CH2-Answers

MCQs

1. c) Demographic Information
2. c) Physical Information
3. b) Physiological Data
4. b) Lack of true zero point
5. c) Relative nature of psychological tools
6. d) Subjective interpretation of qualitative data
7. c) Voluntary Participation
8. a) Informed Consent
9. c) Debriefing
10. b) Sharing the Results of the Study
11. b) Confidentiality of Data Source
12. b) Physical exercise
13. d) Psychological Information

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Q1. Psychological enquiry aims to understand human behaviour in a

scientific and systematic way. The five key goals of psychological enquiry
are:

1. Description:
The first goal is to describe behaviour or a phenomenon as accurately
as possible. This helps distinguish one behaviour from another. For
example, if a researcher wants to study study habits among students,
they will break it down into specific behaviours like attending classes,
planning study schedules, submitting assignments, etc. Accurate
description helps in gaining a clear understanding of what is being
studied.

2. Prediction:
Once a behaviour is clearly described, psychologists aim to predict its
occurrence under specific conditions. For instance, if a positive
relationship is found between the amount of study time and academic
achievement, one can predict that a student who studies more is likely
to perform better in exams. Prediction becomes more reliable as more
data is gathered.
 3. Explanation:
The third goal is to explain the causes of behaviour. Psychologists try
to understand what factors make a behaviour occur and under what
conditions it does not. For example, why are some children more
attentive in class while others are not? Identifying such causal factors
helps in establishing cause-effect relationships between variables.

4. Control:
After understanding and explaining behaviour, psychologists aim to
control it. This means they can make a behaviour happen, reduce it, or
enhance it by changing its antecedent conditions. For example, by
increasing or decreasing study hours, one can influence academic
performance. Therapeutic interventions also fall under this goal.

5. Application:
The final goal is to apply the knowledge gained through research to
bring positive changes in people's lives. For instance, applying yoga
and meditation techniques can reduce stress and improve efficiency.
Psychological research is also used to solve real-world problems and
develop theories that guide further studies.

Q2. Sharanya and her friends face multiple limitations of psychological

enquiry. Firstly, the lack of a true zero point is reflected in how she ranks
students – even the lowest rank represents some level of creativity, making
the scores relative rather than absolute. Secondly, using a foreign test not
adapted to local context highlights the relative nature of psychological tools;
the urban-based test did not suit rural students, affecting accuracy. Lastly,
her difficulty in interpreting open-ended responses shows the subjective
nature of qualitative data, as different researchers may interpret the same
answers differently, emphasizing the need for multiple investigators and
consensus building in qualitative studies.

Q3. Nitin’s study contains several ethical violations:

1. Voluntary Participation: The participants were not given a clear choice

to participate or withdraw freely without penalty. This violates their
autonomy.

2. Informed Consent: The participants were not informed about the

procedures (like stress simulation or feedback). This prevents them
from making an informed decision.
 3. Debriefing: After using deception (false feedback), Nitin did not explain
the true nature of the study or reassure participants, which is ethically
required to avoid distress.

4. Sharing of Results: He failed to share the findings or insights with the

participants, ignoring their right to know what the research revealed
about them.

5. Confidentiality: By publishing names, Nitin breached the participants’

right to privacy. Personal data must be anonymized or handled with
extreme care to maintain confidentiality.

Q4. Four extraneous variables are:

Time of Day – Students' alertness and concentration levels may vary

depending on whether the experiment is conducted in the morning or late
afternoon.

Prior Sleep or Fatigue – Students who are tired or sleep-deprived may not
perform well, regardless of background music.

Distractions in the Environment – External noises, room temperature, or

movement around the testing area could distract students and affect their
recall ability.

Individual Differences in Memory Ability – Some students may naturally

have better memory skills, which could influence results independently of
the music condition.

Q5. The psychologist is using the case study method to conduct this
research. This method involves an in-depth and detailed investigation of
a single individual or a small group, especially in unique or rare
situations. In this case, Malvika, a 14-year-old tsunami survivor displaying
exceptional resilience, is being studied comprehensively.

The researcher is collecting extensive data through multiple sources—

including interviews with her family, teachers, and relief workers,
observations in various settings, and psychological assessments. This
approach helps build a holistic understanding of how trauma has
impacted Malvika and how she developed coping mechanisms.
The case study method is particularly useful for exploring rare
phenomena or exceptional behaviours and can generate insights that
may be applied in broader psychological theory or future research. However,
findings from case studies may not always be generalizable due to the focus
on one unique case.

Q6. Based on the situation described, Madhav should use the survey
method, specifically through questionnaires, to conduct his research. This
method is appropriate because he wants to gather opinions from a large
number of students across different schools on their experiences with online
learning, teacher support, technical issues, and motivation—making it ideal
for identifying broad patterns and trends.

In this method, Madhav can design a set of standardised, closed- and open-
ended questions and distribute them online or in paper form to a wide
sample of students. The structured format ensures uniformity, which makes
it easier to compare responses and draw meaningful conclusions. This
method does not involve manipulating any variables; instead, it focuses on
collecting self-reported data from respondents.

Advantages of the Survey (Questionnaire) Method:

 Cost-effective and time-efficient: Responses can be collected quickly

from a large sample.

