Research Methods in Occupational Psychology: Learn the Basics

Question 1

Which of the following is a limitation of experimental research designs in occupational psychology?

Accepted Answer

Generalizability of findings

Answer

High level of control over variables

Answer

Ability to establish causal relationships

Answer

Cost-effectiveness

Question 2

What is a major limitation of cross-sectional research designs?

Accepted Answer

They cannot show cause-and-effect relationships.

Answer

They can only be used with small sample sizes.

Answer

They are time-consuming and expensive to conduct.

Answer

They are not generalizable to different populations.

Question 3

What is a primary benefit of employing a qualitative research approach?

Accepted Answer

It yields detailed, in-depth data capturing participants' subjective experiences

Answer

It enables researchers to extend findings to a broader population

Answer

It is less time-consuming and costly to conduct than quantitative research

Answer

It eliminates the impact of researcher bias during data collection

Question 4

In occupational psychology, which recent research trend utilizes big data and advanced analytics to analyze extensive datasets?

Accepted Answer

Data mining and machine learning

Answer

Experience sampling

Answer

Virtual reality simulations

Answer

Network analysis

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a commonly employed research method in occupational psychology?

Accepted Answer

Participant observation

Answer

Surveys

Answer

Interviews

Answer

Experimental designs

Question 6

For investigating the impact of a novel training program, what type of research design is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Survey

Answer

Interview

Answer

Case study

Question 7

What is the primary objective of a literature review?

Accepted Answer

To summarize and consolidate past research findings on a specific topic.

Answer

To introduce a new study

Answer

To collect data

Question 8

How do qualitative and quantitative research methods fundamentally differ?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative methods emphasize subjective data, while quantitative methods emphasize objective data.

Answer

Qualitative methods offer superior rigor than quantitative methods.

Answer

Quantitative methods are more time-consuming than qualitative methods.

Question 9

What is the purpose of a pilot study?

Accepted Answer

To assess the viability and effectiveness of a research design prior to a full-scale study.

Answer

To gather data for a study

Answer

To generalize findings to a larger population

Question 10

Which of the following is a recommended practice when devising an interview schedule?

Accepted Answer

Employ open-ended questions to elicit in-depth responses from participants.

Answer

Keep the interview schedule as brief as possible.

Answer

Use leading questions to influence participants' responses.

Question 11

Which research method is **NOT** commonly used in occupational psychology?

Accepted Answer

Single-subject research design

Answer

Surveys

Answer

Experimental designs

Answer

Interviews

Question 12

What is the primary purpose of a survey in occupational psychology?

Accepted Answer

To gather data from a large group of people about their opinions, beliefs, and behaviors.

Answer

To explore individual experiences and perspectives in detail.

Answer

To test how changes in one thing affect another.

Question 13

What is the key difference between a correlational study and an experimental study?

Accepted Answer

Correlational studies look at how things relate to each other, while experimental studies change one thing to see how it affects another.

Answer

Correlational studies usually use numbers, while experimental studies use words.

Question 14

Which of the following is a crucial ethical concern in occupational psychology research?

Accepted Answer

Making sure participants understand the study and give their permission, and keeping their information private.

Answer

The cost of the research

Answer

Finding enough people to participate

Answer

Time limits for the research

Question 15

What is the main purpose of sampling in research?

Accepted Answer

To pick a group of people that represents the whole group you're interested in.

Answer

To analyze the data collected.

Answer

To make sure the data is accurate.

Question 16

Which statistical test helps you figure out how strong the relationship is between two things?

Accepted Answer

Pearson's correlation coefficient

Answer

Regression analysis

Answer

ANOVA

Answer

Chi-square test

Question 17

What is the main reason for using qualitative data in research?

Accepted Answer

To understand people's experiences, thoughts, and actions in a deeper way.

Answer

To test ideas about how things are related.

Answer

To apply the findings to a wider group of people.

Question 18

What is the very first step in the research process?

Accepted Answer

Figuring out the question or problem you want to study

Answer

Analyzing the information

Answer

Gathering information

Answer

Understanding the results

Question 19

Which of the following is a quantitative research method commonly used in occupational psychology?

Accepted Answer

Surveys

Answer

Interviews

Answer

Ethnographies

Answer

Case studies

Question 20

What is the main purpose of conducting a pilot study before a full-scale research project?

Accepted Answer

To test and refine the research design and instruments

Answer

To collect preliminary data for the main study

Answer

To generalize the findings to a larger population

Question 21

Which of the following is a potential limitation of self-reported data in occupational psychology research?

Accepted Answer

Social desirability bias

Answer

Sampling error

Answer

Experimenter bias

Answer

Non-response bias

Question 22

What is the primary goal of data triangulation in occupational psychology research?

