Test Bank for Psychology in Everyday
7th Edition by Myers, DeWall, Gruber
ISBN: 9781319567934
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
1. Statistics are important tools for psychologists. If you are using statistics, you are:
a. examining the qualitative characteristics of data.
b. conducting an in-depth analysis of a specific individual or case.
c. using mathematical methods to understand numerical information.
d. studying absolute truths rather than probabilities.
ANSWER: c
2. What is statistical literacy?
a. It helps people memorize scientific facts.
b. It allows people to do complicated math quickly.
c. It helps people understand what data means and make informed decisions.
d. It teaches people how to conduct vaccine trials.
ANSWER: c
3. What ironic pattern did Surgeon General Vivek Murthy point out about vaccinated and unvaccinated people?
a. Vaccinated people underestimated their risk, while unvaccinated people overestimated it.
b. Both groups refused to wear masks.
c. Unvaccinated people were more likely to get tested regularly.
d. Vaccinated people feared the virus more than unvaccinated people.
ANSWER: d
4. Annette believes that everyone should walk 10,000 steps a day to be healthy. She vaguely remembers reading this in the newspaper and is convinced that it is true. What would you suggest Annette do to confirm or disconfirm this information?
a. conduct her own study on this to confirm the information
b. try to find the source of the information so that she can quote it when sharing the information with others
c. make sure that she shares this valuable information with others
d. use critical thinking when presented with such round, undocumented numbers
ANSWER: d
5. What did NPR mistakenly imply about a 95 percent effective vaccine?
a. It prevents all disease in vaccinated people.
b. It offers better protection for older adults.
c. It gives everyone a 5 percent chance of getting the disease.
d. It increases the risk of illness for unvaccinated people by 15 percent.
ANSWER: c
6. Why is it misleading to report only what percent of sick or hospitalized people were vaccinated?
a. It ignores how contagious the disease is.
b. It doesn't account for long Covid symptoms.
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
c. It doesn't consider the total number of vaccinated versus unvaccinated people.
d. It assumes the vaccine works the same for all diseases.
ANSWER: c
7. In the 1990s, what major consequence followed the media coverage of increased blood clot risk from a contraceptive pill?
a. Women began exercising more.
b. Thousands of women stopped using the pill.
c. The contraceptive pill was banned.
d. Blood clot cases significantly declined.
ANSWER: b
8. Why was the "100 percent increased risk" of blood clots misleading in the 1990s contraceptive pill study described in the text?
a. The increased risk applied only to pregnant women.
b. The original risk was very low, so the increase was still small.
c. The study included only unhealthy women.
d. The data was from a different country.
ANSWER: b
9. What lesson should be learned from the public's reaction to the 1990s contraceptive pill study described in the text?
a. Medical procedures should not be publicly reported.
b. Big numbers should be ignored.
c. Risk should always be stated in relative terms only.
d. Statistical literacy helps prevent overreaction to misleading information.
ANSWER: d
10. Why is it problematic when people repeat "off-the-top-of-the-head" estimates like "10 percent of people are gay" or "we use only 10 percent of our brain"?
a. These figures are accurate but misinterpreted.
b. They are used to support political arguments.
c. They spread misinformation due to a lack of evidence and repetition.
d. They apply only to specific countries.
ANSWER: c
11. Researchers use descriptive statistics to:
a. organize their data.
b. interpret data from a small group to inform understanding of the larger population.
c. determine whether a sample's difference reflects a true population difference.
d. determine the statistical significance of their data.
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
ANSWER: a
12. Using statistical methods to provide a simple summary of data is called:
a. inferential statistics.
b. meta-analysis.
c. standard deviation.
d. descriptive statistics.
ANSWER: d
13. Professor Balantec has just finished collecting data on the relationship between weather changes and depression. What will she use to organize her data?
a. inferential statistics
b. the null hypothesis
c. descriptive statistics
d. measures of statistical significance
ANSWER: c
14. The percentage of students whose average grades fall into various performance levels could be represented by a:
a. standard deviation.
b. bar graph.
c. scatterplot.
d. correlation coefficient.
ANSWER: b
15. Ousmane is a graduate student and has just finished collecting data for a study he is conducting. What is the first thing Ousmane is likely to do?
a. He will organize the data using descriptive statistics.
b. He will analyze the data using correlational methods.
c. He will calculate a standard deviation.
d. He will analyze the data using inferential statistics.
ANSWER: a
16. Measures of central tendency are most useful for:
a. constructing scatterplots.
b. summarizing data with a single score.
c. random sampling.
d. preventing skewed distributions.
ANSWER: b
17. Elena is a college freshman taking an introductory statistics course. Her professor has assigned the class the task of organizing data on the relationship between level of income and happiness. What will Elena use to
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
summarize her data in a single score?
a. a measure of central tendency
b. inferential statistics
c. a measure of variation
d. meta-analysis
ANSWER: a
18. The mode, median, and mean are measures of:
a. central tendency.
b. variation.
c. correlation.
d. statistical significance.
ANSWER: a
19. The mode of a distribution of scores is the:
a. score exceeded by 50 percent of all the scores.
b. most frequently occurring score.
c. arithmetic average of all the scores.
d. difference between the highest and lowest scores.
ANSWER: b
20. Six students spent $10, $12, $5, $20, $12, and $8 on the movies they rented. The mode of their expenditures is:
a. $5.
b. $8.
c. $10.
d. $12.
ANSWER: d
21. The arithmetic average of a distribution of scores is the:
a. mode.
b. median.
c. standard deviation.
d. mean.
ANSWER: d
22. The most familiar measure of central tendency is the: a. mode.
b. mean.
c. median.
d. standard deviation.
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
ANSWER: b
23. Over the last few weeks, Mayet and Made each drank 10 sodas, while Dae-Seong drank 5, Latika drank 4, and Rui drank only 1. The mean number of soda drunk by these people was:
a. 5.
b. 6
c. 8.
d. 10.
ANSWER: b
24. In any distribution of scores, an equal number of scores are both greater than and less than:
a. the mode.
b. the mean.
c. the median.
d. any of these measures of central tendency.
ANSWER: c
25. There are 9 children in the Donegal family, ages 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. The median age of the Donegal children is:
a. 6.
b. 7.
c. 8.
d. 9.
ANSWER: c
26. Each year, Girl Scout troops sell a variety of cookies. This year, the seven members of a particular troop reported these person earnings from their sale of cookies: $5, $9, $4, $11, $6, $4, and $3. In this distribution of individual earnings, the:
a. median is greater than the mean and greater than the mode.
b. median is less than the mean and less than the mode.
c. median is greater than the mean and less than the mode.
d. median is less than the mean and greater than the mode.
ANSWER: d
27. The local junior dart league decided to sell tickets to their next tournament. Following are the earnings of each of the league's members: $7, $13, $3, $5, $2, $9, and $3. In this distribution of individual earnings, the:
a. mean is greater than the mode and greater than the median.
b. mean is equal to the mode and less than the median.
c. mean is greater than the mode and equal to the median.
d. mean is less than the mode and less than the median.
ANSWER: a
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
28. In a distribution of test scores, which measure of central tendency would likely be the most affected by a couple of extremely high scores?
a. median
b. mode
c. standard deviation
d. mean
ANSWER: d
29. The mode, median, and mean are most likely to have different values when they:
a. describe a skewed distribution.
b. are derived from a limited range of scores.
c. represent the central tendency of a random sample.
d. represent the central tendency of an entire population.
ANSWER: a
30. For which of these distributions of scores would the median most clearly be a more appropriate measure of central tendency than the mean?
a. 16, 28, 4, 8, 24
b. 9, 6, 9, 12, 9
c. 8, 9, 12, 11, 15
d. 6, 18, 4, 5, 2
ANSWER: d
31. What is most likely to happen to the mean when a data set includes a few extreme values?
a. It becomes more accurate.
b. It becomes less than the median.
c. It is biased by the outliers.
d. It always equals the mode.
ANSWER: c
32. At a small startup with 15 employees, most salaries range from $40,000 to $65,000. One day, the company hires a well-known tech executive at a $2.5 million salary. The HR director decides to report the company's "average salary" on the website using the mean. Which of these best describes the likely result of using the mean in this situation?
a. The reported average salary will reflect what most employees earn, because the mean is the most representative.
b. The average salary will appear much higher than most employees' salaries because the mean is sensitive to outliers.
c. The average salary will be lower than most employees' salaries because the mean excludes extreme values.
d. The reported average salary will be nearly the same as the median since the mean and median are equal in skewed data.
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
ANSWER: b
33. Variation focuses on range while central tendency focuses on:
a. median.
b. bar graph.
c. scatterplot.
d. correlation.
ANSWER: a
34. What is the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution?
a. mean
b. median
c. range
d. standard deviation
ANSWER: c
35. Maureen has decided to buy a new car. The lowest price advertised is $35,000 a year. The highest price advertised is $120,000. The difference between the lowest and highest prices is referred to as the:
a. mean.
b. median.
c. range.
d. standard deviation.
ANSWER: c
36. Which of these provides only a rough indication of the degree of variation among a set of scores?
a. correlation coefficient
b. scatterplot
c. range
d. median
ANSWER: c
37. The final history exam scores for six students are 74, 82, 85, 91, 94, and 97. For this distribution of scores, the range is:
a. 14.
b. 23.
c. 74.
d. 97.
ANSWER: b
38. Miriam and Lee are at least 25 years younger than the other members of their golf club. Which measure of variation of club members' ages is most affected by the ages of these two people?
a. standard deviation
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
b. mode
c. median
d. range
ANSWER: d
39. The standard deviation is a measure of:
a. central tendency.
b. variation.
c. statistical significance.
d. correlation.
ANSWER: b
40. To determine how many scores vary around the mean score, you would calculate the:
a. mode.
b. median.
c. range.
d. standard deviation.
ANSWER: d
41. The square root of the figure derived after dividing the sum of deviations from the mean squared by the total number of scores minus one is the formula for:
a. the mean.
b. the median.
c. the range.
d. standard deviation.
ANSWER: d
42. Dr. Montana's calculations showed that the standard deviation of her students' scores on the last geology exam was extremely small. This indicates that the:
a. test was given to a very small class of students.
b. test was a poor measure of the students' knowledge.
c. students generally performed very well on the test.
d. students' scores tended to be very similar to one another.
ANSWER: d
43. To calculate the numerical value of the standard deviation, it would be most reasonable to first compute the value of the:
a. mean.
b. mode.
c. correlation coefficient.
d. median.
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
ANSWER: a
44. The bell-shaped distribution of data is so typical in research that it is called a:
a. bar graph.
b. normal curve.
c. range.
d. standard deviation.
ANSWER: b
45. A normal curve would be LEAST likely to characterize a large random sample of:
a. body heights.
b. intelligence scores.
c. family incomes.
d. life expectancies.
ANSWER: c
46. On average, Junela's bus arrives at her bus stop on time, although sometimes it is early or late. If the arrival times are distributed on a normal curve, which of these statistics would enable Junela to estimate the probability that her bus will arrive within 5 minutes of its scheduled arrival time on any given day?
a. median
b. mean
c. standard deviation
d. correlation coefficient
ANSWER: c
47. Approximately 68 percent of the cases represented by the normal curve fall within:
a. 1 standard deviation of the mean.
b. 2 standard deviations of the mean.
c. 3 standard deviations of the mean.
d. 34 standard deviations of the mean.
ANSWER: a
48. Approximately what percentage of the cases represented by the normal curve fall between –2 and +2 standard deviations from the mean?
a. 34
b. 68
c. 95
d. 100
ANSWER: c
49. If IQ scores are normally distributed, having a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, approximately what percentage of people have IQ scores between 85 and 115?
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
a. 34
b. 50
c. 68
d. 95
ANSWER: c
50. If IQ scores are normally distributed, having a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, approximately what percentage of people have IQ scores between 55 and 145?
a. 34
b. 68
c. 95
d. 100
ANSWER: d
51. If a set of standardized test scores is normally distributed, having a mean of 85 and a standard deviation of 8, approximately 95 percent of the scores are somewhere between:
a. 82 and 88.
b. 85 and 101.
c. 79 and 91.
d. 69 and 101.
ANSWER: d
52. Anything that can vary and is practical and ethical to measure is referred to as a:
a. correlation.
b. variable.
c. coefficient.
d. range.
ANSWER: b
53. Asking how closely related the personality test scores for identical twins are would be the same as asking how strongly two:
a. means are related.
b. standard deviations are related.
c. modes are related.
d. variables are related.
ANSWER: d
54. Dr. DeWall is studying the relationship between students' age and satisfaction with their psychology course. Which of these is a variable in this study?
a. students' age
b. Dr. DeWall
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
c. psychology course
d. room location
ANSWER: a
55. For his term paper, Iputu is conducting a study of the relationship between video game playing and substance use. Which type of statistic would be best for this type of research study?
a. inferential statistics
b. a correlation
c. range
d. a score distribution
ANSWER: b
56. A correlation coefficient is a statistical index of the:
a. difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.
b. direction and strength of the relationship between two things.
c. statistical significance of a difference between two sample means.
d. frequency of scores at each level of some measure.
ANSWER: b
57. Dr. Lin studies the relationship between hours of sleep and students' academic performance. After analyzing data from 200 college students, she calculates a correlation coefficient of r = –0.62. Which of these statements best interprets this finding?
a. Students who sleep more tend to perform worse in school, and the strong correlation confirms that sleep reduces academic performance.
b. Students who sleep more tend to have better grades, but the relationship is weak and possibly due to chance.
c. Students who study more tend to sleep less, and the negative correlation means one variable caused the other.
d. Students who sleep less tend to perform better in school, but the correlation does not indicate causation.
ANSWER: d
58. A scatterplot graphically depicts the:
a. standard deviation of a distribution of scores.
b. arithmetic average of a distribution of scores.
c. total population from which samples may be drawn.
d. degree of relationship between two variables.
ANSWER: d
59. If the points on a scatterplot form a linear slope that extends from lower left to upper right, this would suggest that the two variables depicted are:
a. normally distributed.
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
b. positively correlated.
c. negatively correlated.
d. not correlated.
ANSWER: b
60. A negative correlation indicates:
a. a direct relationship in which two sets of scores increase together or decrease together.
b. an inverse relationship in which scores for one variable increase as scores for another variable decrease.
c. a measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.
d. the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.
ANSWER: b
61. Dr. Laghari has constructed a scatterplot showing the relationship between the height and weight measurements of 1000 randomly selected people. The points on the scatterplot are most likely clustered in a pattern that:
a. resembles a U-shaped curve.
b. extends from the upper left to the lower right of the scatterplot.
c. resembles a bell-shaped curve.
d. extends from the lower left to the upper right of the scatterplot.
ANSWER: d
62. Minerva's scatterplot shows the relationship between people's self-esteem and their feelings of depression. The points on the scatterplot are most likely clustered in a pattern that:
a. resembles a bell-shaped curve.
b. extends from the upper left to the lower right.
c. resembles a U-shaped curve.
d. extends from the lower left to the upper right.
ANSWER: b
63. Knowing a person's level of education would allow you to predict their annual income if the correlation coefficient was:
a. +0.52.
b. –0.05.
c. +0.15.
d. –0.45.
ANSWER: a
64. Which of these correlation coefficients expresses the strongest degree of relationship between two variables?
a. +0.20
b. –0.57
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
c. –0.20
d. +0.49
ANSWER: b
65. Ishan is absolutely sure that he will influence the roll of the dice if he throws the dice hard for low numbers and gently for high numbers. Ishan's belief best illustrates:
a. regression toward the mean.
b. a normal curve.
c. an illusion of control.
d. a scatterplot.
ANSWER: c
66. The perception of a relationship between two variables that does not exist is called:
a. an illusory correlation.
b. a positive correlation.
c. a negative correlation.
d. regression toward the mean.
ANSWER: a
67. Which of these scenarios best illustrates an illusory correlation?
a. A manager claims they "knew all along" which employee would quit after the resignation is announced.
b. A person who feels anxious during storms remembers every time a storm preceded a stressful life event but forgets the many uneventful ones.
c. A researcher insists their survey results are valid because they personally conducted in-person interviews.
d. A teacher believes students perform better on tests after eating breakfast after comparing test results when they did not have breakfast.
ANSWER: b
68. The tendency for extreme or unusual scores or events to fall back near the average score is called:
a. the standard deviation.
b. the normal curve.
c. regression toward the mean.
d. illusory correlation.
ANSWER: c
69. After receiving an unusually low score on their test, students study the same amount for the second test and earn a much higher score. This improvement is best explained by:
a. hindsight bias.
b. regression toward the mean.
c. overconfidence.
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
d. the placebo effect.
ANSWER: b
70. Unusual ESP participants who defy chance when first tested nearly always lose their "psychic powers" when retested. This decline is best explained in terms of:
a. illusory correlation.
b. regression toward the mean.
c. the standard deviation.
d. the normal curve.
ANSWER: b
71. Which of these best illustrates the concept of regression toward the mean?
a. After missing a key shot in a game, Demetri practiced obsessively to improve their skills and performed better the next game.
b. Although Aiguo once made three touchdowns during a championship college football game, he was later unable to beat or match this record no matter how hard he tried.
c. Connie believed her lucky socks helped her win a marathon race and insisted on wearing them before every competition.
d. After performing poorly on their midterm exam, Lillian assumes she must not be smart and avoided studying for future exams.
ANSWER: b
72. According to research on regression toward the mean, what often happens after an extremely good or bad performance?
a. It usually shifts back closer to the person's average performance.
b. It leads to long-term improvement or decline.
c. It tends to repeat.
d. It disappears entirely.
ANSWER: a
73. Which of these scenarios best illustrates how regression toward the mean can mislead us about the effects of praise or criticism?
a. A parent observes their child studying more after they removed the child's phone, so they believe that punishment causes motivation.
b. A runner sets a personal best time for the marathon after wearing new shoes and now wears them at every race for good luck.
c. A teacher encourages students to try harder after a difficult exam, and the next exam scores improve drastically.
d. A boss commends an employee for outstanding work but is surprised when they perform poorly the next time and assumes the commendation made the employee overconfident.
ANSWER: d
74. The use of statistical methods to interpret data meaningfully is called:
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
a. a cross-sectional study.
b. inferential statistics.
c. a longitudinal study.
d. descriptive statistics.
ANSWER: b
75. Statistical significance refers to whether research:
a. variables are causally related.
b. participants were randomly assigned to particular conditions.
c. findings are due to chance variations.
d. results add support to previous findings.
ANSWER: c
76. What does it mean if a result is statistically significant?
a. The sample was chosen randomly.
b. The sample's difference likely reflects a real population difference, not chance.
c. The result must be accurate and replicable.
d. The sample size was large enough to avoid any errors.
ANSWER: b
77. Dr. Farmingdale wants to know whether the best instructors are people over 50 or people under 50. Using a representative sample of instructors, Dr. Farmingdale finds that 67 percent of the best instructors are over 50. Dr. Farmingdale's findings are statistically significant because they:
a. did not occur by chance.
b. involved use of a scatterplot.
c. were carefully selected.
d. centered on mostly 50-year-old instructors.
