Unit 1: History, Approaches, And Research Methods

1. Psychology is most currently defined as which of the following?

Science of mental life

Science of observable behavior

Science of behavior and mental processes

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

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.

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

Symmetrical

Skewed

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.

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.

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

Average distance of a set of scores from the mean

The score that occurs most frequently in a set of data

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

Explanation

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

4. 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.

Behavior v. Science

Nature v. Nurture

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.

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.

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

Control condition

Intervening variable

Independent variable

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

Explanation

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

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

Talk therapy

Medications

Cognitive therapy

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

Explanation

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

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

John Locke

Rene Descartes

Socrates

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.

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.

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

Description

Replication

Correlational

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

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.

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

+0.4

+0.38

-0.7

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

Explanation

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

10. Of the following, which can establish a cause and effect relationship?
I. controlled experiment
II. quasi-experiment
III. correlational research

I only

II only

I and II only

I and III only

I, II, and III

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.

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.

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

Evolutionary

Neuroscience

Psychodynamic

Cognitive

Yeah, I made bioscientific up.

Explanation

Yeah, I made bioscientific up.

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

Correlation

Case study

Experimentation

During naturalistic observation, the researcher merely observes behaviors in their natural environments, but is not directly manipulating any variables.

Explanation

During naturalistic observation, the researcher merely observes behaviors in their natural environments, but is not directly manipulating any variables.

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

Control groups

Experimental groups

Random assignment

Single blind studies

In a double-blind procedure, neither the researcher or subject knows which group is receiving the treatment.

Explanation

In a double-blind procedure, neither the researcher or subject knows which group is receiving the treatment.

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14. 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

Statistical significance

Overconfidence

Hindsight bias

An illusory correlation is when one wrongly finds a relationship between two variables...An ILLUSION!

Explanation

An illusory correlation is when one wrongly finds a relationship between two variables...An ILLUSION!

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15. All of the following are measures of central tendency except

Mean

Mode

Median

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.

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

Interractional studies

Parenting studies

Evolutionary studies

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.

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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