Question 1

In Ebbinghaus's studies of memory,the length of delay between learning and relearning was the:
A)independent variable.
B)dependent variable.
C)confounding variable.
D)placebo.

Accepted Answer

In Ebbinghaus's studies of memory, the length of delay between learning and relearning was deliberately manipulated and controlled by the researcher, making it the independent variable. The dependent variable was the amount of time it took to relearn the list of nonsense syllables. The other options (confounding variable, placebo) do not accurately describe the key variable in the study.

Question 2

Suppose you are trying to learn a list of words.It takes you eight minutes to learn the list the first time you try.You return the next day and study the list again,and find that it takes you only two minutes.How much of a time savings has occurred?
A)25%
B)75%
C)100%
D)125%

Accepted Answer

To calculate the time savings, we need to find the difference in time taken on the first day and second day, and then express it as a percentage of the initial time. 
The difference in time taken = 8 minutes – 2 minutes = 6 minutes 
The initial time = 8 minutes 
The percentage time savings = (6/8) x 100% = 75%. 
So, the correct answer is B) 75%.

Question 3

Who conducted the first rigorous experimental studies of human memory?
A)William James
B)Francis Galton
C)Charles Darwin
D)Hermann Ebbinghaus

Accepted Answer

Hermann Ebbinghaus conducted the first rigorous experimental studies of human memory. He is particularly known for his work on the forgetting curve and the learning curve, and for introducing the concept of nonsense syllables as a way to study memory.

Question 4

In studying memory,Ebbinghaus was concerned that his data would be affected by the fact that he was more familiar with some words than others.He avoided this problem by using:
A)real words that were familiar but very short.
B)real words that were unfamiliar to him.
C)three-letter nonsense words.
D)strings of digits.

Accepted Answer

Ebbinghaus avoided the issue of familiarity by using nonsense words, as they were unfamiliar to him and prevented any potential biases in his data. Three-letter nonsense words were specifically used in his experiments.

Question 5

Galton predicted that people who were prayed for more would be healthier and live longer than people who were prayed for less.This prediction is known as a(n):
A)correlation.
B)hypothesis.
C)confound.
D)bell-shaped curve.

Accepted Answer

Galton's prediction is a hypothesis, which is a testable statement based on observable phenomena. A correlation refers to a relationship between two variables, a confound is a variable that unintentionally influences the outcome of an experiment, and a bell-shaped curve refers to a normal distribution of data. Thus, B is the best answer.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT one of Charles Darwin's proposed criteria for traits to evolve through natural selection?
A)The trait must be inheritable.
B)The trait must be able to be learned.
C)The trait must vary.
D)The trait must make the individual more fit to survive.

Accepted Answer

Charles Darwin did not propose that traits must be able to be learned in order to evolve through natural selection. Instead, he proposed that traits must meet the criteria of being inheritable, variable, and beneficial for survival, resulting in increased fitness of the individual.

Question 7

That Ebbinghaus served as his own participant was problematic because:
A)his expectations might have influenced the results.
B)he could not manipulate an independent variable.
C)his studies were double-blind.
D)he didn't have any experimenter bias.

Accepted Answer

Serving as his own participant could introduce experimenter bias, as Ebbinghaus may have had preconceived expectations about what the results would be.

Question 8

In a double-blind experimental design:
A)the participant knows the hypothesis being tested.
B)the experimenter knows the hypothesis being tested.
C)both the participant and the experimenter know the hypothesis being tested.
D)neither the participant nor the experimenter knows the hypothesis being tested.

Accepted Answer

In a double-blind experimental design, neither the participant nor the experimenter knows the hypothesis being tested. This helps to eliminate bias and increase the objectivity of the results. The participant is unaware of which treatment they are receiving, and the experimenter is unaware of which participants are receiving which treatment. This reduces the potential for conscious or subconscious biases to influence the results.

Question 9

Hermann Ebbinghaus measured forgetting by:
A)measuring how long it took to relearn a previously learned list.
B)measuring how long it took him to learn a list perfectly.
C)seeing how long a list he could remember after hearing the list just once.
D)counting the number of times he needed to hear a list before he could recall it perfectly.

