Deck 3: Introducing Psychology: Psychology, Critical Thinking, and Science

Question 1

One of the reasons to study psychology is to

A)better understand human behavior.
B)learn how to manipulate others for personal gain.
C)utilize it in combination with the field of astrology in predicting human behavior.
D)have the answers to all of life's questions.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The word psychology comes from the roots psyche and logos,which mean respectively

A)behavior and science.
B)brain and science.
C)mind and knowledge or study.
D)personality and knowledge or study.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Professor Reed asked her introductory psychology students to give an example of a covert behavior.Which of the following would be an example of a covert behavior?

A)daydreaming about the coming weekend
B)sneezing into a handkerchief
C)gesturing to someone to come over to the group
D)telling the class to be quiet by saying "shhh" softly

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following descriptions of commonsense is FALSE?

A)"Strike while the iron is hot" and "Haste makes waste" would both be considered commonsense statements.
B)Commonsense statements tend to work best after the fact.
C)Commonsense requires planned and systematic observations.
D)Commonsense often provides vague and inconsistent pieces of information.

Question 5

A commonsense approach to psychology

A)is the most reliable.
B)is often contradicted by scientific observation.
C)is the basis for most psychological theories.
D)provides information that is specific and consistent.

Question 6

Which of the following is the best description of the field of psychology?

A)the study of human origins,evolution,and cultures
B)the scientific study of overt behavior and mental processes
C)a natural science integrating physiology and neurology
D)the deductive study of forms and functions of human groups

Question 7

Psychology is best defined as the

A)empirical study of the human personality.
B)study of individual differences in the group behavior of humans and animals.
C)scientific study of overt behavior and mental processes.
D)scientific study of the relationship between mind and body.

Question 8

All psychologists do which of the following?

A)They all conduct research to discover new knowledge.
B)They all apply psychology to solve problems in mental health,education,medicine,or business.
C)They are all teachers who pass on knowledge of psychology to their students.
D)They all rely on critical thinking and information gained from scientific research.

Question 9

Which of the following is the best example of covert behavior?

A)blinking in response to a light
B)imitating a friend's gesture
C)remembering a pleasant experience
D)rapid eye movements while sleeping

Question 10

Covert behavior involves

A)anything a person does.
B)only those things a person does,which another person can see.
C)only those things,which can be recorded by a camera.
D)hidden,private,and internal thoughts.

Question 11

Regarding the study of psychology,which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Psychology is defined as the scientific study of overt behavior and mental processes.
B)The word psychology is thousands of years old and comes from ancient Greek roots for mind and study.
C)The field of psychology can help us to better understand ourselves and others.
D)Psychology is a static field that is based to a large extent on commonsense theories of behavior.

Question 12

Which of the following behaviors can best be described as overt behavior?

A)watching a TV game show
B)thinking about the answer to a contestant's question
C)being sad that the contestant answered incorrectly
D)wondering if there are any frozen waffles left in the freezer

Question 13

Overt behavior includes

A)anything a person does.
B)things a person does,which cannot be seen by others.
C)only those things that can be observed.
D)hidden,private,and internal thoughts.

Question 14

Regarding commonsense theories of behavior,which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Commonsense theories tend to work best after the fact or in hindsight.
B)Commonsense theories tend to be vague and inconsistent.
C)Commonsense theories are most often based on scientific observation.
D)Commonsense statements often depend on limited personal observations.

Question 15

Scientific observations have shown which of the following statements to be TRUE?

A)Men and women do not communicate very differently.
B)Some people are left-brained and some are right-brained.
C)Subliminal advertising really does work.
D)Commonsense theories are usually the basis for most of our psychological theories today.

Question 16

Regarding psychologists and the field of psychology,which of the following statements is/are TRUE?

A)Today,psychology is both a science and a profession.
B)The field of psychology includes the study of love,death,aging,sexuality,emotion,happiness,and wisdom.
C)Psychologists apply psychological principles to solve problems in fields,such as business,sports,law,and the design of machines.
D)All of these statements are true.

Question 17

Psychologists would best be described as

A)scientists who conduct research.
B)practitioners who apply psychology to solve problems in fields like education and medicine.
C)teachers.
D)scientists,practitioners,and/or teachers.

Question 18

Professor Windham asks her general psychology students to give an example of an overt behavior.Which of the following would be an example of an overt behavior?

A)feeling happy that class is almost over
B)daydreaming about the coming weekend
C)gesturing to someone to come over to the group
D)remembering the definition of overt behavior

Question 19

The research conducted by psychologists involves

A)the validation of commonsense beliefs in predicting everyday experiences.
B)the systematic use of commonsense beliefs in solving new problems.
C)gathering information through direct observation.
D)a reliance on subjective opinions and rationalizations.

