Question bank:
Compare and contrast structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews in qualitative
research. How does the choice of interview type impact data collection and analysis?
Discuss the significance of focus groups in qualitative research. What are the advantages
and limitations of using focus groups to gather data?
Explain the role of case studies in psychological research. How do they contribute to a
deeper understanding of individual or group behaviors?
What is ethnographic research, and how does it help in understanding cultural and social
contexts? Discuss the ethical considerations involved in ethnographic studies.
How can researchers ensure reliability and validity in qualitative research methods like
interviews, focus groups, and case studies?
Discuss the key differences between case studies and ethnographic research. In what
situations would each method be most appropriate?
Qualitative research often focuses on depth rather than breadth. How does this principle
apply to interviews, focus groups, and case studies in psychology?
Explain the challenges researchers may face while conducting ethnographic research. How
can they address issues related to bias and subjectivity?
What are mixed-method research designs? Discuss their advantages and challenges.
Describe the key steps in writing a systematic review and conducting a meta-analysis.
How does psychological research contribute to real-world applications? Provide relevant
examples.
Discuss the role of technology in modern psychological research, highlighting both
benefits and concerns.
Explain the significance of thematic analysis in qualitative research, outlining its key
steps.
6-Mark Questions
Unit 1: Introduction to Advanced Research in Psychology
1. Explain any two advanced research methods used in psychology today.
2. Discuss key contemporary trends in psychological research.
3. What are the major ethical considerations in advanced psychological research?
Unit 2: Advanced Research Designs
4. Describe the key features of a mixed-method study and its significance.
Unit 3: Scale Development and Psychometrics
6. Outline the major steps involved in scale construction.
7. What is norm creation and why is it important in psychological testing?
8. Differentiate between Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor
Analysis (CFA).
Unit 4: Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis Approaches
9. Compare structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews.
10. What are the key characteristics of ethnographic research?
11. Explain thematic analysis and how it helps identify patterns in qualitative research.
Unit 5: Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research
12. Describe strategies to ensure credibility and dependability in qualitative research.
13. What is reflexivity, and why is it important in qualitative research?
Unit 6: Writing Research Proposals, Systematic Reviews, and Meta-Analysis
14. What are the essential components of a research proposal?
15. Explain the significance of systematic review protocols in research.
Section B: 10-Mark Questions
Unit 1: Introduction to Advanced Research in Psychology
1. Critically evaluate contemporary trends in psychological research and their impact on
the field.
2. Discuss the role of ethics in advanced psychological research, providing real-world
examples.
Unit 2: Advanced Research Designs
3. Explain how different methods can be integrated in a mixed-method study as
triangulation. Provide an example.
Unit 3: Scale Development and Psychometrics
5. Discuss the process of scale construction in psychological research and the role of
reliability and validity.
6. Explain how factor analysis (EFA and CFA) contributes to scale development in
psychometrics.
Unit 4: Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis Approaches
7. Compare and contrast thematic analysis, grounded theory, and narrative research.
8. Discuss the importance of ethnographic research in understanding human behavior
and culture.
Unit 5: Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research
9. Explain the importance of ensuring credibility, transferability, dependability, and
confirmability in qualitative research.
10. How does researcher bias affect qualitative research, and what strategies can be
used to minimize it?
Section C
Case:
A research team is developing a new psychological scale to measure social anxiety in
adolescents. The researchers aim to ensure that the scale effectively captures different
dimensions of social anxiety, such as fear of judgment, avoidance of social situations, and
physical symptoms of anxiety. They conduct pilot testing and analyze the scale’s reliability
(e.g., test-retest reliability and internal consistency) and validity (e.g., construct and criterion
validity). The team also faces challenges in ensuring the scale is culturally appropriate and
free from bias.
10-Mark Questions:
1. Discuss different types of reliability and validity that should be considered when
developing a psychological scale.
2. What challenges might arise in ensuring a psychological scale is reliable and valid
across different populations?
OR
3. How can researchers ensure that their scale is free from cultural bias and remains
applicable to diverse groups?
4. Compare exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis in the validation of
psychological scales, and discuss how they would be applied in the case study.