🧪 Psychology MCQs – Research Methods in Psychology
Research methods are the backbone of psychology. Whether you’re preparing for GRE Psychology, AP Psychology, A-level Psychology, or university exams, practice MCQs are the best way to test your knowledge.
In this post, we bring you 40+ carefully selected and solved Research Methods in Psychology MCQs, each with correct answers and explanations. These questions cover sampling, validity, reliability, experimental design, hypothesis testing, and research ethics, helping you strengthen your preparation.
1. Which type of research is focused on establishing cause-and-effect relationships?
(A) Correlational Research
(B) Experimental Research
(C) Descriptive Research
(D) Survey Research
Correct Answer: (B) Experimental Research
Explanation: Experimental research involves manipulating independent variables to study their effect on dependent variables, making it best for cause-and-effect studies.
2. In psychology, what does a “double-blind” study mean?
(A) Both researcher and participants know the hypothesis
(B) Neither researcher nor participants know who is in the experimental/control group
(C) Only participants know the purpose of study
(D) Research is conducted without a hypothesis
Correct Answer: (B) Neither researcher nor participants know who is in the experimental/control group
Explanation: A double-blind procedure prevents bias by keeping both the researcher and the participant unaware of group assignments.
3. Which statistical measure shows the degree of relationship between two variables?
(A) Median
(B) Standard Deviation
(C) Correlation Coefficient
(D) Mean
Correct Answer: (C) Correlation Coefficient
Explanation: Correlation coefficient (r) ranges from -1 to +1 and indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between variables.
4. Which sampling method ensures that every individual in a population has an equal chance of selection?
(A) Stratified Sampling
(B) Random Sampling
(C) Cluster Sampling
(D) Quota Sampling
Correct Answer: (B) Random Sampling
Explanation: Random sampling reduces bias and improves generalizability of research findings.
5. What is the main purpose of using a control group in psychological research?
(A) To increase participant number
(B) To test additional variables
(C) To compare results against experimental treatment
(D) To reduce sample diversity
Correct Answer: (C) To compare results against experimental treatment
Explanation: Control groups serve as a baseline to measure the effect of the independent variable in the experimental group.
6. A hypothesis that states “there is no relationship between two variables” is called?
(A) Research Hypothesis
(B) Alternative Hypothesis
(C) Null Hypothesis
(D) Independent Hypothesis
Correct Answer: (C) Null Hypothesis
Explanation: The null hypothesis assumes no significant difference or relationship exists until proven otherwise.
7. Which type of validity refers to whether a test measures what it claims to measure?
(A) Content Validity
(B) Construct Validity
(C) Predictive Validity
(D) External Validity
Correct Answer: (B) Construct Validity
Explanation: Construct validity checks whether a psychological test truly measures the theoretical construct it is intended to measure.
8. Which research method involves studying one individual or group in depth?
(A) Case Study
(B) Survey
(C) Naturalistic Observation
(D) Experimental Method
Correct Answer: (A) Case Study
Explanation: Case studies provide detailed insights but are limited in generalizability.
9. Which research design studies the same group of individuals over a long period of time?
(A) Cross-sectional Design
(B) Longitudinal Design
(C) Experimental Design
(D) Meta-Analysis
Correct Answer: (B) Longitudinal Design
Explanation: Longitudinal studies track changes and development over years or decades within the same group.
10. What is the probability level (p-value) commonly used in psychology to determine statistical significance?
(A) 0.01
(B) 0.10
(C) 0.05
(D) 0.50
Correct Answer: (C) 0.05
Explanation: A p-value less than 0.05 is generally considered statistically significant in psychological research.
11. Which branch of statistics helps researchers make conclusions about a population based on a sample?
(A) Descriptive Statistics
(B) Inferential Statistics
(C) Predictive Statistics
(D) Qualitative Statistics
Correct Answer: (B) Inferential Statistics
Explanation: Inferential statistics use sample data to make generalizations about a population, often using tests like t-tests or ANOVA.
12. What does “operational definition” mean in psychological research?
(A) A dictionary definition of a term
(B) The researcher’s personal opinion
(C) A precise description of how variables are measured in a study
(D) A theoretical explanation of a construct
Correct Answer: (C) A precise description of how variables are measured in a study
Explanation: Operational definitions specify exactly how concepts are quantified and observed, ensuring clarity and replication.