ANSWER: a
78. Bhoumik is responsible for keeping the local park clean. After one picnic group of 16-year-olds leaves trash behind, he concludes that most teens are irresponsible. Bhoumik should be reminded that accurate generalizations require:
a. an awareness of regression toward the mean.
b. constructing a scatterplot.
c. the use of representative samples.
d. selecting samples from skewed populations.
ANSWER: c
79. We can most accurately estimate the mean of a population if a sample is:
a. large in size and low in variability.
b. small in size and high in variability.
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
c. large in size and high in variability.
d. small in size and low in variability.
ANSWER: a
80. The average scores of two samples taken from the same population are most likely to differ if:
a. both samples are small.
b. the samples have small standard deviations.
c. the sample sizes differ.
d. the sample means are close to their medians.
ANSWER: a
81. Nik, a member of their school's golf team, has an opportunity to play against a nationally acclaimed professional golfer. How many holes of golf should Nik choose to play with the professional in order to maximize their own slim chances of winning?
a. 9
b. 18
c. 27
d. 36
ANSWER: a
82. If half the students at Simmons University have blue eyes, which of these events is most probable?
a. In a class of 15 students, 80 percent or more have blue eyes.
b. In a class of 30 students, 80 percent or more have blue eyes.
c. In a class of 45 students, 80 percent or more have blue eyes.
d. All of these answers are equally probable.
ANSWER: a
83. As the size of a sample increases, the size of the standard deviation is most likely to:
a. increase.
b. decrease.
c. remain the same.
d. vary randomly.
ANSWER: b
84. One of the best ways to infer a population difference from a sample difference is to:
a. make sure that the sample has a standard mean.
b. conduct a meta-analysis.
c. create a bar graph.
d. do a correlational analysis.
ANSWER: b
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
85. Which of these practices would provide the most reliable estimate of a population trend?
a. interviewing a few memorable people with extreme views
b. conducting a single, small-sample survey
c. combining data from several large studies to look for consistent patterns
d. selecting cases from social media for anecdotal insights
ANSWER: c
86. Which situation best illustrates the risk of drawing conclusions from a small, unrepresentative sample?
a. A student visits two classes at one university and assumes all teachers there are excellent.
b. A university analyzes 5 years of course evaluations to assess faculty performance.
c. A researcher uses meta-analysis to combine results from multiple schools.
d. A teacher uses an anonymous end-of-term survey to gauge overall satisfaction.
ANSWER: a
87. Research in which people of different ages are compared with one another at one time is a:
a. scatterplot.
b. cross-sectional study.
c. regression toward the mean.
d. longitudinal study.
ANSWER: b
88. To test for age differences in verbal intelligence, at the beginning of the school year, Professor Pennington gave the same vocabulary test to groups of children who were 9, 11, 13, and 15 years of age. This procedure best illustrates a:
a. scatterplot.
b. longitudinal study.
c. standard deviation.
d. cross-sectional study.
ANSWER: d
89. Research in which the same group is tested and retested over a period of years is a:
a. cross-sectional study.
b. scatterplot.
c. longitudinal study.
d. regression toward the mean.
ANSWER: c
90. Professors Jimenez and Shapiro want to know the relationship between family income and intelligence, so they tested and retested a group of children from the time they were 5 until they reached the age of 40. They were clearly conducting a:
a. longitudinal study.
b. correlation coefficient.
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
c. cross-sectional study.
d. regression toward the mean.
ANSWER: a
91. With use of cross-sectional studies to assess the effect of aging on adults' mental abilities, it is especially important to consider the impact of:
a. the standard deviation between generations.
b. educational differences between generations.
c. scatterplots between generations.
d. skewed distributions between generations.
ANSWER: b
92. What is a limitation of longitudinal studies of intelligence in aging?
a. Participants often refuse to answer difficult questions.
b. These intelligence studies are biased toward younger adults.
c. Only the healthiest and most intelligent participants tend to survive to the end of these studies.
d. Researchers usually forget to track participants past age 70.
ANSWER: c
93. Which of these best illustrates a potential confounding factor in a cross-sectional study comparing 30-yearolds and 70-year-olds on a vocabulary test?
a. The 70-year-olds have higher blood pressure due to aging.
b. The 30-year-olds are more likely to guess randomly on unfamiliar items.
c. The 70-year-olds had less access to higher education when they were young.
d. The 30-year-olds completed the test online, while the older adults took it on paper.
ANSWER: c
94. What is the null hypothesis in statistical testing?
a. the assumption that a large difference exists between two groups
b. the assumption that two groups are equal and no difference exists
c. the belief that a sample reflects a biased population
d. the prediction that results will always be statistically significant
ANSWER: b
95. Dr. Heider is studying the differences in athletic ability between tall and short people. What would be his null hypothesis?
a. There is no difference in athletic ability between tall and short people.
b. There is a difference in athletic ability between tall and short people.
c. Tall people have greater athletic ability than short people.
d. Short people have greater athletic ability than tall people.
ANSWER: a
Appendix A - Multiple Choice
96. Professor Probert conducted a study comparing level of self-efficacy among young and older adults. The young adults were observed to exhibit a lower average level of self-efficacy than a random sample of older adults. To assess the likelihood that this observed difference reflects a real difference in the average selfefficacy of the total population of young and older adults, you should:
a. construct a scatterplot.
b. calculate a correlation coefficient.
c. plot the distribution of self-esteem levels among all men and women.
d. conduct a test of statistical significance.
ANSWER: d
97. An observed difference between two sample groups is more likely to be statistically significant if:
a. the observed difference is small.
b. the sample groups are small.
c. the amount of variability in each of the sample groups is small.
d. both samples are drawn from the same population.
ANSWER: c
98. The size of the difference found between groups in a research study is referred to as the:
a. effect size.
b. meta-analysis.
c. statistical significance.
d. null hypothesis.
ANSWER: a
99. Dr. Toussaint is studying the difference in mathematical academic achievement between girls and boys in high school. He has collected data from thousands of students across the country and has found that there is practical importance between boys' and girls' scores, with girls performing two points higher (out of 100) than boys, on average. While his findings are statistically significant, they lack:
a. reliability.
b. validity.
c. a clear relationship.
d. practical significance.
ANSWER: d
Chapter 1 - Essay
1. An online news story claims that subtle differences between the body odors of male and female infants enable women to correctly identify the sex of a baby solely on the basis of their smell. Describe how critical thinking and the scientific attitude would enable you to think effectively about this claim.
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2. Outline the three key aspects of a scientific attitude and provide an example of each.
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3. Briefly outline the history of psychology by highlighting key early pioneers in the field. Include major theorists such as Wilhelm Wundt, William James, Sigmund Freud, and others, summarizing their contributions in a few sentences.
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4. Compare and contrast behaviorism, Freudian psychology, and humanistic psychology.
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5. Describe how psychology has changed since its early origins as the study of mental processes to the science it is today.
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6. How were women first treated in the male-dominated field of psychology? Give specific examples. How has the treatment of women in the field changed over time?
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7. Minerva has decided that she does not want to major in psychology because she thinks it involves only clinical work with people who have behavior disorders. Use your knowledge of psychology's perspectives and subfields to expand Minerva's misperceptions about career opportunities for psychologists.
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8. Compare and contrast some of the subfields of psychology that are most likely to involve basic research. ANSWER:
9. Compare and contrast the subfields of psychology that are most likely to involve applied research.
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10. Julio is an industrial-organizational psychologist. Briefly compare Julio's focus with that of Sheldon, who is a cognitive psychologist.
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11. Riza is in the third grade. He is frequently disruptive in class when he isn't daydreaming about play after school. Describe how a biopsychosocial approach might provide both an integrated explanation of Riza's classroom behavior and practical suggestions for helping Riza to cope more effectively with the challenges he faces.
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Chapter 1 - Essay
12. Explain how the nature–nurture issue is debated in the field of psychology.
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13. Outline how our visual system is a dual-processing system.
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14. Discuss the differences and similarities between clinical psychology and counseling psychology.
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15. Thirty-year-old Onyx has been experiencing persistent anxiety and difficulties coping with daily stress. Onyx wants to seek professional help, but does not know which type of specialist would be most appropriate. Demonstrate how a counseling psychologist, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, and community psychologist would approach Onyx's situation. Be sure to explain how each professional's role, perspective, and treatment method would differ in helping Onyx manage their anxiety.
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16. Professor Xi explains that she is a positive psychologist. Describe what that means.
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17. When your best friend hears that you are taking a psychology course, she asserts that psychology is simply common sense. Using your understanding of the limitations of everyday reasoning and the methods used in psychological research, explain why you would disagree with your friend's assertion.
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18. Hindsight bias can distort our perception of past events and influence decision-making. Critically analyze how hindsight bias can impact research in psychology, particularly in areas such as data interpretation or case study analysis. Illustrate your point with specific examples.
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19. Describe how overconfidence and the tendency to perceive order in random events can lead to faulty judgments and inaccurate conclusions. Provide specific examples to illustrate how these cognitive biases impact our judgments.
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20. Dionata believes that the U.S. crime rate is rising. Discuss four ways in which misperceptions, such as this, are so readily accepted by most people.
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21. Compare and contrast the differences between debunking and prebunking in combating falsehoods. Provide real-world examples to illustrate their application and discuss the challenges psychologists face in implementing these strategies.
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22. Discuss the value of a theory and the testable hypotheses it produces.
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Chapter 1 - Essay
23. Describe why replication is an essential step in psychological research.
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24. Define preregistration and explain how it enhances transparency in psychological research.
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25. Choose a research topic that might lend itself well to a case study. Demonstrate why this method is well suited to your topic. Describe the unique insights that your case study could provide. Also describe the limitations of case studies, and how you would take account of these limitations in your research.
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26. Professor Younis wants to examine children's classroom behavior in relation to their peers. Illustrate how he would use naturalistic observation in his research.
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27. Stephanie is a graduate student who is preparing a survey for her thesis. Her survey will assess healthcompromising behaviors among college students, such as drug and alcohol use. Demonstrate how specific wording choices might lead to biased responses. Produce a set of guidelines that Stephanie can use to ensure her survey questions are neutrally framed and do not influence participant answers.
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28. Imagine that you are a researcher. Outline a study that you might want to conduct using correlation to determine if a relationship exists between your variables. Identify your variables. What kind of relationship would you expect to find between the variables you selected?
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29. Define what a positive and negative correlation is and provide an example of each.
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30. We know that correlations do not provide cause-effect explanations. Give an example of a correlation, and explain why it does not demonstrate cause and effect.
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31. Speaking at a university seminar, Professor Salaya compared college and university graduates with adults with a high school education. She correctly noted that people with a college or university degree pay more taxes, are more likely to vote, and engage in more volunteer activities in their communities than less-educated adults. The professor concluded that colleges and universities obviously do great things for society. Demonstrate how one might reasonably challenge the way the professor reached her conclusion.
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32. Design an experiment to test whether drinking alcohol influences people's tendency to become socially aggressive. Be sure to specify your experimental hypothesis and identify your dependent and independent variables, as well as your experimental and control conditions. Identify any experimental procedures that would help to ensure the reliability of your research.
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Chapter 1 - Essay
33. Researchers have developed a new drug for children with ADHD. Describe the placebo effect and how it might influence the children participating in a study testing this drug.
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34. Describe the differences between independent and dependent variables and illustrate these concepts by designing a hypothetical psychological study, clearly identifying each variable. Discuss potential confounding variables that could impact the results.
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35. Dr. Palma plans to study whether parental attention and caring is related, if at all, to adolescent risky behavior. Illustrate how different research methods (e.g., experimental, correlational, descriptive) could be used and describe the key factors he should consider when selecting the most appropriate design. Produce a justified recommendation for the research method that would provide the most reliable results.
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36. The text explains that experimental researchers use simplified lab conditions to illuminate human behavior in everyday life. Identify some of those noted in the text, and discuss why you think they successfully apply theoretical principles.
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37. To investigate the impact of alcohol consumption on sexual arousal, researchers plan to give experimental participants either an alcoholic or a nonalcoholic drink just prior to their watching a sexually arousing movie. Describe the appropriate ethical guidelines that the researchers would need to meet in order to conduct this study.
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38. Discuss the negative effects of the 1998 fraudulent study of the effects of the MMR vaccine, then explain how scientific scrutiny may come to the rescue.
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39. Professor Fernandes is studying the effects of a person's culture on whether the person is a conformist or independent. Discuss how the professor's work is affected by his values.
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40. How might the application of psychological principles improve your own life?
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41. Illustrate how you can use the SQ3R method for this course.
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Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
1. Who was the first to theorize about learning and memory, motivation and emotion, and perception and personality?
a. Wundt
b. James
c. Aristotle
d. Washburn
ANSWER: c
2. Which naturalist and philosopher suggested that the source of our personality is the heart?
a. Wundt
b. Darwin
c. Aristotle
d. James
ANSWER: c
3. How do psychologists today seek to understand human behavior, thoughts, and emotions?
a. philosophically
b. hypothetically
c. randomly
d. scientifically
ANSWER: d
4. Questioning whether certain research findings are believable based on existing evidence best illustrates:
a. critical thinking.
b. naturalistic observation.
c. a psychodynamic perspective.
d. the biopsychosocial approach.
ANSWER: a
5. A refusal to consider evidence that might conflict with your personal opinion best illustrates a lack of:
a. a psychodynamic perspective.
b. critical thinking.
c. culture.
d. dual processing.
ANSWER: b
6. Professor Arnaz has used correlational research to examine the relationship between drinking alcohol and mental illness. His findings reveal a strong correlation between the variables, concluding that drinking alcohol causes mental illness. As a critical thinker, what is the most appropriate response to Professor Arnaz's conclusion?
a. question the validity of drawing this conclusion from correlational evidence
b. accept the correlation as evidence of causation
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
c. disregard the findings, since correlational research is unreliable
d. completely redesign his study to ensure validity
ANSWER: a
7. Ivan is discussing self-driving cars with Bassem. Ivan is convinced that self-driving cars are more dangerous. Bassem believes that self-driving cars are less dangerous but is open to the possibility that he could be wrong. Who is most likely to engage in critical thinking?
a. Ivan
b. Bassem
c. both Ivan and Bassem
d. neither Ivan nor Bassem
ANSWER: b
8. Lizbeth is concerned about pollution and its effects on the planet. She has read several news articles, paying careful attention to the content in the articles and the sources of the information. She has also reviewed information that seems contrary to her view. She is involved in:
a. critical thinking.
b. skepticism.
c. making assumptions.
d. sharing false information.
ANSWER: a
9. A questioning attitude regarding psychologists' assumptions and hidden values best illustrates:
a. behaviorism.
b. critical thinking.
c. a biopsychosocial approach.
d. Freudian psychology.
ANSWER: b
10. As scientists, psychologists adopt an attitude of skepticism because they believe that:
a. people are unlikely to reveal what they are really thinking.
b. most commonsense ideas about human behavior are wrong.
c. unproven claims about human behavior need to be tested.
d. people usually have hidden motives for acting.
ANSWER: c
11. Valerie tells her brother that she can read people's minds. Her brother, however, insists that Valerie has no evidence to support her claim. Valerie's brother best illustrates the scientific attitude of:
a. pride.
b. skepticism.
c. practicality.
d. introspection.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
ANSWER: b
12. Recognizing that our explanations for our own and others' behaviors may be incorrect best illustrates an element of the scientific attitude known as:
a. practicality.
b. self-control.
c. humility.
d. curiosity.
ANSWER: c
13. Three key elements of the scientific attitude are:
a. pride, enthusiasm, and ingenuity.
b. ingenuity, practicality, and certainty.
c. certainty, creativity, and curiosity.
d. curiosity, skepticism, and humility.
ANSWER: d
14. Putting a scientific attitude into practice requires humility as well as:
a. enhanced critical thinking.
b. a biopsychosocial approach.
c. curiosity and skepticism.
d. functionalism.
ANSWER: c
15. Professor Kimmons realizes that researchers may err as a result of personal bias. The professor is expressing:
a. enhanced critical thinking.
b. a lack of curiosity.
c. increased skepticism.
d. an attitude of humility.
ANSWER: d
16. A desire to use data to evaluate predictions is related to:
a. structuralism.
b. curiosity.
c. functionalism.
d. humility.
ANSWER: b
17. One of psychology's early mottos was "The rat is always right." Which aspect of the scientific attitude did this represent?
a. humility
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
b. cynicism
c. curiosity
d. skepticism
ANSWER: a
18. After years of teaching kindergarten, Farah wonders if attending preschool prepares children's language development compared to those who do not attend preschool. Farah questions if the more vocal children in her classroom are that way due to the fact that they attended preschool or if it's due to other factors. After observing students and gathering parent input, Farah found mixed results with no clear conclusion. In Farah's series of thinking, which process best reflects the attitude of skepticism?
a. questioning whether attending preschool enhances a child's language
b. considering if Farah's more vocal children were influenced by preschool or other factors
c. observing her students and asking parents questions
d. finding that her results are mixed and that she does not have a clear answer
ANSWER: b
19. Researchers investigate whether screen time affects a child's attention span. Before conducting a large-scale study, they design an introductory experiment to test their research methods. After analyzing the initial results, they realize that their measurement tools may not accurately measure attention span. Which of these actions best demonstrates the scientific attitude of humility in their research process?
a. realizing that their measurement tools may not be accurate in measuring attention span
b. critically evaluating their methods, questioning whether their findings are valid
c. ignoring unexpected findings and continuing with their original hypothesis
d. accepting their findings as proof that screen time impacts attention span and reporting the findings to colleagues
ANSWER: a
20. The first psychological laboratory was established by:
a. John B. Watson.
b. Wilhelm Wundt.
c. Sigmund Freud.
d. Jean Piaget.
ANSWER: b
21. Who created an experimental apparatus that measured how long it took for people to press a telegraph key after hearing a ball hit a platform?
a. Wilhelm Wundt
b. Ivan Pavlov
c. Sigmund Freud
d. John B. Watson
ANSWER: a
Name: Class:
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
22. Wilhelm Wundt measured how long it took people to press a telegraph key after hearing a ball hit a platform in order to measure:
a. human perception.
b. biopsychosocial events.
c. the fastest and simplest mental processes.
d. critical thinking.
ANSWER: c
23. Zafer is a psychologist who focuses on the elements of mental experiences. Zafer's school of thought is referred to as:
a. functionalism.
b. structuralism.
c. behaviorism.
d. humanism.
ANSWER: b
24. Lumi is a psychologist who focuses on the study of internal states and what they do. Lumi's school of thought is referred to as:
a. functionalism.
b. structuralism.
c. behaviorism.
d. humanism.
ANSWER: a
25. Bogdan is studying how young children learn the alphabet so he can develop the most useful technique for teaching them. Four different research studies are conducted, each approaching the topic from a different psychological perspective. Which study best reflects the cognitive approach?
a. a study examining how children's self-esteem influences their ability to learn the alphabet
b. a study measuring brain activity in children as they recognize and pronounce letters, using brain scans
c. a study analyzing how children process and recall letter sequences, focusing on memory and learning strategies
d. a study exploring how learning the alphabet helps children adapt to their social environment in the school setting
ANSWER: c
26. Psychology developed from many disciplines and countries. For example, was an American philosopher and was an Austrian physician.
a. Wilhelm Wundt; Ivan Pavlov
b. William James; Sigmund Freud
c. B. F. Skinner; John B. Watson
d. Abraham Maslow; Carl Rogers
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
ANSWER: b
27. The birth of psychology is often attributed to Wilhelm Wundt because he pioneered the investigation of mental processes by:
a. using a biopsychosocial approach.
b. adopting an evolutionary perspective.
c. advocating positive psychology.
d. conducting the first psychological experiment.
