Psych 111 Practice Test

The term "stream of consciousness" refers to an ever-changing, continuous series of thoughts. It describes the flow of thoughts in a person's mind, which can be random, unfiltered, and often without a clear structure. This term is commonly used in literature and psychology to depict the inner workings of a character's mind or to study the nature of human thought processes. It emphasizes the fluid and unpredictable nature of our thoughts, which can jump from one topic to another without any logical sequence or order.

Critical thinking is the process of using specific thinking skills to evaluate and analyze information in order to reach reasonable conclusions. It involves questioning and examining everything you read or hear, rather than blindly accepting it. It also means not criticizing the way other people think, but rather engaging in thoughtful and logical analysis. Critical thinking does not require becoming an authority on everything, but rather developing the ability to make informed judgments based on evidence and reasoning.

Accuracy is the extent to which the measure is error free.

Cross-sectional studies involve comparing different groups at a single point in time to make inferences about both groups. This type of study is useful for examining the prevalence of a condition or the association between variables. On the other hand, longitudinal studies involve observing the same individuals over an extended period to track changes that occur over time. This type of study is useful for understanding patterns of development, causality, and the effects of interventions. Therefore, the statement is true as it accurately describes the differences between cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.

Evolutionary theory in Psychological science highlights the significance of inherited and adaptive behavior. This means that behaviors that have been passed down through generations have a purpose and contribute to the survival and reproduction of individuals. By understanding the evolutionary basis of behavior, psychologists can gain insights into why certain behaviors exist and how they have helped humans and other species adapt to their environments. Therefore, the statement "In Psychological science, evolutionary theory emphasizes the inherited, adaptive value of behavior" is true.

Meta-analysis studies have the concept of replication built in, and combine multiple studies while weighing sample sizes.

The Law of Large Numbers states that the more people in a sample, the more accurate the results will be. This is because as the sample size increases, it becomes more representative of the entire population, reducing the impact of random variations. With a larger sample size, the results are more likely to reflect the true characteristics or trends of the population, leading to greater accuracy in statistical analysis or predictions.

Confidentiality means the information collected by the researchers is kept secret or only revealed to those who need to know. Anonymity is collecting no personal information.

Random assignment is the procedure for placing research participants into the conditions of an experiment in which each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any level of the independent variable.

The field that states behavior is determined by mental processes operating below a conscious level.

Because Stimulus and Response are important, a lot of Behaviorism focuses on Reward and Punishment.

Phrenology states that there are 35 organs in the brain, and that each corresponds to a different mental faculty. It would increase in size as a result when exercised. It is flawed because it assumed the shape of the skull depicted the shape of the brain, because it consisted of inadequate classifications and his selective and unscientific methods.

A hypothesis is a testable prediction, based off of a theory (which is an interconnected idea or model of behavior).

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher in order to observe its effects on the dependent variable. In an experiment, the independent variable is intentionally altered to see how it influences the outcome or behavior of the dependent variable. This allows researchers to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Participant Observation is where a researcher is involved in the situation. This can present a problem as the obeserver's presence can cause reactivity.

Naturalistic Observation is where the observer remains separated from the situation and makes no attempt to change it.

Catastrophizing means assuming an event will have extreme consequences.

William James published The Principles of Psychology in 1890, which is an influential book in the field of psychology. This book is considered one of the foundational texts in psychology and covers various topics such as perception, memory, consciousness, and emotions. It had a significant impact on the development of psychology as a scientific discipline and helped establish James as one of the leading figures in the field.

William James was highly critical of structuralism, arguing that the mind is too complex to be broken down.

A correlation near +1 or -1 denotes a strong relationship because it indicates a high degree of linear association between two variables. A correlation near +1 suggests a strong positive relationship, meaning that as one variable increases, the other variable also tends to increase. On the other hand, a correlation near -1 indicates a strong negative relationship, implying that as one variable increases, the other variable tends to decrease. In both cases, the variables are closely related and their values tend to move together in a predictable manner.

Reliability is if the data is consistent over time.

Gestalt Theory says that the experience is greater than the sum of its parts.

Francis Gall is credited with starting Phrenology, a pseudoscience that claimed to be able to determine a person's character and mental abilities based on the shape and size of their skull. This practice was popular in the 19th century but has since been discredited and is not recognized as a legitimate scientific field. Ivan Pavlov is known for his work in classical conditioning, Carl Rogers for his contributions to humanistic psychology, Luke Fon Fabre is not a known figure in psychology, and Abraham Maslow is known for his hierarchy of needs theory.

The first instance of true experimental psychology began with Structuralism in 1879. Before that, psychology was mainly rooted in ancient philosophy.

Watson first proposed the field, and BF Skinner helped support it.

Validity is how the data collected addresses the question.

Errors that cancel each other out are called random errors. Systematic errors do not cancel.