 Standardization: Uniform questions allow for easy analysis and

comparison of data.

 Anonymity: Respondents may feel more comfortable sharing honest

opinions.

Limitations of the Survey (Questionnaire) Method:

 Lack of depth: Responses may be superficial and lack detailed personal

insights.

 Self-report bias: Participants might give socially desirable answers

instead of being completely truthful.

 Limited flexibility: Once the questionnaire is set, it cannot be adapted

to individual respondent needs or follow-up queries.
Overall, this method will help Madhav explore whether the issues he
overheard are shared widely and will allow him to draw general conclusions
based on collected data.

Q7. Based on the situation described in the question, Nilima should use the
correlational research method to conduct her study. This method is
appropriate because she is not manipulating any variable; instead, she wants
to observe and analyze the natural relationship between two existing
variables: time spent on mobile phones and academic stress among
students.

The correlational method is used when researchers aim to determine

whether two variables are associated with each other or vary together in a
predictable manner. It helps in identifying patterns and making predictions,
without establishing cause and effect.

If Nilima finds that students who spend more time on mobile phones tend to
report higher levels of academic stress, it would indicate a positive
correlation. This means that as one variable increases (mobile phone usage),
the other variable also increases (academic stress)

Q9. Based on the situation described in the question, Raghav should use the
experimental method to conduct his research. This method is most effective
in establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables—in this
case, sleep deprivation and problem-solving ability.

To begin, Raghav needs to clearly define the problem statement, which could
be: “Does lack of sleep affect problem-solving ability in students?” The
hypothesis for this study would be: “Students who do not get enough sleep
perform poorly in problem-solving tasks compared to those who sleep well.”

In this experiment, the independent variable (IV) would be the amount of

sleep (e.g., 3 hours vs. 8 hours of sleep), and the dependent variable (DV)
would be the performance on a problem-solving test.

To conduct the study, Raghav should select a sample of students and

randomly assign them to two groups:

 The experimental group, who will be sleep-deprived for a specific

duration (e.g., allowed only 3–4 hours of sleep), and
  The control group, who will be allowed adequate sleep (e.g., 7–8
hours).

It is essential to control extraneous variables such as age, diet, stress levels,

prior sleep habits, time of day when the test is taken, and familiarity with the
type of problems, as these can also affect problem-solving ability and
interfere with the results.

After the sleep conditions are implemented, both groups will be given the
same problem-solving task under identical conditions. Raghav should record
their scores, completion times, and any observable differences in
performance.

Based on the data collected, Raghav can then analyze whether the group
with insufficient sleep performs significantly worse than the group with
adequate sleep.

 If so, the hypothesis is supported.

 If there is no difference, the hypothesis may be rejected.

Raghav’s experimental study can provide insight into how sleep impacts
cognitive functions like problem-solving and may encourage further research
or awareness regarding student sleep habits.

Answer :

Q10. Dr. Krishnan will use non-participant observation method to observe

and record children's play behaviour at a nursery school without attempting
to influence or control the behaviour. She will sit in the corner of the play
school and will observe the behaviour of

children, their interaction with other children and teachers, how they play
and react to winning and losing. The children will not be aware that they are
being observed. Later, she will record her observations in a file. She will
analyse and conclude it and then try to

match her conclusion with the hypothesis.

Merits of non-participant observation method

The researcher observes the people and their behaviour in a naturalistic

situation as it occurs.

Demerits of non-participant observation method

This method is time taking, labour intensive and vulnerable to the
researcher's bias. The observations are influenced by the personal values
and interpretations of the observer.

CASE BASED MCQ-Answers

Case-Based MCQs:

Q1. What was the main reason EduSpark School chose a non-verbal test for
grade 8 students?

A. Non-verbal tests are easier to score than verbal tests

B. Verbal tests were too expensive to purchase
C. Students came from diverse language backgrounds
D. Non-verbal tests take less time to administer

Answer: C. Students came from diverse language backgrounds

Q2. Ms. Riya chose a standardised test for her students. What does it
mean for a test to be standardised?

A. The test is easy enough for all students to attempt

B. It has been approved by government authorities
C. It has consistent procedures for administration and scoring, with norms
developed
D. The test is taken only on a computer

Answer: C. It has consistent procedures for administration and scoring, with

norms developed

Q3. Which type of reliability is Ms. Riya planning to check for the test?

A. Test-retest reliability
B. Inter-rater reliability
C. Face validity
D. Split-half reliability

Answer: D. Split-half reliability

Q4. What is the key feature of objectivity in psychological testing, as

explained in the case?
A. The test measures students’ creativity without any scoring
B. The same person must administer the test each time
C. Different administrators should arrive at similar results for the same group
D. The test should be based on verbal ability only

Answer: C. Different administrators should arrive at similar results for the

same group

Q5. Why did Ms. Riya recommend combining test scores with student
background and teacher feedback?

A. Psychological tests are always inaccurate

B. To reduce the pressure on students
C. Because a single test score does not provide a complete understanding of
a student
D. Teachers were unhappy with the test results

Answer: C. Because a single test score does not provide a complete

understanding of a student