PSYC 200 – Introduction to Professional Practices
APA Style Practice Test #2
Name: ________________________________
This test is worth 50 points. Please answer all questions thoughtfully after carefully reading the
instructions and the prompt. Your score will not directly affect your grade; however, if you work
to the best of your current ability, you will be able to identify areas and topics in need of
practice.
Short Answer:
1. Name and briefly describe the three main components of an empirical research paper
(excluding the introduction). Be sure to discuss the purpose of each section and provide
examples of typical content for each section. (6 points)
Methods:
Results:
Discussion:
Multiple Choice (2 pts. each)
2.
The abstract of an article should be
a. a specific and concise summary of the entire report.
b.
c.
d.
3.
about 25 to 50 words in length.
an evaluation of the research report.
all of the above.
The introduction section of an empirical research report should
a.
b.
include an exhaustive review of all related literature.
define all the terms that would be unintelligible to a reader with no exposure to psychology.
c. present the specific problem to be explored and describe the hypotheses.
d.
4.
be clearly labeled.
Results are sometimes difficult to read and understand; therefore, it is useful to
a. start a Results section by stating your main findings and then reporting each data
analysis in detail.
b.
c.
d.
5.
introduce the reader to statistical theory before you report the results of even basic data analyses.
let the statistics drive the logic of your Results section, not the logic you developed in your introduction.
report raw data, descriptive statistics, and the results of inferential statistics.
Speculation is permitted in the Discussion section if it is
a.
faithful to the intuition of the author.
b. related closely and logically to empirical data or theory.
c.
d.
6.
Past tense is usually appropriate for describing
a.
b.
7.
previous experiments.
an experimental design.
c.
d.
a procedure.
all of the above
Which of these examples represents correct hyphenation?
a.
b.
8.
expressed eloquently and persuasively.
none of the above.
t-test results
2-, 3-, and 10-min trials
c.
d.
results from t tests
All of the above are correct
Edit the following:
On the third day of Experiment 2 the children read Chapter 6 of their sex education text.
a. leave as is
b.
c.
d.
Experiment and Chapter do not need to be capitalized.
Chapter does not require capitalization.
The terms sex and education should be capitalized.
9.
In general, use abbreviations
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
10.
a.
if the reader is more familiar with the abbreviation than with the complete word or words being used.
for all long technical terms.
if considerable space can be saved and repetition avoided.
Answers a and c are correct
All of the above are correct
Choose the correct format for the use of three levels of headings:
Method
Procedure
Initial Participants
b.
METHOD
Procedure
Initial participants.
c.
Method
Procedure
Initial participants.
d.
Method
Procedure
Initial participants.
11.
Edit the following:
Of the companies that participated, twenty-four were service companies, eleven were high-technology
companies, and eight were heavy-industry companies.
a.
b.
leave as is
Of the companies that participated, 24 were service companies, eleven were high-technology companies,
and eight were heavy-industry companies.
c. Of the companies that participated, 24 were service companies, 11 were hightechnology companies, and eight were heavy-industry companies.
d. Of the companies that participated, 24 were service companies, 11 were high-technology companies, and 8
were heavy-industry companies.
12.
Edit the following:
Procedural errors occurred while testing 2 rats in the drug condition and 3 rats in the placebo condition.
a.
b.
leave as is
Procedural errors occurred while testing 2.0 rats in the drug condition and 3.0 rats in the placebo
condition.
c. Procedural errors occurred while testing two rats in the drug condition and three rats
in the placebo condition.
d.
13.
Procedural errors occurred while testing two (2) rats in the drug condition and three (3) rats in the placebo
condition.
Edit the following:
The 3-dimensional conceptualization allows for 8 possible dyadic relationships.
a.
b.
leave as is
The 3-dimensional conceptualization allows for eight possible dyadic relationships.
c. The three-dimensional conceptualization allows for eight possible dyadic
relationships.
d.
14.
The three-dimensional conceptualization allows for 8 possible dyadic relationships.
Edit the following:
There were twenty 6-year-olds, eighteen 10-year-olds, and twenty-four 14-year-olds.
a.
b.
c.
d.
leave as is
There were 20 6-year-olds, 18 10-year-olds, and 24 14-year-olds.
There were 20 six-year-olds, 18 ten-year-olds, and 24 fourteen-year-olds.
There were twenty six-year-olds, eighteen ten-year-olds, and twenty-four fourteen-year-olds.
e. Answers a and c are correct.
15.
Edit the following:
The 6th and 12th graders in each of the treatment conditions returned for a 5th session in which the
performance measures were taken.
a.
leave as is
b.
The sixth and 12th graders in each of the treatment conditions returned for a fifth
session in which the performance measures were taken.
c.
The sixth and twelfth graders in each of the treatment conditions returned for a fifth session in which the
performance measures were taken.
The 6th and 12th graders in each of the treatment conditions returned for a fifth session in which the
performance measures were taken.
d.
16.
When using decimal numbers,
a.
b.
c.
a zero is used before the decimal point (0.05) only when the number cannot be greater than one (e.g.,
correlations, proportions, and levels of significance; r = 10.96, p < 0.05).
a zero is never used before the decimal point (.05).
the author should check with the editor of each specific APA journal.
d. a zero always is used before the decimal point (0.05) when numbers can take on
values greater than one.
17.
Edit the following:
The interaction of class year and type of organization was not significant, F(3, 1,590) = 1.85, p > .10.
a.
leave as is
b. The interaction of class year and type of organization was not significant, F(3, 1590)
= 1.85, p > .10.
c.
18.
The interaction of class year and type of organization was not significant, F(3, 1.590K) = 1.85, p > .10.
Physical measurements should be reported in
a. metric units.
b.
19.
c.
d.
units of the original measurement.
physical units.
Which of the following is correctly expressed?
a.
b.
20.
traditional nonmetric units.
13 cms
313 cm.
c. 31 cm
d.
313 cms.
Edit the following:
A t test for related means was used to compare the number of targets found by birds in the experimental group
with the number found by their yoked partners.
a.
leave as is
b.
A t test for related means (Hays, 1963) was used to compare the number of targets found by birds in the
experimental group with the number found by their yoked partners.
A t test for related means (see any standard statistics reference work) was used to compare the number of
targets found by birds in the experimental group with the number found by their yoked partners.
c.
21.
Edit the following:
After completing the preliminary battery of rating scales, each worker watched one of the six videotapes of a
problem-solving session.
a.
leave as is
b.
After completing the preliminary battery of rating scales, each worker would watch one of the six
videotapes of a problem-solving session.
After completing the preliminary battery of rating scales, each worker had watched one of the six
videotapes of a problem-solving session.
After completing the preliminary battery of rating scales, each worker was watching one of the six
videotapes of a problem-solving session.
c.
d.
22.
Report your results in
a. the past tense.
b.
23.
the past perfect tense.
c.
d.
the present tense.
any of the above.
Edit the following:
The students that were assigned to the delay condition were asked to return at the same time in 3 days.
a.
leave as is
b. The students who were assigned to the delay condition were asked to return at the
same time in 3 days.
c.
d.
The students whom were assigned to the delay condition were asked to return at the same time in 3 days.
The students which were assigned to the delay condition were asked to return at the same time in 3 days.