If you understand the material, you should do well on the tests. However, even if you have studied hard and know the material, you may still do poorly if you do not have an effective strategy for approaching the tests. Here is an approach that should be helpful.
Read the stem of the question carefully. Perhaps underline critical words. In any case, try to decide what the question is about before you look at the options. Rehearse what you know about this topic. Perhaps rehearse the rules you know that relate to this topic.
Read the first option. Read the stem and the option together. Ask yourself, "does this make sense?" or "does this fit the rule?" The answer will often be "maybe", not "yes" or "no". Give the option a rating on a scale from zero to 10, where zero means "absolutely no", and 10 means "absolutely yes".
Repeat step 2 for the other options.
Usually, pick the option with the highest rating. Note, however, that some questions use words like "NOT" or "LEAST". Remind yourself that in this case you are looking for items that would not be correct, so pick the item with the lowest rating.
Notice that in this procedure you never compare one option directly with another. You should evaluate each option together with the stem, but try to do this independently for each option. Comparing two options is usually not helpful, and it sometimes creates confusion.
Note also that the system deals automatically with questions that use "not" or "least" in the stem, which often create great difficulty for students.
Students sometimes make errors because they choose an option they know to be true if taken by itself, although it is not the correct answer. You can avoid this type of error by reading stem and option together. It should then be clear that the option does not follow from the stem, even though it may be true by itself.
For example, suppose the stem of the question is, "Research using naturalistic observation is usually not helpful if your goal is to modify behavior because _____", and one option is "it is used in the early stages of a research program". The option is true if taken by itself. We do use naturalistic observation in the early stages. However, it is not the reason why we we cannot draw conclusions about modifying behavior from naturalistic observation, so it is not the correct answer. (One rule you should have learned is, in order to modify behavior, we need information about cause and effect. Another rule is, we cannot derive information about cause and effect from naturalistic observation)
Here is a complete example of a tough question. Let's see how this system would work.
Many models in science are expressed in mathematical terms, primarily because _____.
(a) mathematics provides a simplified description of reality
(b) the incompleteness of the model becomes more apparent
(c) using mathematics makes predictions from the model more precise
(d) understanding the model is restricted to those who understand the mathematics
Read the stem. The question is about models and the use of mathematical models in particular. If you are poor at mathematics you may be intimidated immediately, but just follow the guidelines. Ask yourself, what do I know about models? Why are they important in research? What might be so special about mathematical models?
Option (a) is an example of an option that sounds good by itself, but may not be the best answer. Yes, mathematics may simplify descriptions of reality, and yes, models are simplified descriptions of reality. But does that make mathematical models different from other (e.g., verbal) models? Maybe. Rate it, say, 6 on a scale from zero to 10.
Option (b) may also remind you of some familiar ideas. Models are usually incomplete. But again, are mathematical models different from other models in this respect? Probably not. Rate it, perhaps, 5 on a scale from zero to 10.
Option (c) also contains a familiar idea - models are used to make predictions. Perhaps you recall that prediction is the most important purpose of a model. So is prediction more precise with mathematical models? It sounds good. Mathematics, after all, is a way to make very precise statements that can be proved correct. Rate it 8, and see if there's anything better.
Option (d): Now, this option may well be true by itself, but is it the reason why psychologists use mathematical models? Only if you take a very cynical view of psychology. Better rate it 3.
You may still be uncomfortable with the question, but the best fit clearly comes from option (c). You got it right!
