PSY 2012 - Exam 1

Psychology is defined as:

A. the scientific study of mind and behavior.

B. a field that has gotten smaller as more discoveries have been made, negating earlier theories.

C. the scientific study of the structure of the brain.

D. the scientific study of behavior unrelated to environment.

A. the scientific study of mind and behavior.

2. William James:

A. disagreed that consciousness could be broken down into separate elements.

B. All of these choices are correct.

C. argued that consciousness was like a flowing stream, serving to adapt people to their environments.

D. studied mental function.

B. All of these choices are correct.

3. Cognitive neuroscientists link brain activity and:

A. evolution.

B. cognitive processes.

C. biology.

D. behavior.

B. cognitive processes.

Neuroscience

Behavior is controlled by the computations of neural networks

Behavioral

Behavior is shaped by rewards and punishments

Psychodynamic

Behavior is influenced by unconscious conflicts and motives

Social-cultural

Behavior varies across situations and cultures

Evolutionary

Behavioral tendencies are passed on through genes molded by natural selection

Cognitive

Behavior is influenced by information that is perceived and remembered

Behavior Genetics

Genes and environment interact to produce individual differences in behavior

Social Psychologist

Explore how people influence and are influenced by others

Biological Psychologists

Explore the links between brain and mind

Industrial/Organizational Psychologists

Study and advise on behavior in the workplace

Personality Psychologists

Investigate persistent traits and characteristics

Cognitive Psychologists

Experiment with how people perceive, think, and solve problems

Clinical Psychologists

Assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavior disorders

Community Psychologists

Help create social and physical environments that are healthy for individuals and groups

Developmental Psychologists

Study a person's changing abilities from womb to tomb

Counseling Psychologists

Help people cope with challenges by recognizing their strengths and resources

Educational Psychologists

Study learning and teaching, along with children's behavior in a school setting

Psychiatrists

Are medical doctors licensed to prescribe drugs and treat physical causes of psychological disorders

The _____ approach is an evidence-based method that draws on observation and experimentation.

a. critical

b. empirical

c. intuitive

d. skeptical

b. empirical

To study inner sensations, images, and feelings, Edward Titchener used a research technique known as:

a. psychoanalysis.

b. introspection.

c. spaced practice.

d. behavior genetics.

b. introspection.

Psychology is the scientific study of _____ and mental processes.

Behavior

Which study strategy will be MOST helpful to you as you learn about psychology?

a. Read each chapter once and complete all of the review questions at the end of one study session.

b. Read one main section of a chapter in a one-hour study period each day.

c. Read each chapter from start to finish in one six-hour study period.

d. Read each chapter once from start to finish in a study period.

b. Read one main section of a chapter in a one-hour study period each day.

Psychologists persistently ask the two questions, "What do you mean?" and "How do you know?" because they approach the world of thought and behavior with:

a. gullibility.

b. cynicism.

c. humility.

d. skepticism.

d. skepticism.

_____ might be considered an early representative of psychologists who today focus on the adaptive functions of behaviors and emotions (that is, those who study how behaviors and emotions appear to have helped our ancestors to survive).

James

"Psychology is the science of behavior." What, if anything, is wrong with this definition?

a. Nothing is wrong with this definition.

b. This definition is incorrect. Psychology is the science of mental processes.

c. This definition is incorrect. Psychology is the science of mental disorders.

d. This definition is too narrow. Psychology is also the science of mental processes.

d. This definition is too narrow. Psychology is also the science of mental processes.

"Cramming" for tests is an example of _____ practice.

massed

When testing those claiming to be able to see auras around people's heads, magician James Randi issued this challenge: "Then if I were to step behind a wall barely taller than I am, you could determine my location from the aura visible above my head, right?" This type of challenge shows Randi's:

a. humility.

b. empirical approach.

c. overconfidence.

d. gullibility.

b. empirical approach.

