Deck 1: C: Introducing Psychological Science

Question 1

What property do hypotheses and theories have in common?

A)They are both capable of proving a fact as true.
B)They both integrate numerous findings and observations.
C)They are both specific,testable predictions about processes.
D)They are both falsifiable.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Lidia gives a talk at a psychology conference in which she presents her new theory about the causes of autism.At one point,an audience member interrupts and says,"But that's just your theory." What is the problem with this statement?

A)A theory is not the same thing as an opinion or belief.
B)If Lidia is presenting the theory at a psychology conference it must be true.
C)If most of the psychologists in the audience agree with Lidia,then the theory is likely to be true.
D)The audience member should have used the term hypothesis,not theory.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

A sound hypothesis must be

A)testable.
B)agreed upon by the majority of experts in the field.
C)proven to be fact.
D)stated in very general terms.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A)A hypothesis is an explanation for a broad range of observations.
B)A theory is a testable prediction about a process.
C)Hypotheses must be highly specific in order to be proven as correct or incorrect.
D)A theory is built upon observations and a number of tested hypotheses.

Question 5

Dr.Preston is a psychologist who studies depression.She understands that the development of depression is complicated and includes many factors in her research,such as genetics,brain chemistry,cultural influences,and the influence of friends and family.Dr.Preston's understanding of depression is an example of

A)the sociocultural perspective.
B)the biopyschosocial model.
C)a pseudoscientific theory.
D)the biological perspective.

Question 6

Collecting observations,testing predictions about how to best explain the observations,and developing theories are all part of

A)the scientific method.
B)pseudoscience.
C)the biopsychosocial model.
D)the psychoanalytic model.

Question 7

When a psychologist uses the term scientific theory,he or she is referring to something that

A)has been proven to be true through repeated falsifications.
B)explains a wide range of observations.
C)is a specific,testable prediction.
D)is an educated guess.

Question 8

Randi is a practitioner of crystal healing: the use of different crystals to treat medical disorders ranging from headaches to cancer.Crystal healers like Randi use scientific terminology (e.g. ,energy,vibrations,etc.)when explaining the technique to patients,but do not use the scientific method to develop or test their claims.Crystal healing can be best categorized as a(n)

A)theory.
B)pseudoscience.
C)hypothesis.
D)non-science.

Question 9

__________ are general principles or explanations,whereas ________ are specific predictions.

A)Theories;hypotheses
B)Hypotheses;theories
C)Theories;observations
D)Hypotheses;observations

Question 10

As part of the scientific method,scientists form testable predictions that can be observed and measured.These are called

A)theories.
B)proofs.
C)hypotheses.
D)models.

Question 11

Which of the following is TRUE about scientific theories?

A)All theories are equally plausible provided that there is a consensus among many people who believe it to be true.
B)The quality of a theory cannot be measured by the number of people who believe it to be true.
C)Theories are the same thing as opinions or beliefs.
D)A theory is only valid if it has been proven to be true.

Question 12

A scientist is best described as

A)an individual who conducts experiments.
B)an individual who dissects specimens or combines chemicals to answer questions about the world.
C)an individual who studies in the fields of biology,chemistry,physics,or geology.
D)an individual who arrives at conclusions based on a careful system of observing,predicting,and testing.

Question 13

What process is used across all areas of psychology?

A)the scientific method
B)the curation of opinions
C)the belief that the unconscious mind determines human behaviour
D)the science of persuasion

Question 14

The term pseudoscience refers to

A)the study of psychology and related phenomena through collecting observations,developing theories to explain them,and using the theories to make predictions.
B)hypotheses that have been rejected through careful observation and testing.
C)claims and ideas that are presented as science but do not use the basics of the scientific method to support their claims.
D)theories that have not yet been proven.

Question 15

"Children who watch violent cartoons will become more aggressive compared to those who do not watch violent cartoons." This statement is most likely a(n)

A)theory.
B)untestable statement.
C)hypothesis.
D)pseudoscience.

Question 16

Caroline is interested in determining how black-capped chickadees find the caches of seeds they stored several months earlier.She watches the chickadees in a park and notices that they tend to hide their food in trees near landmarks,such as sculptures or benches.She predicts that moving these landmarks after the chickadees have stored their food will prevent them from finding it later,and designs an experiment to test her prediction.Caroline's approach is an example of

A)pseudoscience.
B)the scientific method.
C)theory development.
D)the biopsychological model.

