Deck 3: Research Methodology in Developmental Psychology

Question 1

A 'representative sample' is an essential feature of which of the following ways to gather data about children?

A) Event sampling
B) Survey methods
C) Structured interviews
D) Correlation methods

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Longitudinal design is distinguished by its process of:

A) Assigning children to one of two groups that are assumed equal before the study begins
B) Looking at the development of a single child in an in-depth fashion
C) Sampling children and observing them repeatedly at different points throughout their lives
D) Comparing children against a defined variable (e.g. age)

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Correlation methods are also known as:

A) Non-experimental designs
B) Quasi experiments
C) Controlled experiments
D) Inferential methods

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The reason that it is important to assess whether detectable patterns are evident in those participants who drop out of study is because:

A) Any historical influences will not be accounted for
B) It reduces the variability of the sample
C) The researcher needs to establish cultural change in the total sample
D) Groups cannot be compared if this has occurred

Question 5

Jean Piaget is best known for which research methodology?

A) Longitudinal methods
B) Survey methods
C) Case study
D) Observational methods

Question 6

The concept of reactivity is best described as:

A) When being observed, children behave better than they otherwise might
B) The participant saying what they think the researcher wants to hear
C) Gaining valuable information about children
D) The manipulation of variables by the experimenter

Question 7

In a controlled experiment the dependent variable is:

A) Manipulated by the researcher
B) Influenced by the independent variable
C) Assigned as part of the controlled conditions
D) Randomly assigned to participants

Question 8

In observational methods, time sampling methods are best used:

A) With structured interview techniques
B) In a controlled setting
C) When studying groups of subjects
D) To measure the dependent variable

Question 9

Which of the following statements best describes Case Study methodology?

A) Allows for the researcher to make conclusions about cause and effect
B) The random assignment of subjects to conditions and the use of a control group is employed
C) Allows for the researcher to compare groups of children who are of different ages but studied at the same point in time
D) Allows for the researcher to focus on a single child, observing in an in-depth fashion that is not practical with large groups.

Question 10

A third variable problem is most likely to occur:

A) When 2 correlated variables (X and Y) are caused by a third variable (Z) that is responsible for the relationship of X and Y
B) When correlation does not cause equal causation
C) When the scores of two variables are unrelated
D) When two variables are perfectly related such that an increase in variable X can be associated with a predictable increase in variable Y