ANSWER: d
28. Ivan Pavlov pioneered the study of:
a. learning.
b. perception.
c. personality.
d. mental illness.
ANSWER: a
29. Which female scholar was denied a formal Ph.D. degree despite outscoring all male students on the Ph.D. exams at Harvard University in the late nineteenth century?
a. Margaret Floy Washburn
b. Rosalie Rayner
c. Mary Whiton Calkins
d. Anna Freud
ANSWER: c
30. The first woman to receive a Ph.D. in psychology later wrote an influential book, The Animal Mind Her name was:
a. Mary Whiton Calkins.
b. Rosalie Rayner.
c. Margaret Floy Washburn.
d. Jean Piaget.
ANSWER: c
31. Which woman psychologist was the first to officially earn a doctorate degree?
a. Margaret Floy Washburn
b. Mary Whiton Calkins
c. Anna Freud
d. Marla Wundt
ANSWER: a
32. Who was a student of William James and the first female president of the American Psychological Association?
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
a. Jean Piaget
b. Margaret Floy Washburn
c. Rosalie Rayner
d. Mary Whiton Calkins
ANSWER: d
33. Who promoted the school of thought in psychology known as structuralism?
a. William James
b. Wilhelm Wundt
c. Margaret Floy Washburn
d. Mary Whiton Calkins
ANSWER: b
34. Which school of thought in psychology focused on the components and organization of the human mind?
a. functionalism
b. behaviorism
c. structuralism
d. humanism
ANSWER: c
35. The English naturalist whose thinking about species variation led to evolutionary psychology was:
a. Ivan Pavlov.
b. Charles Darwin.
c. John B. Watson.
d. Carl Rogers.
ANSWER: b
36. Which early school of thought in psychology focused on how the mind works?
a. behaviorism
b. functionalism
c. structuralism
d. humanism
ANSWER: b
37. Who promoted the early school of thought in psychology referred to as functionalism?
a. Wilhelm Wundt
b. William James
c. Margaret Floy Washburn
d. Mary Whiton Calkins
ANSWER: b
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
38. A functionalist psychologist is studying problem solving in toddlers. Based on the principles of functionalism, which of these research questions best aligns with this perspective?
a. How does problem solving in toddlers help them adapt to their environment and improve their chances of survival?
b. How does brain activity change when toddlers engage in problem-solving tasks?
c. What unconscious motives drive toddlers to solve problems in specific ways?
d. How do toddlers' emotional needs influence their approach to problem solving?
ANSWER: a
39. Who was the American philosopher who wrote psychology's first textbook in 1890?
a. Wilhelm Wundt
b. John B. Watson
c. Sigmund Freud
d. William James
ANSWER: d
40. Kumar asked, "How does short-term memory help individuals adapt to new environments and solve everyday problems?" Kumar's school of thought would best be described as:
a. behaviorism.
b. functionalism.
c. structuralism.
d. humanism.
ANSWER: b
41. In which of these events would a behaviorist be most interested?
a. A woman feels nervous when she approaches the street where she was mugged.
b. A child learns not to grab toys from other children.
c. A man has a dream about his childhood home.
d. A teenager experiences the first stirrings of sexual attraction.
ANSWER: b
42. The view that psychology should be an objective science that studies observable human activity without reference to mental processes is known as:
a. behaviorism.
b. cognitivism.
c. humanistic psychology.
d. positive psychology.
ANSWER: a
43. Observing and recording people's behavior as they are being conditioned is a central interest of:
a. Freudian psychology.
b. humanistic psychology.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
c. behaviorism.
d. cognitivism.
ANSWER: c
44. Beverly wants to understand how children respond to being pushed and whether their reactions stem from past experiences or other factors. To investigate, she observes and records their behavior while also interviewing parents. Which part of Beverly's approach reflects a behaviorist perspective?
a. observing and taking notes
b. questioning if reactions are shaped by past experiences
c. being curious about children's responses to being pushed
d. interviewing parents
ANSWER: a
45. Who dismissed the scientific study of mental life and redefined psychology as "the scientific study of observable behavior"?
a. Watson and Skinner
b. Freud and James
c. Wundt and Piaget
d. Rogers and Maslow
ANSWER: a
46. Beginning in the 1920s, American psychologists such as John B. Watson emphasized the study of:
a. genetic influences.
b. self-esteem.
c. conscious thoughts and feelings.
d. observable behavior.
ANSWER: d
47. John B. Watson was an American:
a. psychiatrist.
b. behaviorist.
c. cognitive neuroscientist.
d. structuralist.
ANSWER: b
48. B. F. Skinner was a prominent American: a. psychiatrist.
b. behaviorist.
c. cognitive neuroscientist.
d. behavior geneticist.
ANSWER: b
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
49. Which research approach best reflects behaviorism?
a. examining the genetic factors that influence a dog's sense of smell
b. studying the thoughts and emotions of dog owners when training their pets
c. training a dog to dig and paw when it detects the odor of a drug
d. conducting interviews with trainers about their experiences with dog behavior
ANSWER: c
50. Which of these is a conditioned behavior that can be observed?
a. anxiety
b. intelligence
c. depression
d. crying
ANSWER: d
51. Early behaviorists such as John B. Watson would have considered the study of conscious self-awareness to be:
a. applied research.
b. a positive psychology.
c. an unscientific method.
d. a biopsychosocial approach.
ANSWER: c
52. The mind's defense against its own unconscious drives and conflicts and childhood experiences were of special interest to:
a. John B. Watson.
b. Charles Darwin.
c. Sigmund Freud.
d. B. F. Skinner.
ANSWER: c
53. Which major force in psychology emphasized unconscious sexual conflicts?
a. evolutionary psychology
b. psychoanalytic psychology
c. behavior genetics
d. behaviorism
ANSWER: b
54. Who developed psychoanalytic psychology?
a. John B. Watson
b. Sigmund Freud
c. B. F. Skinner
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
d. William James
ANSWER: b
55. Amanda dedicates most of her time to working with community outreach programs. While discussing her motivations, a friend speculates that her commitment to helping others may stem from deeper, underlying personal struggles. This interpretation aligns most closely with which psychological perspective?
a. the study of adaptive behaviors shaped by natural selection
b. the examination of neural activity associated with thought and behavior
c. the analysis of learned behaviors through reinforcement and conditioning
d. the exploration of unconscious drives and internal conflict shaping behavior
ANSWER: d
56. Minerva believes that our behavior is affected by our unconscious mind and childhood experiences. Minerva most likely adheres to the views of:
a. humanistic psychology.
b. psychoanalytic psychology.
c. cognitive psychology.
d. behaviorism.
ANSWER: b
57. Humanistic psychologists such as emphasized human growth potential.
a. Wundt and Washburn
b. Freud and James
c. Rogers and Maslow
d. Watson and Skinner
ANSWER: c
58. Which school of thought in the 1960s most clearly emphasized the importance of satisfying our needs for love and acceptance?
a. behaviorism
b. cognitive neuroscience
c. evolutionary psychology
d. humanistic psychology
ANSWER: d
59. Humanistic psychologists focused attention on the importance of people's:
a. childhood memories.
b. genetic predispositions.
c. unconscious thought processes.
d. growth potential.
ANSWER: d
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
60. Dr. Calash's client is experiencing difficulties in their relationship with their parents. As a humanistic psychologist, Dr. Calash is most likely to approach therapy by:
a. encouraging the client to explore their feelings and strive for personal growth.
b. using various reinforcement techniques to modify the client's behaviors.
c. examining the client's personality traits to determine how they influence relationships.
d. encouraging the client to remember things about their past that make them happy.
ANSWER: a
61. One of the last century's most influential observers of children was the Swiss biologist:
a. Charles Darwin.
b. Margaret Floy Washburn.
c. William James.
d. Jean Piaget.
ANSWER: d
62. Cognitive psychology is best defined as the:
a. psychological perspective that emphasizes human growth potential.
b. science of behavior and mental processes.
c. view that psychology should be an objective science that studies observable behavior.
d. study of the mental processes involved in perceiving, learning, remembering, thinking, communicating, and solving problems.
ANSWER: d
63. The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with mental activities such as perception, thinking, memory, and language is called:
a. behavior genetics.
b. positive psychology.
c. cognitive neuroscience.
d. clinical psychology.
ANSWER: c
64. In the 1960s, the cognitive revolution in psychology led the field back to its early interest in:
a. how the mind processes and retains information.
b. hereditary influences on human behavior.
c. sexual conflicts occurring in the unconscious mind.
d. how children learn behaviors.
ANSWER: a
65. The study of the mental activities involved in perceiving, learning, remembering, thinking, communicating, and solving problems is most central to:
a. clinical psychology.
b. humanistic psychology.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
c. evolutionary psychology.
d. cognitive psychology.
ANSWER: d
66. Professor Goshaw studies how we remember information and how thinking and emotion interact in anxiety and depression. Professor Goshaw's area of specialization is:
a. humanistic psychology.
b. cognitive psychology.
c. personality psychology.
d. behaviorism.
ANSWER: b
67. Dr. Goldman is studying the brain regions that are active when a person speaks, so she can help those who have difficulty speaking. Which of these best matches her field of study?
a. cognitive psychology
b. humanistic psychology
c. cognitive neuroscience
d. Freudian psychology
ANSWER: c
68. Cognitive neuroscience studies relationships between:
a. natural selection and genetic predispositions.
b. childhood memories and psychological disorders.
c. thought processes and brain functions.
d. philosophy and physiology.
ANSWER: c
69. The science of behavior and mental processes is called:
a. behavior genetics.
b. natural selection.
c. behaviorism.
d. psychology.
ANSWER: d
70. In the definition of psychology, behavior is considered to be:
a. any internal, subjective experience.
b. any action that can be observed and recorded.
c. any action that takes place unconsciously.
d. unobservable actions and thoughts.
ANSWER: b
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
71. In this definition of psychology the science of behavior and mental processes what is the key word?
a. behavior
b. science
c. mental processes
d. All words are key words.
ANSWER: b
72. Professor Gheorghe is studying first-year college students' reactions to a stranger trying to interact with them. According to the definition of psychology, the students' reactions would be considered a(n): a. behavior.
b. action.
c. mental process.
d. conclusion.
ANSWER: a
73. Maryann posts a photo of herself on social media, then worries that her friends won't like it. According to the definition of psychology, posting the photo is a(n) _____; her worry is a _____.
a. behavior; perception
b. action; reaction
c. behavior; mental process
d. sensation; perception
ANSWER: c
74. In defining psychology, our internal, subjective experiences are considered:
a. behaviors.
b. actions.
c. mental processes.
d. conclusions.
ANSWER: c
75. A researcher is designing a study to investigate human learning and behavior. Which research question best aligns with the behaviorist perspective?
a. How often do children complete their chores if given positive reinforcement?
b. How do traumatic childhood experiences shape an adult's moral behavior?
c. What is a child's capacity to succeed in school if provided with support and love from teachers?
d. How does one's memory impact their ability to perform problem-solving tasks?
ANSWER: a
76. All subfields and perspectives within psychology aim to:
a. study the brain circuits that underlie behavior.
b. describe and explain behavior and the mind underlying it.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
c. analyze how certain characteristics aided our ancestors.
d. understand how our interpretation of environmental conditions affects our experiences.
ANSWER: b
77. Which perspective is most directly concerned with how the physical properties of the brain influence behavior and mental states?
a. social-cultural
b. psychodynamic
c. behavioral
d. neuroscience
ANSWER: d
78. The neuroscience perspective in psychology would be most likely to emphasize that behavior is influenced by:
a. environmental circumstances.
b. blood chemistry.
c. unconscious conflicts.
d. conditioned fears.
ANSWER: b
79. The psychological perspective that would help us understand how seizures and brain diseases affect memory is:
a. evolutionary psychology.
b. behavioral psychology.
c. psychodynamic psychology.
d. neuroscience psychology.
ANSWER: d
80. Professors are researching the underlying causes of severe depression. Which of these approaches best represents the perspective of a neuroscientist?
a. discovering how imbalances in physiological processes contribute to emotional regulation
b. understanding how unresolved inner conflicts shape emotional responses over time
c. understanding how inherited traits interact with environmental influences in shaping mood disorders
d. discovering how patterns of thinking and interpretation affect emotional well-being
ANSWER: a
81. The evolutionary perspective focuses on the impact of:
a. conditioned responses on human traits.
b. natural selection on human traits.
c. unconscious motives on human traits.
d. rational thought on human traits.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
ANSWER: b
82. Which perspective would suggest that natural selection of traits helps explain our similarities?
a. cognitive
b. behavioral
c. evolutionary
d. social-cultural
ANSWER: c
83. Jeremy is interested in how anger facilitated the survival of our ancestors' genes. He is studying anger based on which perspective?
a. neuroscience
b. evolutionary
c. behavior genetics
d. psychodynamic
ANSWER: b
84. Dr. Alves is conducting intelligence and personality tests with Tina and Sasha, identical twins who were adopted and raised by different families. Dr. Alves most likely works in the field of:
a. behavior genetics.
b. cross-cultural psychology.
c. natural selection.
d. positive psychology.
ANSWER: a
85. Professor Thornton assigns his students a research project on identical twins and aggressive behavior. Which of these research approaches would best align with a behavior genetics perspective?
a. studying how being separated at birth could have influenced one twin to be more aggressive than the other
b. examining how societal expectations influence the expression of aggressive behavior in twins
c. investigating how identical twins may have a genetic tendency to be more aggressive than differentaged siblings
d. exploring how similar the thinking process of identical twins may influence aggression
ANSWER: a
86. Which researcher is likely a behavior geneticist?
a. Dr. Sherck, who examines how individuals are different based on variations in their heredity and environment
b. Dr. Fuentes, who treats patients with psychological disorders
c. Dr. Rowley, who helps people cope with everyday challenges and crises to improve their personal and social functioning
d. Dr. Burnell, who examines how individuals are similar based on their common biology and
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evolutionary history
ANSWER: a
87. A clinical psychologist who explains behavior in terms of unconscious drives and conflicts is using a(n):
a. evolutionary perspective.
b. psychodynamic perspective.
c. behavioral perspective.
d. social-cultural perspective.
ANSWER: b
88. Ryan is seeing a therapist because he is concerned about having romantic feelings for his biology teacher. Using a psychodynamic perspective, what is Ryan's therapist most likely to suggest?
a. Ryan's attraction is a learned behavior that has been reinforced from past experiences.
b. Ryan's attraction is a result of an instinct to seek partners who demonstrate intelligence and leadership.
c. Ryan's attraction reflects unresolved conflicts from childhood, possibly related to his attachment with his mother.
d. Ryan's attraction is due to his brain's reward system, which turns on when he is around authority figures.
ANSWER: c
89. The distinctive feature of the psychodynamic perspective is its emphasis on:
a. natural selection.
b. brain chemistry.
c. unconscious conflicts.
d. learned behaviors.
ANSWER: c
90. Tamara noticed that her parents frequently criticize her. From a psychodynamic perspective, which explanation would BEST account for her parents' behavior?
a. Tamara's parents inherited these traits from patterns of parental criticism across generations.
b. Past reinforcements and punishments shaped Tamara's parents' behavior toward her.
c. Tamara's parents' deeply rooted emotional experiences influence their actions.
d. The process of natural selection has shaped parenting behaviors over time.
ANSWER: c
91. The behavioral perspective is most likely to emphasize the importance of:
a. learning.
b. unconscious thoughts.
c. inherited traits.
d. self-esteem.
ANSWER: a
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92. The behavioral perspective focuses on how:
a. our genes and environment influence our individual differences.
b. we encode, process, store, and retrieve information.
c. we learn observable responses.
d. behavior and thinking vary across situations.
ANSWER: c
93. Calphus believes that some children learn to fear flying, for example, because their caregivers have taught them to fear flying. Which psychological perspective best explains this phenomenon?
a. behavioral perspective, because the fear of flying was learned
b. cognitive perspective, because the child's fear is based on their interpretation of the risk of flying
c. psychodynamic perspective, because their fear of flying is rooted in unconscious childhood conflicts
d. neuroscience perspective, because their fear is the result of biological factors such as brain activity when flying is mentioned
ANSWER: a
94. Dr. Zin believes that psychology should study only observable behavior. His view is consistent with the:
a. humanistic perspective.
b. cognitive perspective.
c. cognitive neuroscience perspective.
d. behavioral perspective.
ANSWER: d
95. The evolutionary perspective focuses on _____, and the behavioral perspective focuses on _____.
a. applied research; basic research
b. nature; nurture
c. clinical psychology; psychiatry
d. the unconscious mind; the conscious mind
ANSWER: b
96. Which psychological perspective highlights the manner in which people encode, process, store, and retrieve information?
a. cognitive
b. behavioral
c. behavior genetics
d. evolutionary
ANSWER: a
97. Which psychological perspective is most likely to be concerned with identifying the powers and the limits of human reasoning?
a. cognitive
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b. behavioral
c. neuroscience
d. behavior genetics
ANSWER: a
98. Professor Estrella is interested in problem-solving abilities among adults. This research topic is consistent with the:
a. humanistic perspective.
b. cognitive perspective.
c. cognitive neuroscience perspective.
d. behavioral perspective.
ANSWER: b
99. Researchers are studying academic performance and observe that students who use strategies such as selfexplanation and visualization perform significantly better on comprehension exams than those who passively read the passage. The researchers hypothesize that these strategies enhance learning by actively shaping the way information is encoded and retrieved. Which psychological perspective best explains these findings?
a. psychodynamic
b. behavioral
c. cognitive
d. social-cultural
ANSWER: c
100. Professor Naundorf is studying how memory works in problem solving. This research topic is consistent with the:
a. humanistic perspective.
b. cognitive perspective.
c. cognitive neuroscience perspective.
d. behavioral perspective.
ANSWER: b
101. Which psychological perspective is most likely to examine how group membership influences individual attitudes and behaviors?
a. neuroscience
b. psychodynamic
c. evolutionary
d. social-cultural
ANSWER: d
102. Which perspective in psychology is most likely to focus on how behavior and thinking vary across situations and ethnic groups?
a. evolutionary
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b. neuroscience
c. cognitive
d. social-cultural
ANSWER: d
103. What perspective would focus on how different ethnic groups might adopt different child-raising practices?
a. evolutionary
b. psychodynamic
c. social-cultural
d. neuroscience
ANSWER: c
104. Professor Marigold is a social-cultural psychologist interested in how religion and community practices influence mental health. Which research question and approach would be most appropriate for Marigold's study?
a. What role do genetic predispositions play in the development of depression among religious and nonreligious individuals?
b. How do early childhood religious practices shape an individual's likelihood of engaging in religious practices across various communities?
c. What are the deep-rooted reasons for communities to have specific religious practices and how does that impact their mental health?
d. How do cultural traditions in religious communities contribute to resilience against depression across different countries?
