Deck 1: The Science of Psychology

Question 1

_____ is considered the "founding father" of modern psychology.

A) William James
B) Wilhelm Wundt
C) Sigmund Freud
D) Charles Darwin

Answer 1

Wilhelm Wundt

Question 2

If you were a psychologist who adopted the structuralism approach,you would be interested in the _____ of the mind,using _____ as your primary research method.

A) function/experimentation
B) structures/externalization
C) function/retrospection
D) structures/introspection

Answer 2

structures/introspection

Question 3

Psychologists who adopt a _____ approach examine behavior and mental processes through focusing on the body,especially the brain and nervous system.

A) biological
B) psychodynamic
C) behavioral
D) evolutionary

Answer 3

biological

Question 4

Dr.Amani is interested in investigating why women are more able to correctly interpret emotional expressions than men.He is most interested in the scientific goal of _____.

A) explaining
B) predicting
C) describing
D) deciding

Question 5

With which school of psychology is Wilhelm Wundt associated?

A) Functionalism
B) Structuralism
C) Humanism
D) Behaviorism

Question 6

Which of the following statements about critical thinking is false?

A) Critical thinking is the process of thinking deeply and actively, asking questions, and evaluating the evidence.
B) Critical thinking comes into play when scientists consider the conclusions they draw from research.
C) Critical thinking increases the likelihood that conclusions will be based on unreliable personal beliefs, opinions, and emotions.
D) Critical thinkers question and test what some people say are facts.

Question 7

_____ believed that psychology should be about what people do,and should not concern itself with what cannot be seen (e.g.,internal states such as thoughts,feelings,and goals).

A) B.F. Skinner
B) Wilhelm Wundt
C) Sigmund Freud
D) Carl Rogers

Question 8

Wilhelm Wundt was the founder of _____,whereas William James was the founder of _____.

A) structuralism/behaviorism
B) behaviorism/functionalism
C) functionalism/behaviorism
D) structuralism/functionalism

Question 9

The empirical method best fulfills which of the following goals of science?

A) Expectations
B) Objectivity
C) Subjectivity
D) Political correctness

Question 10

Psychology began as a science in the discipline of _____.

A) philosophy
B) physics
C) chemistry
D) sociology

Question 11

The _____ approach emphasizes the scientific study of observable behavioral responses and their environmental determinants.

A) humanistic
B) psychodynamic
C) evolutionary
D) behavioral

Question 12

The core of the scientific method is based on critical thinking,curiosity,objectivity,and _____.

A) skepticism
B) anachronistic thinking
C) political correctness
D) subjectivity

Question 13

_____ involves using introspection to investigate the components of the mind,whereas _____ probed the functions and purposes of the mind and behavior in the individual's adaptation to the environment.

A) Structuralism/functionalism
B) Functionalism/structuralism
C) Functionalism/psychodynamic theory
D) Behaviorism/structuralism

Question 14

Behavior is _____; mental processes are _____.

A) private/personal
B) personal/observable
C) personal/private
D) observable/private

Question 15

Neuroscience studies are based on which of the following theoretical approaches to psychology?

A) Behavioral
B) Psychodynamic
C) Biological
D) Evolutionary

Question 16

Dr.Zimand is studying the association between the functioning of specific brain structures and depression.It is likely that Dr.Zimand specializes in the _____ approach to psychology.

A) behavioral
B) cognitive
C) evolutionary
D) biological

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of behavior?

A) Thinking of a family vacation.
B) Two people holding hands.
C) A student's memory of a motorcycle trip.
D) A baby's feelings when its mother leaves the room.

Question 18

Which of the following theorists used the structuralism approach to studying human behavior?

A) William James
B) Wilhelm Wundt
C) Charles Darwin
D) Sigmund Freud

Question 19

J.B.Watson and B.F.Skinner believed that _____.

A)consciousness should always be investigated through the process of individual introspection
B)psychology should focus on an organism's visible interactions with the environment-that is,behaviors
C)psychology should study both outwardly observed behaviors and inborn mental motivations
D)psychological methods could be developed to study the process of human cognition

Question 20

According to the text,which of the following attitudes are central to the scientific approach to psychology?

A) Critical thinking, curiosity, skepticism, and objectivity
B) Critical thinking, curiosity, skepticism, and subjectivity
C) Critical thinking, curiosity, political correctness, and objectivity
D) Critical thinking, curiosity, political correctness, and subjectivity

Question 21

The _____ approach focuses on comparisons of behavior across countries as well as on the behavior of individuals from different ethnic and cultural groups within a country.

