Q.1 Which of the following is a primary goal of research in clinical psychology?
To diagnose patients
To generate knowledge about psychological processes
To prescribe medication
To provide therapy directly
Explanation - Research in clinical psychology primarily aims to understand psychological processes, causes of disorders, and evaluate interventions rather than directly providing therapy.
Correct answer is: To generate knowledge about psychological processes
Q.2 What type of research design involves manipulating an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable?
Correlational
Experimental
Case study
Survey
Explanation - Experimental research manipulates an independent variable to determine causal relationships with a dependent variable.
Correct answer is: Experimental
Q.3 A case study is most useful for:
Establishing causality
Exploring rare disorders in depth
Generalizing findings to large populations
Testing hypotheses statistically
Explanation - Case studies provide detailed qualitative insights into rare conditions but cannot establish causality or generalize broadly.
Correct answer is: Exploring rare disorders in depth
Q.4 Which method is best for determining relationships between two variables without manipulating them?
Experimental
Correlational
Longitudinal
Meta-analysis
Explanation - Correlational research examines the relationship between variables without experimental manipulation.
Correct answer is: Correlational
Q.5 Random assignment in an experiment is used to:
Increase external validity
Control for confounding variables
Manipulate the dependent variable
Select participants with specific traits
Explanation - Random assignment ensures that participant characteristics are evenly distributed across groups, reducing confounding effects.
Correct answer is: Control for confounding variables
Q.6 A double-blind procedure helps to reduce:
Sampling bias
Placebo and experimenter bias
Measurement reliability
Longitudinal effects
Explanation - In double-blind studies, neither participants nor experimenters know group assignments, reducing bias.
Correct answer is: Placebo and experimenter bias
Q.7 Which type of validity refers to whether a test measures what it is intended to measure?
Construct validity
Internal validity
External validity
Face validity
Explanation - Construct validity assesses whether a test accurately measures the psychological concept it claims to measure.
Correct answer is: Construct validity
Q.8 Longitudinal studies are primarily used to:
Examine changes over time
Establish immediate causation
Analyze cross-sectional differences
Study rare cases
Explanation - Longitudinal research tracks the same participants over time to study developmental or treatment-related changes.
Correct answer is: Examine changes over time
Q.9 Which of the following is an example of a self-report measure?
Structured clinical interview
MRI brain scan
Behavioral observation
Questionnaire
Explanation - Self-report measures, like questionnaires, rely on participants’ own accounts of their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.
Correct answer is: Questionnaire
Q.10 In clinical research, a placebo is used to:
Induce therapeutic effects
Control for expectation effects
Measure baseline severity
Diagnose patients accurately
Explanation - Placebos help control for participants’ expectations, isolating the effect of the actual treatment.
Correct answer is: Control for expectation effects
Q.11 External validity refers to:
The accuracy of measurements
The generalizability of findings
The causal relationship between variables
The precision of statistical tests
Explanation - External validity is about how well research results can be applied to settings, populations, and times beyond the study.
Correct answer is: The generalizability of findings
Q.12 Which sampling method gives every individual in a population an equal chance of being selected?
Convenience sampling
Purposive sampling
Random sampling
Snowball sampling
Explanation - Random sampling reduces selection bias by ensuring every member of the population has an equal probability of inclusion.
Correct answer is: Random sampling
Q.13 What is the main limitation of correlational research?
It is time-consuming
It cannot determine causation
It requires large samples
It cannot study rare phenomena
Explanation - Correlational studies show associations between variables but cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships.
Correct answer is: It cannot determine causation
Q.14 Operational definitions are important because they:
Ensure variables are abstract
Provide clarity for measurement
Increase sample size
Replace random assignment
Explanation - Operational definitions specify how variables are measured or manipulated, ensuring research clarity and replicability.
Correct answer is: Provide clarity for measurement
Q.15 Reliability of a measurement refers to:
Consistency of results
Accuracy of results
Ability to predict outcomes
Generalizability of findings
Explanation - A reliable measure produces consistent results across repeated administrations or observations.
Correct answer is: Consistency of results
Q.16 In a clinical trial, an independent variable might be:
Symptom severity
Therapy type
Patient age
Measurement error
Explanation - The independent variable is what the researcher manipulates to examine its effect on an outcome (dependent variable).
Correct answer is: Therapy type
Q.17 Meta-analysis is a research method that:
Combines results from multiple studies
Observes a single case in depth
Tracks changes over time
Manipulates variables experimentally
Explanation - Meta-analysis statistically integrates findings from many studies to identify overall trends and effect sizes.
Correct answer is: Combines results from multiple studies
Q.18 Confounding variables are problematic because they:
Reduce sample size
Bias the relationship between independent and dependent variables
Increase statistical significance
Enhance generalizability
Explanation - Confounding variables can provide alternative explanations for observed effects, undermining internal validity.
Correct answer is: Bias the relationship between independent and dependent variables
Q.19 Which study design compares different groups at one point in time?
Cross-sectional
Longitudinal
Experimental
Case study
Explanation - Cross-sectional studies examine different groups simultaneously to identify differences or relationships at a single time point.
Correct answer is: Cross-sectional
Q.20 Informed consent ensures that participants:
Are randomly assigned
Understand and agree to study procedures
Receive monetary compensation
Are diagnosed before participation
Explanation - Informed consent protects participants’ autonomy by making sure they understand the study’s purpose, risks, and benefits.
Correct answer is: Understand and agree to study procedures
Q.21 Blinding is used in research to:
Increase sample size
Prevent participant or researcher bias
Ensure external validity
Reduce measurement error
Explanation - Blinding reduces expectations or bias from participants or experimenters that could affect results.
Correct answer is: Prevent participant or researcher bias
Q.22 Which of the following is a limitation of self-report measures?
They are expensive
They can be biased by social desirability
They are difficult to administer
They require laboratory equipment
Explanation - Participants may respond in ways they think are acceptable rather than truthful, introducing bias.
Correct answer is: They can be biased by social desirability
Q.23 Which type of research is best for studying cause-and-effect relationships?
Experimental
Correlational
Case study
Naturalistic observation
Explanation - Experimental research allows manipulation of variables and control of confounds, making it suitable for causal inference.
Correct answer is: Experimental
Q.24 Ecological validity refers to:
Applicability of findings to real-world settings
Consistency of measurement
Accuracy of causal conclusions
Control over confounding variables
Explanation - Ecological validity assesses whether research results can be generalized to naturalistic or everyday contexts.
Correct answer is: Applicability of findings to real-world settings
Q.25 Which type of bias occurs when the sample is not representative of the population?
Sampling bias
Measurement bias
Confirmation bias
Observer bias
Explanation - Sampling bias occurs when the selection of participants results in a non-representative sample, threatening external validity.
Correct answer is: Sampling bias