ANSWER: d
105. Dr. Aspen is studying how people interpret social situations and when and why they react to a social situation with anger. Dr. Aspen is examining anger from the:
a. cognitive perspective.
b. social-cultural perspective.
c. behavioral perspective.
d. psychodynamic perspective.
ANSWER: b
106. Which type of psychologists study the connection between the brain and the mind?
a. developmental
b. biological
c. behavioral
d. personality
ANSWER: b
107. Dr. Denton is studying how brain abnormalities affect Jon's ability to understand speech. Which
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psychological specialty does her research best represent?
a. developmental psychology
b. biological psychology
c. industrial-organizational psychology
d. personality psychology
ANSWER: b
108. Dr. Costellese is interested in studying the relationship between learning and memory. As a biological psychologist, which of these topics would most likely be the focus of Dr. Costellese's research?
a. the impact of childhood development on memory formation
b. the effects of dietary habits on concentration and memory
c. the role of the nervous system in encoding and storing information
d. the influence of work-related stress on memory performance
ANSWER: c
109. Which subfield of psychology studies changing abilities across the life span?
a. developmental psychology
b. biological psychology
c. cognitive psychology
d. personality psychology
ANSWER: a
110. Dr. Neider conducts basic research on how and if memory changes with age. It is most likely that Dr. Neider is a(n):
a. biological psychologist.
b. social psychologist.
c. developmental psychologist.
d. industrial-organizational psychologist.
ANSWER: c
111. Dr. McDowell conducts research on the relationship between adults' language skills and their capacity to solve mathematical problems. Dr. McDowell is most likely a:
a. cognitive psychologist.
b. biological psychologist.
c. clinical psychologist.
d. social psychologist.
ANSWER: a
112. Dr. Ho conducts basic research on the behavioral differences between quiet and outspoken people. Dr. Ho is most likely a(n):
a. biological psychologist.
b. cognitive psychologist.
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c. industrial-organizational psychologist.
d. personality psychologist.
ANSWER: d
113. Professor Ye investigates traits that are stable throughout the life span. Her subfield is:
a. developmental psychology.
b. biological psychology.
c. cognitive psychology.
d. personality psychology.
ANSWER: d
114. Which type of psychologists explore how we view and affect one another?
a. health
b. social
c. industrial-organizational
d. biological
ANSWER: b
115. Dr. Strapp conducts basic research on the impact of LGBTQ prejudice on behavior. Dr. Strapp is most likely a(n):
a. clinical psychologist.
b. social psychologist.
c. biological psychologist.
d. industrial-organizational psychologist.
ANSWER: b
116. Dr. Osorio is a social psychologist interested in studying obedience to authority. Which research question would best align with Dr. Osorio's perspective?
a. How do individuals develop cognitive biases that affect their ability to process and evaluate commands from authority figures?
b. How do situational factors influence the likelihood that individuals will obey authority figures, even when it conflicts with their moral beliefs?
c. How much of a person's relationship with their parents influences their willingness to comply with authority as an adult?
d. What personality disorders are associated with submission or defiance toward authority figures?
ANSWER: b
117. Which subfield of psychology studies factors that promote or impair our well-being?
a. health psychology
b. social psychology
c. industrial-organizational psychology
d. biological psychology
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ANSWER: a
118. Professor Eudy conducts basic research on the psychological, biological, and behavioral factors that contribute to heart disease. She is most likely a:
a. personality psychologist.
b. cognitive psychologist.
c. clinical psychologist.
d. health psychologist.
ANSWER: d
119. Which subfield of psychology investigates workplace-related behaviors?
a. cognitive psychology
b. social psychology
c. industrial-organizational psychology
d. biological psychology
ANSWER: c
120. Dr. Harbison is studying the effect of "Employee of the Month" programs on worker morale and productivity. She is most likely a(n):
a. clinical psychologist.
b. industrial-organizational psychologist.
c. biological psychologist.
d. developmental psychologist.
ANSWER: b
121. Dr. Kau'i is creating a test to determine which applicants are most qualified to supervise a team of electrical engineers. Which psychological specialty does Dr. Kau'i's work best represent?
a. developmental psychology
b. industrial-organizational psychology
c. biological psychology
d. clinical psychology
ANSWER: b
122. Which psychologists are most likely to be involved in basic research rather than applied research?
a. industrial-organizational psychologists
b. cognitive psychologists
c. community psychologists
d. clinical psychologists
ANSWER: b
123. Studies conducted for the sake of building psychology's base of knowledge are most clearly examples of: a. behavior genetics.
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b. replication.
c. basic research.
d. positive psychology.
ANSWER: c
124. Which psychologists are most likely to be involved in applied research rather than basic research?
a. industrial-organizational psychologists
b. developmental psychologists
c. personality psychologists
d. biological psychologists
ANSWER: a
125. A biopsychosocial approach is one that requires the use of:
a. case studies.
b. the psychodynamic perspective.
c. behaviorism.
d. three levels of analysis.
ANSWER: d
126. A complete picture of how mental processes are influenced by both social systems and brain functions is most clearly provided by:
a. behaviorism.
b. humanistic psychology.
c. a biopsychosocial approach.
d. naturalistic observation.
ANSWER: c
127. We are each unique individuals who are part of a larger social system, such as a family, ethnic group, and culture. This demonstrates that we are:
a. biological systems.
b. impressionable systems.
c. neurological systems.
d. biopsychosocial systems.
ANSWER: d
128. Lack of appetite, conflict with her family, and concentration problems have all contributed to Serena's depression. In order to treat her depression, a therapist conducts an in-depth analysis of the various factors contributing to her condition. Which of these approaches best reflects the biopsychosocial approach?
a. examining her brain chemistry and prescribing medication to regulate her depression
b. exploring how unresolved conflicts from her childhood are deeply rooted and influencing her emotions
c. considering how Serena's diet, coping strategies, and relationships with family and friends influence
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Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
her depression
d. investigating how depression may have evolved as an adaptive mechanism to encourage isolation and self-reflection
ANSWER: c
129. Dewey has high self-esteem because he is often praised for his athletic ability. Appreciating the full complexity of Dewey's high self-esteem most clearly requires:
a. the cognitive approach.
b. a psychodynamic perspective.
c. the behavioral perspective.
d. a biopsychosocial approach.
ANSWER: d
130. Culture is best defined as:
a. the entire collection of character strengths that helps individuals and communities to thrive.
b. the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and values shared by a group of people and passed on from one generation to the next.
c. the contribution that experience makes to the development of psychological traits and behaviors.
d. basic moral values that are shared by all of humanity.
ANSWER: b
131. The handing down of religious practices and family customs from one generation to the next best illustrates the importance of:
a. dual processing.
b. the cognitive revolution.
c. the psychodynamic perspective.
d. culture.
ANSWER: d
132. In Johann's family, people read from left to right and so couples tend to kiss right. In Iwayan's family, people read from right to left and so couples tend to kiss left. These behaviors are passed on from generation to generation by their respective:
a. epigenetics.
b. traits.
c. sensory experiences.
d. cultures.
ANSWER: d
133. Studying people of all races and cultures is most helpful for:
a. dual processing.
b. avoiding many levels of analysis.
c. detecting human similarities and differences.
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d. encouraging natural selection.
ANSWER: c
134. Inherited ability represents _____, and learned skill represents _____.
a. naturalistic observation; case study
b. psychology; psychiatry
c. nature; nurture
d. behavior; mental processes
ANSWER: c
135. The nature–nurture issue refers to the debate over the relative contributions that make to the development of psychological traits.
a. cognitive processes and emotional responses
b. unconscious and conscious motives
c. behavior and mental processes
d. biology and experience
ANSWER: d
136. Rico wonders whether he inherited his calm and laid-back personality style or whether his life experiences shaped his personality. Rico's concern is most directly relevant to the issue of:
a. correlation and causation.
b. behavior and mental processes.
c. nature and nurture.
d. the conscious and unconscious mind.
ANSWER: c
137. Efforts to discover whether children's personalities are more heavily influenced by their biology or their home environments are most directly relevant to the debate regarding:
a. behavior and mental processes.
b. conscious and unconscious thought.
c. correlation and causation.
d. nature and nurture.
ANSWER: d
138. Which of these statements best represents the relationship between biological inheritance and environmental influences on human development?
a. Behavior is shaped solely by mental processes.
b. Psychology and psychiatry focus on the same aspects of human behavior.
c. Genetic predispositions interact with personal experiences to shape an individual.
d. Logical reasoning always overrides emotional responses.
ANSWER: c
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139. Allwyn is taking lessons in the high-risk sport of hang gliding because he is more genetically predisposed to seek daring and challenging activities than is his sibling. This best illustrates that:
a. nature outweighs the importance of nurture.
b. nature limits our adaptive capacities.
c. nurture works on what nature provides.
d. nature selects traits that contribute to survival.
ANSWER: c
140. Arsan has been selected for the Olympics gymnastics team because genetically he has good balance, strength, flexibility, and agility. He has also spent hundreds of hours practicing in his gym. This best illustrates that:
a. nature outweighs the importance of nurture.
b. nature limits our adaptive capacities.
c. nurture works on what nature provides.
d. nature selects traits that contribute to survival.
ANSWER: c
141. A large amount of our mental activity occurs outside of our awareness, thanks to our capacity for:
a. replication.
b. random sampling.
c. naturalistic observation.
d. dual processing.
ANSWER: d
142. The simultaneous processing of information at both conscious and unconscious levels is called:
a. the double-blind procedure.
b. the opponent-process theory.
c. critical thinking.
d. dual processing.
ANSWER: d
143. Our visual perception track enables us to recognize objects while our visual action track enables us to manipulate objects. This best illustrates:
a. the testing effect.
b. dual processing.
c. random assignment.
d. replication.
ANSWER: b
144. A patient experienced brain damage due to carbon monoxide poisoning and as a result, is unable to perceive objects consciously. However, she can still perform other actions that require visual coordination, such as grasping objects with the correct finger–thumb distance. Which of these statements best explains this
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
phenomenon?
a. Separate neural pathways process visual perception and visual action.
b. The brain processes visual stimuli by creating a fake image of the object to grasp.
c. She is unconsciously able to visually track and grasp objects.
d. Her brain uses past memories to understand where an object would be.
ANSWER: a
145. Accurately hitting a baseball a split second before we consciously recognize that the ball has reached our bat best illustrates our capacity for:
a. critical thinking.
b. hindsight bias.
c. dual processing.
d. naturalistic observation.
ANSWER: c
146. As part of a study on dual processing, researchers examine how individuals rely on both unconscious and conscious thoughts when solving complex problems. Some participants demonstrate dual processing while solving various logical problems. Which approach best represents dual processing?
a. methodically working through the problem strictly following a step-by-step formula
b. instinctively selecting the correct answer to the question without being able to explain their reasoning
c. considering possible solutions while also relying on a gut feeling about the best strategy
d. solving a problem by repeatedly guessing until they find the correct solution
ANSWER: c
147. Brain damage left one woman unable to recognize the width of a block even though she could grasp it with just the right finger-thumb distance. This unusual case best illustrates the importance of our typical capacity for:
a. critical thinking.
b. dual processing.
c. replication.
d. naturalistic observation.
ANSWER: b
148. What allows us to recognize objects in our environment and plan future actions?
a. critical thinking
b. audition sense
c. visual action track
d. visual perception track
ANSWER: d
149. Our moment-to-moment actions are guided by our:
a. critical thinking.
b. audition sense.
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c. visual action track.
d. visual perception track.
ANSWER: c
150. Which subfield of psychology focuses on helping people cope with problems in living and in achieving greater well-being?
a. personality psychology
b. counseling psychology
c. cognitive psychology
d. social psychology
ANSWER: b
151. Dr. Tebbeb helps children with friendship problems by assisting them in understanding their interests and skills. Dr. Tebbeb is most likely a:
a. biological psychologist.
b. counseling psychologist.
c. cognitive psychologist.
d. social psychologist.
ANSWER: b
152. After years of experiencing social anxiety, Shiloh seeks treatment from a psychiatrist. Which of these interventions is most consistent with how a psychiatrist would typically treat Shiloh's social anxiety?
a. prescribing medication to help reduce Shiloh's anxiety levels in social situations
b. exploring Shiloh's childhood experiences and fears to determine the root cause of her anxiety
c. using a gradual exposure therapy to help Shiloh develop coping mechanisms for social interactions
d. recommending that Shiloh attend group therapy with others who experience similar social anxiety for peer support
ANSWER: a
153. Which professional specialty focuses on the study, assessment, and treatment of people with psychological disorders?
a. personality psychology
b. biological psychology
c. clinical psychology
d. developmental psychology
ANSWER: c
154. Working in a community mental health center, Dr. Thatcher treats adults who have major depressive disorder. Dr. Thatcher is most likely a(n):
a. personality psychologist.
b. industrial-organizational psychologist.
c. clinical psychologist.
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d. developmental psychologist.
ANSWER: c
155. Elmira has recently been experiencing severe depressive symptoms that prevent her from completing her work. Elmira is considering seeking professional help, but is unsure which type of mental health professional would best address both her emotional distress and underlying causes. Given her situation, which of these professionals would be the most appropriate choice?
a. a counseling psychologist
b. a clinical psychologist
c. a cognitive psychologist
d. a community psychologist
ANSWER: b
156. Which of these statements is true for both clinical and counseling psychologists?
a. They conduct only applied research.
b. They are medical doctors.
c. They give advice only to people with community-related problems.
d. They give and interpret tests, and they provide therapy.
ANSWER: d
157. Which specialists are the most likely to treat physical causes of a psychological disorder?
a. developmental psychologists
b. clinical psychologists
c. personality psychologists
d. psychiatrists
ANSWER: d
158. Dr. Jones treats patients who have psychological disorders and often prescribes medication as a form of treatment. Dr. Jones is a:
a. community psychologist.
b. psychiatrist.
c. social psychologist.
d. personality psychologist.
ANSWER: b
159. The specialist that is required to have a medical degree is a:
a. clinical psychologist.
b. personality psychologist.
c. developmental psychologist.
d. psychiatrist.
ANSWER: d
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160. Which branch of psychology is most likely to study how the culture of a neighborhood affects the wellbeing of the people living there?
a. cognitive psychology
b. community psychology
c. clinical psychology
d. counseling psychology
ANSWER: b
161. Rather than seeking to change people to fit their environments, which type of psychologists work to create social and physical environments that are healthy for all?
a. counseling
b. cognitive
c. community
d. clinical
ANSWER: c
162. Dr. Jans is interested in ways of increasing bystander intervention during emergency situations. She is likely a:
a. community psychologist.
b. psychiatrist.
c. social psychologist.
d. personality psychologist.
ANSWER: a
163. Aiming to improve the mental well-being of older adults, a city has hired a community psychologist. Which of these approaches would the community psychologist most likely take?
a. providing one-on-one therapy sessions to older residents experiencing depression
b. prescribing medication to individuals diagnosed with clinical depression
c. implementing projects such as increasing social programs and fostering volunteer networks
d. developing personality assessments to better understand individual differences in the community
ANSWER: c
164. Discovering and promoting human strengths and virtues is most clearly a major purpose of:
a. critical thinking.
b. the psychodynamic perspective.
c. positive psychology.
d. behavior genetics.
ANSWER: c
165. Research on human flourishing is the major focus of:
a. the psychodynamic perspective.
b. behavior genetics.
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c. naturalistic observation.
d. positive psychology.
ANSWER: d
166. To balance psychology's historical focus on human problems and negative emotions, Martin Seligman called for the development of:
a. behavior genetics.
b. cognitive neuroscience.
c. positive psychology.
d. a psychodynamic perspective.
ANSWER: c
167. Martin Seligman calls for a positive psychology that focuses on topics such as:
a. understanding the roots of abuse.
b. developing emotional traits that promote thriving.
c. curing disease.
d. addressing the psychological manifestations of poverty.
ANSWER: b
168. Dr. Salvia is studying how happiness in late adulthood relates to a person's social network and social connectedness. As a positive psychologist, Dr. Salvia is most likely to focus her research on:
a. the impact of childhood attachment styles on adult relationships and interpersonal trust.
b. how meaningful relationships contribute to resilience and life satisfaction.
c. the evolutionary advantages of forming strong social bonds for survival and reproduction.
d. the neurological mechanisms that regulate social bonding and emotional attachment in adulthood.
ANSWER: b
169. Professor Kurtines is researching the psychological benefit of friendships during adolescence. His research is best aligned with which approach to psychology?
a. cognitive psychology
b. positive psychology
c. evolutionary psychology
d. the biopsychosocial approach
ANSWER: b
170. Positive psychology uniquely focuses on the promotion of:
a. curiosity, skepticism, and humility.
b. constructive emotions, character traits, and institutions.
c. descriptive, correlational, and experimental methods.
d. classroom instruction, study techniques, and test grades.
ANSWER: b
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171. One of the three central concerns of positive psychology is the study and promotion of:
a. test-enhanced learning.
b. character traits such as courage and compassion.
c. informed consent.
d. epigenetics.
ANSWER: b
172. One of the three central concerns of positive psychology is the study and promotion of:
a. behavior genetics.
b. test-enhanced learning.
c. supportive neighborhoods.
d. informed consent.
ANSWER: c
173. A school is implementing a program designed for students to cultivate positive character traits such as kindness and responsibility. As a positive psychologist, what would Dr. Lemos most likely recommend to the school?
a. fostering a growth mindset
b. administering a personality assessment
c. implementing cognitive-behavioral interventions
d. requiring strict behavioral reinforcement systems
ANSWER: a
174. Unconscious gut feelings, or _____, provide(s) a sharp contrast to explicit, conscious reasoning.
a. theories
b. hypotheses
c. common sense
d. naturalistic observation
ANSWER: c
175. The speedy, automatic conclusions triggered by may sometimes lead us astray.
a. random events
b. commonsense thinking
c. confounding variables
d. placebo effects
ANSWER: b
176. Which of these are flaws of commonsense thinking?
a. fixation, placebo effect, and perceptual constancy
b. groupthink, foot-in-the-door phenomenon, and learned helplessness
c. cognitive dissonance, facial feedback effect, and fight-or-flight response
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d. hindsight bias, overconfidence, and perceiving order in random events
ANSWER: d
177. Tanalina is a first-year college student and has been assigned to room with someone who has the same first name as someone Tanalina really dislikes. Without realizing it, Tanalina's immediate gut-level reaction to the name has led her to form a negative first impression of her roommate. This best illustrates the dangers of:
a. hindsight bias.
b. overconfidence.
c. commonsense thinking.
d. random assignment.
ANSWER: c
178. Evrim meets with recent college graduates from the school of education to hire a new teacher. Evrim decides to trust their gut instinct rather than reviewing candidates' evaluations or past performance data. When the new hire later struggles in the role, Evrim experiences hindsight bias. Which of Evrim's statements demonstrates hindsight bias?
a. "I should have been more confident in my decision from the start."
b. "The best way to make hiring decisions is to rely on intuition rather than data."
c. "It is impossible to predict how a candidate will actually perform."
d. "I knew all along that this candidate was not the right choice."
ANSWER: d
179. Hindsight bias most directly contributes to the perception that:
a. psychological theories are simply reflections of researchers' personal values.
b. psychological research studies are simplified versions of reality.
c. psychological theories and observations are merely common sense.
d. psychological research studies are potentially dangerous.
