Deck 1: Applying Psychology to Teaching

Question 1

____ has a self-corrective mechanism.

A) Tenacity
B) Authority
C) Science
D) Reason

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Modern science began with rules of reasoning developed by:

A) Albert Einstein.
B) Sir Isaac Newton.
C) Charles Peirce.
D) Ignaz Semmelweis.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Newton's rule for developing explanations that are true, sufficient, and simple best illustrates:

A) the law of parsimony.
B) empiricism.
C) order in nature.
D) tenacity.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Science is based on the notion that to discover the world, one must:

A) develop ideas of how the world operates.
B) experience it.
C) reason how the world ought to be.
D) discover through philosophy the functions of the world.

Question 5

Frank and Steve are coworkers. Frank has an idea that he says will increase profits for the company. Steve disagrees and says, "We can't do that. We've always done it another way." This best illustrates ____ as a way of knowing.

A) inference
B) wisdom
C) common sense
D) tenacity

Question 6

Based on Chapter 1, questioning authority can serve to:

A) expose how empiricism can be misused.
B) incite disrespect of people who obviously are knowledgeable.
C) cause people to question your reasoning ability.
D) examine the basis of claims by the authority.

Question 7

One weakness of tenacity as a way of knowing is that:

A) the syllogisms it produces may be illogical.
B) it requires one to experience the world.
C) sensory experiences may be misleading.
D) it has no way of correcting erroneous ideas.

Question 8

To ensure that an experimental finding is not just a fluke, a scientist should:

A) base conclusions on personal experience.
B) use logical inference.
C) operationalize the experiment.
D) replicate the experiment.

Question 9

You read a study in a journal. You know that the results of the study can be verified. This is because in science, observations can be:

A) self-correcting.
B) verified by anyone.
C) theoretically interpreted.
D) reviewed through tenacity.

Question 10

Juan is excited to tell Andrea that a stranger just gave him $1,000 with no strings attached. Andrea looks at Juan and thinks that he is lying. She says, "I've never heard of that before and I've never seen that before!" This best illustrates:

A) common sense.
B) tenacity.
C) authority.
D) a construct.

Question 11

We can gain new knowledge through reason and logic, but the accuracy of our conclusions is dependent upon:

A) the laws of probability.
B) our own experiences.
C) the accuracy of our assumptions.
D) parsimony.

Question 12

In contrast to tenacity, authority, and reason, common sense is an improvement because it:

A) automatically checks our assumptions.
B) appeals to direct experience.
C) represents the accumulation of scientific knowledge.
D) is based on blindsight.

Question 13

A scientist and a child are alike in that both:

A) experience the state of synesthesia as reality is discovered.
B) learn to understand the world by relying on authority.
C) follow logical principles to test hypotheses.
D) learn to understand the world through experience.

Question 14

You are watching a TV talk show. On the show, you listen to the world's leading researcher on relationships and learn something that might improve your relationships. Your new knowledge was acquired through:

A) authority.
B) common sense.
C) tenacity.
D) reason.

Question 15

Consider this: The same stages of language development are observed in children throughout the world. What would be Newton's reaction to this observation?

A) Newton would challenge the observation since it is actually chaotic and unpredictable.
B) He would question the observation since it cannot be falsified.
C) He would not be surprised since he theorized that language development was entirely genetic.
D) He would see it as evidence of the natural order.

Question 16

Galileo challenged ____ as a way of knowing by conducting experimentation.

A) empiricism
B) authority
C) parsimony
D) blindsight

Question 17

If a child learned that a stove was hot by touching it, then her knowledge was gained through:

A) induction.
B) deduction.
C) experience.
D) inference.

Question 18

Many people have heard (and believe) that "you cannot teach an old dog new tricks." This statement is based on ____.

A) authority
B) tenacity
C) common sense
D) science

Question 19

Two students in Mrs. Anderson's first grade class are doing a class project. One of the students says, "You're not supposed to do it that way. Mrs. Anderson says you can't." The student is appealing to ____ as the way of knowing.

A) rationalization
B) common sense
C) authority
D) tenacity

Question 20

Statements that are accepted as fact just because they are frequently repeated are said to be acquired through:

A) science.
B) tenacity.
C) deduction.
D) empiricism.

Question 21

Pseudoscientific claims are typically not:

A) read by a large number of people.
B) testable.
C) published in peer-reviewed journals.
D) the subject of advertisements.

Question 22

The two worlds of study in psychology are:

A) cognitive and physiological.
B) behavior and emotion.
C) cognitive and experience.
D) behavior and experience.

Question 23

Which of the following is not an appropriate question to ask of science?

A) What method of reading is best to teach to first graders?
B) Why do some people commit suicide?
C) What is the meaning of life?
D) How does the brain process visual information?

Question 24

Dr. Simon is discussing the role of inference in research. She says that psychologists study the outside to know about the inside. Is she correct?

A) No - she has it backwards; we study the inside to know about the outside.
B) No - inference does not play a role in research.
C) Yes - we infer subjective experience (inside) from behavior (outside).
D) Yes - but we don't need inference since we can directly observe subjective experience in research participants.