Question 20

Scientific observations have shown which of the following statements to be TRUE?

A)Some people are left-brained and some are right-brained.
B)Subliminal advertising does not really work.
C)Men and women communicate very differently.
D)All of these statements have been shown to be true.

Question 21

When a psychologist uses scientific observation,these observations must

A)involve logic and commonsense reasoning.
B)be conducted using animals rather than humans.
C)be carefully planned and able to be confirmed by more than one observer.
D)involve all of these.

Question 22

When observations are reliably confirmed by multiple observers,this is referred to as

A)multimodal.
B)intersubjective.
C)multidisciplinary.
D)correlational.

Question 23

Which goal of psychology involves naming or classifying behaviors and is based on making a detailed record of scientific observations?

A)describe
B)understand
C)predict
D)control

Question 24

Which of the following is the best description of a research method?

A)an intuitive process by which cause and effect can be established
B)a systematic process for answering scientific questions
C)any experiment that lacks a control group
D)an investigative observation that relies on commonsense reasoning

Question 25

As an experimenal psychologist,Dr.Gandis utilizes information gained through direct observation and measurement.Dr.Gandis is using

A)introspective data.
B)subjective data.
C)commonsense.
D)empirical evidence.

Question 26

Gino and Flynn wanted to find out whether people prefer to receive a requested gift,an unrequested gift,or money as a gift.According to the empirical evidence gathered,these researchers found that the gift recipients

A)preferred a requested gift.
B)preferred an unrequested gift.
C)preferred money as a gift.
D)showed an equal preference for all three types of gifts.

Question 27

In a survey conducted on October 26,researchers find that 55 percent of the registered voters favor the passage of the school bond issue.These survey results illustrate which goal of psychology?

A)description
B)prediction
C)understanding
D)control

Question 28

The psychological goal of understanding behavior is achieved when

A)control over behavior is made possible.
B)a careful description of behavior is made.
C)psychologists can explain why a behavioral phenomenon occurs.
D)empirical evidence is obtained.

Question 29

In the past,it was "commonsense" to take the word of people who said they never dream.However,when the EEG was invented,it was found that everyone dreams every night.This is an example of a "commonsense" answer going unchallenged

A)because it was unethical at one time to watch people sleep.
B)because it was not considered a suitable topic for psychological research.
C)due to the lack of a suitable research method available to study the topic.
D)due to a lack of interest in understanding sleep and dreaming.

Question 30

Information gained from direct observation and measurement defines

A)introspective data.
B)subjective data.
C)a scientific hypothesis.
D)empirical evidence.

Question 31

A psychologist who observes a child for a week and writes a report that identifies and classifies the child's behavior is working toward the goal of

A)description.
B)understanding.
C)prediction.
D)control.

Question 32

In order to find out whether "the clothes make the man" or whether "one can't judge a book by its cover," researchers scientifically observe people who are well dressed and people who are not and determine who fares better in a variety of situations.The information that these researchers gained would be considered evidence.

A)intuitive
B)introspective
C)empirical
D)commonsense

Question 33

Why questions refer to which of psychology's goals?

A)description
B)understanding
C)preservation
D)control

Question 34

A systematic process for answering scientific questions is called

A)a research method.
B)a scientific deduction.
C)the induction method.
D)the analytical method.

Question 35

Dr.Santel is conducting a study in which she will use five different observers to reliably confirm the observations within her study.Thus,Dr.Santel's scientific observations would be considered

A)multimodal.
B)intersubjective.
C)multidisciplinary.
D)correlational.

Question 36

Scientific observation is based on the

A)gathering of introspective data.
B)utilization of personal,subjective data.
C)utilization of common sense theories and everyday personal experiences.
D)gathering of empirical evidence.

Question 37

The goals of psychology are to

A)develop effective methods of psychotherapy and cure mental illness.
B)describe,understand,predict,and control behavior.
C)research,infer,summarize,and publish.
D)compare,analyze,and control human behavior.

Question 38

To find out whether it really is "the thought that counts" when giving a gift,Gino and Flynn asked gift recipients to rate how much they would appreciate getting a gift they requested as opposed to one chosen by the gift giver.
According to the empirical evidence gathered,these researchers found that the

A)recipients were more appreciative of a requested gift.
B)recipients were more appreciative of an unrequested gift.
C)recipients were equally appreciative of the gift whether requested or unrequested.
D)gift givers believed that recipients would be significantly more likely to appreciate a requested gift.

