Question 1

__________has been characterized as research for its own sake.

Accepted Answer

Pure research, also known as basic research, focuses on understanding fundamental principles and theories without any immediate practical application or commercial goal. It is driven by curiosity and the desire to expand scientific knowledge. Therefore, it is often characterized as research for its own sake, without any specific end product or outcome in mind.

Question 2

__________showed that people tend to perceive separate pieces of information as integrated wholes depending on the contexts in which they occur.

Accepted Answer

This is a classic description of the key principles of Gestalt psychology, which emphasizes the ways in which people perceive patterns and wholes rather than simply individual elements. Structuralists, behaviorists, and cognitive psychologists have different perspectives and would not necessarily make the same claims about perceptual organization.

Question 3

Which of the following is a principle of critical thinking?

Accepted Answer

Insisting on evidence is a key principle of critical thinking. It involves evaluating arguments and claims based on logical reasoning and supporting evidence. Choosing critical thinking over research ethics (B) or oversimplifying problems (C) are not principles of critical thinking and can be harmful. While it is important to question assumptions and beliefs, being excessively skeptical (A) can impede critical thinking.

Question 4

A participant's agreement to participate in research after receiving information about the purposes of the study and the nature of the treatments is referred to as__________.

Accepted Answer

Informed consent refers to the ethical principle that requires a participant to be provided with all relevant information regarding the study, including its aims and methodology, risks and benefits, and the participant's rights to withdraw. This is done before the participant gives their voluntary agreement to participate in the research. Conditioning refers to the process of learning associations between stimuli and responses, while debriefing is the process of informing participants about the true objectives of a study after it has been completed. Volunteer bias is a potential source of bias in research studies in which volunteers may not necessarily be representative of the general population.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

The scientific method involves critical thinking to analyze and interpret research evidence, ensuring conclusions are well-founded.

Question 6

Sofia does not like eating vegetables. To ensure that she eats vegetables, her mother offers her an extra helping of dessert every time Sofia finishes her vegetables. In the context of behaviorism, this is known as _____.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of positive reinforcement, where the extra helping of dessert is added to increase the likelihood of Sofia eating vegetables in the future.

Question 7

Psychologists with a(n) _____ perspective primarily venture into the realm of mental processes such as sensation and perception, memory, intelligence, language, thought, and problem solving to understand human nature.

Accepted Answer

The cognitive perspective focuses on mental processes such as sensation and perception, memory, intelligence, language, thought, and problem solving, and seeks to understand human nature through these processes.

Question 8

In the context of behaviorism, observable behaviors are considered public behaviors because:

Accepted Answer

Observable behaviors in behaviorism are considered public behaviors because they can be easily measured and different observers would agree about their existence and features. This is important for the scientific study of behavior as it allows for objective data collection and analysis.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true of psychoanalysis?

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalysis aims to help patients find socially acceptable ways of expressing wishes and gratifying needs. B.F. Skinner is associated with behaviorism, which is different than psychoanalysis. Option C describes structuralism. Option B describes behaviorism.

Question 10

In the scientific method, a research question may be studied as a question or reworded as a__________.

Accepted Answer

In the scientific method, a research question is reworded as a hypothesis, which is a statement that can be tested through experimentation or observation. This hypothesis is then used to guide the research process and draw conclusions about the research question.

Question 11

A(n) _____ expresses the strength and direction (positive or negative) of the relationship between two variables.

Accepted Answer

A correlation coefficient is a statistical measure that expresses the strength and direction (positive or negative) of the relationship between two variables. It ranges from -1 to 1, with 0 indicating no correlation, and the absolute value indicating the strength of the correlation (closer to 1 indicates a stronger correlation). Options A, B, and D are not relevant to the definition of correlation coefficient.

Question 12

_____ is credited with establishing the first psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany.

Accepted Answer

Wilhelm Wundt is considered the father of modern psychology and he established the first psychological laboratory at the University of Leipzig in Germany in 1879.

Question 13

_____ propose reasons for relationships among events and allow us to derive explanations and predictions.

Accepted Answer

Theories are frameworks that propose explanations for observable phenomena and can be used to derive predictions about future events. Norms refer to social behaviors and expectations, samples are groups of individuals or objects selected for study, and habits are recurring patterns of behavior.

Question 14

Gustav Theodor Fechner, in his book Elements of Psychophysics, showed:

Accepted Answer

Gustav Theodor Fechner's book Elements of Psychophysics is mainly focused on how physical events are related to psychological sensation and perception. Fechner explored the relationship between the physical characteristics of stimuli and the psychological experiences they produce. He developed many methods to measure people's experiences of sensation and perception, laying the foundation for the modern field of psychophysics.

Question 15

__________primarily study the changes-physical, cognitive, social, and emotional-that occur throughout the life span.

Accepted Answer

Developmental psychologists primarily study the changes that occur throughout the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes. Human factors psychologists focus on the design of products and systems to optimize human performance, social psychologists study how individuals interact with others and within groups, and school psychologists work with students, families, and schools to promote educational success and mental health.

Question 16

Structuralists tended to ask, "What are the pieces that make up thinking and experience?" In contrast,__________tended to ask, "How do behavior and mental processes help people adapt to the requirements of their lives?"

Accepted Answer

Functionalists believed that examining behavior and mental processes in terms of their purpose, or function, in helping individuals adapt to their environment was more important than breaking them down into smaller pieces. Cognitive psychologists focused more on processes like perception, memory, and reasoning, while behaviorists were primarily interested in observable behavior. Psychoanalysts focused on unconscious processes and early childhood experiences.

Question 17

__________is the school of psychology that argues that the mind consists of three basic elements- sensations, feelings, and images-that combine to form experience.

Accepted Answer

Structuralism is the school of psychology that argues that the mind consists of three basic elements- sensations, feelings, and images-that combine to form experience. It was founded by Edward Titchener in the late 19th century.

Question 18

An error in research reflecting the prospect that people who offer to participate in research studies differ systematically from people who do not is known as__________.

Accepted Answer

Volunteer bias refers to the idea that people who volunteer to participate in research studies may differ from those who do not in ways that could affect the results of the study. This can lead to skewed or biased findings. Options B, C, and D are not relevant to the concept described in the question.

Question 19

__________is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Accepted Answer

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, focusing on understanding individual and group behaviors, thoughts, and emotions through various methods such as experimentation, observation, and analysis. Physiology is the study of the functions and mechanisms of living organisms, while sociology is the study of human social relationships and societies. Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environments.

Question 20

Which of the following is true of functionalism?

Accepted Answer

Functionalism is a psychological theory that focuses on the practical functions of mental processes and behavior. It emphasizes how mental and behavioral processes help individuals adapt to their environments. Therefore, C is the correct answer as it states that functionalism looks at how habits help one cope with common situations. The other options are incorrect as they do not accurately describe functionalism.

Quiz 1: What Is Psychology