Deck 1: Introducing the World of Psychology

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of critical thinking?

A) believing that sugar causes headaches because your head hurts after you eat a candy bar
B) concluding that eating spinach leads to a longer life after seeing an ad for spinach on television
C) using a personal example to explain the importance of time management
D) concluding that exercise is beneficial after evaluating the evidence of a research study

Answer 1

concluding that exercise is beneficial after evaluating the evidence of a research study

Question 2

The belief that the mind and body are separate but intertwined describes

A) dualism.
B) structuralism.
C) the nature/nurture debate.
D) cognitive psychology.

Answer 2

dualism.

Question 3

Structuralism is a school of psychology introduced by

A) Edward Titchener.
B) William James.
C) Charles Darwin.
D) Sigmund Freud.

Answer 3

Edward Titchener.

Question 4

You are confident that your new roommate is a critical thinker after noticing the following bumper sticker on his car:

A) "Show me the evidence!"
B) "The only truth is no truth."
C) "Trust your gut!"
D) "What is the meaning of life?"

Question 5

According to the textbook,"friendly skepticism" is an important element in a type of reasoning called

A) functionalism.
B) introspection.
C) structuralism.
D) critical thinking.

Question 6

You are discussing your psychology class with your aunt Annalise.She asks you,"Can psychology really help people study?" You correctly answer,

A) "Not really; psychologists generally agree that the field of education is better suited to provide people with techniques for studying."
B) "Yes; psychological studies have shown that cramming before an exam can improve memory."
C) "Yes; psychology provides us with techniques for improving memory and understanding."
D) "It depends; psychology can enhance students' learning, but most people will have difficulty using psychology to help them study."

Question 7

Barry states that psychology is the study of mental activity.Candace remarks that psychology is the science of behavior.Which is the correct evaluation of these two statements?

A) Barry's definition is correct; Candace's definition is incorrect.
B) Barry's definition is correct; Candace's definition is correct.
C) Taken together, the statements are correct.
D) Barry's definition is incorrect; Candace's definition is correct.

Question 8

Talisa is writing a paper on critical thinking.She wants to explain how critical thinking differs from everyday thinking.Accordingly,which sentence is Talisa most likely to include in her paper about the differences between critical thinking and everyday thinking?

A) Critical thinking evaluates information and scientific research to make reasonable conclusions.
B) Everyday thinking evaluates information and scientific research to make reasonable conclusions.
C) Critical thinking relies on personal examples more than scientific evidence for making conclusions.
D) Critical thinking and everyday thinking often result in the same conclusions.

Question 9

Critical thinking is best defined as thinking that

A) systematically evaluates information.
B) criticizes others' opinions.
C) is open-minded and creative.
D) uses inferences but does not solve problems.

Question 10

Which of the following statements best describes psychology?

A) Much of psychology is just common sense.
B) Much of psychology is about applying common sense to everyday life.
C) Psychological principles are highly applicable to everyday life.
D) Psychological principles are too scientific to apply to everyday life.

Question 11

Freddy and Mary Anne are having a disagreement about the nature/nurture debate.Freddy correctly says,"Actually,the 'nature' portion of the debate refers to how a person thinks and acts and is a result of

A) early education."
B) inborn influences."
C) prenatal experiences."
D) cultural norms."

Question 12

Jeremy is studying for his final exam.Lauren has taken psychology and gives him a good tip about the best way to study.She correctly says,

A) "Be sure to cram in your studying during the night before the final exam."
B) "As you study, connect the information to something personal."
C) "Memorize bold terms by writing and rewriting the definitions."
D) "Study in the morning right before the exam deadline, because stress improves learning."

Question 13

With respect to the nature/nurture debate,psychologists now believe that ________ is/are important in understanding the mind,brain,and behavior.

A) nature
B) nurture
C) both nature and nurture
D) neither nature nor nurture

Question 14

An early school of psychology used introspection to study the basic elements of mental experiences.This school of psychology was called

A) functionalism.
B) behaviorism.
C) cognitivism.
D) structuralism.

Question 15

Which of the following is the best definition of psychology?

A) the study of the brain and its inner function
B) the analysis of the mind and its unconscious thoughts
C) the study of mental activity and behavior based on brain processes
D) the study of thoughts, social interactions, and emotions

Question 16

In the nature/nurture debate,the term nature refers to the question of how ________ factors affect the mind,brain,and behavior.

