Exam 1: The Science of Psychology

Explain why human diversity is important to researchers. Specifically, how can a lack of diversity, or a lack of understanding of diversity, affect research results? What is cultural bias and why is it important to researchers?

The tangible goods produced in a society, and the values, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs that are passed from one generation to another are called ________.

Watson was interested in showing that fears could be eliminated by conditioning.

Like Watson, Skinner believed that psychology should study only ________.

Women represent about ________ of members of the American Psychological Association.

Jovonne believes that "real" men are strong, dominant, active, and aggressive, whereas he feels that "real" women are nurturing, sensitive, emotional, and dependent. His views represent what psychologists call ________.

Each of the following characterizes a state of mind necessary for critical thinking except ________.

Research techniques based on the naturally occurring relationship between two or more variables are known as the ________ method.

Explain why psychologists use animals in research and discuss the reasons for and reactions to the current controversy regarding the use of animals in scientific research.

The field of psychology that is concerned with the biological origins of behaviors and mental processes, their adaptive value and the purposes they continue to serve is ________ psychology.

Psychologists study animal behavior in order to shed light on human behavior.

Which of the following is an example of correlational research?

Observing behavior as it happens in real-life natural settings without imposing laboratory controls is known as ________.

Among psychologists in recent years, the general shift away from a limited focus on behavior toward a broad interest in mental processes is known as the ________.

A psychologist studying pilot trainees picks a select group of trainees who are hopefully representative of all other trainees. The group of trainees being studied by this psychologist are collectively known to researchers as a ________.

A psychologist, studying pilot trainees, picks the trainees who will be participating in her study by selecting every third name appearing on the list of available trainees. She is selecting a ________ sample.

A psychologist studying child abuse discovered that parents who abuse their children were frequently mistreated themselves by their parents when they were younger. This approach to gaining knowledge is most like which of the following social science methods of research?

Clinical psychologists are concerned with everyday problems of adjustment.

Evolutionary psychologists see the human mind as a "general purpose" computer that requires software (experience) to process information.

Suppose that Little Albert, now a mature adult, returned to the laboratory of John Watson, the strict behaviorist, to complain of the damage done to him as a child. Which of the following methods would Watson not be likely to use in curing Albert of his fear of soft, furry things?