A) psychodynamic
B) sociocultural
C) cognitive
D) evolutionary

Question 22

Which of the following statements is false?

A) A theory gains credibility when the related hypotheses turn out to be true.
B) A hypothesis is logically derived from a theory.
C) Every theory generates only one hypothesis.
D) A hypothesis is a testable prediction.

Question 23

Which of the following statements is false?

A) An operational definition provides an objective description of how a variable is going to be measured and observed in a particular study.
B) In order to eliminate ambiguity, every variable should have only one operational definition.
C) Describing the operational definitions for the variables in a study is a crucial step in designing psychological research.
D) Operational definitions eliminate the fuzziness that might creep into thinking about how to measure an abstract variable.

Question 24

Tamika hypothesizes that women are more helpful than men.She decides to conduct an experiment to see if she's right.During lunchtime,she goes to the crowded food court and deliberately drops her notebook.She then notes whether the person standing closest to her helps her pick up her papers and whether the person is male or female.What is the operational definition of "helpful" in Tamika's study?

A) The gender of the person
B) Saying "hey, you dropped your notebook"
C) Making eye contact
D) Bending down to pick up the papers

Question 25

_____ provide an objective description of how variables are going to be measured and observed in a particular study.

A) Independent variables
B) Operational definitions
C) External validity checks
D) Experimenter biases

Question 26

In his practice,Dr.Wagner stresses the role of unconscious processes and unresolved childhood conflicts.With which psychological approach does this align?

A) Behavioral
B) Cognitive
C) Psychodynamic
D) Evolutionary

Question 27

The _____ approach emphasizes a person's positive qualities,the capacity for positive growth,and the freedom to choose one's destiny.

A) humanistic
B) psychodynamic
C) evolutionary
D) behavioral

Question 28

Which of the following schools of thought involves an analyst's unlocking a person's unconscious conflicts by talking with the individual about his or her childhood memories,dreams,thoughts,and feelings?

A) Behaviorism
B) Humanistic psychology
C) Cognitive psychology
D) Psychoanalysis

Question 29

According to _____ psychologists,your brain houses a "mind" whose mental processes allow you to remember,make decisions,plan,set goals,and be creative.

A) psychodynamic
B) cognitive
C) evolutionary
D) humanistic

Question 30

Which of the following approaches to psychology focuses on how we direct our attention,perceive,remember,think,and solve problems?

A) Sociocultural
B) Behavioral
C) Cognitive
D) Psychodynamic

Question 31

Dr.Daack has spent a lifetime studying how adults solve mathematical problems.It is likely that Dr.Daack specializes in _____ psychology.

A) evolutionary
B) cognitive
C) biological
D) psychodynamic

Question 32

The _____ approach to psychology views the mind as an active and aware problem-solving system.This view contrasts with the _____ approach to psychology,which focuses on an organism's visible interactions with the environment.

A) behavioral/cognitive
B) cognitive/behavioral
C) psychodynamic/humanistic
D) humanistic/psychodynamic

Question 33

Dr.Badal is a psychologist who studies achievement motivation among groups of African American,Latino,and Asian American people.Dr.Badal likely practices the _____ to psychology.

A) sociocultural approach
B) biological approach
C) evolutionary approach
D) cognitive approach

Question 34

Which of the following is the second step in the scientific method?

A) Testing through empirical research
B) Evaluating conclusions
C) Drawing conclusions
D) Formulating hypotheses and predictions

Question 35

A(n)_____ is a broad idea or closely related set of ideas that attempts to explain observations and to make predictions about future observations.

A) theory
B) hypothesis
C) operational definition
D) experimental bias

Question 36

The humanistic approach to psychology focuses on _____.

A) higher human values and free will
B) unconscious childhood conflicts
C) the consequences of behavior
D) thinking, memory, decision making, and problem solving

Question 37

The _____ approach relies on concepts such as adaptation,reproduction,and natural selection when explaining human behavior.

A) humanistic
B) psychodynamic
C) evolutionary
D) behavioral

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT a step of the scientific method?

A) Formulating hypotheses and predictions
B) Drawing and evaluating conclusions
C) Observing some phenomenon
D) Publishing politically correct results

Question 39

Which is the first step in conducting a scientific inquiry?

A) Testing through empirical research
B) Observing some phenomenon
C) Drawing conclusions
D) Formulating hypotheses and predictions

Question 40

According to the _____,people have the ability to control their lives and are not simply controlled by the environment.

A) humanistic approach
B) psychodynamic approach
C) evolutionary approach
D) behaviorism approach

Question 41

Which of the following is NOT an example of a descriptive research method?