Question 39

Psychologists study behavior directly by systematically collecting data,or facts.

A)commonsense
B)deduced
C)observed
D)inferred

Question 40

An empirical investigation that is structured to answer questions about the world in a systematic and intersubjective fashion is called a(n)

A)scientific observation.
B)interpretative research.
C)investigative analysis.
D)experiential analysis.

Question 41

Which goal of psychology is illustrated by a psychologist seeking to discover why sociopaths tend to repeat their destructive behaviors?

A)understanding
B)prediction
C)description
D)control

Question 42

For most psychologists,control refers to

A)punishment of unwanted responses.
B)legal limitations on the use of conditioning principles.
C)techniques for reducing personal freedom of choice.
D)altering conditions that influence behavior.

Question 43

In achieving the psychological goals of describing,understanding,predicting,and controlling behavior,Dr.Aron uses the scientific method and

A)uncritical acceptance.
B)intuitive common sense.
C)introspective analysis.
D)critical thinking.

Question 44

When current knowledge about an individual and his or her environment can be used to accurately forecast behavior at another time or in another setting,which scientific goal has been achieved?

A)description
B)understanding
C)prediction
D)control

Question 45

Which question below relates most directly to the goal of controlling behavior?

A)Do men and women differ in intellectual abilities?
B)How can child abuse be prevented?
C)Why does a blow to the head cause memory loss?
D)Does depth perception occur when an individual has only one eye?

Question 46

An environmental psychologist helps redesign a college dorm to reduce feelings of crowding.The psychologist's work reflects which of psychology's goals?

A)description
B)control
C)prediction
D)understanding

Question 47

Critical thinking involves

A)using conventional wisdom and common sense.
B)a reliance on the opinions of experts.
C)a willingness to actively reflect on ideas.
D)all of these.

Question 48

A type of reflection involving the support of beliefs through scientific explanation and observation is called thinking.

A)critical
B)transductive
C)deductive
D)creative

Question 49

You are less likely to receive help if you have car trouble on a busy freeway than if you have car trouble on a sparsely traveled two-lane highway.Your ability to foretell your likelihood of receiving help illustrates the goal of

A)description
B)prediction
C)understanding
D)control

Question 50

In her psychology classes,Dr.Murphey uses problem-based learning cases in order to enhance her students' abilities to actively reflect,analyze,and evaluate information about real-life cases involving troubled marriages and caring for elderly parents.Dr.Murphey is attempting to increase her students'

A)transductive reasoning skills.
B)commonsense reasoning.
C)correlational skills.
D)critical thinking skills.

Question 51

A psychologist uses systematic desensitization to assist a student in overcoming test anxiety.This illustrates the goal of

A)description.
B)prediction.
C)control.
D)understanding.

Question 52

If you are conducting research to determine why people tend to be more aggressive when they are uncomfortable,then you are attempting to meet which goal in psychology?

A)prediction
B)description
C)control
D)understanding

Question 53

An industrial psychologist uses psychometric tests and interviews to select the best candidate for a specialized task.The psychologist's work directly illustrates which goal of psychology?

A)description
B)understanding
C)prediction
D)control

Question 54

Research on "bystander apathy" reveals that people often fail to help when other possible helpers are nearby due to a "diffusion of responsibility." Explaining this perplexing problem meets which goal of psychology?

A)description
B)prediction
C)understanding
D)control

Question 55

Students who do well on an intelligence test tend to do well in their school grades.This ability of the IQ tests to forecast future school success illustrates which goal of psychology?

A)description
B)prediction
C)understanding
D)control

Question 56

Dannon is using a type of reflection that involves the support of beliefs through scientific explanation and observation.Dannon is using thinking.

A)critical
B)deductive
C)transductive
D)creative

Question 57

Because we are often tempted to "buy" commonsense beliefs,urban legends,and even outrageous claims about the powers of "healing" crystals and "miraculous" herbal remedies,it is important that we learn to think

A)concretely.
B)divergently.
C)convergently.
D)critically.

Question 58

John's poor performance in reading was found to be due to visual discrimination problems.This determination of the cause for his poor reading performance illustrates which goal of psychology?

A)description
B)prediction
C)understanding
D)control

Question 59

Critical thinking is used in psychology to evaluate theories by collecting

A)introspective analyses.
B)empirical evidence.
C)intuitive data.
D)expert opinions.

Question 60

An engineering psychologist helps redesign a car to make it safer and more fuel efficient.The psychologist's work reflects which of psychology's goals?

