Deck 1: The Mission and the Method

Question 1

Which of the following elements is particularly critical to include in a deception study, but is not usually required in other types of studies?

A)IRB approval
B)Demand characteristics
C)Complete debriefing
D)Informed consent

Answer 1

Complete debriefing

Question 2

The influence of Freudian psychoanalysis on psychology is most readily seen in ____.

A)the identification of neurological correlates
B)detailed studies of genotypes and phenotypes
C)elaborate interpretation of individual experiences
D)the systematic search for reinforcement contingencies

Answer 2

elaborate interpretation of individual experiences

Question 3

Behaviorism seeks to explain human behavior in terms of ____ .

A)attitudes
B)inner states
C)learning principles
D)evolution

Answer 3

attitudes

Question 4

Who among the following psychologists was the first to publish a social psychology textbook titled Social Psychology in the 1900s?

A)Kurt Lewin
B)Norman Triplett
C)Edward Ross
D)Max Ringelmann

Question 5

Given Max Ringelmann's early research looking at group size and individual effort, should we expect Student X to put in a different amount of effort depending on whether she worked on a history project in a five-person group rather than a two-person group?

A)Yes, we should expect her to work harder in the five-person group.
B)Yes, we should expect her to work harder in the two-person group.
C)No, we should expect her to work equally hard in both groups.
D)It is impossible to say; it appears group size effects depend on other variables. ​

Question 6

Today, both funded and unfunded studies conducted at universities must first obtain ____ approval.

A)ABPP
B)IRB
C)APA
D)ERB

Question 7

Based on early research by Norman Triplett with racing cyclists, we should expect that people who exercise on rowing machines at gyms are more likely to ____ than people who exercise on the same machines in the privacy of their homes.

A)burn more calories
B)burn less calories
C)feel a sense of accomplishment
D)feel a sense of failure

Question 8

In one of the first social psychological experiments ever conducted, researcher Max Ringelmann observed men as they pulled on a rope either alone, as part of a small group, or as part of a large group. He found that as the size of the group increased, ____.

A)individual effort increased
B)individual effort decreased
C)the task took longer to complete
D)the task took less time to complete

Question 9

In one of the first social psychological experiments ever conducted, researcher Norman Triplett examined the records of teams of cyclists. He found that cyclists who raced against each other ____ than those who raced alone (against the clock).

A)were more aggressive after the race
B)got into more accidents
C)cycled more quickly
D)enjoyed the race less

Question 10

Maya is required to turn in her book report by the end of the week. Based on Kurt Lewin's formula, what kinds of information will Maya's teacher need to predict whether she will indeed get the book report by Friday?

A)She will need to know whether Maya likes the book and whether her computer is working properly.
B)She will need to know whether Maya has weekend plans with her friends.
C)She will need to know whether Maya's parents earn enough to pay her tuition fee.
D)She will need to know whether Maya scored well the previous year and whether her brother will help her with the report.

Question 11

In the history of psychology and social psychology, the late 1800s and early 1900s marked ____.

A)the very first social psychological experiments
B)social psychology's independence from behaviorism
C)the beginnings of research in social cognition
D)the beginnings of research in social neuroscience

Question 12

Suppose you own a rowboat and enjoy going rowing on a nearby lake in the summer. In June, you are planning to go rowing with two of your friends (three people in total in the boat), and in July, you are planning to go rowing with just one friend (two people in total in the boat). Will you put in more effort (row harder)on the three-person trip or on the two-person trip?

A)You will put in more effort on the three-person trip.
B)You will put in more effort on the two-person trip.
C)You will put in the same amount of effort on both trips.
D)It is impossible to say-research is inconclusive.

Question 13

During the first half of the 20th century, who argued that attitudes were the most important and useful concept in social psychology?

A)Kurt Lewin
B)Max Ringelmann
C)Norman Triplett
D)Gordon Allport

Question 14

Milgram's famous studies of obedience to authority were motivated by which of the following historical events?

