PYC3704
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Recent exam questions and answers
Summarised study notes
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provided.
, ∑(𝑥−𝑥̅ )2 104.4 104.4
𝑠= √ =√ =√ = √11.6 = 3.406 (rounded off).
𝑛−1 10−1 9
Note how it takes many words to explain this process, and that it can be difficult to express it in a very
exact way in words. The formula is a very concise and exact expression of the process, which is why we
need to use it.
2. Feedback for Assignment 01 of the first semester of 2023
Each question is given, followed by the appropriate answer and an explanation of the correct response.
Work your way systematically through these, comparing them with your answer. Even if you chose the
correct alternative, you may find that the explanations we give are useful. Try to understand the
explanations. Many of the questions require insight, not just factual knowledge. You will not pass this
course if you try and memorise the questions and answers!
Question 1
The goal of quantitative research in psychology is best described as aiming to - - - - -.
1. develop appropriate statistical tests which can be used to determine the relationships among
psychological variables that occur at a level greater than chance
2. develop theories that helps us to explain human experience and behaviour
3. formulate clear hypotheses based on insights about human experience and behaviour
4. convert theoretical constructs into measurable variables through operationalisation
➔ Answer: Option 2 gives the correct answer.
The goal of research is to develop theories which can explain aspects of human behaviour and experience.
Options 3 and 4 refer to stages in the process of doing quantitative research but these are not the goals
of the research. The goal of the research is also not to develop statistical tests, as implied in option 1.
These tests are developed by statisticians and are used by researchers in social and other scientific
research, but developing the tests is not part of the goal of the research.
Question 2
The aim of psychological research is to - - - - -
(a) establish relationships among constructs for the purpose of developing a theory.
(b) draw definite conclusions about a population of interest based on sample statistics.
(c) test an existing theory.
(d) predict how constructs are likely to interact in general using relevant theoretical underpinnings.
1. (a)(b) and (c)
2. (a)(c) and (d)
3. (b)(c) and (d)
4. All of the above
➔Answer: The correct choice would be Option 2.
We can only draw inferences about a population from sample statistics and not definite conclusions.
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,Question 3
Empirical knowledge is defined as - - - - -.
1. theories which explain why facts appear as they are observed to be
2. knowledge based on creative insights
3. direct experiences as they are caught in the moment of conscious awareness
4. information derived from careful observation and description of objects and events
➔ Answer: Option 4 is correct.
Empirical knowledge is the knowledge that you have obtained because you observed what has happened
during an event. Option 1 is wrong because empirical knowledge derives from experience rather than
theory. Option 2 is and 3 also wrong because neither of these fit to the definition of ‘empirical’ knowledge.
Question 4
Operationalizing a construct means to - - - - -.
1. find an explanation for the construct to explain why it appears as it is
2. make an educated guess on how it relates to other constructs
3. determine the correct level at which it should be measured
4. devise a systematic procedure to make the construct observable, in such a way that we can
measure it
➔ Answer: The correct answer is option 4.
A construct is some event or entity which the researcher regards as being of importance in an explanation
of the phenomenon under investigation. In quantitative research, where data are treated in numeric form,
the problem is how to measure it, and the procedure used to achieve this is referred to as
operationalization. For example, one may suppose that persons with concentration problems are affected
by anxiety. To research this, some way will have to be found to measure each of the constructs 'ability to
concentrate' and 'anxiety', perhaps by developing suitable tests or observation methods.
Option 1 refers to the process of developing theories and Option 2 to the process of developing
hypotheses. Option 3 is fairly ambivalent (it is not clear what ‘level’ refers to) but is not part of a definition
of the process called ‘operationalizing’
Question 5
Which one of the definitions below is FALSE?
1. The term construct is used to refer to an aspect of human behaviour or experience which is
abstracted from observations for study in psychological research.
2. Measurement is a process whereby numbers are allocated to a construct according to a rule.
3. When a psychological variable is measured, the result is referred to as a statistic.
4. When a construct is measured, the resulting quantity is referred to as a variable.
➔ Answer: The correct choice would be Option 3.
Option 3 is the only description that is false.
A statistic is some kind of summary value calculated from a set of measurements across a sample of data,
not one specific measurement. This would include, for example, means, variances and standard deviations
that are calculated from a sample of cases which were measured on some variable. These are collectively
referred to as sample statistics (see the PYC3704 Guide, section 1.4.3, especially p. 13). The term ‘test
statistic’ is also used for the test value (a value with a known probability distribution) calculated in various
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, statistical tests. The other three options are all true.
Question 6
A statistician studying measurement theory would assume that a measurement x is made up of the ‘true’
measurement x0 and an error term e. Which of the following assumptions are usually made regarding the
error component (e)?
(a) it has a mean value of 0
(b) it has a standard deviation of 1
(c) it is normally distributed
1. (a) and (b) are true
2. (a) and (c) are true
3. Only (c) is true
4. (b) and (c) are true
➔ Answer: The correct choice would be Option 2.
It is assumed that the error term is normally distributed around a mean of zero. This is because positive
and negative deviations from the 'true' mean (the errors) are assumed to be equally probable, and are
likely to cancel each other out (see pp. 14-15 of the PYC3704 Study Guide).
Question 7
A measurement that summarizes an aspect of a population is called a - - - - - while a measurement that
describes the same aspect of a sample is called - - - - -.
1. construct; variable
2. parameter; statistic
3. statistic; parameter
4. variable; construct
➔ Answer: The correct choice would be Option 2.
This option makes use of the definitions of ‘parameter’ (for a population) and ‘statistic’ for a sample. See
Section 1.4.3 of the PYC3704 Guide (especially the part that begins on the bottom of p. 12). The other
options are incorrect.
Question 8
A variable that we may not be aware of during an experiment or research process that may influence the
outcome is called a - - - - -.
1. manifest variable
2. hidden variable
3. latent variable
4. random variable
➔ Answer: The correct answer is Option 2.
A hidden variable affects the dependent variable in ways that we are not aware of, or that we choose to
ignore. A manifest variable is an observable variable while a latent variable cannot be directly observed.
The latent variable is made manifest by using an appropriate procedure to measure it. It is also referred to
as a latent construct. A random variable is a variable with a value that cannot be predicted before the
experiment has been performed (see p. 9 of PYC3704 Study Guide).
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