Accepted Answer

Hermann Ebbinghaus measured forgetting by measuring how long it took to relearn a previously learned list. He created a list of nonsense syllables and then measured how long it took him to relearn the list after a certain amount of time had passed. By measuring the time it took to relearn the list, he was able to determine how quickly information was forgotten over time.

Question 10

Classical conditioning involves:
A)learning that one stimulus predicts an important event.
B)studying lists of short nonsense words.
C)learning to make responses in order to obtain rewards or avoid punishment.
D)studying how to build computers to perform behaviors requiring human intelligence.

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning involves learning that one stimulus predicts an important event, such as Pavlov's dogs learning that a bell predicts food. The other options do not accurately describe classical conditioning.

Question 11

Why was Charles Darwin's view of natural selection controversial?
A)It suggested that there was not a major distinction between man and other species.
B)Darwin had no data to back up his claims.
C)Nobody believed that traits could be inherited.
D)All of the answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

Darwin's theory of natural selection challenged religious beliefs that humans were created specially by God and set apart from other animals. His view that humans were just another species with no inherent superiority was controversial and still challenges some religious beliefs today.

Question 12

Suppose two moths are colored such that they blend in with the trees in the forest where they live.If one moth's coloring blends in much better than the other's,that moth will have less chance of being eaten by predators,and will therefore be more likely to reproduce,thus passing its beneficial coloring on to its offspring.This is an example of:
A)natural selection.
B)a reflex arc.
C)eugenics.
D)the law of effect.

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes the process of natural selection, where individuals with beneficial adaptations are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits to their offspring. The moths that blend in better with their environment have a better chance of survival and reproduction, leading to the evolution of the population towards more effective camouflage. The other choices are not applicable in this scenario.

Question 13

While most bacteria are eliminated by antibiotics,some can possess mutations that are resistant to antibiotics,leading to more drug-resistant strains of bacteria.Such a mutation is an example of which of Charles Darwin's proposed criteria for traits to evolve through natural selection?
A)The trait must be inheritable.
B)The trait must be able to be learned.
C)The trait must vary.
D)The trait must make the individual more fit to survive.

Accepted Answer

The trait of antibiotic resistance allows the individual bacteria possessing the mutation to have an advantage in surviving in environments with antibiotics, making them more fit for survival. This fits Darwin's proposed criterion that the trait must make the individual more fit to survive in order for natural selection to occur.

Question 14

Who introduced the term "eugenics"?
A)Francis Galton
B)Charles Darwin
C)Erasmus Darwin
D)John Locke

Accepted Answer

Francis Galton, a cousin of Charles Darwin, first introduced the term "eugenics" in his 1883 book "Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development." Galton believed that selective breeding could improve the genetic quality of the human species.

Question 15

Charles Darwin observed that finches on different islands had different types of beaks that were most suited to coping with the environment of their particular island.From this insight,he concluded that:
A)life on earth is immutably fixed.
B)life on earth is evolving.
C)animals were created in their present form by God.
D)animals migrate to locations that are most suitable.

Accepted Answer

Charles Darwin's observation of finches with different beaks on different islands led him to conclude that life on earth is evolving, and that different environments can provide selective pressures that drive the evolution of species over time. This idea is a cornerstone of modern evolutionary theory. Choices A and C are incorrect because they suggest that life on earth is static and unchanging, whereas Darwin's observations showed that it is dynamic and constantly evolving. Choice D is also incorrect because while animals may migrate to suitable locations, Darwin's insights were focused on how natural selection acts on populations over time, rather than on individual movements or behaviors.

Question 16

The theory of evolution is relevant to the study of learning and memory because:
A)learned information is passed on to offspring.
B)the type of information people learn varies across individuals.
C)people are born as "blank slates."
D)learning is useful in allowing organisms to adapt to the environment.