Question 17

According to the textbook,the discipline of psychology is best defined as

A)a collection of self-help principles used to treat psychological disorders.
B)a combination of hypotheses and personal intuition about human behaviour and mental processes.
C)a process for encouraging individuals to reach their ultimate potential.
D)the scientific study of behaviour,thought,and experience.

Question 18

Which of the following statements regarding the over-arching goals of psychology is FALSE?

A)Psychology involves researching the role of brain structures on human behaviour.
B)Psychology is centred around curing all psychological disorders.
C)The field of psychology focuses on understanding the effects of genetics and environment on behaviour.
D)Psychology focuses on understanding how many different factors contribute to the development of psychological disorders.

Question 19

Astrology is considered a pseudoscience because

A)its claims cannot be scientifically tested.
B)its claims are presented as science but have not been demonstrated using the scientific method
C)astrology can be proven by using appropriate scientific methods.
D)it is only a theory and not a scientific fact.

Question 20

In science,a theory can be defined as

A)a testable prediction about processes that can be observed and measured.
B)an explanation for a broad range of observations that generates new hypotheses.
C)a personal opinion or belief about a specific topic.
D)an idea that is presented as science but does not utilize basic principles of the scientific method.

Question 21

Being skeptical about a claim means

A)questioning whether there is sound evidence to support it.
B)realizing that most complex issues have complex answers.
C)not believing the claim,no matter what.
D)believing the claim unless evidence to the contrary is presented.

Question 22

Jose reads in an article from a psychology journal that people tend to remember the first and last few items in long lists of information,but have the most trouble remembering the items in the middle.He immediately starts thinking of how he can use this information to change the way he studies the long list of vocabulary terms for his upcoming exam.Which part of the scientific literacy model does this demonstrate?

A)application of scientific information
B)scientific explanation
C)knowledge gathering
D)critical thinking

Question 23

Which of the following is TRUE about critical thinking?

A)If used properly,everyone who uses it will come to the same conclusion.
B)It forces us to examine our own assumptions and biases
C)It often requires being negative or arbitrarily critical of other people's ideas.
D)It always guarantees a correct answer.

Question 24

Which of the following is the best conclusion to draw from the massed learning versus spacing experiment discussed in the textbook?

A)Massing is better than spacing for all types of learning.
B)Massing is better than spacing for studying vocabulary.
C)Spacing is better than massing for all types of learning.
D)Spacing is better than massing for studying vocabulary.

Question 25

A friend of yours has 30 Spanish vocabulary words to learn by tomorrow.Which of the following is the best way for her to use flashcards to study?

A)Study each card only once.
B)Divide the cards into five piles and then study each pile four times before moving on to the next pile.
C)Go through the entire pile of 30 cards four times.
D)Divide the cards into 10 piles and then study each pile four times before moving on to the next pile.

Question 26

As a critical thinker,what habit is most likely to keep you from basing your conclusions on poor research?

A)examining assumptions and biases
B)examining the nature and source of evidence
C)tolerating ambiguity
D)avoiding overly emotional thinking

Question 27

Leonard is missing a sock.His sister suggests that a friend of his may have snuck into his room while he was sleeping and taken the sock as a practical joke;however,Leonard decides it is much more likely that the sock was simply lost when he last did the laundry.What element of critical thinking most likely influenced his decision?

A)skepticism
B)the principle of parsimony
C)tolerance of ambiguity
D)avoiding overly emotional thinking

Question 28

The biopsychosocial model assumes that

A)behaviour can often only be fully explained by combining multiple perspectives.
B)although many factors influence behaviour,biological factors have a larger influence than both psychological and sociocultural factors.
C)as humans evolved,influence on behaviour shifted from biological factors to more sociocultural factors.
D)the simplest explanation for behaviour is usually correct.

Question 29

Which of the following is TRUE about the concept of scientific literacy?

A)Only trained scientists are considered scientifically literate.
B)Scientific literacy is the ability to answer basic science questions without looking up the answers.
C)A person who can understand,analyze,and apply scientific information is demonstrating scientific literacy.
D)Knowledge of scientific terminology is the primary component of scientific literacy.

Question 30

____________ holds that,when dealing with competing theories,the simplest one should be chosen.

A)Skepticism
B)Ambiguity
C)The principle of parsimony
D)Critical thinking

Question 31

Which of the following questions represents an empirical question?

A)Would Martin Luther King,Jr. ,have been a good American president?
B)What is the meaning of life?
C)Was the War of 1812 necessary?
D)Is there life on other planets?