A)The Holocaust
B)The fall of Communism
C)The return of soldiers from Desert Storm
D)The Great Depression

Question 15

Who proposed the idea that behavior is a function of both the person and the situation in the first half of the 20th century?

A)Max Ringelmann
B)Norman Triplett
C)Kurt Lewin
D)Gordon Allport

Question 16

Dr. Puni does not want the participants in his study to be aware of his hypothesis. What will he strive to reduce in his study?

A)Margin of error
B)Divergent validity
C)Measurement validity
D)Demand characteristics

Question 17

In the 1950s and 1960s, mainstream psychology was divided between two main theoretical camps: ____.

A)trait theory and behaviorism
B)Freudian psychoanalysis and humanism
C)humanism and trait theory
D)behaviorism and Freudian psychoanalysis

Question 18

Based on early research by Norman Triplett, we should expect that children who work on math problems alone will ____ than children who work on math problems side by side with their classmates.

A)work more slowly
B)work more quickly
C)second-guess themselves less
D)second-guess themselves more

Question 19

When did social psychology begin to come into its own as a field?

A)The 1910s and 1920s
B)The 1930s and 1940s
C)The 1950s and 1960s
D)The 1970s and 1980s

Question 20

In one of the first social psychological experiments ever conducted, researcher Norman Triplett built a "competition machine," in which children wind up a fishing reel. He found that the children were able to wind more quickly when ____.

A)they worked as a group side by side than when they worked alone
B)they worked alone than when they worked as a group side by side
C)they were explicitly asked to work as fast as possible
D)they were explicitly asked to take their time to "get it right"

Question 21

Most social psychologists perform research by ____.

A)engaging in historical analyses
B)conducting individual interviews
C)conducting experiments
D)using nonexperimental observational methods

Question 22

Social psychology is best defined as the study of ____.

A)how we learn to behave in accordance with the rules of society
B)how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are affected by other people
C)how cultures are created in order to serve the interests of the powerful
D)how societies work to allocate resources and responsibilities

Question 23

Which of the following fields is best defined as "the study of human culture-the shared values, beliefs, and practices of a group of people?"

A)History
B)Political science
C)Social psychology
D)Anthropology

Question 24

In social psychology, the "ABC triad" stands for ____.

A)attitudes, beliefs, and commitments
B)ambiance, biology, and culture
C)affect, behavior, and cognition
D)attributions, boundaries, and corrections

Question 25

When attempting to explain a person's behavior, what do social psychologists tend to assess first?

A)The person's unconscious motivations
B)The person's personality
C)The person's situation
D)The person's childhood

Question 26

Which of the following is the best example of "cognition?"

A)Experiencing an auditory hallucination
B)Having a hunger pang
C)Thinking that you are a valuable employee
D)Exhibiting a nervous twitch

Question 27

Which topic has been of the MOST interest to social psychologists during the last 30 years?

A)Social cognition-concerned with how people think about other people and how people think about the social world in general
B)Behaviorism-concerned with basic principles of learning such as reward and punishment
C)The idea that modern life makes people vulnerable to alienation and exploitation
D)The idea that people act less on the basis of firm moral principles than they do on the basis of conformity or "following the crowd"

Question 28

Social psychology focuses especially on the power of ____.

A)genetics
B)reinforcement
C)situations
D)the unconscious

Question 29

In psychology, an "affect" is most similar to ____.

A)an emotion or mood
B)a belief or attitude
C)a behavior or reaction
D)a motivating force or drive

Question 30

Social psychologists are generally similar to Freudian psychoanalysts in that they both ____.

A)are more interested in abnormal behavior than in normal behavior
B)tend to favor experiments and the scientific method
C)are primarily interested in external behaviors rather than the mind
D)have an interest in inner states and processes

Question 31

Martin believes that his blue coat is warmer than his red coat. Ted thinks that he might want to have kids sometime in the next few years. Yesi remembers playing baseball with her friends as a child. These are all examples of ____.

