OCR A LEVEL
PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE
EXAM GUIDE COMPLETE
Question 1: A psychologist measures whether students recall more words in a silent room than in a room with background music. What is the independent variable?
Choices:
1) Number of words recalled 2) Type of room sound condition 3) Age of the students 4) Di�culty of the word list
Correct Answer: Type of room sound condition
Explanation: The independent variable is the factor manipulated by the researcher. Here the sound condition is changed while recall is measured.Page 1
Question 2: In a repeated measures experiment, what is the main advantage of
using counterbalancing?
Choices:
1) It removes the need for a hypothesis 2) It reduces order e�ects across conditions 3) It guarantees a representative sample 4) It converts qualitative data into quantitative data
Correct Answer: It reduces order e�ects across conditions
Explanation: Counterbalancing varies the order of conditions so that practice or fatigue e�ects are spread more evenly between conditions.
Question 3: Which sampling method involves asking existing participants to
recommend other suitable participants?
Choices:
1) Volunteer sampling 2) Opportunity sampling 3) Snowball sampling 4) Strati�ed sampling
Correct Answer: Snowball sampling
Explanation: Snowball sampling uses referrals from current participants to recruit further participants who meet the criteria.Page 2
Question 4: A questionnaire asks respondents to rate stress from 1 to 10. What level of measurement is most likely being used?
Choices:
1) Nominal 2) Ordinal 3) Ratio 4) Categorical only
Correct Answer: Ordinal
Explanation: Rating scales usually produce ordinal data because the numbers show order but the intervals between ratings may not be equal.
Question 5: Which statement best describes a directional hypothesis?
Choices:
1) It predicts a relationship or di�erence without saying its direction 2) It predicts the expected direction of a relationship or di�erence 3) It states that no relationship or di�erence will occur 4) It describes only the procedure of a study Correct Answer: It predicts the expected direction of a relationship or di�erence Explanation: A directional hypothesis speci�es the predicted direction, such as higher scores in one group than another.Page 3