The Population is the group you want to know about, and the sample is a subset of the population you are studying.

The cognitive triad refers to the three negative beliefs that individuals with depression often have about themselves, the world, and the future. This includes a negative view of self, where individuals perceive themselves as inadequate or unworthy. It also includes a negative view of the world, where individuals see the world as a hostile or unfriendly place. Lastly, it includes a negative view of the future, where individuals anticipate negative outcomes and feel hopeless about their prospects.

A confound refers to any factor that can influence the dependent variable in a study and may vary unintentionally between the different experimental conditions. It is an extraneous variable that can potentially affect the results and lead to incorrect conclusions. Confounds are important to identify and control for in research to ensure that any observed effects are truly due to the independent variable being studied and not influenced by other variables.

Cognitive Psychology was modeled after computers because it is rule based (if "x" then "y").

The Law of Large Numbers is not a Law of Pragnanz because it is a statistical principle that describes the behavior of the average of a large number of independent random variables. In contrast, the Laws of Pragnanz, also known as the Gestalt Principles, are a set of principles that describe how humans perceive and organize visual information. These principles include the Law of Closure, Law of Similarity, Law of Proximity, Law of Continuity, and Law of Common Fate.

The approach that functions of the mind, rather than the elements of the mind should be the focus of psychology is known as functionalism, first put forwards by William James.

Selection bias refers to a situation where groups being compared in a study are not equivalent because participants differ between conditions in unexpected ways. This can occur when participants are not randomly assigned to different conditions, leading to systematic differences between the groups. Selection bias can compromise the internal validity of a study and make it difficult to draw accurate conclusions about the effects of the independent variable.

An approach to therapy that combines Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology.

The social level focuses on interpersonal behavior among personal relationships, and workplaces. Not cultural groups.

An important characteristic of a Dependent Variable is that it must be possible to fail. This means that the variable should have the potential to not produce the desired outcome or result. In research, the dependent variable is the one that is being measured or observed to determine the effect of the independent variable. If the dependent variable cannot fail, it would imply that it always produces the same result, making it difficult to assess the impact of the independent variable. Therefore, the possibility of failure is crucial for evaluating the relationship between variables in a study.

fMRI stands for functional magnetic resonance imaging. It's an imaging technique used to examine changes in the activity of the brain. It functions by measuring the level of oxygen of the blood flowing through the brain.

Reactivity refers to the phenomenon where research subjects alter their behavior because they are aware that they are being observed or studied. This can lead to changes in their natural behavior and may affect the validity of the research findings. The Hawthorne effect is a specific example of reactivity, where individuals improve their performance or behavior simply because they are aware that they are being observed.

The Law of Continuity states that the mind continues visual, auditory and kinetic patterns.

The Law of Common Fate states that elements with the same moving direction are perceived as a collective or unit.

The cognitive model suggests that a situation triggers automatic thoughts, which then lead to a reaction. This means that our immediate thoughts and interpretations of a situation can influence our emotional and behavioral response to it. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative, and they play a significant role in shaping our overall reactions and behaviors in various situations.

Double blinding is used to eliminate observer bias and experimenter expectancy effect. Observer bias refers to the tendency of observers to see what they expect or want to see, which can introduce bias into the results. Experimenter expectancy effect occurs when the experimenter's expectations or beliefs about the outcome of the study influence the behavior of the participants or the interpretation of the results. By keeping the observer unaware of which participants are in the control and experimental groups, double blinding helps to minimize these biases and increase the validity of the study. The option "Variables" is not eliminated by double blinding, as it refers to the factors being studied in the experiment. The option "BC Lions fumbling the football" is unrelated and not eliminated by double blinding.

Response reliability is not a form of response performance because it refers to the consistency or stability of a response over time, rather than the actual performance or accuracy of the response. While response accuracy and reaction time are measures of how well and how quickly a response is performed, stimulus judgments involve the ability to perceive and interpret the stimulus accurately.

Seven themes of Psychological Science:

1. Psychology is an empirical science
2. Nature and nurture are inextricably entwined
3. The brain and mind are inseperable.
4. A new biological revolution is energizing research
5. The mind is adaptive
6. Psychological science crosses levels of analysis
7. We often are unaware of the multiple influences on how we think feel, and act.

Psychological research often faces several common problems. One problem is the direction of variable relationships, which refers to the difficulty in determining if one variable causes changes in another or if the relationship is the other way around. Correlational reasonings are also problematic as correlation does not imply causation, meaning that just because two variables are related does not mean that one causes the other. Third variables are additional factors that may influence the relationship between two variables, making it difficult to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Lastly, observer bias can occur when researchers' expectations or biases influence their observations and interpretations of data.

Gestalt Psychology states that the whole of an experience is more than the sum of its parts, and that perceptions of objects are subjective and based on context and patterns.