Unit 1: History, Approaches, And Research Methods

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This is a multiple-choice quiz based on Unit 1 Materials which includes classroom notes, discussions, and your readings in Chapters 5 & 6. Don't forget to track your answers on a separate sheet. The majority of these questions are based upon actual AP exam questions. Take your time, and RELAX!

Questions and Answers

1.

Psychology is most currently defined as which of the following?
- A.
  
  Science of mental life
- B.
  
  Science of observable behavior
- C.
  
  Science of behavior and mental processes
Correct Answer
C. Science of behavior and mental processes

Explanation
The definition has evolved, but psychology today integrates both the mind and the body and how they interact to create human and animal behavior.

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2.

Which of the following early psychological thinkers believed that the mind was a blank slate and was shaped by experience?
- A.
  
  John Locke
- B.
  
  Rene Descartes
- C.
  
  Socrates
Correct Answer
A. John Locke

Explanation
John Locke believed that the mind was a blank slate and was shaped by experience. He argued that at birth, the mind is like a blank sheet of paper, and all knowledge and ideas are derived from sensory experience. According to Locke, there are no innate ideas or knowledge, and the mind is completely shaped by the environment and the experiences it encounters. This perspective, known as empiricism, contrasts with Rene Descartes' view of innate knowledge and Socrates' emphasis on introspection and self-reflection.

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3.

Which of the following is NOT a common perspective in psychology?
- A.
  
  Evolutionary
- B.
  
  Neuroscience
- C.
  
  Psychodynamic
- D.
  
  Cognitive
Explanation
Yeah, I made bioscientific up.

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0
1
4.

One likely difference between a psychiatrist and clinical psychologist is that a psychiatrist would tend to use more
- A.
  
  Talk therapy
- B.
  
  Medications
- C.
  
  Cognitive therapy
Correct Answer
B. Medications

Explanation
Psychiatrists are medical doctors and can prescribe medications to their patients as well as other therapies.

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5.

Which of the following is NOT a basic research technique used by psychologists?
- A.
  
  Description
- B.
  
  Replication
- C.
  
  Correlational
Correct Answer
B. Replication

Explanation
Replication refers to a researchers ability to conduct the same study with a different sample population in a different place and get similar results.

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6.

In an experiment to determine the effects of exercise on motivation, exercise is the
- A.
  
  Control condition
- B.
  
  Intervening variable
- C.
  
  Independent variable
Correct Answer
C. Independent variable

Explanation
The independent variable is what is being manipulated by the researchers.

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7.

A psychologist studies the play behavior of young children by watching groups during recess at school. Which type of research is being used?
- A.
  
  Correlation
- B.
  
  Case study
- C.
  
  Experimentation
Explanation
During naturalistic observation, the researcher merely observes behaviors in their natural environments, but is not directly manipulating any variables.

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0
1
8.

A lopsided set of scores that includes a number of extreme or unusual values is said to be
- A.
  
  Symmetrical
- B.
  
  Skewed
Correct Answer
B. Skewed

Explanation
A lopsided set of scores that includes a number of extreme or unusual values is said to be skewed. This means that the distribution of the scores is not balanced or symmetrical, but rather it is leaning towards one side. Skewed data can occur when there are outliers or when the data is not evenly distributed around the mean.

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9.

To prevent the possibility that a placebo effect or researchers' expectations will influence a study's results, scientists employ
- A.
  
  Control groups
- B.
  
  Experimental groups
- C.
  
  Random assignment
- D.
  
  Single blind studies
Explanation
In a double-blind procedure, neither the researcher or subject knows which group is receiving the treatment.

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10.

Joe believes that his basketball game is always best when he wears his old gray socks. Joe is a victim of the phenomenon we call
- A.
  
  Statistical significance
- B.
  
  Overconfidence
- C.
  
  Hindsight bias
Explanation
An illusory correlation is when one wrongly finds a relationship between two variables...An ILLUSION!

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11.

All of the following are measures of central tendency except
- A.
  