The leader of a self-help group has asked Devin to recommend an approach to psychology that emphasizes personal growth and people's need for love and acceptance. Devin would MOST likely recommend an approach called _____ for this group.

humanistic

Professor Reed attempts to assess the relative contributions of heredity and home environment on children's susceptibility to depression. Her research BEST illustrates the concerns of the _____ perspective.

a. behavior genetics

b. behavioral

c. psychodynamic

d. cognitive

a. behavior genetics or biopsychosocial

Sam is a 43-year-old male presenting with auditory hallucinations, ideas of reference, paranoid thoughts of persecution, and claims of "special powers." Sam suffers from schizophrenia and has not been taking his medication as prescribed. Dr. Kohn is evaluating Sam, and may admit him to the hospital so that she can restart his medications and monitor his response. Dr. Kohn is MOST likely a _____.

psychiatrist

In an experiment conducted by Professor Costa, participants press one button if they see a red light and another button if they see a green light. Professor Costa is studying the amount of time it takes to press the buttons. This is similar to experiments conducted by which early psychologist?

a. Wilhelm Wundt

b. Ivan Pavlov

c. William James

d. Abraham Maslow

a. Wilhelm Wundt

"He wanted to do for psychology what the Periodic Table of the Elements did for chemistry," lectures a psychology professor. To whom is the professor MOST likely referring?

a. Wilhelm Wundt

b. William James

c. Sigmund Freud

d. Abraham Maslow

a. Wilhelm Wundt

One often hears that the United States is not keeping up with other nations with respect to educating young scientists. Trying to be proactive, a local school board is encouraging children to pursue careers in the sciences. A psychologist advising the school board on the types of characteristics that are important in the sciences suggests that teachers should look for each of these attitudes EXCEPT:

a. curiosity.

b. cynicism.

c. humility.

d. skepticism.

b. cynicism.

Is there life after death? Can some people demonstrate ESP? An important difference between these two questions is that the first is probably beyond science, whereas the second can be tested by using:

a. an empirical approach.

b. curiosity.

c. hindsight bias.

d. a leap of faith.

a. an empirical approach.

Talia has just finished reading an article discussing the traits—such as courage—that allow firefighters to remain strikingly calm even when faced with overwhelming stress. This article was MOST likely published in which journal?

a. The Journal of Developmental Psychology

b. The Neuroscience Perspective

c. Research in Cognitive Psychology

d. Positive Psychology

d. Positive Psychology

Dr. Costa is examining how Jane processes information by using functional MRI scans of her brain while she completes a memory task. Dr. Costa is BEST described as a(n):

a. cognitive neuropsychologist.

b. behaviorist.

c. humanistic psychologist.

d. evolutionary psychologist.

a. cognitive neuropsychologist.

Regarding human traits, which individual would MOST likely agree with Aristotle?

a. Darwin

b. Locke

c. Descartes

d. Plato

b. Locke

Dr. Rowan attempts to help his patients uncover unconscious motives and conflicts. Dr. Rowan appears to reflect the _____ approach in psychology.

a. behaviorist

b. cognitive

c. Freudian

d. humanistic

c. Freudian or psychoanalytic

Researchers today can use technology such as functional MRI scans to measure brain activity. Some researchers ask their subjects to describe elements of their experiences (for example, sensations, images, feelings) while undergoing the scans. This _____ technique is similar to the methodology of _____.

a. introspection; Titchener

b. behaviorist; Calkins

c. free association; Watson

d. functionalist; Skinner

a. introspection; Titchener

Of the following options, which would be best for finding out if there is a hot hand in basketball?

A. Case Study design

B. Naturalistic Observation

C. Experimental design

B. Naturalistic Observation

The best groups of people to observe the hot hand.

A. People who regularly play basketball

B. People who have never played basketball

C. A group of talented swimmers who like to watch basketball

D. A group of basketball fans who believe in the hot hand

A. People who regularly play basketball

Of the following options, which one would be the BEST way to measure the hot hand in basketball?