A) biological
B) environmental
C) either biological or environmental
D) conscious or unconscious

Question 17

Allanah has declared psychology as her major.Because of this,Allanah will most likely study

A) the structure and function of the brain.
B) mental disorders and their treatment.
C) feelings, memory, and other inner states.
D) mental activity, behavior, and the brain.

Question 18

The philosopher who promoted dualism as an explanation of the mind/body problem was

A) William James.
B) Charles Darwin.
C) René Descartes.
D) Sigmund Freud.

Question 19

"Friendly skepticism" means

A) finding flaws in an argument or claim.
B) being open to new ideas, while also being careful before accepting them.
C) asking a scientist to make his or her findings public so that they can be better evaluated.
D) accepting all claims, as long as they are based on the scientific method.

Question 20

Dualism is the classic idea in psychology that

A) the mind and the brain are separate entities.
B) the mind and the brain are the same entity.
C) the mind and the brain are opposing forces.
D) there is no mind, just the brain.

Question 21

Gestalt theory is based on the idea that

A) the whole is different from the sum of its parts.
B) the environment affects behavior.
C) social situations influence behavior.
D) science should be used to understand therapy.

Question 22

The psychologist most closely associated with the school of functionalism is

A) Sigmund Freud.
B) Wilhelm Wundt.
C) Edward Titchener.
D) William James.

Question 23

If you are asked to list all the thoughts and experiences you have while answering a test question,you would be engaging in

A) critical thinking.
B) psychoanalysis.
C) skepticism.
D) introspection.

Question 24

Psychoanalysis is a type of psychological treatment to resolve unconscious conflicts that cause mental disorders.This treatment was developed by

A) Wilhelm Wundt.
B) Sigmund Freud.
C) William James.
D) Edward Titchener.

Question 25

The person who established the first psychology laboratory,which marked the beginning of experimental psychology,was

A) Wilhelm Wundt.
B) Sigmund Freud.
C) William James.
D) Edward Titchener.

Question 26

Noreen believes that our behavior often reflects unconscious motives and conflicts.This viewpoint is most consistent with the ________ approach in psychology.

A) psychoanalytic
B) structuralist
C) cognitive
D) behaviorist

Question 27

The person who is most closely associated with the study of the unconscious is

A) Sigmund Freud.
B) William James.
C) Wilhelm Wundt.
D) B. F. Skinner.

Question 28

Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species had its strongest influence on the school of thought called

A) structuralism.
B) Gestalt theory.
C) functionalism.
D) psychoanalytic theory.

Question 29

Gestalt psychology was developed based on the idea that a person's experiences are more than just the collection of various parts or elements of consciousness.This idea is in direct contrast with the ________ approach.

A) functionalist
B) psychoanalytic
C) cognitive psychology
D) structuralist

Question 30

Functionalism is the school of thought concerned with

A) the structures of the mind.
B) the adaptive purposes of the mind and behavior.
C) how unconscious conflicts can lead to mental disorders.
D) how the presence of others influences behavior.

Question 31

The psychological approach that emphasizes the role of the environment in influencing behavior is

A) psychoanalytic.
B) cognitive.
C) behaviorism.
D) Gestalt theory.

Question 32

The psychologist who would be mostly likely to focus on mental functions,such as problem solving and decision making,would be a

A) behaviorist.
B) cognitive psychologist.
C) psychoanalyst.
D) humanistic psychologist.

Question 33

According to the concept of "survival of the fittest,"

A) random mutations are always adaptive in helping organisms survive.
B) only the biggest organisms will survive.
C) organisms that are best adapted to their environment are most likely to survive.
D) organisms without random mutations are always more likely to survive.

Question 34

The cognitive revolution was launched by

A) George Miller.
B) Sigmund Freud.
C) B. F. Skinner.
D) William James.

Question 35

Dr.Leleux asserts that psychologists should attempt to identify the basic elements of mental experience.Dr.Leleux's beliefs are most closely matched with the school of thought called

A) functionalism.
B) behaviorism.
C) structuralism.
D) Gestalt theory.

Question 36

The theories of Sigmund Freud and his followers

A) state that behavior can be altered by the application of reinforcement and punishment.
B) emphasize the functions or adaptive purposes of the mind.
C) emphasize the concept that the whole is different from the sum of its parts.
D) state that much of human behavior is determined by the unconscious.

Question 37

Structuralists used a procedure to investigate the conscious parts of the mind.In this procedure an observer described the simple elements of a mental experience in as much detail as possible.This procedure was called

A) introspection.
B) inner perception.
C) psychoanalysis.
D) individual analysis.

