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CBSE · Class 11 · Psychology

Methods of Enquiry in Psychology

Standard difficulty · 20 questions · 40 marks · Time: 36 minutes

Name: Date: Score: ____ / 40

Show your working for Sections B and C. Answers are on the last page — try every question first!

Section A — Choose the correct answer8 × 1 = 8 marks
1.
The goal of psychological enquiry that finds the causes or antecedent conditions of behaviour is:
  1. prediction
  2. application
  3. description
  4. explanation
2.
What does the goal of prediction in psychological enquiry aim at?
  1. bringing positive changes in people’s lives
  2. making a behaviour happen, reducing it or enhancing it
  3. forecasting a behaviour within a margin of error
  4. finding the causes or antecedent conditions of a behaviour
3.
Dev varies the level of noise in a laboratory to see its effect on problem solving. Which method is being used?
  1. naturalistic observation
  2. survey
  3. experimental method
  4. participant observation
4.
In the hypothesis “Larger print speeds up reading for older adults”, what is the dependent variable?
  1. reading speed
  2. players’ effort
  3. size of the print
  4. cycling speed
5.
A psychological test with moving objects into a set order is a:
  1. individual test
  2. non-verbal test
  3. speed test
  4. performance test
6.
Which correlation coefficient shows the strongest relationship between two variables?
  1. −0.87
  2. +0.23
  3. −0.41
  4. −0.63
7.
In Latané and Darley’s study, 75% of students waiting alone reported the smoke. Suppose 224 students were tested this way at the same rate. How many would report it?
  1. 172 students
  2. 56 students
  3. 168 students
  4. 190 students
8.
What does the ethical principle of confidentiality mean?
  1. the information participants give is kept private
  2. the researcher goes back and tells participants what was found
  3. people learn what the study involves before data are collected
  4. the study is explained afterwards so people leave as they came
Section B — Short answer8 × 2 = 16 marks
9.
Name the four steps in conducting scientific research.
10.
Is each demographic, physical, physiological or psychological data? (a) reaction time (b) interests
11.
Name the independent and dependent variables in the hypothesis “Feedback after each attempt reduces mistakes in learning a dance step”.
12.
Name the method of enquiry in each case. (a) Asha asks 2,000 parents for their opinions on homework. (b) Dev joins a village drama group for months to understand how its members work together.
13.
Is each question open-ended or closed-ended? (a) Do you enjoy reading? (Yes/No) (b) What makes a good teacher, in your view?
14.
Explain each term: (a) field experiment (b) validity
15.
Suppose in a test out of 50 the first three ranks scored 50, 46 and 34. Find the gap between ranks 1 and 2 and between ranks 2 and 3. What does this show about ranks as scores?
16.
Suppose a test of 28 items is split by the odd-even method. How many items are in each half, and which item numbers begin the odd half and the even half? What does the correlation between the halves tell us?
Section C — Word problems4 × 4 = 16 marks
17.
Explain the five goals of psychological enquiry with examples.
18.
Match each with its meaning: (a) sharing the results (b) informed consent (c) voluntary participation. Choose from: the researcher goes back and tells participants what was found; people learn what the study involves before data are collected; people choose freely to take part and may withdraw without penalty.
19.
Suppose a researcher repeats Latané and Darley’s study at the book’s rates: 88 students wait alone (75% report the smoke), 200 wait in groups of naïve students (38% report) and 110 wait with confederates (10% report). (a) How many report in each condition? (b) Name the independent and dependent variables. (c) Which condition is the control group?
20.
Name the method in each study and give one strength and one limitation of each: (a) Ananya checks whether hours of sleep go together with exam marks, without changing either. (b) Vikram compares a student’s score on a standardised test with others of the same age.
AmbifulWorksheets
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CBSE · Class 11 · Psychology

Answer key

Methods of Enquiry in Psychology · AW-11PY-MEP-2026-V1 · For parents — fold back or tear off before handing the sheet to your child.

QAnswerWorking
1(d) explanation—
2(c) forecasting a behaviour within a margin of error—
3(c) experimental method—
4(a) reading speedthe effect that is measured
5(d) performance test—
6(a) −0.87the value farthest from 0, whatever its sign
7(c) 168 students75% of 224 = 224 × 75 ÷ 100
8(a) the information participants give is kept private—
9Conceptualising a problem, collecting data, drawing conclusions, revising research conclusions.—
10(a) physiological (b) psychological—
11Independent: feedback after each attempt; dependent: number of mistakesthe cause that is varied; the effect that is measured
12(a) survey (b) participant observation—
13(a) closed-ended (b) open-ended—
14(a) an experiment in a natural setting (b) measuring what the test claims to measure—
154 marks and 12 marks; equal gaps in rank need not mean equal gaps in score, so ranks are relative50 − 46; 46 − 34
1614 items in each half; the odd half begins 1, 3, 5 and the even half 2, 4, 6; it shows split-half reliability (internal consistency)28 ÷ 2
17Description (record study habits accurately), prediction (more study time, better marks), explanation (find causes), control (make behaviour happen, reduce or enhance it), application (improve lives, e.g. yoga to reduce stress).—
18(a) the researcher goes back and tells participants what was found (b) people learn what the study involves before data are collected (c) people choose freely to take part and may withdraw without penalty—
19(a) 66, 76 and 11 (b) independent: presence of others in the room; dependent: reporting of the smoke (c) waiting alone75% of 88; 38% of 200; 10% of 110
20(a) correlational research (b) psychological testing; strengths and limitations as in the chapter—