Accepted Answer

To increase the reliability and validity of research findings by using multiple sources of data

Answer

To reduce the cost of data collection

Answer

To generalize findings to different populations

Question 23

What is the main purpose of a literature review in occupational psychology research?

Accepted Answer

To summarize and critically evaluate existing knowledge on a research topic

Answer

To develop a research hypothesis

Answer

To generate new research ideas

Question 24

Which of the following is a potential bias that can arise in qualitative research?

Accepted Answer

Researcher bias

Answer

Non-response bias

Answer

Measurement error

Answer

Sampling error

Question 25

In experimental research, what is the difference between a dependent and an independent variable?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the outcome being measured, while the independent variable is the factor being manipulated by the researcher

Answer

The independent variable is the outcome being measured, while the dependent variable is the factor being manipulated by the researcher

Question 26

A researcher aims to determine if a newly designed training program has an impact on the performance of employees. Which research method is the most suitable for this purpose?

Accepted Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Survey

Answer

Interview

Answer

Case study

Question 27

When formulating a research question in occupational psychology, which of the following characteristics should NOT be considered?

Accepted Answer

Subjectivity and reliance on personal opinions

Answer

Feasibility of investigation

Answer

Relevance to the field of study

Answer

Specificity and focus

Question 28

In a survey aimed at measuring job satisfaction, which type of question format is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Likert scale

Answer

Ranking question

Answer

Open-ended question

Answer

Multiple choice question

Question 29

In research, what is the main objective of a pilot study?

Accepted Answer

To assess the feasibility and refine the research design

Answer

To gather primary data for the main study

Answer

To analyze the final data and draw conclusions

Question 30

A researcher intends to analyze the performance differences between two groups of employees who have undergone different training programs. Which statistical test is most applicable for this type of analysis?

Accepted Answer

T-test

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

Regression analysis

Answer

Correlation analysis

Question 31

Within the context of research ethics, which fundamental principle requires researchers to obtain informed consent from participants?

Accepted Answer

Respect for autonomy

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Non-maleficence

Answer

Justice

Question 32

Explain the distinction between reliability and validity in research.

Accepted Answer

Reliability pertains to the consistency of measurements, while validity refers to the accuracy of measurements

Answer

Reliability pertains to the accuracy of measurements, while validity refers to the consistency of measurements

Question 33

A researcher aims to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction and employee turnover. Which research design is most suitable for this purpose?

Accepted Answer

Correlational design

Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Case study

Answer

Descriptive design

Question 34

In research, a study's findings are more likely to be generalized to other populations if the study possesses high:

Accepted Answer

External validity

Answer

Significance

Answer

Reliability

Answer

Internal validity

Question 35

A researcher wants to investigate the impact of a new training program on employee performance. Which research method would be most appropriate for this study?

Accepted Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Survey

Answer

Case study

Answer

Interview

Question 36

A researcher is conducting a survey to gather data on employee satisfaction. Which type of sampling method would ensure the most representative sample?

Accepted Answer

Random sampling

Answer

Snowball sampling

Answer

Quota sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Question 37

Which of the following is NOT a key element of a well-designed questionnaire?

Accepted Answer

Open-ended questions for all items

Answer

Pre-testing the questionnaire

Answer

Clear and concise language

Answer

Logical flow of questions

Question 38

A researcher wants to study the relationship between employee stress and job satisfaction. Which statistical test would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Correlation

Answer

T-test

Answer

ANOVA

Answer

Chi-square

Question 39

What is the main advantage of using a structured interview in occupational psychology research?

Accepted Answer

Ensures consistency and comparability across participants

Answer

Provides a more natural and spontaneous conversation

Answer

Allows for more in-depth exploration of topics

Question 40

A researcher observes employees in a workplace setting to understand their work practices. This is an example of which research method?

Accepted Answer

Observational research

Answer

Experimental research

Answer

Survey research

Answer

Case study research

Question 41

What is the primary purpose of a literature review in occupational psychology research?

Accepted Answer

To identify existing knowledge and gaps in research

Answer

To collect data from participants

Answer

To analyze data and draw conclusions

Question 42

What is a key ethical consideration in research involving human participants in occupational psychology?

Accepted Answer

Informed consent

Answer

Anonymity

Answer

Confidentiality

Answer

Data protection

Question 43

A researcher wants to investigate the effectiveness of a new leadership training program. They randomly assign participants to either the training program or a control group. This is an example of which type of experimental design?

Accepted Answer

Randomized controlled trial

Answer

Quasi-experimental design

Answer

Within-subjects design

Answer

Correlational design

Question 44

Which of the following is a key consideration when interpreting research findings in occupational psychology?

Accepted Answer

Generalizability of the findings to other populations and settings

Answer

The reliability of the data collection methods

Answer

The statistical significance of the results