Question 38

According to structuralism,the goal of psychology is to

A) uncover the unconscious determinants of behavior.
B) focus on observable behavior itself.
C) explore the basic elements of the conscious experience.
D) identify the purposes of our behavior and mental processes.

Question 39

Which of the following questions do behaviorists attempt to answer?

A) Is behavior influenced by mental processes?
B) Which is more important, the parts or the unified whole?
C) Can unconscious conflicts be fully resolved?
D) How does the environment influence behavior?

Question 40

The unconscious mind influences human behavior,according to

A) structuralism.
B) psychoanalytic theory.
C) functionalism.
D) behaviorism.

Question 41

In psychology,the cultural level of analysis emphasizes the study of

A) genes and behavior.
B) norms and values.
C) perception and self-concept.
D) individual differences.

Question 42

Four psychologists,each from a different psychological perspective,are eating dinner.They notice their waitress is crying.When the waitress leaves,they each provide an explanation for why she is crying.What did the humanistic psychologist most likely say?

A) "She is struggling with psychological blockages from unconscious conflicts."
B) "She thinks her job is harming her personal growth and preventing her from realizing her full potential."
C) "She was probably punished by her boss, or denied some expected reward."
D) "She is concerned about her biological clock and that she will not be able to pass on her genes."

Question 43

The type of psychologist who studies how people are affected by the presence of others is called a ________ psychologist.

A) developmental
B) cultural
C) social
D) clinical

Question 44

Before psychologists can begin a research project,they must receive approval from the

A) American Psychological Association.
B) Association of Psychological Science.
C) National Science Foundation.
D) Institutional Review Board.

Question 45

Your uncle John always argued,"Stop studying mental events that cannot be directly observed!" Which school of thought would most likely agree with your uncle John?

A) cognitive
B) behaviorism
C) Gestalt
D) psychoanalytic

Question 46

Sean is studying psychology.He decides to use the biological level of analysis to interpret his findings.Sean is most likely examining

A) how depression results in chemical changes in the brain.
B) whether a person's personality is stable or changing across the life span.
C) how being in a group changes whether a person will engage in illegal behavior.
D) how different cultures define mental illness.

Question 47

Daniel is highly interested in workplace training and job placement.He would probably be most interested in speaking to a(n)________ psychologist.

A) counseling
B) clinical
C) industrial/organizational
D) developmental

Question 48

Which statement best captures historical trends in cognitive psychology?

A) Before the 1980s, cognitive psychology emphasized the mind; today, it focuses mostly on behavior.
B) Before the 1980s, cognitive psychology emphasized the mind; today, it focuses mainly on the brain.
C) Before the 1980s, cognitive psychology emphasized the brain; today, it focuses on the mind along with the brain.
D) Before the 1980s, cognitive psychology emphasized the mind; today, it focuses on both the mind and the brain.

Question 49

You catch your 12-year-old sister smoking.She says that she likes to smoke because her friends think it looks "cool." Which level of psychological analysis is she using?

A) biological
B) individual
C) social
D) cultural

Question 50

The shared beliefs,values,rules,and customs that exist within a group make up a person's

A) society.
B) culture.
C) civilization.
D) community.

Question 51

Dr.Alvarez studies how the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain might contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis.Dr.Alvarez's work best exemplifies the ________ subfield of psychology.

A) cognitive
B) experimental
C) developmental
D) biological

Question 52

The type of psychologists who study,assess,and treat individuals with psychological disorders are called ________ psychologists.

A) school
B) personality
C) clinical
D) cognitive

Question 53

Psychological science occurs at which level(s)of analysis?

A) biological
B) social
C) individual
D) all of the possible choices are correct.

Question 54

Your nephew is fascinated with human memory and the strategies that help people remember large amounts of information.If he were to become a psychologist,you suspect that he would be best suited for a career in

A) industrial/organizational psychology.
B) cognitive psychology or neuroscience.
C) developmental psychology.
D) clinical psychology.

Question 55

Which of the following is NOT an example of an interpersonal behavior?

A) having a fight with your partner
B) persuading your boss to give you a day off
C) deciding that you should go out more often
D) speaking up at a team meeting

Question 56

Dr.Ebrahim examines how children's friendships change through the elementary and middle school years.Dr.Ebrahim is a(n)________ psychologist.

A) developmental
B) personality
C) cognitive
D) organizational

Question 57

Four early psychologists suddenly appear in your psychology department.Who would be most discouraged to hear that modern psychology places a lot of emphasis on the study of mental processes?