Question 32

Caroline's best friend tells her that eating a chili pepper with each meal will increase her metabolism and help her burn more calories."That sounds interesting," says Caroline,"but is there any scientific evidence to back up this claim?" Caroline's question illustrates what element of critical thinking?

A)the principle of parsimony
B)cynicism
C)tolerating ambiguity
D)skepticism

Question 33

According to the principle of parsimony,reports of alien abduction are unlikely to be true because

A)there are several other explanations that are much simpler.
B)aliens do not exist.
C)eyewitness reports should never be believed.
D)people who think they were abducted by aliens are clearly mentally unstable.

Question 34

Which of the following techniques could be described as massed learning?

A)taking a full-day workshop on mental health first aid
B)studying for your introduction to psychology exam by focusing on the same difficult topics every day for three weeks
C)setting aside a couple of hours,three days a week,to learn a new language
D)reading all four chapters of your textbook from beginning to end before going back to review them again

Question 35

A research psychologist is interested in whether children who play violent video games display above average violent behaviour in real life.Which approach to this question could the psychologist take that would be consistent with the principles of empiricism?

A)Use common sense and public opinion to determine if there is a connection.
B)Ask children to speculate about whether they notice a connection between playing video games and their aggression.
C)Carefully measure the type and amount of children's video game play and then observe their behaviour.
D)Ask parents and teachers to provide general observations about the video games their children play and their behaviour.

Question 36

Ms.Patel is a third-grade teacher.Several children in her class have been having trouble concentrating and sitting still,so she finds several articles from peer-reviewed scientific journals on hyperactivity and attention in young children.Although she is not a scientist,Ms.Patel is able to understand and use the information from the articles to redesign her classroom schedule to help improve attention.This example demonstrates Ms.Patel's

A)intuition for children's behaviour.
B)biopsychosocial perspective for understanding behaviour.
C)scientific literacy.
D)biases towards behaviour in children.

Question 37

The ability to understand,analyze,and apply scientific information is called

A)the scientific method.
B)scientific literacy.
C)skepticism.
D)generalization.

Question 38

For a class project,Mukisa read about the results of several studies investigating the causes of schizophrenia.Some of the studies indicated that schizophrenia is genetic,while others indicated that schizophrenia could be triggered by environmental factors.Eventually,Mukisa had to accept that schizophrenia is a complicated disease,and that there probably is not a clear-cut reason why some people develop it.This illustrates what critical thinking habit?

A)examining assumptions and biases
B)examining the nature and source of the evidence
C)tolerating ambiguity
D)considering alternatives

Question 39

______________ is the idea that knowledge is gained through observation and experience.

A)Determinism
B)Parsimony
C)Skepticism
D)Empiricism

Question 40

Two researchers are interested in understanding student success in university.Dr.Baker focuses on the influence of genes and brain anatomy of students,while Dr.Rodrigues focuses on the cultural background and interpersonal relationships of students.Dr.Baker is researching student success from a _________ perspective while Dr.Rodrigues is approaching it from a ________ perspective.

A)biological;psychological
B)psychological;sociocultural
C)sociocultural;psychological
D)biological;sociocultural

Question 41

According to the textbook,what is a key reason why psychology took almost 300 years longer than physics,biology,and chemistry to become scientific?

A)Early scientific methodology was too primitive to use to study the mind.
B)Laws were passed in the 1600s that made it illegal to study the mind.
C)Few people were interested in the mind and behaviour prior to the 20th century.
D)The zeitgeist of the 1600s prevented people from believing that science could be applied to the study of the mind.

Question 42

How did Darwin suggest behaviour was influenced by natural selection?

A)Our current behaviours are those that would have given our ancestors a better chance at survival.
B)Behavioural traits are directly tied to physical traits,thus a change in a physical trait led to a change in behaviour.
C)Individuals who were more sensitive to small changes in their environment were more likely to survive.
D)Personality traits like kindness and empathy were more likely to be passed on than aggression and stubbornness.

Question 43

One of the first people to connect personality to underlying physiology,Hippocrates proposed that four ________ were responsible for influencing an individual's personality.

A)temperaments
B)humours
C)biles
D)brain areas

Question 44

Psychophysics is the study of

A)how the mind controls the body.
B)the relationship between the physical world and the mental representation of that world.
C)the relationship between natural selection and behaviour.
D)the localization of brain function.