A) Surveys and interviews
B) Observations
C) Experiments
D) Case studies

Question 42

A case study _____.

A) is an indepth look at a single individual
B) is useful for studying large populations
C) involves random assignment of participants
D) relies on the experimental method

Question 43

_____ refers to researchers' allocation of participants to groups by chance,to reduce the likelihood that an experiment's results will be due to preexisting differences between groups.

A) Selection bias
B) Experimenter bias
C) Random assignment
D) Random selection

Question 44

Longitudinal research involves _____.

A) observing and measuring the same variables periodically over time
B) randomly assigning participants to the control and experimental groups
C) the random selection of participants within a particular population
D) uncovering unconscious motives and conflicts

Question 45

The _____ is a manipulated experimental factor and _____ is the outcome.

A) dependent variable/ independent variable
B) independent variable/ dependent variable
C) confounding variable/ independent variable
D) dependent variable/ confounding variable

Question 46

A researcher is conducting an experiment to test the effects of violent video game play on aggression.Which of the following could be the dependent variable in this example?

A) Frequency of violent video game play
B) Video game preferences
C) Scores on an aggressive behavior survey
D) The number of hours spent playing video games

Question 47

Pretend that you want to determine the relationship between caffeine intake and performance on a midterm exam.As students sit down to take the exam,you ask them to write the number of cups of tea,soda,or coffee they ingested two hours prior to the exam.You also obtain their exam scores.You calculate the correlation coefficient between the two variables to be +0.82.What can you conclude?

A) The more caffeine students consumed, the better their scores.
B) 82 percent of the students consumed caffeine prior to the exam.
C) Students with low scores didn't consume caffeine.
D) Students who drink caffeine are smarter than those who don't drink caffeine.

Question 48

Dr.Okawa is interested in studying the effect that neurological trauma can have on short-term memory.First,he collects detailed information from a small number of individuals who have experienced brain damage.Then,using information provided by medical records,interviews,and observations,Dr.Okawa attempts to create an in-depth portrait of each individual.What type of research method was used in this study?

A) Case study
B) Naturalistic observation
C) Experimental method
D) Surveys

Question 49

Professor Izadi is interested in the association between sleep and cognitive performance.He surveyed his students about the number of hours they slept the night before the exam and then correlated these scores with their test grades.He found a +.81 correlation between these two variables.What does this result mean?

A) There is a high negative correlation between sleep and exam performance.
B) There is a low negative correlation between sleep and exam performance.
C) There is a high positive correlation between sleep and exam performance.
D) There is a low positive correlation between sleep and exam performance.

Question 50

Third variables are also called _____.

A) confederates
B) confounds
C) allies
D) boosters

Question 51

Professor Wong measured the intelligence and temperament of a group of preschoolers.He plans to follow the same group of participants over time and collect similar data when the children are in 3^rd grade,6^th grade,and 9^th grade.This is an example of which type of research design?

A) Sampling design
B) Experimental design
C) Longitudinal design
D) Double-blind experiment

Question 52

The goal of _____ research is to determine the basic definitions and dimensions of the phenomenon under investigation.

A) descriptive
B) normative
C) experimental
D) applied

Question 53

_____ provide ways by which correlational researchers may attempt to demonstrate causal relations among variables,even though the causal relationship may still be somewhat unclear.

A) Random selection techniques
B) Sampling designs
C) Longitudinal designs
D) Survey designs

Question 54

Professor Jordan has suggested to his students that as study time increases,grades increase.The professor is describing a _____.

A) mean score
B) positive correlation
C) negative correlation
D) standard deviation

Question 55

Dr.Simpson finds a positive .50 correlation between ice cream cone sales and violent crimes in a community.Which of the following represents the best interpretation of this result?

A) Ice cream causes people to become more violent and aggressive.
B) A third variable, such as heat, may account for the association between ice cream sales and violent crime.
C) Violent people like ice cream more than non-violent people.
D) Ice cream consumption is not related to violent crime.

Question 56

Dr.Steinguard wants to demonstrate a cause and effect relationship between stress and memory.Which of the following research methods should he use?

A) Correlational studies
B) Survey method
C) Naturalistic observation
D) Experimental method

Question 57

Professor Mendez found that the correlation between students' life stress scale score and his or her final grade was -.80.This correlation coefficient indicates a _____ relationship between the two variables.

A) high positive
B) high negative
C) low positive
D) low negative

Question 58

A correlation coefficient indicates the _____.