ANSWER: c
180. The hindsight bias refers to people's tendency to:
a. dismiss the value of skepticism.
b. reject any ideas that can't be scientifically tested.
c. exaggerate their ability to have foreseen an outcome.
d. overestimate the extent to which others share their opinions.
ANSWER: c
181. Research reports suggest to Tanya that very intelligent people are more likely to have many friends. Mina reads that intelligent people generally have fewer friends than less intelligent people. Both women consider the research findings to be common sense. This best illustrates the power of:
a. the placebo effect.
b. hindsight bias.
c. random assignment.
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d. the double-blind procedure.
ANSWER: b
182. In a history class, Roberto is learning about the sequence of events preceding a major global conflict. "But everyone should have known that would lead to war. It was obvious!" he thinks. The flaw in Roberto's reasoning is the result of:
a. hindsight bias.
b. overconfidence.
c. perceiving order in random events.
d. random assignment.
ANSWER: a
183. As Covid-19 cases began to mount, many citizens experienced overconfidence by:
a. believing they were more capable of making better decisions than public health officials based on the same initial information.
b. blaming government leaders selectively based on their preexisting political views, rather than being objective.
c. believing that it was obvious from the start that the virus would become a global crisis, even though the data was uncertain.
d. assuming that rising case numbers meant the pandemic was inevitable, despite the unpredictable nature of outbreaks.
ANSWER: a
184. Five of the students in Professor Dogan's class were born on the same day, but Professor Dogan does not believe that this is possible. He insists that such an event is too improbable to have occurred by chance. Which explanation best describes why Professor Dogan is misjudging the likelihood of this event?
a. the tendency to perceive patterns in random events
b. the presumption that Professor Dogan has experienced life enough to know this is impossible
c. the belief that Professor Dogan "knew something was off about the class roster all along"
d. the assumption that rare events should not happen unless they align with Professor Dogan's preconceived notions of probability
ANSWER: a
185. Eun's stockbroker informed him that she lost substantial investment value. When Eun told his wife, his wife angrily responded, "I could have told you that your investment plan would fail!" Eun's wife's comment best illustrates:
a. hindsight bias.
b. debriefing.
c. the placebo effect.
d. replication.
ANSWER: a
186. Dr. Greier wants to reduce his students' perceptions that psychological research merely documents the
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obvious. His best strategy would be to ask the students to:
a. describe how research predictions were derived from basic psychological principles.
b. predict the outcomes of research studies before they are told the actual results.
c. explain the outcomes of research studies after they are told the actual results.
d. engage in naturalistic observation.
ANSWER: b
187. When provided with three word puzzles, people underestimated the time it would take to unscramble the anagrams. This best illustrates:
a. confounding variables.
b. random assignment.
c. wording effects.
d. overconfidence.
ANSWER: d
188. Our tendency to believe we know more than we do best illustrates:
a. naturalistic observation.
b. the placebo effect.
c. overconfidence.
d. random assignment.
ANSWER: c
189. Lilja was sure that she would not want to go to a university far from home. However, when she was accepted by a school thousands of miles from her home, she quickly agreed to enroll. Lilja's experience best illustrates:
a. hindsight bias.
b. random assignment.
c. the placebo effect.
d. overconfidence.
ANSWER: d
190. Which of these is most likely to inhibit critical thinking?
a. operational definitions
b. overconfidence
c. random assignment
d. informed consent
ANSWER: b
191. In a random sequence of coin tosses, series of successive heads occur often than people expect, and series of tails occur often than people expect.
a. more; less
b. less; more
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c. more; more
d. less; less
ANSWER: c
192. The King James Version of the Bible was completed when William Shakespeare was 46 years old. In Psalm 46 of this translation, the forty-sixth word is "shake," and the forty-sixth word from the end is "spear." Before concluding that the biblical translators were trying to be humorous with these specific word placements, you would be best advised to recognize the danger of:
a. randomly sampling biblical passages.
b. generalizing from extreme instances.
c. assuming that most people share your opinions.
d. perceiving order in coincidental events.
ANSWER: d
193. Rossen and Edgar are fraternal twins who were separated at birth and raised in very different parts of the world. When they were adults, they were fortunate enough to be reunited. The men were amazed to discover that they were both electricians, were both golfers, and both loved peanut butter. The men would be best advised to recognize the danger of:
a. randomly sampling their life experiences.
b. attributing these three similarities to chance.
c. perceiving order in random events.
d. assuming that most people share their attitudes and interests.
ANSWER: c
194. While trying to decide whether she should apply for a job at Sunshine Café, Stefanie receives a "Good morning" text from a friend with a sunshine emoji. "It's a sign; I'm definitely supposed to apply for that job!" she thinks. Stefanie is:
a. predicting social behavior.
b. falling prey to hindsight bias.
c. perceiving order in random events.
d. superforecasting.
ANSWER: c
195. What is a key characteristic of misinformation?
a. It is intentionally spread to deceive and trick people.
b. It is misleading regardless of intent.
c. It spreads only in social media, not traditional news outlets.
d. It is easily recognizable as false.
ANSWER: b
196. Which of these is an example of how misinformation makes people fear the wrong things?
a. people believing crime has increased each year, despite overall crime rates decreasing
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b. people recognizing that artificial foods are harmful to their health
c. a new survey showing an increase in mental health issues amongst youth
d. a political debate over public policies at public schools
ANSWER: a
197. Which scenario best represents disinformation rather than misinformation?
a. a celebrity unknowingly spreading false hope about a dietary herbal supplement
b. a government spreading false information to justify military actions
c. a person mistakenly believing that immigrants commit more crime based on misleading statistics
d. a researcher making an error on their method of research that is later corrected
ANSWER: b
198. Which of these best illustrates how misinformation fuels conspiracy theories?
a. using statistics to understand global economic trends
b. understanding that elections are secured through identification methods
c. believing that global warming is caused by humans
d. thinking that vaccines contain secret tracking microchips
ANSWER: d
199. Which of these statements best explains why misinformation spreads so easily through social media?
a. We tend to friend people online who think as we do.
b. Psychologists can use preregistration to publicly communicate their hypotheses online.
c. People are naturally skeptical of information they see online.
d. Social media usually lacks compelling narratives or emotional appeal.
ANSWER: a
200. Misinformation that is given intentionally can be called:
a. false news.
b. post-truth.
c. powerful examples.
d. repetition.
ANSWER: a
201. In one analysis of 126,000 stories tweeted by 3 million people, when compared with true information, false information:
a. was less likely to be believed.
b. was less likely to be shared.
c. spread farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly.
d. was more easily accessible.
ANSWER: c
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202. Ogechi believes that the U.S. crime rate is rising. What could you say to Ogechi to correct her belief?
a. "This is probably true, but creating stricter laws would not solve the problem."
b. "Right! Most of the crimes committed today are violent crimes."
c. "Actually, the crime rate is falling. In fact, between 1993 and 2019, the U.S. violent crime rate dropped 49 percent."
d. "You are correct. The crime rate has risen, but mostly for property crime."
ANSWER: c
203. Even after being shown specific information regarding the state of the nation's economy, Katerina still believes that social programs drain the economy. Her persistent belief and refusal to accept the facts provided to her may be related to:
a. her emotions.
b. her personal beliefs.
c. both her emotions and personal beliefs.
d. neither her emotions nor personal beliefs.
ANSWER: c
204. What, especially as it relates to politics, for example, tends to spread "significantly farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than the truth"?
a. experimental data
b. correlations
c. vivid events
d. false news
ANSWER: d
205. Psychologists call the natural tendency to believe people our:
a. truth bias.
b. fake news files.
c. repetitive beliefs.
d. vivid mentality.
ANSWER: a
206. In an attempt to disprove the conspiracy theory that the earth is flat, several scientists provide evidence and publish an article. Due to truth bias, once the article is published and read:
a. society cannot dismiss their initial emotional feelings of mistrust with the government.
b. individuals begin to understand it was false information.
c. people continue to believe the earth was flat, staying true to their initial beliefs.
d. many accept the scientific explanations and a new truth.
ANSWER: c
207. Vanessa's parents both often tell her to check food left out overnight for possible spoilage. Now Vanessa believes that she should not leave any food out of the refrigerator overnight. Why might Vanessa have this false
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belief?
a. false news
b. repetition
c. availability of powerful examples
d. group identity
ANSWER: b
208. When Tanalina was a child, her parents constantly told her, "Feed a cold, starve a fever." Why might Tanalina's parents believe in this myth?
a. false news
b. repetition
c. availability of powerful examples
d. group identity
ANSWER: b
209. Abdel lives on a farm in a small town but after the 9/11 terrorist attack, Abdel is afraid that another terrorist attack will soon occur. He tells his friend about dramatic reports of such attacks that he's read online. This demonstrates how can feed misinformation.
a. false news
b. repetition
c. vivid examples
d. group identity
ANSWER: c
210. What inclines people to expose themselves only to information via the news, social media, and websites that support their views?
a. confirmation bias
b. motivated reasoning
c. repetition
d. fake news
ANSWER: a
211. Even though we may lack expertise in a subject, we often feel overconfident in our knowledge. This type of misinformation leads to:
a. truth bias.
b. confirmation bias.
c. echo chambers.
d. motivated reasoning.
ANSWER: d
212. A cognitive psychologist is studying how biases influence decision-making in public policy debates. She wants to investigate how people process information that contradicts their beliefs. Which approach would most
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appropriately fit her study?
a. research how policy makers interpret data in a way that reinforces their preexisting views on legislation, even when presented with credible opposing evidence
b. survey how often government officials claim they had always predicted the success or failure of a policy after its outcome is known, even if they previously supported a different stance
c. investigate why public leaders perceive patterns in economic or social trends that are actually random, but use it to influence policy decisions based on false claims
d. question why policy makers tend to automatically believe supportive reports about their preferred policies, even when the reports lack solid evidence
ANSWER: a
213. People often seek out and befriend those who reinforce what they already believe, creating a(n):
a. false truth.
b. echo chamber.
c. truth bias.
d. confirmation bias.
ANSWER: b
214. Social media platforms often contribute to the polarization of ideologies by reinforcing users' existing beliefs, such as suggesting stories and influencers who share similar perspectives. How do echo chambers contribute to this polarization?
a. They actively seek users who challenge one's perspectives.
b. They prioritize content from a broad range of ideological viewpoints.
c. They randomly expose you to users and posts of opposing and supporting viewpoints.
d. They suggest posts and influencers from like-minded individuals.
ANSWER: d
215. Anastasia asks her parents if she can attend a concert next week. Her parents will not give her permission to attend because they are afraid that a mass shooting could occur. When Anastasia questions their reasoning, her parents explain that their friends and co-workers also share the same belief. This scenario demonstrates how can contribute to the acceptance of misinformation.
a. false news
b. repetition
c. echo chambers
d. group identity
ANSWER: c
216. Vishal believes that the Earth is flat and has befriended several people on social media who also hold this view. This is an example of how can feed the acceptance of misinformation.
a. false news
b. repetition
c. motivated reasoning
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d. echo chambers
ANSWER: d
217. To better discern fiction from fact, people should:
a. trust their intuition.
b. embrace critical thinking and a scientific mindset.
c. use powerful examples to guide their perspectives.
d. rely on view-affirming news sources and social media groups.
ANSWER: b
218. Debunking misinformation involves:
a. challenging false information with clear facts.
b. ignoring misinformation.
c. using emotions rather than evidence.
d. banning all discussions about misinformation.
ANSWER: a
219. In Stephan Lewandowsky's debunking handbook (2020), the four steps of debunking are:
a. truth, fact, fallacy, and myth.
b. fallacy, fact, myth, and fact.
c. myth, fact, false, and truth.
d. fact, myth, fallacy, and fact.
ANSWER: d
220. Debunking by its nature can be challenging; therefore, what can help ease the process?
a. assertion and conviction
b. modesty and silence
c. empathy and kindness
d. facts and passion
ANSWER: c
221. How does prebunking help combat misinformation?
a. It prevents misinformation from spreading by blocking all false claims.
b. It prepares people to recognize and resist misinformation before they encounter it.
c. It stops people from ever believing misinformation in the first place.
d. It forces social media platforms to remove misleading posts.
ANSWER: b
222. Google has experimented with prebunking by:
a. providing internet videos that teach people how to recognize false claims.
b. automatically deleting all misinforming posts.
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c. blocking all search results that contain misinformation.
d. banning users who spread misinformation.
ANSWER: a
223. Prebunking is often referred to as a vaccine in fighting misinformation because it:
a. prevents people from ever getting misinformed again.
b. works only on people who already have fallen for the misinformation.
c. eliminates the spread of misinformation.
d. introduces people to a weakened version of misinformation.
ANSWER: d
224. The most effective way to debunk a false claim involves:
a. presenting a clear, simple correction while acknowledging the original misconception.
b. ridiculing people who believe the misinformation to embarrass them.
c. repeating the false claim multiple times to emphasize why it is wrong.
d. telling people to simply think critically without providing factual corrections.
ANSWER: a
225. In order to prevent the spread of misinformation about a political candidate, a group of people create a visual replica of the misleading message, embedding counterarguments directly into it. This strategy is known as:
a. the fallacy effect.
b. inoculation.
c. a poison parasite.
d. an echo chamber.
ANSWER: c
226. The scientific method is defined as:
a. a statistical index of the relationship between two things.
b. a self-correcting process for evaluating ideas with observation and analysis.
c. an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo.
d. a statistical procedure for analyzing the results of multiple studies to reach an overall conclusion.
ANSWER: b
227. The self-correcting process for asking questions and observing nature's answers is known as:
a. a theory.
b. a prediction.
c. the scientific method.
d. an operational definition.
ANSWER: c
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228. Dr. Tate is an excellent professor. She is curious, humble, and skeptical. These are all characteristics of:
a. having a scientific attitude.
b. using the scientific method.
c. forming a theory.
d. testing a hypothesis.
ANSWER: a
229. When researchers submit their work to a scientific journal, who provides anonymous evaluations of the study's theory, originality, and accuracy?
a. consultants
b. peer reviewers
c. counselors
d. testers
ANSWER: b
230. Dr. McCluskey, a social psychologist expert, has been asked to anonymously evaluate Dr. McElroy's research paper on crowd behavior on college campuses for its originality and accuracy. Which of these best describes Dr. McCluskey's role in the scientific process?
a. naturalistic observer, because they are evaluating behavior in real-world settings
b. peer reviewer, because they are critically analyzing another researcher's work for accuracy and quality
c. experimental researcher, because they are testing hypotheses through manipulating variables
d. correlational researcher, because they are analyzing the relationship between crowd behavior and other variables
ANSWER: b
231. Dr. Stott has conducted a research study in cognitive psychology and has submitted his findings to an academic journal for publication. Before the journal editor makes a final decision, the study must undergo a peer review process. What will the peer reviewers most likely do?
a. rewrite sections of the study to align with their own research findings and perspectives
b. critically evaluate the study's theory, originality, and accuracy
c. approve or reject the study based on theoretical perspectives and subjectivity
d. summarize the study's findings without questioning its methodology or theoretical contributions
ANSWER: b
232. An explanation using principles that organize observations and predict behaviors or events is called a(n):
a. independent variable.
b. hypothesis.
c. theory.
d. survey.
ANSWER: c
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233. Professor Enrique believes that people who are generous with their time and money help others because they themselves have been helped in the past. His idea is an example of:
a. an operational definition.
b. informed consent.
c. replication.
d. a theory.
ANSWER: d
234. The value of a(n) is most closely tied to its usefulness in generating testable hypotheses.
a. operational definition
b. case study
c. replication
d. theory
ANSWER: d
235. The explanatory power of a scientific theory is most closely linked to its capacity to generate testable:
a. assumptions.
b. correlations.
c. predictions.
d. variables.
ANSWER: c
236. A testable prediction that is often implied by a theory is called a(n):
a. naturalistic observation.
b. operational definition.
c. dependent variable.
d. hypothesis.
ANSWER: d
237. A hypothesis is a(n):
a. observable relationship between specific independent and dependent variables.
b. testable prediction that gives direction to research.
c. set of principles that organizes observations and explains newly discovered facts.
d. unprovable assumption about the processes that underlie psychological functioning.
ANSWER: b
238. Dr. Fuentes is developing a hypothesis on the mania phase of bipolar disorder. Based on his research, he suggests that individuals experiencing mania tend to be highly energetic and overly ambitious, making them more likely than those in the depressive phase to overestimate their ability to complete complex and difficult tasks. Which of these best represents a well-structured hypothesis based on Dr. Fuentes' observations?
a. Mania is a state of heightened energy and ambition that makes individuals feel invincible.
b. Some individuals with bipolar disorder may feel more confident at times, but this confidence varies
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unpredictably.
c. Bipolar disorder involves alternating mood states, including periods of mania and depression.
d. If individuals are in the manic phase of bipolar disorder, then they will score significantly higher on a self-efficacy scale compared to individuals in the depressive phase.
ANSWER: d
239. Testing hypotheses and refining theories in light of those tests is central to:
a. debriefing.
b. the testing effect.
c. the scientific method.
d. informed consent.
ANSWER: c
240. Professor Horton believes that intelligent people are more successful and more likely to get a high-paying job. The professor's prediction regarding employment success is an example of:
a. informed consent.
b. the placebo effect.
c. a hypothesis.
d. a confounding variable.
ANSWER: c
241. A statement describing how a researcher controls for confounding variables is known as a(n):
a. control condition.
b. replication.
c. operational definition.
d. hypothesis.
ANSWER: c
242. A carefully worded statement describing the exact procedures for measuring an anticipated experimental outcome is known as a(n):
a. hypothesis.
b. control condition.
c. replication.
d. operational definition.
ANSWER: d
243. Dr. Farley is conducting a study that examines how violent video games are related to aggression in children. He hypothesizes that there is a positive relationship between the two, meaning that as children play more violent video games, their level of aggression also increases. To ensure that his hypothesis does not influence the results of his study, Dr. Farley should:
a. clearly state his hypothesis.
b. include a control condition in his research study.
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c. begin by replicating the studies of previous researchers.
d. specify, clearly, his operational definitions for both aggression and violent video games.
ANSWER: d
244. A researcher is studying how drinking caffeinated sodas might affect childhood friendships. To ensure the study is objective and free of bias, the researcher must use a measurable operational definition for both caffeinated soda consumption and friendship interactions. Which of these would be the best operational definition for measuring childhood friendships in this study?
a. asking children if they believe consuming caffeinated soda affects their friendship quality
b. counting the number of positive social interactions children have with their friends during a 30minute structured recess observation
c. observing whether children appear to have close friendships after drinking caffeinated soda
d. interviewing teachers about which students appear to have strong friendships
ANSWER: b
245. Replication of a research study is most likely to be made easier by:
a. massed practice.
b. debriefing.
c. operational definitions.
d. the placebo effect.
ANSWER: c
246. To make sure a new scientific finding is reliable, psychological researchers are most likely to engage in:
a. naturalistic observation.
b. random sampling.
c. replication.
d. positive correlation.
ANSWER: c
247. Repeating the essence of an earlier research study to confirm that its findings extend to a new group of research participants and to different circumstances is called:
a. replication.
b. random sampling.
c. naturalistic observation.
d. the double-blind procedure.