13. In experimental research, the variable manipulated by the researcher is called?
(A) Dependent Variable
(B) Independent Variable
(C) Confounding Variable
(D) Control Variable
Correct Answer: (B) Independent Variable
Explanation: The independent variable is controlled by the researcher to see its impact on the dependent variable.
14. What type of error occurs when a researcher rejects a true null hypothesis?
(A) Type I Error
(B) Type II Error
(C) Sampling Error
(D) Measurement Error
Correct Answer: (A) Type I Error
Explanation: Type I error means a false positive—detecting an effect that doesn’t actually exist.
15. Which ethical principle ensures participants voluntarily agree to take part in research?
(A) Confidentiality
(B) Informed Consent
(C) Debriefing
(D) Beneficence
Correct Answer: (B) Informed Consent
Explanation: Informed consent means participants are fully aware of the study’s purpose, risks, and rights before participating.
16. What is the main purpose of using random assignment in experiments?
(A) To select participants randomly from a population
(B) To balance out participant differences across groups
(C) To increase external validity
(D) To reduce the number of participants
Correct Answer: (B) To balance out participant differences across groups
Explanation: Random assignment ensures each participant has an equal chance of being in experimental or control groups, reducing bias.
17. Which research method is best for studying rare psychological conditions?
(A) Survey
(B) Case Study
(C) Experiment
(D) Longitudinal Study
Correct Answer: (B) Case Study
Explanation: Case studies allow in-depth analysis of unique or rare cases, though results cannot be generalized widely.
18. In statistics, what does a p-value greater than 0.05 generally indicate?
(A) The results are statistically significant
(B) The results are not statistically significant
(C) The study was unethical
(D) The sample size was too small
Correct Answer: (B) The results are not statistically significant
Explanation: A p-value above 0.05 suggests insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis.
19. Which reliability test measures the consistency of a test over time?
(A) Split-Half Reliability
(B) Test-Retest Reliability
(C) Inter-Rater Reliability
(D) Internal Consistency
Correct Answer: (B) Test-Retest Reliability
Explanation: Test-retest reliability examines whether the same test produces similar results when administered at different times.
20. Which organization in the US sets ethical guidelines for psychological research?
(A) WHO
(B) APA (American Psychological Association)
(C) AMA (American Medical Association)
(D) UN
Correct Answer: (B) APA (American Psychological Association)
Explanation: APA provides formal ethical guidelines for research involving human and animal participants.
21. What is the main purpose of using a control group in experimental research?
(A) To manipulate variables
(B) To eliminate confounding variables
(C) To provide a baseline for comparison
(D) To increase sample size
Correct Answer: (C) To provide a baseline for comparison
Explanation: The control group does not receive the independent variable and allows researchers to see the true effect of manipulation.
22. Which type of validity refers to whether a test measures what it claims to measure?
(A) Construct Validity
(B) Content Validity
(C) Face Validity
(D) External Validity
Correct Answer: (A) Construct Validity
Explanation: Construct validity ensures that the test truly measures the theoretical construct it intends to.
23. What is the difference between random sampling and random assignment?
(A) They are the same
(B) Sampling is about selecting participants; assignment is about dividing them into groups
(C) Sampling is optional; assignment is mandatory
(D) Sampling ensures validity; assignment ensures reliability
Correct Answer: (B) Sampling is about selecting participants; assignment is about dividing them into groups
Explanation: Random sampling ensures a representative group from the population, while random assignment distributes participants across conditions fairly.
24. Which statistical test is used to compare the means of two groups?
(A) Chi-square test
(B) T-test
(C) ANOVA
(D) Correlation
Correct Answer: (B) T-test
Explanation: A t-test checks whether the mean difference between two groups is statistically significant.
25. Which type of research focuses on describing behavior without manipulation?
(A) Experimental
(B) Correlational
(C) Descriptive
(D) Longitudinal
Correct Answer: (C) Descriptive
Explanation: Descriptive research involves observation, surveys, or case studies without changing variables.
26. What does a correlation coefficient (r) of -0.85 indicate?
(A) Strong positive correlation
(B) Strong negative correlation
(C) Weak correlation
(D) No correlation
Correct Answer: (B) Strong negative correlation
Explanation: The closer r is to -1, the stronger the negative relationship between two variables.