A)description
B)understanding
C)prediction
D)control

Question 61

Critical thinking does NOT include which of the following?

A)the use of empirical testing
B)a balance between healthy skepticism and an openness to new ideas
C)a constant revision of one's view of the world and the ability to admit one can be wrong
D)a strong reliance on the conventional wisdom of experts mixed with a healthy dose of common sense

Question 62

Jane goes to a phrenologist.What can she expect from this pseudopsychologist?

A)He will predict her future by reading the lines on her palms.
B)He will explain her personality traits by feeling the bumps on her skull.
C)He will explain her personality traits by analyzing a copy of her handwriting.
D)He will explain how her life is influenced by the position of the stars and planets at her birth.

Question 63

Two research studies are conducted on the effects of body piercing on self-esteem.One study found that body piercing increased self-esteem,while the other one found a decrease in self-esteem.If you are a critical thinker,you would

A)reject both studies since conflicting results were obtained.
B)compare the credentials of the psychologists that conducted the studies.
C)compare how each study was conducted.
D)accept the one that best fits within your frame of reference.

Question 64

Critical thinking does NOT involve which of the following questions?

A)How good is the evidence?
B)What was the nature and quality of the tests?
C)Has any other independent researcher duplicated the findings?
D)How are the findings related to commonsense beliefs?

Question 65

Critical thinking includes which of the following questions?

A)What authority is making the claim?
B)What test of this claim has been made?
C)Are the tests based on a long-accepted "truth?"
D)How can this event be explained by using one's commonsense reasoning?

Question 66

According to your textbook,which of the following is NOT a pseudopsychology?

A)psychoanalysis
B)palmistry
C)phrenology
D)astrology

Question 67

When people use critical thinking,they

A)validate conventional wisdom.
B)constantly revise their understanding of the world.
C)give greater weight to the overall amount of evidence than specific credible facts.
D)show such a strong conviction to their beliefs that they rarely admit they are wrong about their ideas.

Question 68

Which pseudopsychology was popularized by Franz Gall in the nineteenth century?

A)palmistry.
B)phrenology.
C)graphology.
D)astrology.

Question 69

An expert tells you that "you can catch a cold by not wearing a coat when it is cold." If you are a critical thinker,you would

A)accept his statement since you remember catching a cold after you forgot your coat.
B)accept his statement because it is based on commonsense reasoning.
C)ask him to list additional experts that support his theory.
D)ask to see the empirical evidence that supports his theory.

Question 70

Pseudopsychologies are types of unfounded beliefs held without evidence or in the face of falsifying evidence. These unfounded beliefs are referred to as

A)superstitions.
B)empirical evidence.
C)intersubjective data.
D)deductions.

Question 71

To assess your personality,a person who practices palmistry would want to

A)study your handwriting.
B)examine the bumps on your head.
C)study the lines and creases on your palm.
D)place you into a trance-like state.

Question 72

The fortune teller who studies your palm carefully before announcing that great fortune is in your immediate future is practicing

A)palmistry.
B)phrenology.
C)graphology.
D)forensic psychology.

Question 73

Any false and unscientific system of beliefs and practices that is offered as an explanation of behavior is called

A)psychoanalysis.
B)pseudopsychology.
C)social learning.
D)humanism.

Question 74

According to your textbook,which of the following is considered to be a pseudopsychology?

A)cognitive psychology
B)behaviorism
C)Gestalt psychology
D)astrology

Question 75

To assess your personality,a phrenologist would want to

A)study your handwriting.
B)study the lines on your palm.
C)examine the shape of your skull.
D)record your brain waves with an EEG.

Question 76

Which of the following popularized the pseudopsychology known as phrenology?

A)Wilhelm Wundt
B)Max Wertheimer
C)Franz Gall
D)Edward Titchener

Question 77

The outdated theory that personality is revealed by the shape of one's skull and the bumps on one's head is called

A)palmistry.
B)phrenology.
C)phenomenology.
D)graphology.

Question 78

Which pseudopsychology mistakenly listed the part of the brain that controls hearing as a center for "combativeness" within a person's personality?

A)astrology
B)palmistry
C)graphology
D)phrenology

Question 79

Critical thinking includes which of the following?

A)a strong reliance on commonsense reasoning
B)the sincere and convincing testimony of a recognized expert
C)the ability to admit that one can be wrong about one's ideas
D)being persuaded more by the amount of evidence presented

Question 80

Which of the following are types of superstitions?

A)psychodynamic theories
B)pseudopsychologies
C)structuralism and functionalism
D)humanistic theories