Deck 1: Human Learning

Question 1

Which of the following represents an instance of learning?

A) an insight received at 5am by a member of an all-night study group
B) the new way of seeing people developed by a hospital patient still suffering from the effects of a concussion
C) the perceived motives of the hospital staff by a patient under heavy medication
D) walking slowly down a dark hallway after stubbing a toe

Answer 1

walking slowly down a dark hallway after stubbing a toe

Question 2

A young woman with no previous exposure to the martial arts took a class in judo. Having no occasion to utilize the techniques, 6 months passed. One evening while walking to her car she was attacked. She successfully fended off her attacker using several judo techniques taught in the class she had taken. Which of the following is true?

A) She was a slow learner, and it took 6 months for the learning to sink in.
B) This is an example of delayed learning.
C) The learning took place in the judo class 6 months prior.
D) No learning took place in the judo class.

Answer 2

The learning took place in the judo class 6 months prior.

Question 3

The branch of philosophy known as epistemology asks

A) how we know the world.
B) how we know ourselves.
C) how we study our thoughts.
D) how we study learning processes.

Answer 3

how we know the world.

Question 4

A common student complaint is that skills and knowledge acquired in the classroom do not relate to their day-to-day lives. To the extent that this is true, one may say that

A) learning has not taken place.
B) capacity has changed though performance has not been tested.
C) learning is only about improving capability.
D) a skill that is not used immediately is not real.

Question 5

Wondering whether class attendance is related to course grade, a professor begins to gather both kinds of data for his classes. Investigating the relationship between attendance and grades may be described as

A) hypothesis testing.
B) synthesis of two variables.
C) theory application.
D) a nonscientific investigation.

Question 6

As a science, psychology is concerned with

A) consciousness but not dreams.
B) social influences only.
C) the roles of biology and heredity.
D) biology but not with social influences.

Question 7

The following behavior changes illustrate learning:

A) behavior resulting from injury or disease
B) behavior resulting from experience
C) behavior resulting from disease or drugs
D) biologically determined behavior

Question 8

Beliefs may be described as

A) invariably true.
B) often correct descriptions of observations.
C) always proven wrong with research.
D) verified assumptions.

Question 9

The brain allows the body to influence the mind and the mind to influence the body. This is called

A) interactive dualism.
B) Cartesian interactionism.
C) interactive consciousness.
D) mind-body dualism.

Question 10

Evidence that learning has occurred is seen in

A) published research studies.
B) changes in thinking.
C) changes in behavior.
D) emotional stability.

Question 11

Change in performance is preceded by

A) bad reviews.
B) scientific research.
C) the behavior of others.
D) change in disposition.

Question 12

After listening to rather surprising results obtained in a fellow student's research study, a second student decides to do a similar study applying the methodology to a different population. What about the first study may account for the motivation of the second student?

A) the double-blind procedure
B) the heuristic value
C) the grade received by the first student
D) the gambler's fallacy

Question 13

Carefully testing a favorite folk saying, the research results did not verify the claimed relationship. Assuming the soundness of the research methodology, what may be concluded?

A) Even science can be wrong on occasion.
B) Some things cannot be known.
C) The folk wisdom must contain an invalid assumption.
D) Folk sayings are not the concern of science.

Question 14

With regard to science and psychology,

A) science is concerned with the physical realm, and psychology with human behavior.
B) psychology is a tool of science.
C) science is only concerned with the collection of information, psychology with analysis of information.
D) science is a tool of psychology.

Question 15

The main function of a theory is to

A) summarize and explain observations.
B) obtain research grants.
C) prove that beliefs are common sense.
D) build a reputation as a researcher.

Question 16

If-then statements may also be referred to as

A) principles.
B) generalizations.
C) hypotheses.
D) laws.

Question 17

Random sampling from a specific population of study may be illustrated by

A) selecting volunteers on a first come basis up to the desired number for the sample.
B) putting all names in a fishbowl, and blindfolded, drawing out the desired number of names for the sample.
C) using IQ and gender as a basis for selection.
D) making the choice of subjects alphabetically.

Question 18

Scientific method involves

A) refraining from asking questions.
B) using experiments only.
C) the use of educated guesses.
D) the acceptance of some hypotheses, the rejection of others.

