Exam 1: Introduction to the Science of Psychology

Imelda is describing her first day of psychology class to her boyfriend. She can best describe psychology as focusing on

Julian and Meghan are discussing several theories they have found that offer explanations for why children become bullies in schools. Julian is not sure how to sift through all the theories because they all seem equally convincing. Meghan suggests that they go with the explanation that is the simplest. Meghan's decision was made based on

When each member of a population has an equal chance of being chosen for a study, the individuals selected constitute a(n)__________ sample.

Dr. Hood is conducting a research study in which she is examining two different methods for helping to combat social phobia in adolescents. The intervention methods being studied represent the __________ variable.

Dr. Vance is attempting to discover where emotional experience is localized in the brain by using brain imaging technology. Dr. Vance works in the subfield of __________ psychology.

Julio is working on a Master's degree in psychology. He wants to work with students who have hearing difficulties so that they can stay even with classmates throughout their elementary school grades. Julio's program emphasizes __________ psychology.

A researcher wants to know if personality traits are more similar based on genetic contributions or based on environmental factors. She examines pairs of identical twins who are raised together in the same home and also studies identical twins who were separated at birth and raised in different homes by different parents. According to the textbook, this researcher is conducting a(n)__________ study.

An advertising campaign aimed at getting consumers to buy a product because it will make them different from others would probably be most successful in __________ cultures.

In Dr. Turgrove's experiment, he includes a control group that receives a placebo. This type of research design is meant to control which confound?

Pick two countries with different cultures, one an individualist and the other a collectivist. Compare and contrast these cultures on at least three variables.

Jada works for the Nokia company designing the next line of cellular telephones to be sold. She focuses on how the phones fit in people's hands, where buttons should be located for easiest access, and what people will be most likely to purchase. Jada is most likely a _________ psychologist.

Which of the following is not one of the five questions that provide a strategy for critical thinking?

Although psychology contains diverse subfields and approaches, two factors provide unity. One of these factors is that

Rashma teaches a Parent Training Workshop, and she advocates that parents get to know the uniqueness of their children. She stresses that we can't see children's points of view because we don't know how they perceive the world and that children are innately good and working toward self-fulfillment. Rashma most likely identifies with the __________ approach to psychology.

Which American psychologist is credited with conceptualizing and advancing the perspective of functionalism early in the history of the field?

Researchers who want to find the best explanation for the cause of a phenomenon when they have several rival hypotheses should

In order to minimize the impact of factors other than the independent variable that can cause a change in the depend variable, participants in an experiment should be assigned to either the experimental or control group

A philosopher who claims that "life is directed by one's thoughts" would be stating a position most consistent with the __________ approach to psychology.

Thanh was in a car accident a year ago in which she suffered some brain damage. Because of the rare nature of her impairment, Dr. Morello kept very detailed notes concerning the treatments administered, the effects of those treatments, and other particular aspects of Thanh's condition. He hopes to publish his findings so that if another psychologist encounters a patient with a condition like Thanh's, that psychologist will have some information to aid him or her in treating that individual. Which research method is Dr. Morello using?

Dr. Kurtz believes that students who use calculators learn the basics of math better. He designs an experiment in which Group A is taught a math concept and allowed to use calculators. Group B is taught the same math concept but is not allowed to use calculators. Then he gives both groups a standardized math test to assess their knowledge of the concept and compares their scores. In Dr. Kurtz's experiment, the standardized math test score is the