Question 45

Psychology has been considered a science since

A)around 470 BCE.
B)the early 1600s.
C)the late 1800s.
D)the mid 1900s.

Question 46

The belief that the mind or soul is separate from the physical body is known as ____________,whereas the belief that humans are completely physical beings is called _____________.

A)determinism;empiricism
B)empiricism;determinism
C)dualism;materialism
D)materialism;dualism

Question 47

Localization of brain function influenced the field(s)of

A)psychophysics.
B)sociocultural psychology.
C)medicine and personality psychology.
D)biological and clinical psychology.

Question 48

In a given culture,certain periods of its history are dominated by a general set of beliefs and attitudes known as

A)zeitgeist.
B)empiricism.
C)parsimony.
D)determinism.

Question 49

Which of the following is TRUE regarding Darwin's theory of evolution?

A)It applies to physical characteristics,but not to behaviour.
B)It applies to behaviour,but not to physical characteristics.
C)Behaviour is shaped by evolution in a similar way to physical traits.
D)It was discredited along with Francis Galton's concept of eugenics.

Question 50

How did physiologists and physicists,like Gustav Fechner,contribute to the development of psychology as a science?

A)They studied the relationship between the physical world and mental representation of that world.
B)They acknowledged that the mind and soul were separate from the body
C)They mapped the brain and identified the locations of specific functions within the brain.
D)They extended Darwin's theory of evolution to behaviour and cognitive abilities.

Question 51

Dr.Shapiro is a school psychologist who has noticed that a fifth-grade student has recently begun to misbehave and fall behind academically.He decides there must be a reason for the student's sudden problems and decides to try to figure out what it is.Dr.Shapiro's belief that the student's behaviour is the result of some unknown cause is an example of

A)determinism.
B)parsimony.
C)skepticism.
D)empiricism.

Question 52

According to the principle of _______________,human behaviour is the result of internal and external influences.

A)free will
B)materialism
C)determinism
D)empiricism

Question 53

The philosopher and mathematician RenéDescartes famously believed that the mind was not made of physical matter and could exist outside of the body.Descartes' belief in the relationship between mind and body could be described as

A)determinism.
B)empiricism.
C)materialism.
D)dualism.

Question 54

Zoe is a participant in an experiment.She is told to watch a series of lights and to identify which one is the brightest.It is likely that Zoe is participating in a(n)_____________ experiment.

A)psychophysics
B)materialism
C)temperament
D)psychoanalysis

Question 55

According to the textbook,scholars in the 1600s likely did not apply scientific methodology to the study of the mind and human behaviour because of what belief?

A)They believed the scientific method did not work.
B)They believed human behaviour was already well-understood.
C)They believed humans were more than just physical machines and should not be studied using science.
D)They believed it was a religious sin to try to study the nature of the mind and soul.

Question 56

Suppose a small number of geese are born with a genetic mutation that makes them spend more time caring for their eggs.As a result,more chicks hatch from these eggs that then survive to reproduce themselves.According to the principle of natural selection,which of the following would be the likely result?

A)Other genetic mutations would start occurring at a faster rate.
B)The genetically inherited behaviour would become more common after many generations.
C)The genetically inherited behaviour would become less common after many generations.
D)The rate of genetic mutations would slow drastically.

Question 57

Psychological science is

A)both empirical and deterministic.
B)empirical but not deterministic.
C)deterministic but not empirical.
D)neither empirical nor deterministic.

Question 58

The concept of free will-the idea that we are freely in charge of our own behaviour-is often in conflict with the concept of

A)empiricism.
B)determinism.
C)parsimony.
D)materialism.

Question 59

The belief that behaviour follows lawful,cause-and-effect relationships is known as

A)free will.
B)materialism.
C)empiricism.
D)determinism.

Question 60

How would Charles Darwin likely explain maternal aggression when something or someone threatens a mother's children?

A)Young girls learn to protect their children by observing their mothers.
B)Maternal aggression is an inherited trait that is selected for because it contributes to the survival of the offspring.
C)Mothers are rewarded by others in their social group for being protective of their children.
D)Mothers learn to be protective of their children through trial and error.

Question 61

What did Sigmund Freud consider as the key to understanding the psychosomatic conditions he observed?

A)conscious experience
B)brain physiology
C)unconscious processes
D)external consequences

Question 62

Which of the following was NOT one of Freud's lasting contributions to modern psychology?

