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PYC3704 EXAM PACK
Only for UNISA students doing the module Psychology Research (PYC 3704)
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Psychology Research (PYC 3704)
Feedback on previous examination papers (2011 – 2013)
PYC 3704 - May/June 2011 – Previous examination paper
Question Correct answers and explanations
1 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 4). Proposed (tentative), variables or constructs have not been proven yet.
Option 2 - Hypothesis is an intelligent guess that may or may not be based on facts.
2 Option 2 is the most correct (pg 4). Theories are informed by facts which are tested based on the scientific
body of knowledge we have about our topic or subject, in this case, acute stress disorder. Option 1 -
Hypothesis is an intelligent guess that may or may not be based on facts. Option 3 – No constructs have
been presented in this statement, but later in the following premises.
3 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 8). Dependent – effect – level of anxiety experienced (after psychotherapy).
Independent – cause – whether or not psychotherapy is received.
4 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 60). Our focus will be mainly to prove whether psychotherapy improves the
quality of lives of our participants. Although we do acknowledge the importance of anxiety proneness and
the nature of stressor, these factors will not be important when we report our findings whether it was the
psychotherapy which lowered or failed to decrease the level of anxiety. Thus, we cancel them out because
we are mainly interested on the effects of the psychotherapy, and not external variables.
5 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 21, 24 – Q8). Latent – hidden.
6 Option 2 is the most correct (pg 1-2). Option 1 and 2 are partially true, we do not only collect and diagnose
disorders; we also develop new knowledge by empirically testing theories.
7 Option 2 is the most correct (pg 1).
8 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 8). Dependent variable – motor performance. Independent variable –
amount of alcohol consumed.
9 Option 2 is the most correct (pg 21, 24 – Q8).
10 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 8).
11 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 22, 24 – Q10). Option 2 – Constant values do not change (the scenario refers
to degrees of arousal). Option 3 – Correlation coefficient needs two variables and one group. Compare with
Q25.
12 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 23, 25 –Q18, 75). Option 2 and 3 are not correct because the author did not
state in which direction the relationship will follow. Thus we will test for a two-tailed t-score.
13 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 63, 66 – Q5). Option 1 – 0, 99 Option 2 – 0, 00.
14 Option 2 is the most correct (pg 51-3). Normal distribution models how scores are distributed on a scale that
is 0, 5 (50%) to the left, and 0, 5 (50 %) to the right, thus equal to 100%.
15 Option 2 is the most correct (pg 55).
Joseph’s history z-score Josephs biology class
60 - = - 0, 50 50 – = - 0, 25
-0, 50 is closest to – 00, 1 – Joseph thus did better in his history test
16 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 29).
7000 students passed from 100% to 50% (including the 300 got exactly 50%) = 10 000 – 7000 = 3000 failed
000 x 100 = 0, 3
17 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 52).
18 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 61). Sample means is equal to population mean (all possible samples in the
population.
19 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 29).
20 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 29).
, 3
21 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 29).
= 0, 33
22 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 60-1).
Two important elements you need to note on the central limit theorem:
(a) “This theorem gives the sample distribution of the sample means for any population, irrespective of
the shape, mean or standard deviation of the original population.”
(b) “The distribution of sample means (equal to population mean) will become more normal as sample
size (n) increases.
23 Option 3 is the most correct.
p > 0, 5 = > 50 %
24 Option 1 is the most correct.
450 – 150 = 300
= 0, 0666 = 0, 67
25 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 75).
Null hypothesis: Ho = 0
Alternative hypothesis: Ho: < 7
26 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 75).
Directional < > (one-tailed)
Non-directional ≠ (two-tailed)
27 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 78, 82).
28 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 83).
Type 1 error – p-value smaller than chosen level of significance – thus do not reject alternative
hypothesis (remember that we never accept the alternative because of possible error).
Type 2 error – p-value larger than the chosen level of significance – thus do not accept alternative
hypothesis because it is true (do not be misled by the terminology).
29 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 78, 82). We always are trying to disprove the null since null states the
constant variable (no difference exists).
30 Option 2 is the most correct (pg 75).
Non-directional hypothesis (≠) requires two-tailed statistical test
Directional hypothesis (< >) requires one-tailed statistical test
31 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 84). We wrongly reject the null because due to the error involved in testing
probabilities, there is a possibility that it might be true.
32 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 83).
33 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 78). Probabilities figures are based on chance factors, e.g. the possibility
that you will win the next lotto draw is based on chance.
34 Option 1 is the most correct (pg 75).
Type one error – p-value is smaller than the chosen level of significance (do not reject alternative
hypothesis). Thus, the sample result is under the alternative hypothesis.
35 Option 3 is the most correct (pg 18).