A)delusions
B)schemas
C)affects
D)cognitions

Question 32

Following the collapse of the Soviet empire in 1989, social psychology's study on conflict ____.

A)remained unchanged in focus
B)refocused on racial and ethnic conflict
C)decreased in volume
D)increased in volume

Question 33

As a rule, social psychologists are MOST interested in ____.

A)normal adult human beings
B)severe mental illness
C)normal childhood development
D)diagnoses in abnormal behavior

Question 34

Behaviorism seeks to explain human behavior in terms of ____.

A)attitudes
B)inner states
C)learning principles
D)evolution

Question 35

Ed stole $50 from his parents. In assessing Ed's motives, which of the following questions would a social psychologist be MOST likely to ask?

A)Is Ed unconsciously motivated to hurt his parents?
B)Is Ed a person with a weak moral character?
C)Does Ed have friends or other role models who are stealing?
D)Is Ed mentally healthy enough to realize what he has done?

Question 36

While social psychologists are interested in a wide variety of topics, three themes that have become increasingly important during the last 30 years are ____.

A)psychoanalysis, meditation, and hypnosis
B)economic behavior, political behavior, and criminal behavior
C)social cognition, biological influences on behavior, and the self
D)personality measurement, organizational behavior, and spirituality

Question 37

How are social psychologists generally similar to behaviorists?

A)They both tend to favor experiments and the scientific method.
B)They are both interested in thinking and thought processes.
C)They are both originally rooted in psychoanalytic theory.
D)They are both interested in the unconscious mind.

Question 38

Roger holds a number of negative stereotypes about women. Specifically, he thinks that most women are manipulative, vain, and lazy. In trying to understand Roger's beliefs, which of the following questions would a social psychologist be MOST likely to ask?

A)Does Roger feel so intimidated by women that he expresses these negative stereotypes in order to "cover up" his deep-seated lack of self-esteem?
B)Did Roger have a difficult relationship with his mother as a young child that might have fostered a negative attitude toward all women?
C)Does Roger have a brain abnormality?
D)Has Roger been exposed to these stereotypes in the media, or has he had limited (but negative)interactions with women that might have helped perpetuate these stereotypes?

Question 39

Which of the following is an example of an "emotion"?

A)Gullibility
B)Unpleasantness
C)Happiness
D)Activism

Question 40

When psychologists talk about "cognition," they are typically referring to ____.

A)unconscious motivations
B)thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes
C)abnormal thoughts or experiences
D)emotions or feelings

Question 41

Within psychology, ____ typically focus on "abnormal" behavior (e.g., mental disorders and behavioral disorders)."

A)only clinical psychologists
B)both clinical psychologists and personality psychologists
C)only personality psychologists
D)psychologists from all branches of psychology

Question 42

What is the historical relationship between clinical psychology and social psychology?

A)Clinical psychology grew out of social psychology.
B)Both clinical psychology and social psychology grew out of cognitive psychology.
C)The two fields have historically been at odds and argued with one another.
D)The two fields have had a long tradition of exchanging ideas.

Question 43

In recent years, what has emerged as an important subfield of social psychology that explores the ways in which people think about social situations?

A)Cognitive sociology
B)Social cognition
C)Cognitive anthropology
D)Socioneurology

Question 44

The social psychological theory known as "social exchange theory" is based MOST obviously on which of the following other social sciences?

A)Economics
B)History
C)Political science
D)Anthropology

Question 45

Johnna is examining how attitudes predict voting behavior. Her research will MOST likely involve an intersection of social psychology and _____.

A)anthropology
B)sociology
C)political science
D)economics

Question 46

If psychology is like a big tree, then social psychology is ____.

A)the trunk
B)a branch
C)a leaf
D)a root

Question 47

Anthropologists would posit that social psychologists cannot understand human behavior fully unless they understand the ____.

A)genetic makeup of the populations under study
B)relationship between humans and animals
C)biological basis of the behavior
D)cultural context in which that behavior occurs

Question 48

Which of the following best represents a similarity between social psychology and economics?

