Class XI — Psychology
Chapter 2 Worksheet: Goals of Psychological Enquiry Date: 2 July, 2026
Part A: Match the goals of psychological enquiry in Column A with their correct definitions in
Column B
Column A Column B
A. Foretelling the occurrence of a behavior
under specific conditions based on
established relationships.
1. Description B. Modifying, reducing, enhancing, or
initiating a specific behavior by changing its
2. Prediction prior conditions.
C. Utilizing psychological knowledge to
3. Explanation solve real-world problems and improve the
quality of human life.
4. Control D. Systematically recording and defining a
behavior as accurately as possible to
5. Application distinguish it from others.
E. Identifying the causal factors,
determinants, or antecedent conditions that
make a behavior happen.
Part B: Real-World Scenarios- Identify which goal of psychological enquiry is being
highlighted in each of the following examples:
1. Scenario: A clinical psychologist designs a therapy session to help a patient reduce their
public speaking anxiety.
Goal: ________________________________
2. Scenario: A researcher finds that students who meditate for 10 minutes before an exam
generally score higher. They forecast that if Rahul meditates before his next exam, he will
likely perform well.
Goal: __________________________________
3. Scenario: A child psychologist studies why some children are highly attentive in class
while others distract easily, focusing on the underlying root causes.
Goal: __________________________________
4. Scenario: A school counselor creates a detailed checklist of what constitutes "good study
habits," noting specific habits like regular attendance and timely assignment submission.
Goal: __________________________________
Part C: Short Answer Questions
Answer the following questions briefly based on your understanding of the text.
1. According to the text, what does the term "Description" require a researcher to do when
studying a behavior like "study habits"?
2. Explain the cause-effect relationship established during the "Explanation" phase of
research.
3. Give an example from the text showing how the "Application" of psychological knowledge
can improve a person's quality of life.
Answer Key (For Reference)
Part A: 1. D | 2. A | 3. E | 4. B | 5. C
Part B: 1. Control | 2. Prediction | 3. Explanation | 4. Description
Part C Hints:
1. Requires accurate recording and minute definition of diverse behaviors (like attending
classes, planning schedules) to distinguish it from other behaviors.
2. It identifies the determinants or antecedent conditions that make a behavior occur or not
occur.
3. Applications of yoga and meditation to reduce stress and increase efficiency.
Worksheet: Steps in Conducting Scientific Research Date:3rd July
Part A: Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark Each)
1. Objectivity in scientific research implies that:
• A) Every researcher will have a different opinion.
• B) Two or more independent researchers studying the same event should arrive at a similar
conclusion.
• C) The study is based entirely on personal, unverified experiences.
• D) The research cannot be replicated by anyone else.
2. Which of the following is the correct sequence of steps in scientific research?
• A) Collection of data \rightarrow Conceptualisation \rightarrow Drawing conclusions
\rightarrow Revising theories
• B) Conceptualisation of a problem \rightarrow Collection of data \rightarrow Drawing
conclusions \rightarrow Revising research conclusions
• C) Drawing conclusions \rightarrow Collection of data \rightarrow Conceptualisation
\rightarrow Revising theories
• D) Collection of data \rightarrow Drawing conclusions \rightarrow Conceptualisation
\rightarrow Revising theories
3. A tentative answer to a research problem is known as a:
• A) Conclusion
• B) Data set
• C) Hypothesis
• D) Research design
4. When a researcher reviews past research, observations, and personal experiences, they
are in which stage of research?
• A) Collecting Data
• B) Drawing Conclusions
• C) Conceptualising a Problem
• D) Revising Research Conclusions
5. Developing a blueprint or a research design of the entire study is a core requirement of:
• A) Formulating conclusions
• B) Collecting data
• C) Selecting a theme
• D) Graphing results
6. Which of the following is classified as a tool for data collection in the text in psychology?
• A) Bar-diagram
• B) Questionnaire
• C) Pie-chart
• D) Cumulative frequencies
7. Statistical procedures & graphical representations (like pie-charts) are primarily utilized to:
• A) Formulate a new hypothesis
• B) Select research participants
• C) Analyse data to verify a hypothesis
• D) Narrow down a research theme
8. If the drawn conclusions do not support the initial hypothesis, the researcher should:
• A) Discard the entire study permanently.
• B) Force the data to fit the hypothesis.
• C) Revise or state an alternative hypothesis/theory and test it again.
• D) Accept the initial hypothesis as true regardless.
Assertion-Reason Questions (1 Mark Each)
Directions: In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement
of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
• A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
• C) A is true but R is false.
• D) A is false but R is true.
9. Assertion (A): Scientific research is considered a continuous process.
Reason (R): If conclusions do not support the hypothesis, a researcher revises the
hypothesis/theory, tests it based on new data, and leaves it open for future verification.
10. Assertion (A): Objectivity means that if you and your friend measure the same table with
the same device, you will arrive at completely different lengths.
Reason (R): Science is defined not so much by what it investigates as by how it investigates.
Part B: Short Answer Questions (5 x 2 Marks = 10 Marks)
11. Define 'objectivity' using the measurement example provided in the text.
12. What does a researcher do when they "conceptualise a problem"?
13. Name the four critical aspects a researcher must make decisions about before actual
data collection begins.
14. What is the primary purpose of data analysis, and how can data be represented
graphically?
15. Under what condition does an existing hypothesis or theory become confirmed? What
happens if it is not confirmed?
Part C: Application-Based Questions
16. Imagine you notice that a cyclist performs much better when cycling before a group of
people than when cycling alone. Formulate a tentative hypothesis for this observation based
on the format discussed in the text. (2 Marks)
17. A school psychologist wants to study the study habits of high school students. How
should the psychologist narrow down this broad focus into a specific research question, and
what decisions must they make regarding the participants and tools? (4 Marks)
Answer Key
Part A
1. B 6. B 9. A (The reason
accurately explains why it
2. B 7. C is an ongoing cycle)
3. C 8. C 10. D (Assertion is
false; objectivity means
4. C they would arrive at the
same conclusion)
5. B
Part B
• 11. Objectivity means that if two or more people independently study the same event, they
should arrive at the same conclusion. Example: Two people measuring the same table with
the same device should get the same length.
• 12. The researcher selects a theme/topic, narrows down the focus, and develops specific
research questions or problems based on past research, observations, and personal
experiences.
• 13. (a) Participants, (b) Methods of data collection, (c) Tools to be used, and (d) Procedure
for data collection.
• 14. The purpose is to verify a hypothesis and understand what the data mean using
statistical methods. It can be represented graphically using pie-charts, bar-diagrams, or
cumulative frequencies.
• 15. An existing hypothesis is confirmed if the final research conclusions support it. If not,
the researcher revises or states an alternative hypothesis/theory to be tested again.
Part C
• 16. Example Answer: "Greater is the number of audience members watching a cyclist,
higher is the performance level displayed by the cyclist." (Accept any logically similar
"If/Then" or directional hypothesis structure matching the text's television-aggression
example).
• 17. Example Answer: They can narrow it down by deciding whether they want to study
habits shown in the classroom or at home. The participants would be high school students,
and the tools could be questionnaires or interview schedules administered individually or in
groups.