A)the idea that hypnosis allows a psychologist to gain access into an individual's unconscious mind
B)the idea that mental activity can occur outside of conscious thought
C)the idea that physiological needs and urges related to survival can influence behaviour
D)the idea that medical ideas can be used to treat disorders of emotions,thoughts,and behaviours

Question 63

Which of the following is TRUE regarding phrenology?

A)It is still used by forensic psychologists.
B)It was an early application of brain localization research.
C)It led to the advancement of psychophysics and clinical psychology.
D)It was supported by rigorous scientific studies.

Question 64

Which two physicians developed phrenology?

A)Gall and Spurzheim
B)Broca and Wernicke
C)Darwin and Fechner
D)Galton and Wundt

Question 65

Kelly notices a bump on the side of Roger's head and points it out to him.He replies,"That means I'm a passionate person!" Roger's statement is based on the theory of

A)phrenology.
B)eugenics.
C)clinical psychology.
D)psychophysics.

Question 66

Freud stressed the importance of the influence of ______ on behaviour.

A)early life experiences
B)puberty
C)brain localization
D)metallic fluids

Question 67

Who developed a now discredited medical treatment using magnets,and contributed to the development of hypnosis?

A)Galton
B)Wernicke
C)Mesmer
D)Freud

Question 68

Which individual is usually credited with establishing psychology as an independent field of study,separate from biology,medicine,or physiology.

A)Sigmund Freud
B)William James
C)John Watson
D)Wilhelm Wundt

Question 69

The belief that the unconscious mind has an influence on an individual's behaviour is part of what early approach to psychology?

A)structuralism
B)functionalism
C)psychoanalysis
D)behaviourism

Question 70

Which treatment approach did Sigmund Freud develop for treating his patients?

A)hypnosis
B)hysterical paralysis
C)clinical psychology
D)psychoanalysis

Question 71

The investigation into the influence of environment and genetics on behaviour and mental processes is often referred to as

A)the nature and nurture relationship.
B)eugenics.
C)psychology.
D)anthropology.

Question 72

Wilhelm Wundt is best known for

A)establishing the first laboratory dedicated to studying human behaviour.
B)writing books on ethics and logic.
C)establishing phrenology as a science and writing the first textbook for phrenology.
D)training doctors to treat mental illness based on functionalism.

Question 73

Following in Wundt's footsteps,Titchener also used the technique of __________ to develop a map of the structure of human consciousness.

A)intervention
B)introspection
C)insight inventory
D)induction

Question 74

A patient's belief in a treatment working,and the treatment subsequently "curing" the patient's ailment (with no scientific support),is known as

A)psychoanalysis.
B)phrenology.
C)psychophysics.
D)psychosomatic medicine.

Question 75

Which of the following would be most difficult for Francis Galton to explain with his theories?

A)Close family relatives often have similar traits.
B)Sometimes children from very humble families become very successful.
C)Successful parents often have successful children.
D)In the United States,whites are,on average,more successful than non-whites.

Question 76

Introspection is a method of

A)investigating psychophysics through careful measurement.
B)free-association based on unconscious processes.
C)empirical investigation using introverted adults.
D)drawing conclusions based on one's own perceptions and thoughts.

Question 77

At the close of the nineteenth century,Gerhard is excited to find that he has been accepted for training in the psychology laboratory of Wilhelm Wundt.It is likely that Gerhard will be trained to

A)analyze how to break down sensations into their most basic elements.
B)determine the function or purpose of a particular human behaviour.
C)listen intently while individuals tell him of their childhood experiences.
D)carefully feel the bumps on a person's head in order to determine their character traits.

Question 78

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the legacy of Francis Galton?

A)Although his ideas have been discredited,his use of statistical methods to measure and study behaviour has had a lasting impact on scientific psychology.
B)While many of his ideas are still considered valid,Galton failed to use scientific methodology.
C)Both his ideas and methodology are still considered valid today.
D)Although important in his time,Galton had almost no lasting impact on scientific psychology.

Question 79

Which two doctors were able to identify important language centres in the brain by studying their patients?

A)Gall and Spurzheim
B)Broca and Wernicke
C)Fechner and Darwin
D)Galton and Wundt

Question 80

Besides phrenology,what was another early approach used by physicians like Paul Broca,to understand the connection between the brain and behaviour?

A)using electricity to stimulate different brain regions
B)surgically removing brain regions
C)studying the behaviour of patients who had experienced brain injuries
D)studying the shape and size of the human skull