50 exam-style questions on Research methods, sampling and ethics in psychological research — topic RM.1 of Research methodology in the IB Psychology syllabus — with answers and explanations. Samples below; the full set is free with an account.
The main purpose of debriefing participants after a study is to:
Answer: Explain the study's true aims
Debriefing informs participants of the study's true purpose, explains any deception used, allows them to ask questions or withdraw their data, and ensures they leave in no worse psychological state than they arrived. It is especially important when deception is involved.
Using multiple methods, data sources or researchers to cross-check qualitative findings is known as:
Answer: Triangulation
Triangulation combines different methods, data sources, theories or investigators to check whether findings converge. Consistent results across approaches increase the credibility and trustworthiness of qualitative research.
A researcher studies participants in their natural setting without manipulating any variable. This method is
Answer: a naturalistic observation
Naturalistic observation records behaviour in a real setting; it has high ecological validity but no control over variables, so no cause can be established.
A researcher recruits participants by advertising and testing whoever chooses to reply. This sampling technique is
Answer: volunteer sampling
In self-selected (volunteer) sampling participants actively choose to take part, which can create a biased, unrepresentative sample.
The extent to which the findings of a study can be applied to real-world settings is called
Answer: ecological validity
Ecological validity concerns generalisation to everyday situations; internal validity concerns whether the IV truly caused the change in the DV.
Each participant takes part in every condition of an experiment. This experimental design is
Answer: repeated measures
Repeated measures controls for individual differences but risks order effects, which counterbalancing helps to reduce.
That was 6 of 50 Research methods, sampling and ethics in psychological research questions.
Practise all 50 freeOutlineAO1 · 1–9 marks
A brief account or summary: the main points in two or three sentences, no evaluation.
DistinguishAO2 · 3–9 marks
Make the difference clear for BOTH terms — a definition of one of them is only half an answer.
StateAO1 · 1–9 marks
One word or one short sentence. No explanation, no working: the mark is for the fact itself.
50 Research methods, sampling and ethics in psychological research questions — free with an account. Spaced repetition, streaks and full exam simulations included.
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