A. Count how many baskets each player makes.

B. Have players rate their confidence in making two consecutive baskets.

C. Observe and carefully track players' shooting, then determine if the odds of each player's making a basket after having just made a basket were greater than their team's average scoring would predict.

D. Observe and carefully track players' shooting, then determine if the odds of each player's making a basket after having just made a basket were greater than their own average scoring would predict.

D. Observe and carefully track players' shooting, then determine if the odds of each player's making a basket after having just made a basket were greater than their own average scoring would predict.

Why was it important to select study participants who played basketball regularly?

A. You need to have a baseline of their typical basketball shooting performance.

B. You need to have study participants who are familiar with the hot hand.

C. You need to have study participants who do not believe in the hot hand.

D. You need to have study participants who believe in the hot hand.

A. You need to have a baseline of their typical basketball shooting performance.

In your study, the other team's defense was a confounding variable because:

A. it is unrelated to shooting performance.

B. it would influence a team's prior shooting performance.

C. it could affect your study participants' shooting performance.

D. some defensive strategies cause the hot hand more than other defensive strategies do.

C. it could affect your study participants' shooting performance.

Why was it not a good idea to measure the hot hand by counting the number of baskets each participant made?

A. You could not measure participants' average shooting ability this way.

B. You would not be recording participants' performance on consecutive shots.

C. You would not be recording participants' performance in relation to their team average.

D. You would not be recording participants' performance in relation to national averages.

B. You would not be recording participants' performance on consecutive shots.

Although there is no evidence that there is a hot hand in basketball, what helps explain why people still believe it exists?

A. Hindsight bias

B. The tendency to perceive randomness in patterned events

C. The tendency to perceive patterns in random events

D. Our tendency to rely on intuition

C. The tendency to perceive patterns in random events

Positive Correlation

People with high scores on one variable tend to have high scores on the other variable

Negative Correlation

People with high scores on one variable tend to have low scores on the other variable

No Correlation

People with high scores on one variable are equally likely to have low or high scores on the other variable

Descriptive Research

A method of research designed to measure and describe a behavior without manipulating it

Experimentation

A method of research that manipulates an independent variable to measure its effects on a dependent variable, while controlling the other relevant variables

Correlational Research

A method of research that measures two or more variables and explores the relationship between them

Case Study

A type of descriptive research that studies an individual or small group in a detailed, intensive way

Naturalistic Observation

A type of descriptive research in which researchers directly observe behavior in its natural setting, without interference

Survey

A type of descriptive research in which participants report their own behavior or attitudes

T/F: Naturalistic observation is time-consuming and could invade a person's privacy

True

T/F: Experimentation is the only appropriate way to conduct research

False

T/F: One disadvantage of a survey is the possibility that participants might not answer the questions truthfully

True

T/F: Case studies provide an in-depth view of one person's behavior, but the results might not generalize to others

True

T/F: Evolutionary psychologists claim that all genetic mutations confer benefits for survival and reproduction

False

T/F: According to evolutionary psychologists, males today prefer young, attractive female partners because those males have been influenced by images in the media

False

T/F: Evolutionary psychologists propose that infant tase preferences are universal because taste sensations are related to the nutritional value of the food

True

Match the descriptions with the type of research to make sure you are ready to become a researcher. Match the type of research to the term it is related to.

1. Descriptive

2. Prediction

3. Causation

a. Observational

b. Correlational

c. Experimental

1. Descriptive - Observational

2. Prediction - Correlational

3. Causation - Experimental

Match the types of research to the following list of items:

1. Description

2. Child video, doesn't care

3. Prediction

4. Graph of age and school

5. Causation

6. Independent Variable

7. Dependent Variable

a. Observational

b. Correlational

c. Experimental

1. Description - Observational

2. Child video, doesn't care - Observational

3. Prediction - Correlational

4. Graph of age and school - Correlational

5. Causation - Experimental

6. Independent Variable - Experimental

7. Dependent Variable - Experimental

_____ bias is also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.

a. Operational

b. Predictive

c. Hindsight

d. overconfidence

c. Hindsight

Naturalistic observation entails:

a. asking a sample of individuals a set of questions.

b. examining behaviors in the setting in which they typically occur.

c. the systematic, detailed study of a single individual.

d. the manipulation of an independent variable.

b. examining behaviors in the setting in which they typically occur.

