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Understanding Research Questions in Psychology

answer for hypothesis and testing questions

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
19 views3 pages

Understanding Research Questions in Psychology

answer for hypothesis and testing questions

Uploaded by

aliyahmayanja033
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Multiple Choice Questions

1. “Is anxiety in college students caused by a lack of confidence in their abilities?” is an


example of a ________ research question.
a. predictive
*b. causal
c. descriptive
d. non-empirical

2. A research question that asks about the presence of behaviour, how frequently it is
exhibited, or whether there is a relationship between different behaviours is a
*a. descriptive research question
b. causal research question
c. fundamental research question
d. vital research question

3. Predicting that all dogs can run because one was dog was seen running is an
example of ___________ reasoning.
*a inductive
b deductive
c causal
d descriptive

4. Research questions for psychological studies


*a. should be important for understanding behavior in a particular area
b. are not answerable using the scientific method
c. should be questions already answered in previous studies
d. should never be descriptive

5. “Are women who are pregnant depressed?” is an example of a ________ research


question.
a. predictive
b. causal
*c. descriptive
d. non-empirical

True/False Questions
1. An introduction is a short summary of the study that allows readers to decide if the article
is relevant to their literature review without their reading the entire article.
a. True
*b. False
2. Empirical journal articles are considered secondary sources for research information
because they are written by the researchers who conducted the research and details of the
study are provided.
a. True
*b. False

3. Researchers should consider how appropriate their question is for both scientific methods
and the specific field of study before moving on to designing a study.
*a. True
b. False

4. Research questions are never descriptive.


a. True
*b. False

5. Theory-driven hypotheses are made from the predictions of a theory.


*a. True
b. False

Short-Answer Questions
1. Explain the difference between an empirical journal article and a popular magazine
article.
A popular magazine article is written to inform a lay audience about a topic. Research
may be described in the article, but it will not be described in detail and may not always
accurately represent all aspects of the research studies described. An empirical journal
article describes a research study in detail and is written to allow other researchers to
be informed about other studies in an area and their findings.

2. Describe how you would conduct a literature review for the research question “Do
symptoms of depression improve with cognitive therapy?”
Answers will vary, but should include searching a database using keyword or topic
words such as “depression” and “cognitive therapy” and combining results from these
searches.
3. Explain the difference between theory-driven and data-driven hypotheses.
Theory-driven hypotheses are made based on predictions made for a study by a theory
of behaviour in an area of psychology. A theory-driven hypothesis allows a test of the
theory and relies on deductive reasoning. Data-driven hypotheses are made from the
results of past studies. They rely on inductive reasoning.

4. Explain the difference between descriptive and causal hypotheses.


Descriptive hypotheses are predictions about the results of a study that describes the
behaviour or the relationship between behaviours. Causal hypotheses are predictions
about the results of a study that includes the causes of a behaviour.

Common questions

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Deductive reasoning in a theory-driven hypothesis involves deriving specific predictions from a general theory, which allows for testing and potentially verifying the theory. Inductive reasoning in a data-driven hypothesis involves generating hypotheses based on specific observations or results, creating generalized conclusions that are more tentative as they build from limited data .

A literature review inquires about existing studies on depression and cognitive therapy, which helps refine the research question and hypothesis. It involves searching scientific databases using relevant keywords, systematically collecting and analyzing past studies, and synthesizing findings to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the topic .

A theory-driven hypothesis is based on predictions made by an existing theory of behavior in psychology, relying on deductive reasoning to test the theory. Meanwhile, a data-driven hypothesis originates from the results of past studies and relies on inductive reasoning, drawing inferences about behaviors from specific observations .

A research question is unanswerable by the scientific method if it is non-empirical, lacks specificity, or if its variables cannot be quantitatively measured or manipulated. This is critical because such questions cannot be rigorously tested or validated, leading to unreliable conclusions and diminishing the study’s scientific merit .

An empirical journal article provides detailed descriptions of research studies, enabling validation and replication by other researchers, and is intended for a scholarly audience. In contrast, a popular magazine article is aimed at a lay audience, often lacks detailed methodological information, and may not fully or accurately represent research findings .

The statement is inaccurate. Empirical journal articles are primary sources because they contain original research conducted and reported by the researchers themselves, offering firsthand accounts of the study's methodology, data, and findings .

A causal research question seeks to identify and understand the underlying causes of a behavior, aiming to establish cause-and-effect relationships. In contrast, a descriptive research question focuses on detailing the occurrence or relationship of behaviors without attempting to explain why they occur .

Inductive reasoning involves deriving general conclusions from specific observations. For example, observing one dog running and concluding all dogs can run extrapolates a single instance to all instances, illustrating the broad applicability and potential limitations of such generalizations .

An introduction is not merely a summary but frames the research problem, outlines its significance, establishes context, and delineates the objectives or hypotheses, guiding the reader’s understanding rather than summarizing the entire study for literature reviews .

Considering both scientific and field-specific appropriateness ensures that the research question can be effectively addressed using scientific methods and adds meaningful insight or advancements to the relevant academic discipline. This consideration prevents invalid or irrelevant findings and maximizes the study's contribution to the field .

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