Question 25

Because self-report and observed behaviors may not match, researchers are advised to use:

A) sophisticated statistical measures.
B) multiple measures.
C) quasi-experimentation.
D) valid surveys and questionnaires.

Question 26

Science is:

A) experimental rather than logical.
B) empirical rather than theoretical.
C) not based on direct experience.
D) based on experience and reason.

Question 27

Much to his credit, the story of King Croesus illustrates the importance of:

A) calculating probability in determining truth.
B) carefully defining variables.
C) considering multiple causes of a phenomenon.
D) testing in determining truth.

Question 28

To rely on sensory experience to verify ideas is called:

A) rationalism.
B) empiricism.
C) modus ponens.
D) the law of parsimony.

Question 29

Your score on this exam would be considered a(n):

A) modus tollens.
B) marker variable.
C) independent variable.
D) confounding variable.

Question 30

Psychologists seek to understand subjective experience through:

A) replication.
B) inference from behavior.
C) common sense.
D) direct observation.

Question 31

The case of Semmelweis is important because it illustrates:

A) the importance of ruling out factors.
B) a longitudinal design.
C) the necessity of debriefing.
D) how bias can influence the outcome of a study.

Question 32

"I need to verify this idea through my own senses." This comment best exemplifies:

A) empiricism.
B) reason.
C) tenacity.
D) the law of parsimony.

Question 33

Which of the following is not a subjective experience?

A) shaking because of nervousness
B) confusion
C) severe anger
D) sadness

Question 34

REM would be considered to be a:

A) construct.
B) product of synesthesia.
C) marker variable.
D) theory.

Question 35

The stories of Croesus, Galen, and Semmelweis are important because they reflect:

A) how statistical analyses are conducted.
B) the importance of random sampling.
C) different ways of solving problems.
D) empiricism at different levels of observation.

Question 36

In his study of insomnia, Galen used:

A) a control group.
B) a double-blind procedure.
C) a single-case experiment.
D) randomization.

Question 37

It is sometimes possible to study processes that occur below the level of conscious awareness by using a:

A) marker variable.
B) construct.
C) theory.
D) generalization.

Question 38

A famous athlete appears on a television infomercial and claims that a new device to alleviate aches and pains has been extremely effective for her. Because no published, peer-reviewed studies have supported the effectiveness of the device, this may be an example of:

A) superstition
B) empiricism
C) science
D) pseudoscience

Question 39

In studying reality, the philosopher relies on reason and logic, but the scientist relies on:

A) common sense.
B) authority.
C) empiricism.
D) marker variables.

Question 40

Which of the following is not one of the four possible ways of studying psychological processes, according to Schumacher?

A) studying our own personal world
B) studying the personal world of others
C) studying our outward behavior that others can observe
D) studying our spirit

Question 41

Describe how a psychologist might study synesthesia.

Question 42

How do scientists study what they cannot see?

Question 43

Defend the assumption that science is a human activity. What implications does this assumption have on who conducts science?

Question 44

Subjective experiences, the origin of the universe, and subatomic physics are all examples of phenomena that:

A) cannot be directly measured.
B) cannot be studied scientifically.
C) are impossible to study using inferences.
D) are based on superstition.

Question 45

Define empiricism. How does empiricism give the scientist an advantage over authority and tenacity?

Question 46

An advantage of science as a human activity is that:

A) science is subject to experimenter values.
B) we can rely more on our collective common sense than on observation.
C) science can be done within a community of other scientists.
D) knowledge can only exist in social contexts.

Question 47

What are superstitions based on and how do they manage to persist despite a lack of scientific support?

Question 48

Describe how Newton's rules of reasoning question the usefulness of tenacity, reason, and common sense as ways of knowing.

Question 49

What is a marker variable? How would a marker variable be used to study subjective experiences?

Question 50

What insights about science do we gain from the stories of Croesus, Galen, and Semmelweis?

Question 51

Compared to researchers in other sciences, psychologists have consisted of a:

A) larger percentage of women.
B) smaller percentage of women.
C) larger percentage of minorities.
D) larger percentage of minorities.

Question 52

Briefly describe in your own words Newton's rule of reasoning.

Question 53

Why is pseudoscience often called "false" science?

Question 54

Which of the following is not a measurable behavior?

A) respiration rate
B) daydreaming
C) number of items recalled from a memorized list
D) time taken to run 100 meters

Question 55

In studying subjective experience, we assume that:

A) subjective experience is a marker variable.
B) subjective experience is directly observable.
C) behavior and subjective experience are unrelated.
D) behavior is a manifestation of what the subject is experiencing.

Question 56

You are studying anxiety. Which of the following can you not directly observe?

A) heart rate
B) nervousness
C) sweaty palms
D) self-report of anxiety

Question 57

Contrast tenacity, authority, reason, common sense, and science as approaches to knowing.

Question 58

Describe each of the cells of Schumacher's model of the ways to study psychological processes.