APPSC Paper I · Probation Officer Paper II: Psychology · Topic 3

3 APPSC Paper I Quantitative Analysis and Psychological Measurement questions with answers

25 questions from APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology question paper with answers and APPSC DPO Psychology Mock 1 with answers. Try each one, then tap Show answer.

Previous-paper questions are as in the original paper. Medha AI wrote the answers and explanations.

3.1Descriptive statistics, correlation and hypothesis testing (concepts)Notes

  1. Q1 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q19

    ______ is the sum of all values divided by the total number of values.

    1. AMean
    2. BMode
    3. CMedian
    4. DEquation
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Mean

    The arithmetic mean is the sum of all values divided by the number of values.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q21, final key

  2. Q2 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q20

    A dataset is a _____ of n number of scores or values.

    1. Asample
    2. Bdistribution
    3. Csurvey
    4. Dchart
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. distribution

    A set of n scores, arranged by value, forms a distribution of scores.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q22, final key

  3. Q3 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q21

    ______ is defined as difference between the highest and the lowest value of a sample.

    1. AMean
    2. BRange
    3. CMedian
    4. DMode
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Range

    The range is the highest value minus the lowest value.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q23, final key

  4. Q4 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q22

    The largest value in a data set is called:

    1. ASubtract
    2. BRange
    3. CMinimum
    4. DMaximum
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Maximum

    The largest value in a data set is its maximum.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q24, final key

  5. Q5 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q23

    Scores from -0.5 to -1 indicate a sturdy ______.

    1. ANegative correlation
    2. BNo correlation
    3. CPositive correlation
    4. DHypothesis
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Negative correlation

    Correlation coefficients from -0.5 to -1 show a strong negative (inverse) relationship.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q25, final key

  6. Q6 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q24

    ______ is a statement that says there is no relationship between two measured associations among groups.

    1. AHypothesis
    2. BPrediction
    3. CStereotype
    4. DNull hypothesis
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Null hypothesis

    The null hypothesis (H0) states that there is no relationship or difference between the variables or groups.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q26, final key

  7. Q7 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q24

    Consider the following statements about the level of significance:

    Statement I: Changing the significance level from 0.05 to 0.01 reduces the chance of a Type I error.

    Statement II: Changing the significance level from 0.05 to 0.01 also reduces the chance of a Type II error.

    Which of the following is correct?

    1. ABoth Statement I and Statement II are correct
    2. BStatement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
    3. CStatement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
    4. DBoth Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect

    Type I and Type II errors trade off: for a fixed sample, lowering α raises β.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  8. Q8 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q27

    Which one of the following is NOT a measure of dispersion (variability)?

    1. ARange
    2. BQuartile deviation
    3. CMedian
    4. DStandard deviation
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Median

    Range, quartile deviation, mean deviation and standard deviation measure spread; mean, median and mode measure central tendency.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  9. Q9 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q30

    A study finds a high positive correlation between the number of television sets in homes and the number of school-going children. What can be correctly concluded?

    1. ABuying television sets increases the number of children
    2. BThe two variables tend to vary together, but cause and effect cannot be inferred
    3. CHaving children is the only cause of buying television sets
    4. DThe relationship must be negative
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. The two variables tend to vary together, but cause and effect cannot be inferred

    Correlation does not imply causation: it shows that two variables move together, not why.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  10. Q10 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q33

    In a set of scores, the value that occurs most often is called the ______.

    1. AMean
    2. BMedian
    3. CMode
    4. DRange
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Mode

    The mode is the score with the highest frequency in a distribution.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  11. Q11 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q36

    Which measure of central tendency is most affected by a few extremely high or low scores?

    1. AMedian
    2. BMode
    3. CGeometric mean
    4. DArithmetic mean
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Arithmetic mean

    The arithmetic mean uses the value of every score, so outliers distort it; the median is preferred for skewed data.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

3.2Levels (scales) of measurement

  1. Q12 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q25

    Scales of measurement are also called:

    1. AMeasurement
    2. BLevels of measurement
    3. CVariables
    4. DData
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Levels of measurement

    Scales of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio) are also called levels of measurement.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q27, final key

  2. Q13 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q27

    Data can be categorized, ranked, and evenly spaced is called ______.

    1. AInterval
    2. BNominal
    3. CRatio
    4. DRanked
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Interval

    Interval data can be categorised and ranked and have equal spacing between values, but no true zero.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q29, final key

  3. Q14 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q28

    Which options are the Examples of ratio scales?