ANSWER: a
248. Professor Ticich explains that his experimental research demonstrates that children with siblings are better able to form positive relationships with other children. How might he best offer further support for the reliability of this finding?
a. replication
b. naturalistic observation
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c. case studies
d. correlational research
ANSWER: a
249. Professor Tudosa is reviewing a study on the effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive function. Professor Tudosa wants to assess whether the study's conclusions are reliable across different populations. Which of these research approaches would best replicate the original study to determine its reliability?
a. conducting a new method by observing the same participants in a different setting
b. reproducing the study using the same methodology with a new sample of participants to see if results are similar
c. selecting new participants at random and developing a new procedure of measurement
d. examining a single participant's response to aerobic exercise in-depth to analyze individual differences
ANSWER: b
250. Replication failures often result when:
a. sample sizes are small.
b. sample sizes are exceedingly large.
c. samples are unbiased.
d. samples are randomly selected.
ANSWER: a
251. Professor Thomas is conducting a research study on the effects of prosocial media exposure on prosocial behavior among consumers. To ensure his findings are scientifically valid and can be replicated by future researchers, he must carefully design his study to minimize bias. Which of these approaches best aligns with practices that improve the accuracy and replicability of his findings?
a. build rapport with participants by developing a personal relationship with them before collecting data
b. explain the study's hypotheses to participants before collecting data
c. ensure the study includes a large, diverse sample size
d. limit the study to only 15 participants to allow more detailed observations
ANSWER: c
252. In psychological science, preregistration is designed to improve:
a. deception and debriefing.
b. planning and approval.
c. replication and debriefing.
d. openness and transparency.
ANSWER: d
253. What does preregistration mean when used in relation to scientific research?
a. a carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study
b. a descriptive technique in which one individual is studied in depth
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c. publicly communicating planned study design, hypotheses, data collection, and analyses
d. repeating the essence of a research study to see whether the basic finding can be reproduced
ANSWER: c
254. When researchers publicly communicate planned study design, hypotheses, data collection, and analyses, they are engaged in:
a. preregistration.
b. replication.
c. prediction.
d. debriefing.
ANSWER: a
255. Dr. Vaughn has publicly communicated her planned research design and hypotheses. She has also communicated how she plans to collect data and anticipated analyses that will be used to test her study hypotheses. This is known as:
a. a correlation.
b. preregistration.
c. peer review.
d. repetition.
ANSWER: b
256. Preregistration encourages researchers to:
a. report their findings, even when those findings fail to replicate earlier findings.
b. report only those findings that confirm earlier findings.
c. report only those findings that have been subject to peer review.
d. change their hypotheses to fit the data before reporting their findings.
ANSWER: a
257. Which of these prevents researchers from later modifying their study, such as changing their hypotheses to fit the data?
a. debriefing
b. preregistration
c. peer review
d. repetition
ANSWER: b
258. Good theory effectively organizes observations, leading to clear predictions, and often stimulates:
a. replication.
b. opposition.
c. bias.
d. debate.
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ANSWER: a
259. When testing hypotheses, which type of methods give an account of behaviors, often by using case studies, naturalistic observations, or surveys?
a. subjective
b. experimental
c. correlational
d. descriptive
ANSWER: d
260. A descriptive method in which one individual or group is studied in great depth is called a(n):
a. replication.
b. case study.
c. experiment.
d. double-blind procedure.
ANSWER: b
261. The case study is a research method in which:
a. a single individual or group is examined in great depth.
b. a representative sample of people are questioned regarding their opinions or behaviors.
c. organisms are carefully observed in a laboratory environment.
d. an investigator manipulates one or more variables that might affect behavior.
ANSWER: a
262. In an effort to understand gender identity in pre-teens, Dr. Nieder is studying Claire, a transgender sixthgrader, in depth. Dr. Nieder's method is referred to as:
a. a case study.
b. naturalistic observation.
c. correlational research.
d. an experiment.
ANSWER: a
263. To better understand how patients recover from a traumatic brain injury after an automobile accident, Dr. Quoba conducts a case study. Dr. Quoba follows a single patient over 2 years, documenting their physical and cognitive rehabilitation, treatment, and emotional adaptation. His findings provide valuable insights into recovery patterns. What is a key limitation of this approach?
a. Dr. Quoba's case study lacks depth because it includes only one patient, making it difficult to gather meaningful insights related to traumatic brain injury.
b. Because the case study highlights only one individual, the study is highly objective, making it unreliable.
c. While Dr. Quoba provided in-depth insight into one patient's recovery, these findings may not generalize to all individuals with traumatic brain injury.
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d. The case study of traumatic brain injury provided only a cause-effect relationship, not enough descriptive findings.
ANSWER: c
264. Jean Piaget developed his ideas about children's thinking after carefully observing and questioning only a few children. Which research method did he use?
a. the survey
b. the double-blind procedure
c. the case study
d. random assignment
ANSWER: c
265. By revealing what can happen through an in-depth examination of a(n) individual, a case study often suggests directions for future research.
a. typical
b. average
c. atypical
d. conventional
ANSWER: c
266. The biggest danger of relying on case-study evidence is that it:
a. is based on naturalistic observation.
b. may not represent what is generally true.
c. overestimates the importance of operational definitions.
d. leads us to underestimate the causal relationships between events.
ANSWER: b
267. Sixteen-year-old Marc would like to learn to drive, but his parents won't let him. When he asks why, they remind him about two family members who were involved in collisions with younger drivers. "Teenagers are always getting into accidents," his father tells him. Which cognitive bias or reasoning error best explains Marc's parents' decision?
a. replication, because their belief is supported by the fact that multiple teenagers have been involved in accidents
b. random assignment, because their conclusion results from an inconsistent selection of cases rather than an unbiased sample
c. the placebo effect, because their belief in stereotype about teenage drivers has altered their perception of reality
d. generalizing from vivid cases, because they are basing their conclusion on emotionally striking but statistically limited personal experiences
ANSWER: d
268. Studying one individual or group in depth is a while observing and recording behavior in real-world situations is a _____.
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a. survey; correlation
b. case study; naturalistic observation
c. correlation; survey
d. naturalistic observation; case study
ANSWER: b
269. Naturalistic observation is a:
a. procedure for determining the extent to which two variables relate to each other.
b. descriptive technique of monitoring and recording behavior in real-world situations without trying to change or control the situation.
c. descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group.
d. research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process.
ANSWER: b
270. A descriptive technique of monitoring and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to change or control the situation is called:
a. random sampling.
b. naturalistic observation.
c. replication.
d. the double-blind procedure.
ANSWER: b
271. Which research method would be most effective for identifying the mating rituals of North American deer?
a. survey research
b. naturalistic observation
c. experimentation
d. the double-blind procedure
ANSWER: b
272. Researchers make no effort to manipulate or control variables when they engage in:
a. naturalistic observation.
b. the double-blind procedure.
c. replication.
d. experimentation.
ANSWER: a
273. A team of psychologists is conducting a cross-cultural study of infant bonding practices. They aim to describe how caregivers interact with their infants in their natural environments. Which of these best represents a naturalistic observation of this study?
a. Researchers visit homes of varying cultures and ask caregivers to bond with their infants using different techniques.
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b. Researchers conduct in-depth interviews with caregivers about bonding practices that are unique to their culture.
c. Researchers ask caregivers to bring their infants into a controlled laboratory setting, where caregiver–infant interactions are recorded.
d. Researchers visit multiple homes in various countries to unobtrusively observe caregiver–infant interactions in everyday settings.
ANSWER: d
274. Rossen is observing families as they interact at the local campground. He does not do anything to change or manipulate the situation. Rather, he is recording their interactions without interruption or influence. This is referred to as:
a. a case study.
b. naturalistic observation.
c. correlational research.
d. an experiment.
ANSWER: b
275. A research team is using data from smartwatch devices to analyze how sleep patterns change based on the weather. They gather anonymous data on the smartwatch data of a person's sleep duration and levels of deep sleep and compare it to factors of the day's weather such as UV index and humidity. Which research method best describes this study?
a. experimental research, because the researchers are testing how different weather conditions affect sleep
b. a case study, because the researchers are studying in-depth the impacts of weather conditions on individual sleep patterns
c. naturalistic observation, because the researchers are collecting behavioral data without manipulating conditions
d. correlational research, because the researchers are asking people to self-report their sleep quality in surveys
ANSWER: c
276. Digital technologies such as wearable cameras and fitness sensors have enabled the collection of "big data" by means of:
a. the testing effect.
b. case studies.
c. experimentation.
d. naturalistic observation.
ANSWER: d
277. One study found that the proportion of anger-related words in 148 million tweets from 1347 U.S. counties predicted the counties' heart disease rates better than did smoking and obesity rates. This research best illustrates the use of:
a. a case study.
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b. experimentation.
c. a survey.
d. naturalistic observation.
ANSWER: d
278. Researchers have been able to gauge a region's level of racism and depression based on:
a. local news reports.
b. people's word searches and the questions they ask online.
c. talk show topics during prime time.
d. popular songs played on the local radio station.
ANSWER: b
279. Naturalistic observation is most useful for:
a. describing behaviors.
b. predicting attitudes.
c. explaining complex emotions.
d. detecting cause-effect relationships.
ANSWER: a
280. Which of these enables more exact descriptions of ongoing behaviors without explaining them?
a. random assignment
b. informed consent
c. naturalistic observation
d. the double-blind procedure
ANSWER: c
281. The survey is a research method in which:
a. individuals are carefully observed in their natural environment.
b. a representative random sample of individuals are questioned regarding their attitudes or behaviors.
c. an individual or group is studied in great depth.
d. an investigator determines the extent to which two variables influence each other.
ANSWER: b
282. A descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a representative sample of a population is known as:
a. naturalistic observation.
b. debriefing.
c. a case study.
d. a survey.
ANSWER: d
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283. Which research method would be most appropriate for investigating the relationship between the political beliefs of U.S. people and their attitudes toward welfare?
a. the survey
b. naturalistic observation
c. the case study
d. experimentation
ANSWER: a
284. Surveys have found that people are more likely to support "revenue enhancers" than "taxes." These survey results best illustrate the importance of:
a. random sampling.
b. wording effects.
c. the placebo effect.
d. naturalistic observation.
ANSWER: b
285. Suppose that most of the people responding to a national survey would agree that "violence should not be allowed to appear in children's television programs," while only 35 percent of respondents in a similar survey agreed that "violence should be banned from children's television programs." These differing findings best illustrate the importance of:
a. representative samples.
b. the placebo effect.
c. random assignment.
d. wording effects.
ANSWER: d
286. In her research, Berlie has noticed that when participants are asked, "Do you believe teachers should be armed," they generally answer, "No." However, when participants are asked, "Do you believe that teachers should be able to protect themselves at work," most answer, "Yes." This demonstrates how can affect how participants respond to questions.
a. random sampling
b. the use of a placebo
c. research design
d. wording
ANSWER: d
287. A public opinion survey about government policies on firearms asked participants, "Do you support commonsense gun safety measures to protect citizens?" In another version of the survey, it asked, "Do you support government-imposed gun control policies that restrict firearm access?" Survey results showed significantly higher approval rates for the first version of the question than the second. Which statement best explains this discrepancy?
a. Wording effects influence people's responses by framing the issue in either a positive or a negative way, leading to different levels of support.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
b. The first question is an example of objective wording while the second uses subjective wording.
c. The results occurred by random choice, as wording differences have no measurable impact on public opinion.
d. The first question is neutrally worded while the second question is biased and leads respondents to reject restrictions.
ANSWER: a
288. Researchers observe random samples because these samples are likely to be:
a. easy to observe.
b. homogeneous.
c. representative.
d. easy to debrief.
ANSWER: c
289. A population can be defined as:
a. all those in a group being studied.
b. a determination of how two factors vary together.
c. the sample needed to determine cause-effect relationships.
d. a subset of the group being studied.
ANSWER: a
290. All those in a group being studied make up the:
a. population.
b. sample.
c. case study.
d. survey.
ANSWER: a
291. A representative sample is one that accurately reflects a larger:
a. control group.
b. correlation coefficient.
c. dependent variable.
d. population.
ANSWER: d
292. To learn about the religious attitudes of all students enrolled at California State University, Professor Upadana randomly selects 800 of these students to complete a questionnaire. The professor intends to use the responses to make inferences about the entire student body. Which of these best identifies the representative population in this study?
a. the selection process used to choose participants
b. the religious attitudes being measured
c. the 800 students who completed the questionnaire
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
d. all students enrolled at California State University
ANSWER: d
293. Keane uses a walker to get around. A few people in his neighborhood make fun of him. He decides that most people are selfish and lack human understanding. Keane ought to remind himself that reasonable generalizations depend on:
a. observing representative samples.
b. recognizing that others may not share our opinions.
c. realizing that correlation does not mean causation.
d. eliminating confounding variables.
ANSWER: a
294. When every individual in a large population has a small but equal chance of being included in a survey, researchers are using a procedure known as:
a. the case study.
b. the double-blind procedure.
c. random sampling.
d. naturalistic observation.
ANSWER: c
295. How might researchers explain why national election polls sometimes incorrectly predict the election's outcome?
a. lack of random sampling
b. biased interpretation of results
c. large sample size
d. incorrect population
ANSWER: a
296. Which procedure helps to ensure that the participants in a survey are representative of a larger population?
a. random assignment
b. replication
c. naturalistic observation
d. random sampling
ANSWER: d
297. Website polls and call-in phone surveys often yield unrepresentative results because they fail to use:
a. operational definitions.
b. random sampling.
c. independent variables.
d. double-blind procedures.
ANSWER: b
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 1
298. Representative Jeffers was cheered by large and friendly crowds at all his rallies. As a result, he became unrealistically sure that he would be reelected. In this instance, the representative needs to be alerted to the value of:
a. replication.
b. random sampling.
c. experimental control.
d. naturalistic observation.
ANSWER: b
299. To assess reactions to a proposed tuition hike at her school, Aruna sent a questionnaire to every fifteenth person in the registrar's alphabetical listing of all currently enrolled students. Which of these best describes the method Aruna is using to increase reliability and generalizability of her survey results?
a. random assignment, because she is placing participants into experimental and control groups to test causality
b. naturalistic observation, because she is surveying students in their natural setting of their school
c. replication, because she is repeating the survey to multiple individuals, asking the same questions
d. random sampling, because she is systematically selecting participants in a way that ensures every student has an equal chance of being included
ANSWER: d
300. Suppose you want to find out which candidate women will vote for in an upcoming national election. To be sure the sample you survey is representative of the population of women, you should survey:
a. only a small sample of women.
b. only politically informed women.
c. every woman in the country.
d. a large representative sample of the population of women.
ANSWER: d
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
1. Naturalistic observation and surveys often show us that one trait or behavior tends to happen together with another. This means that:
a. they correlate.
b. one behavior caused the other.
c. it is a coincidence.
d. they are not related.
ANSWER: a
2. Which of these is a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together?
a. replication
b. experimentation
c. correlation
d. extrapolation
ANSWER: c
3. A correlation coefficient is a:
a. confounding variable.
b. statistical measure.
c. dependent variable.
d. double-blind procedure.
ANSWER: b
4. Which of these is a statistical measure of the relationship between two variables?
a. a correlation coefficient
b. a random sample
c. SQ3R
d. an independent variable
ANSWER: a
5. Correlational research is most useful for purposes of:
a. explanation.
b. prediction.
c. control.
d. replication.
ANSWER: b
6. To assess the extent to which death rates increase as people age, researchers would most likely make use of:
a. the double-blind procedure.
b. case studies.
c. experimentation.
d. correlational measures.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
ANSWER: d
7. Professor Dobrynski is studying the relationship between age and political leanings. After analyzing survey data from 5,000 participants, Professor Dobrynski and colleagues discover that older individuals tend to lean more toward conservative political views, with a coefficient of r = 0.56. Based on these findings, which of these conclusions is most accurate?
a. The correlational coefficient means that aging is the direct cause of being politically more conservative.
b. Because the correlation is greater than 0.50, the study qualifies as an experiment.
c. The study found a relationship, but it does not prove that aging causes people to become more conservative.
d. The findings from the survey are unreliable because correlational research cannot provide meaningful patterns or trends.
ANSWER: c
8. Maya has conducted a study that examined the relationship between the level of physical activity and academic performance among children. What is Maya most likely to use to determine if a relationship exists?
a. meta-analysis
b. preregistration
c. a correlation coefficient
d. experimental research
ANSWER: c
9. A direct relationship in which two factors increase together or decrease together represents:
a. a dependent variable.
b. a negative correlation.
c. a positive correlation.
d. a confounding variable.
ANSWER: c
10. A positive correlation indicates:
a. a direct relationship in which two sets of scores increase together or decrease together.
b. an inverse relationship in which scores for one variable increase as scores for another variable decrease.
c. one of the variables causes the other.
d. the independent and dependent variables are indirectly related.
ANSWER: a
11. A positive correlation (r = 0.65) was found in nationwide data between household income and college graduation rates. Based on this finding, which of these conclusions is most accurate?
a. Individuals from higher-income households tend to graduate from college at higher rates than those from lower-income households.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
b. Increasing a family's income will directly result in a higher likelihood of their children graduating from college.
c. The relationship between an individual's household income and graduation rates is weak and not a meaningful finding.
d. The findings suggest that income is the only predictor of college graduation, meaning students from lower-income households have no chance of earning a degree.
ANSWER: a
12. A correlation coefficient can range in value from:
a. 0 to 100.
b. 0 to 1.00.
c. 1 to 99.
d. –1.00 to +1.00.
ANSWER: d
13. A correlation of +1.00 between physical attractiveness and dating frequency would indicate that:
a. physical attractiveness has no causal influence on dating frequency.
b. more frequent dating is associated with lower levels of physical attractiveness.
c. it is impossible to predict levels of physical attractiveness based on dating frequency.
d. less frequent dating is associated with lower levels of physical attractiveness.
ANSWER: d
14. Marijoy has found that advanced maternal age is related to an increase in autism spectrum disorder among children. This is an example of:
a. a positive correlation.
b. a negative correlation.
c. a neutral relationship.
d. no relationship.
ANSWER: a
15. A negative correlation is one in which:
a. both factors decrease together.
b. one variable is manipulated to cause an effect on another variable.
c. the manipulated variable of interest does not have an effect on the variable of interest.
d. one factor increases as another factor decreases.
ANSWER: d
16. Professor Schmidt is a developmental psychologist who examines external influences on the parent–child relationship. Professor Schmidt collects data on parental work stress and time spent engaging with their children. After analyzing the data, a negative correlation was found between the two variables. Based on these findings, which of these conclusions is most accurate?
a. Higher levels of parental work stress are associated with less frequent parent-child interactions.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
b. Higher levels of parental work stress are associated with more frequent parent-child interactions.
c. Lower levels of parental work stress are associated with less frequent parent-child interactions.
d. No real relationship was found between the levels of parental work stress and time spent with children.
ANSWER: a
17. An inverse relationship in which one factor increases as another factor decreases represents:
a. a confounding variable.
b. random assignment.
c. replication.
d. a negative correlation.
ANSWER: d
18. Suppose that research studies have found that as positive parenting increases, children's feelings of depression decrease. This would demonstrate a(n):
a. positive correlation.
b. neutral relationship.
c. absence of cause and effect.
d. negative correlation.