A) strength and direction of association between two variables
B) direction of the causal relationship between two variables
C) extent to which demand characteristics have biased the results of the study
D) extent to which experimenter bias has influenced the results of the study

Question 59

Which of the following research methods allow(s)researchers to determine causality?

A) Survey method
B) Observations
C) Experimental studies
D) Case study

Question 60

Which of the following statements about correlational research is false?

A) Correlational methods involve the study of naturally occurring relationships among two variables.
B) Correlational methods rely on observing and measuring.
C) Correlational methods are useful for establishing cause-and-effect relationships between two variables.
D) The degree of relationship between two variables is expressed as a numerical value called a correlational coefficient.

Question 61

Sonja believes the pill her doctor gave her has cured her of her anxiety disorder,even though the pill contained no active ingredients.Sonja's belief that she is better now is an example of the _____ effect.

A) control
B) double-blind
C) confound
D) placebo

Question 62

Independent variables are _____.

A) measured by researchers
B) manipulated by researchers
C) confounds that are not relevant to the hypothesis being tested
D) the outcome or "effect" of interest

Question 63

A(n)_____ is a person who is given a role to play in a study so that the social context can be manipulated.

A) confederate
B) henchman
C) accessory
D) control group member

Question 64

_____ refers to the degree to which an experimental design actually reflects the real-world issues it is supposed to address.

A) Internal validity
B) External validity
C) Face validity
D) Reliability

Question 65

Margaret is the new director of research at a well-known pharmaceutical company.She has been asked to design a set of research studies that will test the effectiveness of the new drugs that are being developed.Because Margaret is concerned about ensuring that experimenter bias and research participant bias do not influence the results,she should design a set of _____.

A) case studies
B) correlational studies
C) naturalistic observations
D) double-blind experiments

Question 66

The placebo effect is an example of a(n)_____.

A) experimenter bias
B) participant bias
C) random assignment bias
D) random selection bias

Question 67

Choosing a group of 50 students from a roster of all students in a nearby school and inviting them to participate in a study would be an example of one way to _____.

A) execute a pilot study
B) obtain a random sample
C) obtain a sample of convenience
D) reduce the potential for demand characteristics

Question 68

In the case of _____,one wants to know whether the experimental methods are free from biases and logical errors that may render the results suspect.

A) internal validity
B) external validity
C) face validity
D) reliability

Question 69

In a _____,neither the experimenter nor the participants are aware of which participants are in the experimental group and which are in the control group until the results are calculated.

A) double-blind experiment
B) correlational research
C) longitudinal design
D) case study

Question 70

_____ refers to the soundness of the conclusions that a researcher draws from an experiment.

A) Validity
B) Reliability
C) Accuracy
D) Stability

Question 71

Demand characteristics can threaten the _____ of a study.

A) meta-analysis
B) hypothesis
C) internal validity
D) external validity

Question 72

_____ refers to the degree to which changes in the dependent variable are due to the manipulation of the independent variable.

A) Internal validity
B) External validity
C) Face validity
D) Reliability

Question 73

In an experiment,the group that is NOT subjected to a treatment condition is known as the _____ group.

A) control
B) treatment
C) experimental
D) dependent

Question 74

Dr.Grant is conducting research on stress management.Group A received progressive relaxation training prior to test taking,while Group B received no training.Group A is the _____,while Group B is the _____.

A) treatment group/placebo group
B) experimental group/control group
C) control group/treatment group
D) placebo group/control group

Question 75

Dr.Aoki used double-blind procedures in his experiments to reduce the potential for _____.

A) poor operational definitions
B) experimenter bias and selection bias
C) participant bias and social desirability
D) experimenter bias and participant bias

Question 76

Aspects of a study that communicate to the participants how the experimenter wants them to behave are known as _____.

A) research cues
B) participant effects
C) confederates
D) demand characteristics

Question 77

In an experiment,the _____ is conceptualized as the "potential cause" and the _____ is conceptualized as the "effect."

A) dependent variable/independent variable
B) independent variable/dependent variable
C) third variable/independent variable
D) third variable/dependent variable

Question 78

A population is _____.

A) the entire group about which researchers want to draw conclusions
B) a smaller subset of a group of people researchers want to draw conclusions about
C) the small number of individuals who agree to participate in the study
D) randomly defined

Question 79

The placebo effect can weaken the _____ of an experiment.

A) internal validity
B) external validity
C) hypothesis
D) meta-analysis

Question 80

A _____ is the entire group about which the investigator wants to draw conclusions,whereas a _____ is the subset of the population selected to participate in the study.

A) sample/population
B) population/sample
C) sample/confederate
D) population/confederate