  Mean
- B.
  
  Mode
- C.
  
  Median
Explanation
The question is asking for a measure of central tendency that is not included in the given options. The mean, mode, and median are all measures of central tendency as they represent the average, most frequent, and middle values in a dataset, respectively. Therefore, the correct answer is that there is no measure of central tendency that is excluded from the options provided.

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12.

What does the standard deviation represent in a set of data?
- A.
  
  Average distance of a set of scores from the mean
- B.
  
  The score that occurs most frequently in a set of data
Correct Answer
A. Average distance of a set of scores from the mean

Explanation
Standard deviation is a measure which indicates how far scores are from the mean.

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13.

Which one of the following correlations shows the strongest relationship between two variables?
- A.
  
  +0.4
- B.
  
  +0.38
- C.
  
  -0.7
Correct Answer
C. -0.7

Explanation
The closer the correlation is to +1.00 or -1.00 the stronger the correlation.

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14.

Which of these studies helps to provide evidence to both sides of the nature versus nurture debate?
- A.
  
  Interractional studies
- B.
  
  Parenting studies
- C.
  
  Evolutionary studies
Explanation
Identical twins develop from the same fertilized egg and therefor share the same genetic information. However, their upbringing can shed light on differences as they develop.

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15.

Which BIG QUESTION in psychology does the following refer to?There is a debate which exists in psychology arguing that ones behavior and attributes are either derived from one's environment or from one's genetics.
- A.
  
  Behavior v. Science
- B.
  
  Nature v. Nurture
Correct Answer
B. Nature v. Nurture

Explanation
The given correct answer refers to the debate in psychology known as "Nature v. Nurture." This debate revolves around the question of whether a person's behavior and attributes are primarily influenced by their genetic makeup (nature) or by their environment and upbringing (nurture). It explores the relative importance of genetic factors and environmental factors in shaping human behavior and characteristics.

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16.

Of the following, which can establish a cause and effect relationship?I. controlled experimentII. quasi-experimentIII. correlational research
- A.
  
  I only
- B.
  
  II only
- C.
  
  I and II only
- D.
  
  I and III only
- E.
  
  I, II, and III
Correct Answer
A. I only

Explanation
A controlled experiment can establish a cause and effect relationship because it involves manipulating an independent variable and observing the effect on a dependent variable while keeping other variables constant. This allows researchers to determine if changes in the independent variable directly cause changes in the dependent variable. Quasi-experiments and correlational research cannot establish cause and effect relationships as they do not involve manipulating variables or controlling for other factors.

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Current Version
Mar 21, 2023

Quiz Edited by
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Aug 12, 2009

Quiz Created by
Shanvan717

Unit 1: History, Approaches, And Research Methods

Psychology is most currently defined as which of the following?

Which of the following early psychological thinkers believed that the mind was a blank slate and was shaped by experience?

Which of the following is NOT a common perspective in psychology?

One likely difference between a psychiatrist and clinical psychologist is that a psychiatrist would tend to use more

Which of the following is NOT a basic research technique used by psychologists?

In an experiment to determine the effects of exercise on motivation, exercise is the

A psychologist studies the play behavior of young children by watching groups during recess at school. Which type of research is being used?

A lopsided set of scores that includes a number of extreme or unusual values is said to be

To prevent the possibility that a placebo effect or researchers' expectations will influence a study's results, scientists employ

Joe believes that his basketball game is always best when he wears his old gray socks. Joe is a victim of the phenomenon we call

All of the following are measures of central tendency except

What does the standard deviation represent in a set of data?

Which one of the following correlations shows the strongest relationship between two variables?

Which of these studies helps to provide evidence to both sides of the nature versus nurture debate?

Which BIG QUESTION in psychology does the following refer to?There is a debate which exists in psychology arguing that ones behavior and attributes are either derived from one's environment or from one's genetics.

Of the following, which can establish a cause and effect relationship?I. controlled experimentII. quasi-experimentIII. correlational research