A) Sigmund Freud
B) Wilhelm Wundt
C) Edward Titchener
D) John Watson

Question 58

The subfield of cognitive psychology focuses on

A) groups, relationships, and workplace interactions.
B) personality, gender, and self-concept.
C) norm, beliefs, and values.
D) thinking, memory, and attention.

Question 59

Dr.Growe is reading an article discussing the effect of group size on the conformity of group members.Dr.Growe is most likely reading the Journal of ________ Psychology.

A) Developmental
B) Social
C) Cultural
D) Personality

Question 60

You are having a difficult time deciding whether to switch career paths.To help cope with this challenge in your professional life,you should seek help from a ________ psychologist.

A) personality
B) social
C) developmental
D) counseling

Question 61

The variable that a researcher measures in an experiment is called the

A) independent variable.
B) dependent variable.
C) experimental group.
D) control group.

Question 62

A researcher believes that presenting possible suspects in a lineup one at a time instead of in a group would lead to more accurate identification of the true suspect.This belief represents a(n)

A) hypothesis.
B) independent variable.
C) correlation.
D) theory.

Question 63

George is looking for a research project.To get started,he could make use of an existing theory because

A) theories are shown to be true, so subsequent research is successful.
B) one of the benefits of theories is that they lead to testable hypotheses.
C) a theory can be successfully replicated by researchers.
D) theories lead to successful research.

Question 64

A model of interconnected ideas that explains what is observed and makes predictions about the future is provided by (a)n

A) theory.
B) hypothesis.
C) experiment.
D) correlation.

Question 65

In the scientific method,a set of interconnected ideas or concepts is called a(n)

A) theory.
B) hypothesis.
C) experiment.
D) descriptive method.

Question 66

The precise way a researcher measures and defines a variable is known as the

A) operational definition.
B) theory.
C) hypothesis.
D) independent variable.

Question 67

If a researcher wants to be able to generalize about a population using data pulled from a sample,it is best to use

A) a convenience sample.
B) experience sampling.
C) a descriptive study.
D) a random sample.

Question 68

If a researcher publicly discussed a participant's responses and named the participant,that researcher would be guilty of violating the ethical principle of

A) confidentiality.
B) risk.
C) privacy.
D) deception.

Question 69

Jane Goodall systematically watched and recorded the behavior of chimpanzees in their natural environment.She was conducting

A) observational studies.
B) case studies.
C) experiments.
D) correlations.

Question 70

If a researcher was denied permission to conduct a study because participants might suffer harm,that decision would have been made by the

A) American Psychological Association.
B) Institutional Review Board.
C) National Science Foundation.
D) Association of Psychological Science.

Question 71

Which of the following is a specific,testable prediction?

A) a theory
B) a hypothesis
C) a correlation
D) introspection

Question 72

In correlational studies,there is ambiguity as to which variable is the cause and which is the effect.This phenomenon is known as

A) the third variable problem.
B) random error.
C) selection bias.
D) the directionality problem.

Question 73

The variable that a researcher manipulates in an experiment is called the

A) independent variable.
B) dependent variable.
C) third variable.
D) experimental group.

Question 74

"Should people have access to data collected in an experiment?" This question is associated with the ethical issue of

A) deception.
B) informed consent.
C) privacy.
D) confidentiality.

Question 75

Which of the following sampling techniques gives each member of the population an equal chance of being selected to participate?

A) random sampling
B) convenience sampling
C) random assignment
D) a case study

Question 76

Susannah observes the world around her and measures various aspects of it to gain new knowledge.Susannah is learning about the world by using

A) descriptive statistics.
B) a theory.
C) a hypothesis.
D) empiricism.

Question 77

Informed consent means that

A) participants' information must be kept strictly confidential.
B) participants must be told about a research study and allowed to choose whether they would like to participate.
C) a research study has been reviewed and approved by a group of reviewers based on ethical standards.
D) a researcher is not permitted to observe people in public places without their knowledge.

Question 78

An extensive study of a single person or a few people is characteristic of

A) a self-report.
B) a case study.
C) the scientific method.
D) an experiment.

Question 79

When a researcher manipulates a variable to see what effect the manipulation has on another variable,the research design is a(n)

A) correlational study.
B) experiment.
C) observational study.
D) case study.

Question 80

If Mike wants to use the scientific method,he would use all of the following elements EXCEPT

A) focusing on a theory.
B) stating a hypothesis.
C) using a research method.
D) his personal experiences.