A)A focus on attitudes in the context of teamwork
B)A focus on learning principles in the context of punishments
C)A focus on the role of cultural exchanges in the distribution of goods and services
D)A focus on the role of social exchange in commitment to relationships

Question 49

During the "Decade of the Brain" in the ____, social psychologists became particularly interested in the biological aspects of social behavior.

A)1960s
B)1970s
C)1980s
D)1990s

Question 50

Which of the following fields is MOST concerned with understanding different human cultures?

A)Economics
B)Political science
C)Social psychology
D)Anthropology

Question 51

The study of what happens in the brain, nervous system, and other aspects of the body is called _____.

A)developmental psychology
B)cognitive psychology
C)neuroscience
D)political science

Question 52

In which of the following situations is political science most helpful for social psychology?

A)When social psychologists examine qualities of good leadership
B)When social psychologists conduct cross-cultural research
C)When social psychologists study exchange relationships
D)When social psychologists examine altruism

Question 53

Dr. Otten studies the relationship between crime rates and childrearing practices. He is MOST likely a(n)____.

A)anthropologist
B)economist
C)sociologist
D)social psychologist

Question 54

Dr. Kay researches the effectiveness of different therapies for treating severe anxiety disorders. He is MOST likely a ____.

A)personality psychologist
B)clinical psychologist
C)cognitive psychologist
D)Freudian psychoanalyst

Question 55

Which branch of psychology is primarily concerned with thought processes (e.g., how memory works and what people notice)?

A)Developmental psychology
B)Social psychology
C)Cognitive psychology
D)Biological psychology

Question 56

Although sociologists and social psychologists are both interested in group behavior, sociologists tend to focus on ____, whereas social psychologists tend to focus on ____.

A)individual members within the group; the group as a single unit
B)the group as a single unit; individual members within the group
C)how groups are unique; how various groups are similar to one another
D)how various groups are similar to one another; how groups are unique

Question 57

Layla is interested in studying same-sex couples and their motivation to marry in the context of the legalization of same-sex marriages. In addition to social psychology, what other fields are related to her particular study?.

A)Economics and anthropology
B)Sociology and history
C)Political science and anthropology
D)Sociology and political science

Question 58

Which field is BEST defined as "the study of human societies and the groups that form those societies?"

A)Anthropology
B)Political science
C)Sociology
D)Psychology

Question 59

What do we best call the field that combines the interests of social and biological psychology?

A)Neuroscience
B)Physiological psychology
C)Social neuroscience
D)Social cognition

Question 60

Which of the following is a topic of research that political scientists would conduct?

A)Stay/leave decisions in long-term relationships
B)Voting attitudes and behavior
C)Cross-cultural differences in emotions
D)Unemployment and overall life satisfaction

Question 61

The top research journals in social psychology have substantial overlap, content-wise, with _____.

A)developmental psychology
B)clinical psychology
C)personality psychology
D)biological psychology

Question 62

Basic research is to applied research as ____ is to ____.

A)general; specific
B)specific; general
C)hard; easy
D)easy; hard

Question 63

Many areas of study in social psychology evoke a lot of passion from researchers invested in that arena. Although doing research to make the world a better place is great motivation, one of the hazards of this motive is that ____.

A)only correlational studies can be conducted
B)ideals and political beliefs may cloud scientific judgment
C)the research is hard to replicate
D)the research will not be reported accurately

Question 64

Applied researchers are BEST defined as social scientists who ____.

A)work in "real life" settings-such as in workplaces, schools, or zoos
B)focus on concrete problems-such as how to boost literacy rates or how to increase water conservation
C)seek to "test out," or apply, others' theories rather than develop their own theories
D)study the process of research itself-how researchers go about selecting research questions, conducting studies, and reporting findings

Question 65

Which of the following branches of psychology is MOST closely affiliated with social psychology?

A)Developmental psychology
B)Clinical psychology
C)Personality psychology
D)Biological psychology

Question 66

"Common sense" theories about social psychology are ____.