ANSWER: d
19. Suppose the correlation between children's body weight and their reading ability is –1.00. This would mean that:
a. there is very little statistical relationship between children's body weight and reading ability.
b. low body weight has a negative effect on children's reading ability.
c. among children, better reading ability is associated with lower body weight.
d. body weight has no causal influence on the reading ability of children.
ANSWER: c
20. Researchers discovered a negative correlation (r = –0.62) between time spent exercising and a person's weight, meaning that individuals who exercise more tend to weigh less. Based on these findings, which conclusion is most valid?
a. Since the correlation is negative, it means that losing weight causes people to exercise more, rather than exercise leading one to lose weight.
b. The correlation of r = –0.62 is too weak to be a meaningful finding, suggesting that there is a weak relationship between exercise and weight.
c. The negative correlation confirms that increased exercise is the cause of weight loss, meaning individuals who do not lose weight must not be exercising enough.
d. While there is an association between exercise and weight, other factors such as metabolism and lifestyle habits could influence both exercise and body weight.
ANSWER: d
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
21. Following the scientific discovery that the brain's hypothalamus is significantly larger in people who are obese than in those who are thin, a news headline announced: "Enlarged Hypothalamus Triggers Excessive Eating." Yuki, the headline writer, should most clearly be warned about the dangers of:
a. the placebo effect.
b. naturalistic observation.
c. confusing association with causation.
d. generalizing from unrepresentative samples.
ANSWER: c
22. Suppose that some psychologists find that people whose incomes are below the federal poverty threshold seem to have children who struggle more in school than do the children of those whose incomes are above the federal poverty threshold. This would clearly indicate that:
a. poverty has a negative influence on children's school behavior.
b. the factors that lead to poverty also cause children to have problems in school.
c. people's income and their children's school success are negatively correlated.
d. all of these statements are correct.
ANSWER: c
23. If researchers found that younger parents have more intelligent children than older parents do, this would demonstrate that:
a. intelligence is inherited.
b. younger parents provide their children with greater educational opportunities than do older parents.
c. the age of parents and children's intelligence is negatively correlated.
d. all of these statements are correct.
ANSWER: c
24. A positive correlation between self-esteem and academic success would indicate that:
a. a positive self-concept contributes to academic success.
b. academic success contributes to a favorable self-image.
c. those with high self-esteem are more academically successful than those with low self-esteem.
d. all of these statements are correct.
ANSWER: c
25. Which research method assesses how well one variable predicts another without demonstrating a causeeffect relationship between the variables?
a. naturalistic observation
b. correlational research
c. the case study
d. the experimental method
ANSWER: b
26. People who have a mental illness are also particularly likely to smoke. This does not necessarily indicate
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
that mental illness triggers smoking. Why?
a. Random sequences often don't look random.
b. A placebo effect may be operating.
c. Correlation does not prove causation.
d. Events seem more probable in hindsight.
ANSWER: c
27. Correlations are useful for predicting a relationship between two variables. However, they:
a. do not prove a cause-effect relationship.
b. are limited by ethical concerns.
c. work only on a random sample of a population.
d. may involve atypical cases.
ANSWER: a
28. Suppose that people who see a lot of violent movies are also particularly likely to behave aggressively. This relationship would NOT necessarily indicate that watching violence influences aggressive behavior because:
a. random sequences often don't look random.
b. correlation does not prove causation.
c. sampling extreme cases leads to false generalizations.
d. the sample may have been randomly selected.
ANSWER: b
29. Based on a recent survey indicating that people who smoke regularly report having less energy, a news article includes the headline "Smoking Makes You Sleepy!" What is wrong with this conclusion?
a. It was derived from a survey study.
b. Correlation does not prove causation.
c. The experiment that reached this conclusion cannot be replicated.
d. This finding is not problematic.
ANSWER: b
30. Incorrectly interpreting a correlation between two factors as evidence of causation is best avoided by making use of:
a. experiments.
b. survey research.
c. case studies.
d. naturalistic observation.
ANSWER: a
31. A research method in which an investigator manipulates factors that potentially produce a particular effect is called a(n):
a. survey.
b. experiment.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
c. case study.
d. correlation.
ANSWER: b
32. Which of these methods is most helpful for clarifying cause-effect relationships?
a. the survey
b. the experiment
c. correlational research
d. naturalistic observation
ANSWER: b
33. Researchers use experiments rather than other research methods in order to isolate:
a. facts from theories.
b. causes from effects.
c. case studies from surveys.
d. random samples from representative samples.
ANSWER: b
34. A researcher wants to investigate whether aerobic exercise improves a person's ability to solve problems. The researcher designs an experiment where one group of participants performs aerobic exercise, while another group does not exercise, before solving a problem. Which aspect of this study ensures that it is an experiment rather than a correlational study?
a. The researcher manipulates one variable, aerobic exercise, while keeping other factors constant, allowing for a cause-effect conclusion.
b. The researcher surveys those who exercised and then had them solve a problem, identifying a relationship between aerobic exercise and problem solving.
c. The researcher observes the participants naturally, without interfering, documenting their ability to problem-solve.
d. The researcher studies the variables of aerobic exercise and problem solving without studying other factors.
ANSWER: a
35. An experiment enables researchers to isolate the effects of one or more factors by manipulating the factors of interest and also by:
a. obtaining participants' informed consent prior to beginning the experiment.
b. summarizing participants' responses with a correlation coefficient.
c. holding other factors constant across experimental and control groups.
d. fully debriefing participants after completing the experiment.
ANSWER: c
36. A team of child developmental psychologists wants to determine whether teens' social media use predicted future mental health issues. To establish a causal relationship, they design an experiment. How should the
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
researchers design their study to meet experimental standards?
a. They should analyze social media data, such as age, to determine whether social media causes anxiety and depression in teenage users.
b. They should observe teenagers without intervening, tracking their social media usage and comparing it to their mental health scores.
c. They should conduct in-depth interviews with teenagers about their past social media usage and current mental health status, then analyze the correlation between the variables.
d. They should randomly assign teenagers to use different levels of social media and track their mental health over time, while controlling factors like prior mental health history and offline social interactions.
ANSWER: d
37. Experimentation is more useful than correlational research for testing the claim that:
a. people who regularly exercise are less likely to experience depression than infrequent exercisers.
b. people's moods and energy are improved by a loving relationship.
c. children who play a lot of violent video games are also likely to be unusually aggressive.
d. people who drink higher-than-average amounts of coffee are also likely to drink higher-than-average amounts of tea.
ANSWER: b
38. Unlike correlational studies, experiments involve:
a. operationally defining research procedures.
b. manipulating the factors of interest.
c. studying observable behaviors.
d. replicating previous research.
ANSWER: b
39. In a test of the effects of sleep deprivation on problem-solving skills, research participants are allowed to sleep either 4 or 8 hours on each of three consecutive nights. This research is an example of:
a. naturalistic observation.
b. survey research.
c. a case study.
d. an experiment.
ANSWER: d
40. In which type of research is random assignment most likely to be used?
a. survey
b. case study
c. correlational
d. experimental
ANSWER: d
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
41. To minimize any differences between participants who are in the control and experimental groups, psychologists make use of:
a. random assignment.
b. replication.
c. random sampling.
d. correlation.
ANSWER: a
42. Being randomly assigned to the experimental group in a research project involves being assigned:
a. to that group by chance.
b. to the group in which participants are representative of people in general.
c. in a way that ensures that the independent variable will affect the dependent variable.
d. to the group in which participants all have similar personalities.
ANSWER: a
43. To accurately isolate cause and effect, experimenters should use:
a. random assignment.
b. naturalistic observation.
c. case studies.
d. correlation coefficients.
ANSWER: a
44. Dr. Carlson is conducting an experiment on family closeness and wants to compare results between an experimental group that has daily family dinners and a control group that does not. However, Dr. Carlson wants to ensure that his research findings are not the result of age differences between participants in the experimental and control groups. To ensure age differences do not affect his findings, which strategy should Dr. Carlson utilize?
a. replicating the study multiple times to confirm that age difference does not impact the relationship between family dinners and family closeness
b. randomly assigning participants to the experimental and control groups to ensure that individuals' ages are equally distributed
c. using precise definitions of age and family closeness before analyzing the results
d. implementing a double-blind procedure so that neither participant nor researcher knows who has daily family dinners
ANSWER: b
45. Amit is working on his term paper for his psychology course. He plans to design an experiment in which participants are assigned to the experimental and control groups by chance. He is using:
a. a correlational design.
b. a case study.
c. forced participation.
d. random assignment.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
ANSWER: d
46. Research participants are randomly assigned to different groups in an experiment in order to:
a. minimize chances that participants in any group know one another.
b. increase chances that participants are representative of people in general.
c. minimize any differences between groups of participants.
d. increase chances that the different groups have the same number of participants.
ANSWER: c
47. Random sampling is used for _____, and random assignment is used for _____.
a. correlational studies; case studies
b. surveys; experiments
c. replication; correlation
d. description; prediction
ANSWER: b
48. In an experiment, the experimental group is the group that:
a. receives a placebo.
b. is informed about which treatment they are receiving.
c. is exposed to the treatment being tested by the experiment.
d. is not fully debriefed following the completion of the experiment.
ANSWER: c
49. Participants who are exposed to the treatment being tested in an experiment are said to be assigned to the:
a. random sample.
b. experimental group.
c. standardized treatment.
d. control group.
ANSWER: b
50. Dr. Karkera is studying the relationship between the number of students in a testing room and grades. She randomly assigns students to one of two groups. The first group is crowded into a small room with a lot of students; the second group is in a room with the usual number of students. Which is the experimental group?
a. the group of students who were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions
b. the group of students who were in the crowded room
c. the group of students who studied in the room with the usual number of students
d. There is no experimental group because this is a naturalistic observation research design.
ANSWER: b
51. In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment being tested is called the:
a. standardized group.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
b. naturalistic group.
c. placebo group.
d. control group.
ANSWER: d
52. Which of these is true for those assigned to a control group?
a. The experimenter exerts the greatest influence on participants' behavior.
b. The research participants are exposed to all the different experimental treatments.
c. The research participants are exposed to the most favorable levels of experimental treatment.
d. The experimental treatment is absent.
ANSWER: d
53. To study the potential effects of social interaction on problem solving, some research participants were instructed to solve problems by working together, while other participants were told to solve problems by working alone. After completing the problem-solving task, their performance is measured and compared. In this experiment, which group do the people who solved problems alone belong to and why?
a. They are in the survey group because researchers are collecting data on how participants approach problem-solving tasks.
b. They are the experimental group because all participants are being tested on their problem-solving skills under different conditions.
c. They are in the control group because they did not receive the manipulated variable of social interaction.
d. They are in a correlational group because researchers are examining the relationship between social interaction and problem solving.
ANSWER: c
54. Dr. Watson is conducting an experiment designed to study the effectiveness of a new drug for treating Parkinson's. Research participants who receive a placebo have been assigned to the:
a. dependent variable group.
b. correlational group.
c. experimental group.
d. control group.
ANSWER: d
55. Research participants drank either caffeinated or decaffeinated beverages in a study of the effects of caffeine on anxiety levels. Those who received the caffeinated drinks were assigned to the:
a. survey group.
b. experimental group.
c. correlational group.
d. control group.
ANSWER: b
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
56. To provide a baseline against which they can evaluate the effects of a specific treatment, experimenters make use of a(n):
a. dependent variable.
b. independent variable.
c. control group.
d. experimental group.
ANSWER: c
57. To assess whether a flu vaccine is effective for citizens of his state, Dr. Muddasani plans to administer the vaccine to all residents of the state rather than give half of them a placebo injection. Dr. Muddasani is most clearly underestimating the importance of:
a. testing a large sample.
b. operationally defining his procedures.
c. replicating observations of other researchers.
d. creating a control group.
ANSWER: d
58. Random assignment minimizes between experimental and control groups. Random sampling minimizes between a sample and a population.
a. similarities; differences
b. differences; similarities
c. similarities; similarities
d. differences; differences
ANSWER: d
59. In experimental research, a placebo is defined as:
a. the treatment under study.
b. a variable other than the variable being studied that might influence a study's results.
c. an inactive substance or condition that is sometimes given to those in a control group.
d. the variable that is manipulated by the researcher.
ANSWER: c
60. An inactive substance that may be administered instead of a drug to see if it produces any of the same effects as the drug is called a:
a. placebo.
b. coefficient.
c. case study.
d. replication.
ANSWER: a
61. In a study of the effects of drinking coffee, some participants drank a decaf coffee that actually smelled and tasted like regular coffee. This decaf coffee was a:
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
a. dependent variable.
b. replication.
c. placebo.
d. double blind.
ANSWER: c
62. What type of research is said to be double-blind when the participants and the research staff are unaware of who has received an actual treatment and who has not?
a. correlation
b. case study
c. survey
d. experiment
ANSWER: d
63. Judith experiences depression, and she is taking medication that she believes will help treat it. Unknowingly, the medication she is taking is actually a sugar pill. However, her depression is declining as she is taking the medication. Which psychological phenomenon best explains Judith's improvement?
a. random assignment, because Judith was randomly placed into a group, and as a result, is experiencing changes in her depressive symptoms
b. hindsight bias, because Judith will later claim she "always knew" the medication would work, even though she had no knowledge of its effectiveness
c. debriefing, because Judith's symptoms improve after researchers explain the true nature of the study
d. the placebo effect, because Judith believes she is taking an effective antidepressant leading to real psychological improvements
ANSWER: d
64. In an experiment, a double-blind procedure is a procedure in which:
a. the confounding variable is controlled for.
b. both the experimental and control groups receive the treatment under study.
c. both the participants and the research staff are ignorant about who has received the treatment or a placebo.
d. the dependent variable is the opposite of the independent variable.
ANSWER: c
65. To minimize the extent to which outcome differences between experimental and control groups can be attributed to placebo effects, researchers make use of:
a. random sampling.
b. the double-blind procedure.
c. random assignment.
d. operational definitions.
ANSWER: b
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
66. Dr. Horton and colleagues are comparing the effectiveness of a new antacid pill against that of a wellknown brand. To prevent any expectations about brand effectiveness from influencing their experimental test, the researchers are likely to make use of:
a. random sampling.
b. replication.
c. operational definitions.
d. the double-blind procedure.
ANSWER: d
67. Dexter is participating in an experiment to determine whether ibuprofen is effective in treating sore muscles. Neither he nor the experimenters know whether the pills he takes during the experiment contain ibuprofen or are merely placebos. Why would researchers use this double-blind procedure?
a. to observe participants' natural reaction and behavior in real-world conditions without interfering in the treatment process
b. to eliminate all possible confounding variables, guaranteeing that only the effects of ibuprofen will influence the study's outcome
c. to prevent both participant expectations and researcher bias from influencing the results
d. to ensure the results can be generalized to the larger population by using a randomized sample of participants
ANSWER: c
68. The healing power of positive expectations is best illustrated by:
a. replication.
b. debriefing.
c. the placebo effect.
d. hindsight bias.
ANSWER: c
69. In a psychological experiment, researchers are interested in studying the potential effects of the: a. dependent variable.
b. confounding variable.
c. independent variable.
d. random variable.
ANSWER: c
70. In a psychological experiment, the variable that is manipulated by the investigator is called the: a. dependent variable.
b. independent variable.
c. control variable.
d. experimental variable.
ANSWER: b
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
71. In an experimental study, men with erectile disorder received either Viagra or a placebo. In this study, the drug dosage (none versus peak dosage) was the:
a. confounding variable.
b. dependent variable.
c. random sample.
d. independent variable.
ANSWER: d
72. Dr. Durante is studying whether drinking alcohol affects memory. Dr. Durante tested 25-year-olds on their ability to remember the names of people after drinking either 4, 2, or 0 ounces of alcohol. In this study, the independent variable consisted of:
a. the age of the research participants.
b. the memory of the research participants.
c. the amount of alcohol the participants drank.
d. the effects of drinking alcohol.
ANSWER: c
73. Which of these best describes a confounding variable?
a. the variable whose effect is being studied
b. a factor other than the factor being studied that might influence a study's results
c. the variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated
d. in an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment
ANSWER: b
74. A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment is called a:
a. wording effect.
b. correlation coefficient.
c. placebo effect.
d. confounding variable.
ANSWER: d
75. If participants in the experimental group of a study of athletic ability are much older than participants in the control group, the age of the research participants is a:
a. dependent variable.
b. correlation coefficient.
c. confounding variable.
d. replication.
ANSWER: c
76. Professor Jimenez has conducted several studies on the impact of parental divorce on adult children. Her research finds that individuals who experienced divorce in childhood report higher levels of stress as adults. While the experience of divorce has a lasting impact on adult children, what confounding factors might
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
influence the study's results?
a. the placebo effect, because adult children might only believe they are stressed due to their knowledge of their parents' divorce
b. access to education, because it might shape long-term stress to fit the researcher's expectations of divorce
c. wording effects, because adult participants may exaggerate their stress levels to fit the researcher's expectations
d. socioeconomic status, because it may contribute to childhood stress and continue to impact adult well-being
ANSWER: d
77. Which of these control(s) for possible confounding variables?
a. random sampling
b. placebos
c. random assignment
d. double-blind procedures
ANSWER: c
78. Independent variables are given operational definitions which specify how the variables are _____. Dependent variables are given operational definitions which outline how the variables are _____.
a. manipulated; measured
b. challenged; manipulated
c. studied; challenged
d. measured; studied
ANSWER: a
79. The dependent variable in an experiment is the factor:
a. that is directly manipulated by the investigator.
b. that may be influenced by the experimental treatment.
c. whose effect is being studied.
d. that causes the behavior being studied.
ANSWER: b
80. In a psychological experiment, the factor that may be influenced by the manipulated experimental treatment is called the:
a. dependent variable.
b. experimental variable.
c. control variable.
d. independent variable.
ANSWER: a
81. In an experimental study of the extent to which mental alertness is stimulated by coffee, mental alertness
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
would be the:
a. control condition.
b. experimental condition.
c. independent variable.
d. dependent variable.
ANSWER: d
82. To assess the influence of self-esteem on interpersonal attraction, researchers either insulted or complimented students about their physical appearance just before they went on a blind date. In this research, the dependent variable was:
a. insults or compliments.
b. physical appearance.
c. interpersonal attraction.
d. feelings of self-esteem.
ANSWER: c
83. In an experiment examining how social media use affects depression, researchers randomly assigned participants to either deactivate their TikTok accounts or continue to use them. After a month, participants completed a survey that included questions about their levels of depression. Which of these correctly identifies the independent and dependent variables in the experiment?
a. The independent variable is TikTok use, and the dependent variable is the level of depression after one month.
b. The independent variable is participants' depression levels, and the dependent variable is their frequency of using TikTok.
c. The independent variable is the random assignment of participants in the control group, and the dependent variable is the experimental group who deactivated TikTok.
d. The independent variable is the students who deactivated TikTok, and the dependent variable is the control group who did not deactivate TikTok.
