the psychologist recorded the number of correct answers on the mental arithmetic test and the score on the rally-driving computer game.
13. State a null hypothesis for this study. (2 marks) (June 03)
A psychologist conducted an experiment to investigate the effect of the environment on learning.
In one condition of the experiment, the psychologist raised ten rats in a stimulating environment. The cage contained lots of toys and ramps (Group 1).
In the other condition of the experiment, the psychologist raised ten rats in an impoverished environment. The cage contained only food and water (Group 2).
After six weeks, the psychologist timed how long (in seconds) it took each rat to find its way through a maze (a series of tunnels) from start to finish. Each rat was timed on five separate trials.
14. State an appropriate hypothesis for this study. (2 marks) Jan 09
Variables
15. Outline what is meant by the term extraneous variable. (2 marks) (june 06)
Two psychologists observed a sample of children of three years of age. To save time, the sample was obtained from a nearby nursery. The aim was to investigate differences in play behaviour between same-sex pairs and boy-girl pairs.
The children were observed playing together in a laboratory playroom containing a selection of toys.
The psychologists assigned the children to pairs. There were ten boy-boy pairs, ten girl-girl pairs and ten boy-girl pairs.
As the children played, both psychologists recorded the frequency of friendly behaviours for each pair.
Friendly behaviours included sharing a toy, a positive verbal response to the other child and a positive behaviour to the other child, such as smiling.
The frequency of friendly behaviours in same-sex and boy-girl pairs is shown in the bar chart
(Figure 1).
16. (i) Identify the independent variable in this study. (1 mark)
(ii) Identify the dependent variable in this study. (1 mark) (June 04)
A psychologist conducted an experiment to investigate the effect of the environment on learning.
In one condition of the experiment, the psychologist raised ten rats in a stimulating environment. The cage contained lots of toys and ramps (Group 1).
In the other condition of the experiment, the psychologist raised ten rats in an impoverished environment. The cage contained only food and water (Group 2).
After six weeks, the psychologist timed how long (in seconds) it took each rat to find its way through a maze (a series of tunnels) from start to finish. Each rat was timed on five separate trials.
17. (i) Identify the independent variable (IV) in this study. (1 mark)
(ii) Identify the dependent variable (DV) in this study. (1 mark) Jan 09
Pilot Studies
A psychologist conducted an experiment to investigate the effect of the environment on learning.
In one condition of the experiment, the psychologist raised ten rats in a stimulating environment. The cage contained lots of toys and ramps (Group 1).
In the other condition of the experiment, the psychologist raised ten rats in an impoverished environment. The cage contained only food and water (Group 2).
After six weeks, the psychologist timed how long (in seconds) it took each rat to find its way through a maze (a series of tunnels) from start to finish. Each rat was timed on five separate trials.
18. The psychologist conducted a pilot study for this experiment.
(i) What is meant by a pilot study? (1 mark)
(ii) Outline one advantage of conducting a pilot study. (2 marks)
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