27. Which research method allows determination of cause-and-effect relationships?
(A) Experiment
(B) Survey
(C) Case Study
(D) Naturalistic Observation
Correct Answer: (A) Experiment
Explanation: Only experiments manipulate independent variables under controlled conditions to test causality.
28. Which research design follows the same individuals over a long period of time?
(A) Cross-Sectional
(B) Longitudinal
(C) Experimental
(D) Meta-Analysis
Correct Answer: (B) Longitudinal
Explanation: Longitudinal studies track the same participants across years, useful for developmental psychology.
29. What is the primary disadvantage of naturalistic observation?
(A) Artificial behavior
(B) Observer bias and lack of control
(C) Too much manipulation
(D) Expensive technology required
Correct Answer: (B) Observer bias and lack of control
Explanation: Researchers cannot control variables in natural settings, and bias can affect interpretations.
30. In hypothesis testing, the null hypothesis states that:
(A) There is a significant effect
(B) There is no significant effect
(C) The results are biased
(D) The study is invalid
Correct Answer: (B) There is no significant effect
Explanation: The null hypothesis assumes no real difference or effect between groups.
31. What does “placebo effect” mean in psychology experiments?
(A) A variable that affects the outcome
(B) Improvement caused by expectation rather than treatment
(C) Random error in measurement
(D) Ethical violation
Correct Answer: (B) Improvement caused by expectation rather than treatment
Explanation: The placebo effect shows that belief in treatment can produce changes even without actual intervention.
32. Which scale of measurement classifies data into categories without order?
(A) Interval
(B) Nominal
(C) Ordinal
(D) Ratio
Correct Answer: (B) Nominal
Explanation: Nominal scales label categories (e.g., gender, religion) without ranking.
33. Which branch of psychology relies heavily on double-blind experiments to avoid bias?
(A) Social Psychology
(B) Cognitive Psychology
(C) Clinical Psychology
(D) Biological Psychology
Correct Answer: (C) Clinical Psychology
Explanation: Clinical trials often use double-blind methods to ensure neither researchers nor participants know who receives treatment.
34. Which of the following increases external validity?
(A) Laboratory setting
(B) Random sampling
(C) Small sample size
(D) Researcher bias
Correct Answer: (B) Random sampling
Explanation: Random sampling makes findings more generalizable to a wider population.
35. In psychology, reliability refers to:
(A) Measuring what is intended
(B) Consistency of measurement
(C) Generalizability of results
(D) Accuracy of manipulation
Correct Answer: (B) Consistency of measurement
Explanation: A reliable test gives the same results under consistent conditions.
36. Which research method combines results from multiple studies to find patterns?
(A) Case Study
(B) Meta-Analysis
(C) Longitudinal Study
(D) Cross-Sectional Study
Correct Answer: (B) Meta-Analysis
Explanation: Meta-analysis synthesizes findings across studies for stronger conclusions.
37. Which of the following is an example of qualitative research?
(A) Interview-based study
(B) T-test analysis
(C) Correlational study
(D) ANOVA
Correct Answer: (A) Interview-based study
Explanation: Qualitative research collects descriptive, non-numerical data like interviews or observations.
38. Which sampling technique ensures subgroups are proportionally represented?
(A) Random Sampling
(B) Stratified Sampling
(C) Snowball Sampling
(D) Cluster Sampling
Correct Answer: (B) Stratified Sampling
Explanation: Stratified sampling divides the population into subgroups and samples proportionally.
39. Which of the following is a measure of central tendency?
(A) Variance
(B) Correlation
(C) Mean
(D) Standard Deviation
Correct Answer: (C) Mean
Explanation: Central tendency describes the average or middle point of data using mean, median, or mode.
40. What does debriefing involve in research ethics?
(A) Collecting consent
(B) Informing participants of results and study purpose after completion
(C) Ensuring randomization
(D) Testing reliability
Correct Answer: (B) Informing participants of results and study purpose after completion
Explanation: Debriefing explains the study to participants, especially when deception was used.
Understanding research methods is essential for success in psychology. By practicing these MCQs with explanations, you’ll gain clarity on key concepts and improve your performance in exams.
👉 Set 1: Introduction to Psychology
👉 Set 2: Brain, Vision, Hearing, and Sleep