    1. AHeight, Age, Weight, Temperature in Kelvin
    2. BTest scores (e.g., IQ or exams), Personality inventories, Temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius
    3. CTop 5 Olympic medalists, Language ability (e.g., beginner, intermediate, fluent)
    4. DCity of birth, Gender, Ethnicity, Car brands, Marital status
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Height, Age, Weight, Temperature in Kelvin

    Ratio scales have a true zero: height, age, weight and temperature in Kelvin.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q30, final key

  4. Q15 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q25

    Match the following.

    List – I (Scale)List – II (Example)
    a. Nominal1. Calendar year (AD)
    b. Ordinal2. Number of words recalled
    c. Interval3. Type of offence committed
    d. Ratio4. Socio-economic status (low, middle, high)
    1. Aa-3, b-4, c-2, d-1
    2. Ba-4, b-3, c-1, d-2
    3. Ca-3, b-1, c-4, d-2
    4. Da-3, b-4, c-1, d-2
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. a-3, b-4, c-1, d-2

    Type of offence is a category (nominal); low, middle and high status are ordered (ordinal); calendar years have equal units but year zero is arbitrary (interval); the number of words recalled can be zero and doubled (ratio).

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  5. Q16 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q28

    Which of the following arranges the scales of measurement from the lowest to the highest level?

    1. AOrdinal – Nominal – Interval – Ratio
    2. BNominal – Interval – Ordinal – Ratio
    3. CNominal – Ordinal – Ratio – Interval
    4. DNominal – Ordinal – Interval – Ratio
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Nominal – Ordinal – Interval – Ratio

    Each level adds one property: nominal (categories), ordinal (order), interval (equal units) and ratio (true zero).

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  6. Q17 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q31

    Strictly speaking, a single item answered on a five-point agree–disagree rating (strongly agree, agree, undecided, disagree, strongly disagree) gives data on which scale?

    1. AOrdinal scale
    2. BRatio scale
    3. CNominal scale
    4. DInterval scale
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Ordinal scale

    The responses are ordered from more to less agreement, but there is no guarantee that the distance between 'agree' and 'strongly agree' equals that between 'undecided' and 'agree'. Summed scores are often treated as interval for convenience.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  7. Q18 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q34

    Parametric tests such as the t-test and analysis of variance (F-test) normally require the dependent variable to be measured at least on which scale?

    1. ANominal scale
    2. BOrdinal scale
    3. CInterval scale
    4. DAny scale, since they make no assumptions
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Interval scale

    Parametric tests use means and variances, which are meaningful only when units are equal; so they require at least interval data (interval or ratio), along with assumptions such as normality.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

3.3Test construction, reliability, validity and norms

  1. Q19 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q29

    Which one are the steps for Constructing Standardized Tests?

    1. ACertain topic
    2. BChecking the Reliability and Validity of the test
    3. CMultiple topic
    4. DAdministered multiple test
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Checking the Reliability and Validity of the test

    Building a standardised test includes checking its reliability and validity before it is used.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q31, final key

  2. Q20 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q30

    ______ Signifies the gap between the individuals score and the Mean depicted as standard deviation of the distribution.

    1. APlanning
    2. BStandard Score
    3. CNorm
    4. DGrade Norms
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Standard Score

    A standard score (z-score) shows how far a person's score is from the mean, in units of standard deviation.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q32, final key

  3. Q21 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q31

    _____ is calculated by finding the mean row score earned by students in a specific grade.

    1. APlanning
    2. BStandard Score
    3. CGrade Norm
    4. DNorms
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Grade Norm

    A grade norm is the mean raw score earned by students in a particular grade (the paper prints 'raw' as 'row').

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q33, final key

  4. Q22 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q26

    Assertion (A): A raw score on a standardised test is interpreted with the help of norms.

    Reason (R): A raw score on its own does not show how a person stands compared with others of the same age or group.

    1. ABoth A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
    2. BBoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    3. CA is true, but R is false
    4. DA is false, but R is true
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

    Norms are the typical performance of a defined reference group; percentiles and standard scores are ways of expressing them.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  5. Q23 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q29

    The extent to which a test actually measures what it is intended to measure is called its

    1. Areliability
    2. Bvalidity
    3. Cnorm
    4. Ddiscrimination index
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. validity

    Validity answers the question 'what does the test measure, and how well?'.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  6. Q24 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q32

    Experts check whether the items of an achievement test fairly cover all the units and objectives of the course taught. Which type of validity is being examined?

    1. AContent validity
    2. BPredictive validity
    3. CConstruct validity
    4. DConcurrent validity
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Content validity

    Content validity is usually established by expert judgement and a table of specifications (blueprint).

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  7. Q25 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q35

    A student's z-score on a standardised test is 0. This means the student's raw score is

    1. Azero
    2. Bthe lowest score in the group
    3. Cequal to the mean of the group
    4. Done standard deviation above the mean
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. equal to the mean of the group

    The sign of z shows the direction from the mean; its size shows distance in SD units.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

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