In an experiment, the process of random _____ ensures that each participant has an equal chance of being in either the control group or the experimental group.

a. assignment

b. selection

c. sampling

d. placement

a. assignment

Which statement BEST expresses the relationship among the concepts of hindsight bias, common sense, and overconfidence?

a. Hindsight and overconfidence help counteract common sense.

b. Overconfidence, common sense, and hindsight are several benefits of critical thinking.

c. Hindsight and intuitive thinking are both the results of overconfidence.

d. Overconfidence and hindsight are examples of flaws in commonsense thinking.

d. Overconfidence and hindsight are examples of flaws in commonsense thinking.

Good theories:

a. are essentially guesses about the causes of behaviors or events.

b. are accepted if they can be replicated.

c. use integrated sets of principles to predict behaviors or events.

d. are based on hindsight bias.

c. use integrated sets of principles to predict behaviors or events.

Which choice correctly matches a psychological research method with its purpose?

a. survey - isolates cause-and effect relationships between variables

b. correlational research - assesses the relationship between variables

c. experiment - describes behavior

d. case study - isolates cause-and-effect relationships

b. correlational research - assesses the relationship between variables

John is convinced that his potato chip is in the shape of Elvis' face. John is demonstrating:

a. intuition.

b. overconfidence.

c. the perception of order in random events.

d. hindsight bias.

c. the perception of order in random events.

An example of a strong inverse correlation is:

a. +0.75.

b. -0.05.

c. -0.75.

d. +0.05.

c. -0.75.

Brett is about to design his first drug treatment study. He chooses the double-blind procedure to minimize outcome differences between experimental and control conditions that could be attributed to:

a. random sampling.

b. operational definitions.

c. replication.

d. the placebo effect.

d. the placebo effect.

Which statement is an example of overconfidence?

a. Students in Dr. Ross's introductory psychology class come with their own preconceived notions of psychology that differ by major. Psychology majors believe in the power of the mind more so than biology majors.

b. The 10 students in Dr. Ross's introductory psychology class who are psychology majors all firmly believe they will become psychologists.

c. A few students in Dr. Ross's introductory psychology class insist that he provide research evidence for the points he makes in his lectures.

d. Students in Dr. Ross's introductory psychology class who received an A at the end of the term state that they knew all along that they'd earn an A.

b. The 10 students in Dr. Ross's introductory psychology class who are psychology majors all firmly believe they will become psychologists.

Dr. Han is examining the impact of parental separation on student academic performance. He defines parental separation as no contact between the child and parent for a period of 6 months or more. Academic performance is being measured using students' grade point average and end-of-year grades. Dr. Han believes that if the children have experienced parental separation that they will perform poorly in school. Which is Dr. Han's hypothesis?

a. Parental separation causes distress in children.

b. Children who experience parental separation will perform poorly in school.

c. Parental separation means no contact between the child and parent for 6 months or longer.

d. Academic performance is indicated by a child's grade point average and end-of-year grades.

b. Children who experience parental separation will perform poorly in school.

Psychologists studying infant memory want to determine at what age babies can remember specific events. An experimenter uses several puppets to demonstrate a series of actions while the infant watches. After a delay, the experimenter records how many of the actions the child imitates when playing with the puppets. The dependent variable is the:

a. activity level of the child.

b. number of imitated actions.

c. type of puppet used by the experimenter.

d. length of the experiment.

b. number of imitated actions.