Question 19

A college professor, concerned about lack of attention by students during lecture, is considering a study of the effects of room temperature on state of consciousness. If the study is undertaken, what would be the dependent variable?

A) room temperature
B) state of consciousness
C) the length of the class
D) the time of day

Question 20

A way to be sure that an observed relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable does indeed exist is by

A) selecting which individual subjects are to be included in the study.
B) identifying other possible variables.
C) the creation of a control group.
D) surveying the subjects of the study.

Question 21

Statements which summarize relationships are

A) restricted to the physical sciences.
B) known as hypotheses.
C) known as generalizations.
D) never used in the social sciences.

Question 22

A useful theory

A) seldom is found in the real world.
B) leaves no stone unturned.
C) is not a concern of scientific method.
D) makes predictions.

Question 23

Rules that govern the gathering of information are known as

A) rigid and dogmatic.
B) scientific method.
C) being flexible.
D) APA rules for research studies.

Question 24

The more contradictory the explanations and predictions of a theory, the

A) more complex the theory.
B) poorer the theory.
C) greater the need for an expert.
D) more confused the researcher.

Question 25

Interviewing

A) is an example of an experiment.
B) allows for flexibility in the asking of questions.
C) is costly and time consuming.
D) is an example of surveying.

Question 26

To create an operational definition is

A) to make the abstract observable.
B) to gain agreement among theorists.
C) to instruct medical interns on procedure.
D) important before determining variables.

Question 27

The significance of research findings

A) depends on the reader.
B) is determined statistically.
C) is seldom known.
D) depends on the size of the population.

Question 28

A double-blind procedure relates to

A) a bias correction involving two researchers.
B) a bias correction involving two research subjects.
C) a bias correction involving researcher and research subjects.
D) two messages, one of which contradicts the other.

Question 29

Control groups are

A) no treatment groups.
B) highly competitive groups.
C) preferred when studying authoritarianism.
D) a pretest experimental group.

Question 30

Independent variable is to dependent variable as

A) control is to manipulation.
B) experiments are to surveys.
C) manipulation is to control.
D) research is to theory.

Question 31

Informed consent is given by

A) the researcher.
B) judicial review.
C) the American Psychological Association.
D) the research subject.

Question 32

Ethical concerns are the responsibility of

A) a panel of the American Psychological Society.
B) the researcher.
C) the research subjects.
D) a panel of peers.

Question 33

Which of the following is not true with regard to animal research?

A) It avoids ethical considerations.
B) More research controls are possible.
C) It may be useful in understanding human behavior.
D) Informed consent is not an issue.

Question 34

A student concerned about test anxiety took some time away from his studies to reflect on possible reasons for this reaction. His search for an explanation is an example of

A) avoidance.
B) objective data gathering.
C) introspection.
D) theory testing.

Question 35

Laws are to beliefs as

A) truth is to untruth.
B) accuracy is to inaccuracy.
C) convictions are to facts
D) facts are to convictions.

Question 36

In the attempt to understand human behavior, the most powerful investigative tool of science is the experiment. Its most limiting feature, however, is

A) it doesn't establish cause-effect relationships.
B) its use may raise ethical issues.
C) it may not be possible to distinguish between dependent and independent variables.
D) it is opposed by the APA.

Question 37

An elementary student attends classes the last day of school despite illness so she will not miss out on the Perfect Attendance Award. This an example of

A) a behaviorist explanation.
B) a cognitivist explanation.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) regression.

Question 38

Which of the following is not an APA guideline for member psychologists doing research with human subjects?

A) The investigator makes the decision regarding ethical acceptability of research.
B) Participants must be free to not participate.
C) Deception of participants is allowed on occasion under specific conditions.
D) Participants are not to be deceived under any circumstances.

Question 39

To commit the nominal fallacy is to

A) make a statistical error.
B) mistake a belief for a principle.
C) describe restless children as hyperactive.
D) generalize to the wrong population.

Question 40

To properly study learning theory, one must

A) choose between the behavioral and cognitive approaches to learning.
B) recognize that cognitive and behavioral are convenient labels and each shares common ideas with the other.
C) realize that behaviorism is the only valid approach.
D) accept the cognitive approach as a more well developed approach.