Accepted Answer

The theory of evolution suggests that organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. Learning and memory play a role in this adaptation process, allowing organisms to acquire and retain information about their environment and adjust their behavior accordingly. Therefore, learning and memory are important for an organism's survival and ability to adapt, which is central to the theory of evolution.

Question 17

Eugenics is a program for:
A)reducing the influence of confounding variables.
B)encouraging procreation only among the most fit members of society.
C)ensuring a bell-shaped distribution of behavioral traits.
D)generating testable hypotheses.

Accepted Answer

Eugenics is a program aimed at encouraging procreation among the most fit members of society, with the goal of improving the genetic quality of the population. It has been widely criticized for its association with social Darwinism and its historical association with various forms of discrimination and eugenic sterilization programs.

Question 18

In Ebbinghhaus's retention curve:
A)the greatest savings occurred with short delays between learning and relearning.
B)most forgetting occurred when relearning took place after about 150 hours.
C)forgetting occurred very gradually over several days.
D)the greatest savings occurred when relearning took place after about 100 hours.

Accepted Answer

Ebbinghaus's retention curve demonstrates that memory retention declines over time, but the greatest savings (or least forgetting) occurs with short delays between the initial learning and subsequent relearning sessions. This means that information is more easily relearned soon after it is first learned, indicating that the memory trace is stronger or less decayed at this point.

Question 19

In a normal distribution:
A)most scores will occur in the high range.
B)most scores will occur in the low range.
C)most scores will fall in the middle range.
D)scores will be evenly spread across the entire range.

Accepted Answer

In a normal distribution, also known as a bell curve, the majority of scores will fall in the middle range, with fewer scores towards the high and low ends of the distribution. This is because the distribution is symmetric around the mean, which means that scores on both ends are increasingly rare.

Question 20

If you believe that people's abilities are inherited,you agree with the ideas of:
A)John Locke.
B)Aristotle.
C)Francis Galton.
D)John Watson.

Accepted Answer

Francis Galton was a proponent of the idea that people's abilities are inherited through genetic factors. He believed in the concept of eugenics, which encouraged selective breeding to improve the human race by promoting the reproduction of individuals with desirable traits. John Locke, on the other hand, believed that people are born with a blank slate and their abilities are shaped by their environment and experiences. Aristotle did not specifically address the inheritance of abilities, but his views on human nature suggest that he believed in the importance of nurture in shaping human behavior. John Watson is associated with the behaviorist approach to psychology, which focuses on the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior.

Quiz 1: The Psychology of Learning and Memory

In Ebbinghaus's studies of memory,the length of delay between learning and relearning was the:

Suppose you are trying to learn a list of words.It takes you eight minutes to learn the list the first time you try.You return the next day and study the list again,and find that it takes you only two minutes.How much of a time savings has occurred?

Who conducted the first rigorous experimental studies of human memory?

In studying memory,Ebbinghaus was concerned that his data would be affected by the fact that he was more familiar with some words than others.He avoided this problem by using:

Galton predicted that people who were prayed for more would be healthier and live longer than people who were prayed for less.This prediction is known as a(n) :

Which of the following is NOT one of Charles Darwin's proposed criteria for traits to evolve through natural selection?

That Ebbinghaus served as his own participant was problematic because:

In a double-blind experimental design:

Hermann Ebbinghaus measured forgetting by:

Classical conditioning involves:

Why was Charles Darwin's view of natural selection controversial?

While most bacteria are eliminated by antibiotics,some can possess mutations that are resistant to antibiotics,leading to more drug-resistant strains of bacteria.Such a mutation is an example of which of Charles Darwin's proposed criteria for traits to evolve through natural selection?

Who introduced the term "eugenics"?

Charles Darwin observed that finches on different islands had different types of beaks that were most suited to coping with the environment of their particular island.From this insight,he concluded that:

The theory of evolution is relevant to the study of learning and memory because:

Eugenics is a program for:

In Ebbinghhaus's retention curve:

In a normal distribution:

If you believe that people's abilities are inherited,you agree with the ideas of: