Psychology final

A researcher interested in investigating the attitudes or opinions of a large sample of people is most likely to use which research method?

Survery

Many crossing lights at many crosswalks are operated by a timer, yet still feature an inactive button for pedestrians to push in order to cross. These types of buttons are sometimes referred to as “placebo buttons.” Why does the word placebo apply?

The button has no effect, but people still push it because they believe it does.

Professor Shimabukuro carefully observes and records the behaviors of children in their classrooms in order to track the development of their social and intellectual skills. Professor Shimabukuro is most clearly engaged in___________.

Naturalistic Observation

Research shows that generally, the higher an incoming college students high school GPA, the higher the student’s college GPA. Which of the following describes this relationship?

Positive Correlation

James takes an IQ test when he is in the third grade and receives a score of 112. When he is tested again in sixth grade with an alternate version of the same test, his score is 114. The fact that the two scores are very similar most directly indicates consistency and that the IQ test is

Reliable

The entire group that a researcher is interested in is called a ___________

Population

A teacher noticed that many students were falling asleep in her morning classes. She decided to systematically record how many students dozed off during first period compared to third period over two weeks, without making any changes to her classroom routine. Each day, she counted and recorded the number of students who fell asleep during each class period. Which type of research does this scenario describe?

Naturalistic observation

Dr. Lorne is planning a study to examine the effects of stress on decision-making. The study involves simulating a high-pressure scenario in which participants must make quick financial decisions that appear to impact their own money. To enhance the realism of the scenario, Dr. Lorne intends to use confederates who pretend to be fellow participants but are actually part of the research team. These confederates will display signs of stress and urgency to influence the participants. Before beginning the study, Dr. Lorne submits her research proposal to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for approval. She outlines plans for ensuring participant safety, maintaining confidentiality of data, and thoroughly debriefing participants about the deceptive elements and true nature of the study after their participation. Which ethical requirement is primarily being addressed by Dr. Lorne's plan to fully inform participants about the deceptive elements and the true nature of the study after their participation?

Debriefing

Dr. Welch is studying students' motivation levels in different learning environments. She decides to conduct interviews with students from three different high schools to gather detailed descriptions of their learning experiences and their feelings toward various teaching styles. Dr. Welch then transcribes these interviews and looks for patterns in how students describe their motivation in response to different types of feedback from teachers. What type of data is Dr. Welch collecting, and why is this data appropriate for her study?

Qualitative data, as it provides detailed insights into student perspectives

Researchers are investigating the effect of a mindfulness meditation program on stress levels in university students. Participants are divided into two groups. Group A participates in a structured four-week mindfulness program, while Group B is given a booklet about stress management to read on their own. Stress levels are measured using a standardized stress assessment tool before and after the intervention. The results are summarized in the table below: What is the dependent variable in this study?

The change in stress levels before and after the intervention.

Which of the following correlation coefficients reflects the weakest relationship between two variables?

+0.10

A researcher spent six months conducting detailed interviews and observations of a teenager who suddenly developed severe anxiety after surviving a natural disaster. The researcher collected in-depth information about the teenager's experiences, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors before, during, and after the disaster. This comprehensive study provided rich details about how the traumatic event affected one individual's mental health. Which of the following is a strength of this case study?

The method provides detailed information about a unique or rare situation

Dr. Singh is a behavioral scientist investigating the relationship between daily physical activity levels and self-reported happiness among adults. To conduct her research, she gathers data from a diverse group of 1,000 adults by using wearable fitness trackers to monitor physical activity and an online survey to assess levels of happiness. Dr. Singh plans to analyze the data to determine if there is a link between the amount of physical activity a person engages in and their reported happiness. Her main interest lies in discovering whether an increase in physical activity correlates with an increase in happiness, and if the presence of one variable can predict changes in the other. Which of the following allows researchers like Dr. Singh to determine how well one variable predicts the presence of another variable?

Correlation studies

A psychology researcher wants to study the effects of sleep deprivation on memory. She recruits college students and tells them they are participating in a study about personality traits. She requires them to stay awake for 36 hours and complete memory tests, but doesn't inform them they can quit the study at any time. Which of the following ethical violations occurs in this study?

The researcher did not obtain informed consent from participants

Psychology is defined as the discipline concerned with

behavior and mental processes and how they are affected by an organism's physical state, mental state, and external environment.

Which of the labeled areas in the diagram contains the lobe of the brain responsible for processing our five senses and the somatosensory cortex?

Region B

A person with damage to Broca’s area would most likely demonstrate which of the following symptoms? 

Difficulty with speech production

Clive Wearing, an English musician, suffered brain damage from a viral infection. As a result, he lost the ability to form any new memories. Which part of Clive’s brain was damaged? 

Hippocampus

Mary had a split-brain operation to treat her epilepsy. However, ever since the operation she has had difficulty choosing the correct groceries from the supermarket shelf because the two halves of her brain are unable to communicate with one another. Which part of her brain has been affected?

Corpus Callosum

Carl had a tumor attached to his cerebellum. Once the tumor was removed, he experienced a number of major changes in his day-to-day functioning. Which of the following would be expected after the removal of part of Carl’s cerebellum?

Uncoordinated and jerky movements.

Which of the following is considered the fundamental building block of the nervous system?

Neuron

The area labeled X in the drawing above denotes which of the following structures?

Axon terminals

Which of the following brain regions is indicated by the arrow?

Brainstem (Pons)

Which of the following parts of a neuron serves as an insulator to the axon and speeds up neural transmission?

Myelin Sheath 

While working on a project that involves differentiating between shades of color, Mia, a graphic designer, suddenly finds herself struggling to perceive various colors correctly. Initially attributing it to fatigue, she realizes the issue persists and consults her doctor. After a series of tests, Mia is informed that a minor stroke has affected a specific area of her brain associated with visual processing, particularly the region that processes color vision. Given this information, which part of Mia's brain is most likely affected by the stroke? 

The occipital lobe, particularly the area associated with color vision, which is essential for her ability to differentiate colors in her work.

While moving into a new apartment located near a busy railway station, Jordan initially finds the frequent noise from passing trains to be extremely bothersome, often interrupting his train of thought and sleep. However, after a few weeks, he barely notices the noise, even though the frequency and volume of the trains haven't changed. His ability to ignore the train sounds over time is an example of a perceptual change. This phenomenon, where Jordan's perception adjusts to the constant presence of the stimulus, allowing him to focus less on the disruptive noise, is known as what?

Sensory adaptation, where his sensory receptors decrease their responsiveness to the constant stimulus, making the noise less perceptible over time.

While playing basketball, Jordan accidentally steps on a sharp object. Sensory receptors in his foot detect pain and immediately send a neural signal toward the spinal cord. The signal is processed before instructions are sent to the muscles in his leg, causing him to quickly lift his foot away from the object. Based on the pathway of neural communication involved in this reflexive response, which sequence correctly represents the order in which neurons transmitted the message?

Sensory neuron → Interneuron → Motor neuron 

 Review the diagram of the eye below. The arrow is pointing to the structure that carries visual information from the eyeball to the brain. The structure is known as the: 

Optic nerve

After suffering a head injury in a skiing accident, Jeremy exhibits noticeable changes in his behavior and decision-making abilities. Previously known for his prudent and thoughtful approach to life, he now displays impulsivity and struggles with planning complex tasks, often becoming frustrated with activities that require sustained attention and strategy. His doctor explains that the injury likely affected a specific region of the brain known for its role in executive functions, such as reasoning, planning, and regulating behavior. Based on the changes observed in Jeremy's behavior and the doctor's explanation, which part of Jeremy's brain is most likely affected by the injury?

Frontal Lobes

After exposure to extremely loud music over many years, a patient begins experiencing hearing loss due to damage in the inner ear structure containing fluid and tiny hair cells responsible for converting sound vibrations into neural impulses. Which structure was most likely damaged?

Cochlea

At a bustling networking event, Laura is engaged in a deep conversation about career opportunities with a potential employer. Despite the loud background noise and multiple conversations happening around her, she is able to focus intently on her conversation. Suddenly, she hears her name mentioned in a conversation behind her, which immediately draws her attention away from her current discussion. Which psychological concept best explains Laura's attentional shift in this scenario?

Cocktail party effect

Which of the following was NOT recommended as a strategy for improving memory? 

Speed reading

Which of the following best explains the U-shaped pattern shown in the data?

The serial position effect led to better recall of words at the beginning and end of the list

 A cognitive psychologist conducted a study examining memory recall patterns. Twenty participants were presented with a list of 15 common English words at a rate of one word every 2 seconds. Immediately after the presentation, participants were asked to recall as many words as possible in any order. The graph shows the percentage of participants who correctly recalled words based on their position in the list.

The serial position effect led to better recall of words at the beginning and end of the list

 What are the three memory processes of the information processing model? 

Encoding, Storage, and retrieval

Dr. Ellis, an educational psychologist, is analyzing historical IQ test data from several countries to study trends in cognitive abilities over generations. In her research, she notes a consistent and significant increase in average IQ scores every decade. Dr. Ellis correlates these trends with various societal changes, including improvements in educational systems, nutrition, health care, and more widespread access to information. Which psychological concept best explains these generational changes in IQ scores?

Flynn effect

 Jim was creating a list in his head of all the chores he had to complete before bedtime. While making the list, Jim started thinking about his thought processes. When Jim thought about his own thinking he was engaged in ___________. 

Metacognition

During a lesson on probability and decision-making, Mr.Vay, a high school psychology teacher, introduces his students to the concept of cognitive biases through a simulation of a roulette game. The students record red and black outcomes after each spin, and after observing a long streak of black, many begin to place increasingly larger bets on red, believing it is "due" to come up next. Mr. Vay uses this moment to discuss how their expectation of a red outcome is influenced by a common misconception about probability. He explains that each spin is an independent event, and the odds remain constant, regardless of previous outcomes. Which psychological concept best explains the students' faulty reasoning?

Gamblers fallacy

 Which of the following questions would be more likely to produce divergent thinking?

“How many uses can you think of for a stapler?”

In a recent experiment, a psychology professor presented a group of participants with a series of images, asking them to identify which ones best represented the concept of "bird." The images included a sparrow, a penguin, a bat, and an ostrich. The participants were more likely to identify the sparrow as a bird- it was the image that best represented the category to them. Which concept in cognitive psychology best explains the participants' responses?

Prototypes

Phyllis is completing her undergraduate degree in teaching social studies. As part of her requirements for graduation, she must complete the state licensing exam. The exam is a multiple-choice test assessing her content knowledge in world history, American history, economics, and geography; subjects that have been covered in her college coursework. What type of test is the licensing exam?

Achievement test

In the image above, which monocular depth cue is primarily demonstrated by the relationship between Shape A and Shape B?

Interposition

During an advanced art class focusing on landscape painting, the instructor emphasizes the importance of depth perception in creating realistic scenery. The students are asked to paint a scene featuring a long, straight road disappearing into the horizon. The instructor explains how the parallel sides of the road should appear to converge at a point in the distance, creating an illusion of depth on the flat canvas. Which principle of depth perception is being taught in this lesson?

Linear perspective

What is an example of chunking?

Grouping items on a shopping list as “frozen foods,” “dairy,” fruits and vegetables,” or “bakery”

Raul and Sophia were having a picnic when it started to rain. They did not think of using their big plastic tablecloth as a temporary rain shelter and so were drenched within minutes. Their oversight best illustrates ___________. 

Functional fixedness

During a routine visit, a pediatrician observes how 8-month-old Lydia reacts when a favorite toy is hidden under a blanket. Initially, Lydia actively searches and retrieves the toy, demonstrating her understanding that the toy continues to exist even though it is out of sight. This behavior is a significant developmental milestone, observed in infants as they begin to understand that objects have a constant existence, regardless of their visibility.What concept does Lydia's behavior illustrate, showing her cognitive growth in understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen or heard?

Object permanence

When Daniel begins walking, talking, and exploring, he is bound to get into conflict with his parents. If his parents punish his explorations, Daniel may develop a feeling that independence is bad. According to Erik Erikson, what stage of psychosocial development would this occur in? 

Autonomy versus self doubt

Kevin, a college student, attended a barbecue where he indulged in various dishes, one of which was a new type of spiced sausage. Later that evening, Kevin fell severely ill with stomach pains and nausea. Since then, he has found that even the smell of spiced sausage, which he previously enjoyed, now causes a feeling of nausea. What concept best describes Kevin's development of a negative reaction to a specific food after a single negative experience?

Taste aversion

Just before something scary happens in a horror film, they often play scary sounding music. When I hear the music, I tense up in anticipation of the scary event. In this situation, the music serves as a(n) ___________.

Conditioned stimulus

In a therapy session, a psychologist uses classical conditioning to help a client overcome fear of flying. The therapist initially shows a series of airplane images while simultaneously playing calming music that the client enjoys. After several sessions, the client begins to feel more relaxed at the sight of airplane images alone, without the music. In this therapeutic context, which element has become the conditioned stimulus?

The airplane images

During a parent-teacher conference, Mrs. Lopez discusses the behavior of her student, Ethan, a five-year-old in kindergarten. Ethan often attempts to lead group activities and suggests new games during playtime, demonstrating enthusiasm and confidence. However, when his ideas are not accepted by peers or criticized by adults, he sometimes responds with feelings of guilt and retreats from participating further. Which concept from Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development best describes Ethan's behaviors as explained by Mrs. Lopez?

Ethan is exhibiting behaviors typical of the Initiative vs. Guilt stage, where he tries to assert control and leadership but feels guilty when his initiatives fail.

 Keisha was able to roll over at two months, crawl at five months, and walk at ten months. This sequence of development is most likely due to

Maturation

 According to Erik Erikson, in late adulthood the individual reaches the eighth and final stage of the life span in which one reviews and evaluates one’s life and the choices one has made. Erikson labeled this stage  ___________. 

Integrity versus despair

 During a parent-teacher conference, Ms. Rogers discusses her approach to supporting her students' learning growth. She describes her method of tailoring instruction to meet each student just beyond their current ability level, providing tasks that they cannot complete alone but can achieve with some guidance. What educational concept is Ms. Rogers applying in her teaching method, which focuses on the range of tasks that are too difficult for a student to master alone, but can be learned with guidance from more knowledgeable individuals?

Zone of proximal development

Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates negative reinforcement

Charles often does yoga because he feels less anxious after doing yoga

 A child is bitten by a neighbor’s small dog and develops a fear of all small dogs. Over the following weeks, the child begins to feel anxious and avoids larger dogs as well, even though they have never had a negative experience with them. The child’s parents notice that the fear seems to extend to dogs of all sizes, including ones that look very different from the original dog. This reaction starts to interfere with the child’s willingness to visit parks or friends who have dogs. Which psychological concept is best illustrated by the child’s reaction?

Stimulus generalization

A young boy visits the doctor and receives a painful injection during his check-up. The pain from the injection causes him to cry. On his next visit to the doctor, the boy begins crying as soon as he sees the nurse who gave him the injection, even before receiving the shot. In this scenario, which of the following is the unconditioned stimulus?

The injection

A teenager stays out past their curfew to spend more time with friends. Upon returning home, their parents inform them that their car privileges will be taken away for a week. As a result, the teenager stops staying out past curfew to avoid further consequences. Which psychological concept best explains the parents’ approach to reducing the teenager's behavior?

Negitive punishment

 Janis gave a presentation on how genes and environment interact. Which of the following was Janis most likely discussing? 

Nature and nurture

During a routine visit, a pediatrician observes how 8-month-old Lydia reacts when a favorite toy is hidden under a blanket. Initially, Lydia actively searches and retrieves the toy, demonstrating her understanding that the toy continues to exist even though it is out of sight. This behavior is a significant developmental milestone, observed in infants as they begin to understand that objects have a constant existence, regardless of their visibility.What concept does Lydia's behavior illustrate, showing her cognitive growth in understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen or heard?

Object permanence