Question 1

________ is the idea that people's behavior is produced primarily by factors outside of their willful control.

Accepted Answer

Determinism is the belief that people's actions are determined by outside factors such as biology, environment, and past experiences rather than a conscious decision-making process.

Question 2

Dr. Greenway argues that psychology should focus on observable, measurable behavior. Dr. Cech suggests that psychology should study how people think about and understand the world. Which option below correctly identifies their respective perspectives?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Greenway's focus on observable and measurable behavior aligns with the behaviorist perspective, while Dr. Cech's interest in understanding mental processes aligns with the cognitive perspective.

Question 3

Regarding theories, which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Regarding theories, which of the following statements...

Question 4

When asked to define "popularity," Brianna offers, "It's when everyone likes you." Chrissy suggests, "It's basically the number of friends you have." How do the two girls' definitions differ?

Accepted Answer

Brianna's definition of popularity is more subjective and focuses on people's feelings towards the individual, while Chrissy's definition is more objective and focuses on the number of friends the individual has. Therefore, Chrissy's definition can be classified as an operational definition, which describes something based on measurable or observable factors, while Brianna's definition is not.

Question 5

Penny is a recovering drug addict. Her treatment program emphasizes the influence of her environment-people, places, and things-on the use of drugs. Her program reflects the ________ perspective of psychology.

Accepted Answer

Penny's program emphasizes the role of environmental influences on her behavior, which is a central concept in the behavioral perspective of psychology. The other perspectives listed (psychodynamic, cognitive, neuroscience) do not focus specifically on environmental influences on behavior.

Question 6

In the context of the scientific method, the development of a hypothesis occurs when:

Accepted Answer

Developing a hypothesis involves formulating a possible explanation for a phenomenon or observation. This is the first step in the scientific method and is followed by designing research studies to test the hypothesis, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating the findings.

Question 7

Dr. Quinone studies the achievement motivation of junior high school students. He asserts that such motivation mainly reflects the parenting and educational practices the students have experienced. This statement is most directly related to the ________ issue, and Dr. Quinone's position is toward the ________ end of the continuum.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Quinone's statement is related to the nature versus nurture issue, which refers to the debate about the relative influence of genetics versus environment on behavior. He is asserting that achievement motivation is mainly influenced by parenting and educational practices, which are environmental factors. Therefore, his position is toward the nurture end of the continuum.

Question 8

Individual differences are to universal principles what the ________ perspective is to the ________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The humanistic perspective emphasizes individual experiences and subjective perception, which is similar to how individual differences focus on variation rather than universal principles. The neuroscience perspective, on the other hand, focuses on the biological basis of behavior, which is not directly related to individual differences. The behavioral perspective emphasizes observable behaviors and stimuli, while cognitive perspectives focus on mental processes such as perception and memory, neither of which are directly related to individual differences.

Question 9

Frederico is presenting the outcomes of an experiment he conducted in a talk at a regional psychology conference. Frederico is engaged in the ________ step of the scientific method, namely ________.

Accepted Answer

Frederico is presenting the outcomes of his experiment, indicating that he has already collected data, analyzed it, and drawn conclusions, which places him in the last step of the scientific method, which is communicating the results.

Question 10

A hypothesis is best defined as a:

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a tentative statement that explains a relationship between variables or predicts an outcome. It is a prediction stated in a way that can be tested through experimentation or observation.

Question 11

Each of the following is a descriptive research technique EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Experimental research is not a descriptive research technique, it is a type of research used to determine cause-and-effect relationships between variables. The other options (B,C,D) are all descriptive research techniques.

Question 12

________ is defined as a systematic inquiry aimed at the discovery of new knowledge.

Accepted Answer

Research is specifically designed to generate new knowledge through a systematic inquiry process. While theory and critical thinking can also contribute to knowledge generation, they are not the same as research. Coherent observation is an important component of research, but it is not the same as research itself.

Question 13

________ are broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest.

Accepted Answer

Theories are broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest. Hypotheses are more specific, testable predictions generated from a theory. Operational definitions are specific, measurable definitions used to measure a variable. Suppositions are simply assumptions or beliefs without evidence.

Question 14

Dr. Carruthers is using crime statistics available in a federal database as part of a study. Dr. Carruthers is conducting a(n):

Accepted Answer

Dr. Carruthers is using an existing federal database (archives) to conduct research, which falls under the category of archival research.

Question 15

Which of the following descriptive research methods is correctly matched with its description?

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation is correctly described as investigating behavior in its natural environment without intervention from the researcher. This method allows researchers to observe subjects in their natural settings, providing insights into real-world behaviors.

Question 16

Which of the following sequences correctly arranges the steps in the scientific method from first to last?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following sequences correctly arranges...

Question 17

The emphasis of the humanistic perspective is on:

Accepted Answer

The humanistic perspective emphasizes the importance of individual choice and free will in shaping behavior and personality. It focuses on people's inherent motivation to grow and reach their full potential.

Question 18

Dr. Petrovic tries to help his clients see how their behavior reflects the choices they have made. He is most likely a ________ psychologist.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Petrovic is most likely a humanistic psychologist because humanistic psychology focuses on individual choice, free will, and the potential for personal growth, which aligns with helping clients see how their behavior reflects their choices.

Question 19

Evelyn, a psychology graduate, watches parent-child interactions in a park. She simply records what she sees and does not introduce any change in the scenario. The research method she uses is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Evelyn is observing parent-child interactions in a natural setting without manipulating any variables, which indicates the use of naturalistic observation as a research method. Archival research involves examining pre-existing data and documents, experimentation involves introducing changes and manipulating variables, and a case study involves examining a specific individual or group in depth.

Question 20

Research in which existing data, such as census documents, college records, and newspaper clippings, are examined to test a hypothesis is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Archival research involves examining existing data to test a hypothesis, such as census documents, college records, and newspaper clippings. Experimental research involves manipulating variables to test a hypothesis, while naturalistic research involves observing behavior in natural settings. A case study involves in-depth analysis of a single individual or group.

Quiz 1: Power Learning: Becoming an Expert Student