A)almost always wrong
B)often misleading or contradictory
C)very often correct
D)very often correct when they have to do with dyadic (two-person)relationships, but usually wrong when they have to do with group behavior

Question 67

The study of how people change across their lives from conception to death is the purview of ____.

A)developmental psychology
B)cognitive psychology
C)clinical psychology
D)biological psychology

Question 68

Consider the following American adages, which seem to contradict one another: "Birds of a feather flock together" and "opposites attract." What would social psychologists say about these adages?

A)This contradiction is an anomaly since Americans tend to be extremely single-minded in their "common sense" views about social psychology.
B)Most people in the United States probably believe one of these adages to be true-but not both-since most people have very clear personal theories about social psychology.
C)The contradiction is not surprising at all, since "common sense" theories are often poorly defined, i.e., most people would probably say that both of these things are true (if you asked them at different times).
D)Most people would not see the contradiction if it were pointed out to them, since the average person is not a strong logical thinker.

Question 69

Which of the following topics is a personality psychologist MOST likely to study?

A)The development of schizophrenia
B)Gender differences in the acquisition of language skills
C)Individual differences in leadership ability
D)Cross-cultural differences in mating and courtship behaviors

Question 70

Psychology can be thought of as a kind of "experimental philosophy" because psychology ____ while relying on the experimental method.

A)addresses the same problems
B)is as popular today as philosophy was in ancient times
C)also grew out of the mathematical sciences
D)is also a highly controversial field

Question 71

Until recently, what was the relationship between developmental and social psychology?

A)The two subfields mutually influenced each other.
B)Developmental psychology tended to draw more on social psychology.
C)Social psychology tended to draw more on developmental psychology.
D)The two fields had relatively little influence on each other.

Question 72

Which of the following would a   researcher in social psychology MOST LIKELY study?

A)The innate causes of aggression
B)The plight of welfare mothers
C)Why people don't wear seat belts
D)The luxury preferences of the upper class

Question 73

In recent years, the line between social psychology and ____ has become blurred.

A)developmental psychology
B)biological psychology
C)clinical psychology
D)personality psychology

Question 74

Which of the following topics would a cognitive psychologist be MOST likely to study?

A)The heritability of depression
B)Male-female differences in sexual behavior
C)How people learn to memorize complex musical compositions
D)Altruistic behavior among chimpanzees

Question 75

What is one major reason people study social psychology?

A)It is fun, interesting, and can help make the world a better place.
B)It provides an important foundation for understanding clinical psychology.
C)It helps people overcome their personal problems and become happier.
D)It is an easy topic to understand that offers opportunities for good jobs.

Question 76

Dr. Hon is a researcher who studies methods to encourage condom use among sexually active teens and preventing unwanted pregnancies. He would probably be BEST described as a(n)____.

A)neuroscientist
B)applied researcher
C)historian
D)economist

Question 77

Social scientists who focus on concrete problems-such as how to boost literacy rates in schools or how to increase energy conservation-are known as ____.

A)counselors ​
B)applied researchers
C)psychometricians
D)social workers

Question 78

The key distinction between philosophy and psychology is the fact that psychology ____.

A)is concerned with observable phenomena (e.g., behaviors)rather than unobservable phenomena (e.g., thoughts)
B)is concerned with unobservable phenomena (e.g., thoughts)rather than observable phenomena (e.g., behaviors)
C)primarily relies on the scientific method
D)primarily relies on the case study method

Question 79

Dr. Gem studies individual differences in introversion (a trait similar to shyness). He is MOST likely a _____ psychologist.

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

Question 80

When Kurt Lewin said, "There is nothing as practical as a good theory," he meant that ____.

A)many theories are overly abstract; a good theory should be based on directly observable facts
B)many theories are overly abstract; a good theory should make predictions about directly observable phenomena
C)although they may seem impractical, theories can be very important in helping to stimulate practical ideas and research
D)he was opposed to overly theoretical work and a major proponent of applied research