ANSWER: a
84. Psychologists conducted an experiment to test whether landlords' perception of an applicant's ethnicity influenced rental opportunities. Identically worded emails were sent to a thousand Los Angeles–area landlords, only varying in the sender's name to suggest different ethnicities. The researchers recorded the percentage of positive replies from landlords. What are the independent and dependent variables in the study?
a. The independent variable is the identically worded emails sent to landlords, and the dependent variable is the number of emails sent.
b. The independent variable is landlords' positive responses, and the dependent variable is the applicant's name.
c. The independent variable is the applicant's name, and the dependent variable is the percentage of landlords who responded positively.
d. The independent variable is how many emails were sent to landlords, and the dependent variable is how the landlords responded to the applicants.
ANSWER: c
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
85. Conducting a case study best illustrates:
a. random sampling.
b. correlational research.
c. the double-blind procedure.
d. a descriptive method.
ANSWER: d
86. Observing and recording behavior is the main purpose behind:
a. descriptive research.
b. correlational research.
c. experimental research.
d. longitudinal research.
ANSWER: a
87. Case studies, naturalistic observations, and surveys are all which type of research method?
a. descriptive
b. correlational
c. experimental
d. longitudinal
ANSWER: a
88. Examining naturally occurring relationships is the basic purpose of conducting:
a. descriptive research.
b. correlational research.
c. experimental research.
d. longitudinal research.
ANSWER: b
89. Which of these is a limitation of correlational research?
a. single cases may be misleading
b. cause and effect cannot be established
c. lack of generalizability
d. ethical considerations
ANSWER: b
90. Which research method involves manipulating one or more factors and using random assignment of participants?
a. descriptive
b. correlational
c. experimental
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
d. longitudinal
ANSWER: c
91. Which of these is a limitation of the experimental research design?
a. There is no manipulation involved.
b. There is no control of variables.
c. It cannot establish cause and effect.
d. It may not be possible for practical or ethical concerns.
ANSWER: d
92. Which of these research questions would be considered untestable in psychological research?
a. What is the relationship between social media use and anxiety?
b. How does sleep affect memory?
c. Does an afterlife exist?
d. Does physical activity improve mood?
ANSWER: c
93. Psychologists carefully select research designs based on money and time availability, ethical issues, and other limitations. Which of these research questions would most likely face ethical challenges in terms of study design?
a. How does daily coffee consumption influence focus and concentration?
b. Does childhood trauma increase the likelihood of developing anxiety in adulthood?
c. Does meditation reduce stress among college students?
d. What is the relationship between personality traits and leadership?
ANSWER: b
94. Why do psychologists use simplified laboratory experiments in research?
a. to ensure findings apply to only laboratory settings
b. to perfectly replicate unpredictable environments
c. to identify general principles that can help explain everyday behaviors
d. to test participants in uncontrolled environments
ANSWER: c
95. Psychology experiments are typically designed to:
a. test principles that help explain everyday behavior.
b. observe behaviors that are unobservable outside the laboratory.
c. re-create the naturally occurring conditions that influence people's daily behaviors.
d. observe a truly random sample of human or animal behavior.
ANSWER: a
96. Psychological experiments in which participants are required to view blinking faint lights in a dark room can be applied to more complex behaviors such as night flying. This suggests that laboratory research is
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
intended to:
a. test theoretical principles, using a simplified reality.
b. determine relationships rather than cause-effect.
c. uncover unconscious preferences.
d. safeguard human welfare.
ANSWER: a
97. The simplified reality of laboratory experiments is most helpful in enabling psychologists to:
a. predict human behavior in almost all situations.
b. perceive order in completely random events.
c. develop general principles that help explain behavior.
d. observe random samples of human conduct.
ANSWER: c
98. Research suggests that depression and suicide are more common in North America today than they were a century ago. But in both periods, pessimistic thinking and feelings of loneliness correspond to a heightened risk of depression and suicide. Which of these best explains why these risk factors remain relevant across different time periods?
a. genetic differences, because the rise in depression rates must be due to inherited traits that have evolved over time
b. unconscious motives, because depression and suicide are best understood as being a result of hidden childhood conflicts
c. early childhood memories, because long-term depression and suicide risks are always rooted in traumatic childhood experiences
d. common underlying psychological principles, because general patterns of thought and emotion contribute to mental health outcomes regardless of history or culture
ANSWER: d
99. Professor Gordon is studying the effect that lack of sleep has on driving ability. She divides participants into two groups. One group gets the treatment, in this case interrupted sleep, and the other group does not. Participants then complete a driving simulation task to measure their reaction time. Professor Gordon finds that those whose sleep had been interrupted had a slower reaction time than those who had a full night's sleep. She then concludes that lack of sleep would impair driving ability. Why is she able to reach this conclusion?
a. She can make this conclusion because she adhered to all research ethics.
b. She did not use deception in her study, making her results more accurate.
c. She is testing theoretical principles that can help explain everyday behaviors.
d. She cannot make this conclusion because participants did not drive in the study.
ANSWER: c
100. Which of these animals resembles humans in how they learn to cope with stress?
a. honeybees
b. rats
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
c. whales
d. cats
ANSWER: a
101. Psychologists study animals because:
a. animal behavior is just as complex as human behavior.
b. experiments on people are generally considered to be unethical.
c. the ethical treatment of animals is not mandated by professional guidelines.
d. similar processes often underlie animal and human behavior.
ANSWER: d
102. The British Psychological Society and the American Psychological Association have issued guidelines for animal research. These guidelines call for:
a. random sampling amongst participants.
b. anonymity among participants.
c. objective definitions in the study.
d. humane care and healthful conditions.
ANSWER: d
103. A central issue that emerges in debates over experimenting on animals is the:
a. usefulness of studying biological processes in animals.
b. ethics of placing the well-being of humans above that of animals.
c. obligation to treat information about individual animals with confidentiality.
d. need to obtain the informed consent of animals used in research.
ANSWER: b
104. Research on animal subjects has demonstrated that:
a. animals can benefit from research.
b. animals are always harmed during research.
c. it is not possible for animals to benefit from research.
d. research using animal subjects is unethical.
ANSWER: a
105. Psychologists occasionally deceive research participants about the true purpose of an experiment in order to prevent them from:
a. worrying about the potential harm or discomfort they may experience.
b. realizing that their privacy is being violated.
c. deciding that they really don't want to take part in the experiment.
d. trying to confirm the experimenters' predictions.
ANSWER: d
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
106. Some of psychology's most famous experiments exposed participants to levels of stress and deception that would no longer be considered ethical. Which of these is an example of a guideline that would make these studies unacceptable today?
a. promising no negative impacts from the study
b. ensuring random sampling
c. sharing individual participants' information with the scientific community
d. providing financial compensation
ANSWER: c
107. In an effort to prevent participants in an experiment from trying to confirm the researchers' predictions, psychologists sometimes:
a. obtain written promises from participants to respond honestly.
b. treat information about individual participants confidentially.
c. deceive participants about the true purpose of an experiment.
d. allow people to decide for themselves whether they want to participate in an experiment.
ANSWER: c
108. The ethics codes of the APA and Britain's BPS urge researchers to:
a. avoid the use of monetary incentives in recruiting people to participate in research.
b. forewarn potential research participants of the exact hypotheses that the research will test.
c. avoid the manipulation of independent variables in research involving human participants.
d. explain the research to the participants after the study has been completed.
ANSWER: d
109. In conducting experiments, psychologists must give participants enough information about their study to enable them to decide whether they wish to participate. This is referred to as:
a. informed consent.
b. debriefing.
c. a double-blind procedure.
d. critical thinking.
ANSWER: a
110. The principle of informed consent is most directly relevant to people's right to:
a. choose whether they wish to participate in a research study.
b. know whether they are assigned to an experimental or control group.
c. replicate the results of a research study.
d. be fully debriefed following their participation in research.
ANSWER: a
111. Ni Wayan is planning to study the effects of bullying on self-esteem. Before beginning, she provides potential participants with information that will enable them to decide whether they wish to participate. What Ni Wayan is doing is called:
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
a. the placebo effect.
b. random assignment.
c. informed consent.
d. debriefing.
ANSWER: c
112. Debriefing refers to:
a. a technique for assessing the attitudes of those who respond to a survey.
b. repeating a research study with a different set of participants than those in the original study.
c. a procedure designed to inhibit the placebo effect.
d. explaining a research study to participants after the study is completed.
ANSWER: d
113. Fernando is conducting a study on the effects of sleep loss on learning ability. He has just finished collecting data from his participants and now is explaining to them the purpose of the study and any type of deception he used. Fernando's explanation is called:
a. a placebo.
b. random assignment.
c. the double-blind procedure.
d. debriefing.
ANSWER: d
114. Dr. Zuniga has just completed a research study, and so she is now explaining to the participants the true purpose of the study and any deceptions that were used. Why is the debriefing process essential in psychological research?
a. because ethical guidelines require researchers to fully inform participants about the study's true purpose and address any misconceptions or concerns
b. because debriefing ensures that participants do not experience any negative emotions or psychological effects from the study
c. because the explanation prevents experimenter bias by ensuring neither the participant nor the researchers knew the study's purpose beforehand
d. because debriefing is required before participation to ensure informed consent
ANSWER: a
115. Which of these is considered to be the most important scientific value according to leading scientists?
a. honesty
b. curiosity
c. perseverance
d. overconfidence
ANSWER: a
116. To ensure scientific integrity, leading scientists cite honesty as the most important scientific value,
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
followed by:
a. skepticism and conformity.
b. curiosity and perseverance.
c. computation and interpretation.
d. rigidity and consistency.
ANSWER: b
117. Dr. Correa is leading a team of researchers to study the effect of social media on a person's self-esteem. Dr. Correa advises his team that it is most important that they:
a. persuade each other about the correct results.
b. be honest in their evaluations.
c. use naturalistic observation.
d. obtain study participants' informed consent.
ANSWER: b
118. Based on a fraudulent 1998 study, some parents were misled into thinking that the childhood MMR vaccine increased the risk of:
a. childhood obesity.
b. autism spectrum disorder.
c. infantile amnesia.
d. stranger anxiety.
ANSWER: b
119. Which statement best describes why scientific fraud is harmful?
a. It can mislead the public, cause real-world harm, and damage trust in scientific research.
b. It only affects the career of the individual who committed fraud, making them unreliable.
c. Scientific fraud is rare and does not have a lasting impact.
d. Once a fraudulent study is exposed, people stop believing the misinformation.
ANSWER: a
120. In the 1998 study claiming the link between the MMR vaccine and autism spectrum disorder, the study was retracted and multiple large-scale studies failed to replicate the findings. Despite the efforts to correct the fraudulent claims, what long-term consequences did this research have?
a. The fraud had lasting effects on the researcher's career without much consequence to public opinion of vaccinations.
b. It contributed to parents being hesitant to give their children vaccines, leading to outbreaks like the measles.
c. The study is still considered valid by many scientists and is used as evidence to support the "antivax" movement.
d. The study did not have lasting effects because the misinformation was retracted immediately.
ANSWER: b
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
121. Psychologists' personal values and goals:
a. are carefully tested by means of observation and experimentation.
b. lead them to avoid experiments involving human participants.
c. can bias their observations and interpretations.
d. have very little influence on the process of scientific observation.
ANSWER: c
122. Industrial-organizational psychologists Greta and Gordon, who work as consultants for a large corporation, are examining the impact of a new "Sales Stars" program that rewards the most successful sales representatives with cash prizes. The numbers indicate that this program has increased worker productivity, but employee interviews reveal that it has damaged worker morale. When debating whether or not to recommend that the corporation continue with Sales Stars, Greta and Gordon should remember that:
a. it is more ethical to prioritize worker morale above worker productivity.
b. their attitudes and values may influence their interpretations of the results.
c. they must debrief the employees who participated in the study.
d. they should avoid using labels when they discuss individual workers in their report.
ANSWER: b
123. Dr. Ibrahim and Dr. Garba are observing a preschool class to study children's social interactions. When one child refuses to share a toy with a classmate, Dr. Ibrahim notes that the child is "resolute and determined"; Dr. Garba notes that the child is "inflexible and unsympathetic." What issue does this reflect in psychology?
a. Psychological science has the power to persuade.
b. Researchers' attitudes can influence their interpretations.
c. Fraudulent studies can cause great harm.
d. It is critical to obtain study participants' informed consent.
ANSWER: b
124. Researchers have demonstrated that the way a question is phrased can affect how people respond. This reveals that:
a. we tend to generalize from samples that we observe.
b. correlation does not prove causation.
c. the words used can reflect values.
d. an experiment manipulates a factor to determine its effect.
ANSWER: c
125. The study of psychology is potentially dangerous because:
a. psychological knowledge can be used for destructive purposes.
b. psychologists generally believe that people are not personally responsible for their actions.
c. psychological research usually requires performing stressful experiments on people.
d. psychological research typically violates personal privacy rights.
ANSWER: a
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
126. According to the text, we all can use psychology by applying three principles, which are:
a. survey, question, review.
b. read, review, retrieve.
c. think, consider, improve.
d. curiosity, skepticism, humility.
ANSWER: c
127. According to the text, you can use psychology in three ways: think, consider, and:
a. learn.
b. improve.
c. test.
d. evaluate.
ANSWER: b
128. Using what you know about psychology to aid your personal relationships demonstrates how psychology can be used to:
a. think.
b. consider.
c. evaluate.
d. improve.
ANSWER: d
129. By discussing politics with those who have a different opinion than you do, you are using psychology to: a. think.
b. consider.
c. evaluate.
d. improve.
ANSWER: b
130. Psychological research indicates that people who are happier and more productive than average are those who develop a habit of:
a. overestimating how much they can accomplish.
b. managing their time to get a full night's sleep.
c. multitasking and dual processing.
d. living spontaneously without focusing on long-term goals.
ANSWER: b
131. Psychological research indicates that regular aerobic exercise is an effective way to minimize:
a. critical thinking.
b. anxiety.
c. overconfidence.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
d. energy.
ANSWER: b
132. Psychological research indicates that people who are both happier and healthier than average tend to be those who:
a. perceive their intellectual abilities as fixed by their heredity.
b. live spontaneously without focusing on long-term goals.
c. give priority to relationships with supportive friends.
d. are more physically attractive than average.
ANSWER: c
133. Charlize has asked you for advice on how to live a happy, effective life. Which of these is NOT something that you would suggest?
a. "Make sure you get enough sleep each night."
b. "Spend some time each day doing aerobic activity."
c. "Maintain close relationships with others."
d. "Avoid making long-term goals right now."
ANSWER: d
134. Viewing one's intellectual skills as similar to a muscle that gets stronger with exercise is characteristic of those who:
a. favor massed practice over spaced practice.
b. avoid engaging in dual processing.
c. adopt a biopsychosocial approach.
d. have a growth mindset.
ANSWER: d
135. The enhanced memory that accompanies repeated self-testing of material learned earlier best illustrates the value of:
a. replication.
b. retrieval practice.
c. random sampling.
d. informed consent.
ANSWER: b
136. Julia is preparing for an upcoming exam and uses practice quizzes to review previously studied material. Over time, she notices that this method improves her retention and overall performance on graded quizzes. Which of these best explains why Julia's strategy is effective?
a. the testing effect, because actively retrieving information through self-quizzing strengthens memory and long-term retention
b. the SQ3R method, because Julia is using a structured review and study approach to encode information
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
c. the double-blind procedure, because neither Julia nor her teacher knows what questions will appear on the quiz, ensuring unbiased results
d. the placebo effect, because Julia believes quizzing herself will help on her performance and that belief alone is responsible for improved results
ANSWER: a
137. The idea that memory is enhanced after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information is called the: a. growth mindset.
b. review method.
c. SQ3R method.
d. testing effect.
ANSWER: d
138. The SQ3R method involves survey, question, read, retrieve, and:
a. repeat.
b. challenge.
c. review.
d. accept.
ANSWER: c
139. The SQ3R method encourages students to:
a. read each text chapter quickly in order to minimize boredom.
b. read each text chapter without any preconceptions about what they might learn.
c. survey a text chapter's organization before actually reading the chapter itself.
d. read entire text chapters at one sitting in order to maximize comprehension.
ANSWER: c
140. The SQ3R study method emphasizes the importance of:
a. massed practice.
b. replication.
c. retrieving information.
d. random sampling.
ANSWER: c
141. Miguel just opened his psychology textbook to read the chapter that is being covered this week. He turns to the learning objectives listed at the beginning of the chapter and tries to answer each one. He is currently using which part of the SQ3R method?
a. read
b. retrieve
c. survey
d. question
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
ANSWER: d
142. In one study, English-speaking students who had been tested repeatedly recalled the meaning of 20 previously learned Lithuanian words better than those who had spent the same time restudying the words. The results of this study demonstrate:
a. social learning.
b. the benefits of heuristics.
c. the testing effect.
d. the SQ3R method.
ANSWER: c
143. To retain information, the text emphasizes the value of:
a. spaced practice over massed practice.
b. speed reading over massed practice.
c. informed consent over debriefing.
d. massed practice over spaced practice.
ANSWER: a
144. Researchers suggest that childhood physical abuse is correlated to anxiety in adulthood. As part of studying tips to improve one's learning, thinking critically about this would involve:
a. spreading out reading the results of the study over a week rather than one day to prevent an overload of information.
b. being overconfident and overestimating what one knows about child physical abuse and how it relates to anxiety in adulthood.
c. writing down the variables of the study to process to better understand the findings and retain them better.
d. questioning the methods of research to examine if childhood physical abuse and anxiety were objectively described without bias.
ANSWER: d
145. Carolyn is attending a class lecture. She listens for the main ideas and sub-ideas of the lecture and writes them down. She also asks questions during class as well as after class. Carolyn is:
a. thinking critically.
b. using massed practice.
c. processing the information actively.
d. overlearning.
ANSWER: c
146. Ayesha always takes notes by hand during class rather than on her laptop, as most of her classmates do. Ayesha has found that she often scores higher on class exams than do classmates who use their devices for note taking. One potential reason for her higher grades is that:
a. Ayesha rarely misses class.
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
b. Ayesha sits toward the front of the classroom.
c. taking notes by hand requires active processing of information.
d. the use of technology in the classroom requires active processing of information.
ANSWER: c
147. Samantha is learning a new language. Which would be the best method to help her retain the new language?
a. practice speaking the new language
b. repeatedly listen to others speak the new language
c. read books written in the new language
d. write sentences in the new language
ANSWER: a
148. Both Kai and Susan are trying to learn Spanish as a second language. Susan practices speaking the language frequently, whereas Kai listens to others speak the language. Who is likely to learn the language better?
a. Kai
b. Susan
c. Both are likely to learn Spanish.
d. Neither is likely to learn Spanish.
ANSWER: b
149. Using note cards to test yourself on course material while studying can lead to:
a. critical thinking.
b. using massed practice.
c. processing the information actively.
d. overlearning.
ANSWER: d
150. Bria, who is taking her first psychology class, earned a C on her first exam. Although C is a passing grade, Bria would like to earn an A in this class. What can she do to help improve not only her grade but also her retention of the material?
a. set long-term goals
b. break up with her boyfriend
c. cram for the test the night before the exam
d. use the SQ3R method when studying
ANSWER: d
151. Detecting the unstated assumptions and values that underlie conclusions best illustrates _____, which is an important learning tool.
a. critical thinking
b. the testing effect
Chapter 1 - Multiple Choice 2
c. spaced practice
d. SQ3R
ANSWER: a