Caroline is excited about her wedding this Sunday. She strongly believes that she and Ray will be happy for the rest of their lives. But she also realizes that many marriages end in divorce and that she really cannot predict what will happen. She is trying to avoid which error in thinking?

a. hindsight bias

b. overconfidence

c. critical thinking

d. dual processing

b. overconfidence

Kelsey is a research assistant in drug treatment studies. Her professor said they are using a double-blind procedure to minimize the chance that _____ is/are responsible for differences between experimental and control conditions.

a. replications

b. the placebo effect

c. random sampling

d. operational definitions

b. the placebo effect

Groups of men with leukemia are given specific doses of a drug to examine the effects of the drug on the progression of the disease. The dependent variable is:

a. dosage size.

b. the profession of the men.

c. ages of the men.

d. disease progression.

d. disease progression.

Rosco's family endured two weeks of pain and suffering after a horrific car accident left him in a coma. Rosco was struggling for his life, and physicians predicted he would never wake up. On the thirteenth day, Rosco did wake up. Rosco's Aunt Roxie was tempted to say that she knew all along he would wake up but she refrained in order to avoid which error in thinking?

a. hindsight bias

b. dual processing

c. critical thinking

d. overconfidence

a. hindsight bias

Which statement represents hindsight bias?

a. You just found out that the homecoming queen and captain of the football team from your high school are splitting up. You think back to the last time you saw them together and have the feeling that you could have predicted their breakup.

b. You believe that previously infertile couples will become pregnant after adopting a child.

c. You meet a person on the street and feel an instant attraction. Later on, you tell a friend about the encounter and state that you just met the person you will marry.

d. You predicted you would earn 80 percent on your test but you only earned 70 percent.

a. You just found out that the homecoming queen and captain of the football team from your high school are splitting up. You think back to the last time you saw them together and have the feeling that you could have predicted their breakup.

In a social psychology experiment, one group of participants is reminded of a social stereotype they are likely to hold and another group is not reminded. All participants then interact with a member of the stereotyped group, and the nature of their interactions is recorded. Which statement is true?

a. The nonreminded group receives the treatment and is the experimental group.

b. The nonreminded group receives the treatment and is the control group.

c. The reminded group receives the treatment and is the experimental group.

d. The reminded group receives the treatment and is the control group.

c. The reminded group receives the treatment and is the experimental group.

Population

A group of people (or animals) whose behavior is of interest to the researchers; from this group, one or more samples are selected for measurement

Sample

A group of people (or animals) whose behavior is measured; this group is drawn from a larger population, and the sample results are usually generalized to the population

Mean

A measure of central tendency calculated by adding all scores and then dividing by the number scores

Standard Deviation

A measure of variability, indicating how tightly the scores are clustered around the mean

Correlation Coefficient (r)

A statistic that indicates the precise numerical relationship between two variables; r can range from -1.0 to +1.0

Descriptive Statistics

Numbers calculated from a distribution of scores, indicating the central tendency (average) and the variability (amount of scatter around the average)

Inferential Statistics

Numbers calculated from a distribution of scores to provide evidence supporting or opposing an hypothesis

Statistical Significance

Whether a research results differs sufficiently from what would be expected from change, due to random variations in behavior

Null Hypothesis

A statistical assumption about the absence of an effect (no difference between two values)

p-level

Probability of finding a difference that is equal to or greater than what was actually measured, assuming that the null hypothesis is true

Null Hypothesis Significance Testing (NHST)

Way of evaluating results by comparing the observed outcome to what would be expected if the null hypothesis is true

Confidence Interval

A range of scores calculated such that there is a specific probability (usually .95) that the value of interest actually falls with that range

Effect Size

Way of measuring the strength of a result, yielding a number that indicates the difference between two values; not affected by sample size

T/F: If a statistical test yields a p-level of .12, researchers using the null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) approach would accept the result as a statistically significant effect.

False: Researchers who use NHST would look for a p-level of less than .05 before they would claim statistical significance

T/F: If a statistical test yields a p-level of .02, researchers using the null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) approach could conclude that the results are statistically significant, because there is only a 2 percent probability that the outcome was due to chance

False: Researchers who uses NHST would conclude the results were statistically significant, because the probability of getting that large a difference (or a larger difference) if the null hypothesis were true would only be 2 percent