Question 1

The study of similarities and differences in the behavior of different species is called

Accepted Answer

Comparative psychology is the study of similarities and differences in the behavior of different species, making it the best choice for this question. Biology, environmental psychology, and differential psychology may touch on aspects of animal behavior, but do not specifically address the comparison of behaviors across different species.

Question 2

Samantha is investigating the differences in the critical thinking and decision-making skills of people in different occupations.Samantha is most likely a

Accepted Answer

Samantha's focus on investigating critical thinking and decision-making skills aligns with the research interests and expertise of a cognitive psychologist.

Question 3

Dr.Berka is studying how biology, child rearing, education, and societal stereotypes influence the differing behaviors exhibited by females and males in the workplace.Dr.Berka is most likely a(n)

Accepted Answer

Dr. Berka is specifically studying how societal stereotypes impact gender differences in behavior in the workplace, which is within the realm of gender psychology.

Question 4

The "fight or flight" branch of the autonomic nervous system would be of most interest to a

Accepted Answer

The "fight or flight" response is a physiological response triggered by the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. Biopsychologists study the biological and physiological factors that underlie behavior, making this branch of psychology the most relevant to study the "fight or flight" response. Personality theorists may study how individuals differ in their response to stress, while sensory psychologists focus on how we perceive and interpret sensory information. Forensic psychologists may study criminal behavior and legal issues.

Question 5

Dr.Graham is interested in studying the traits of creative problem-solvers.Dr.Graham would most likely be a

Accepted Answer

Dr. Graham's interest in studying the traits of creative problem-solvers suggests a focus on personality psychology and identifying the specific personality characteristics that contribute to creative problem-solving. Therefore, Dr. Graham would most likely be a personality theorist.

Question 6

A characteristic feature of research carried out by social psychologists is that it

Accepted Answer

Social psychology focuses on understanding how individuals think, feel, and behave in social situations. As such, it includes topics such as attitudes, conformity, leadership, and prejudice. Other fields within psychology might focus on different topics, such as developmental psychology (A), biological psychology (B), or engineering psychology (D).

Question 7

A(n) _____ psychologist is studying how exposure to different kinds of play (e.g., with dolls versus blocks) affects the development of boys versus girls.

Accepted Answer

A gender psychologist studies how different factors, such as types of play, influence the development and behavior of boys and girls.

Question 8

"I am studying the different management styles of females CEOs versus male CEOs.Who am I?"

Accepted Answer

The question is about studying the management styles of female CEOs versus male CEOs, which indicates a focus on gender. Therefore, the best choice is B, a gender psychologist who studies the impact of gender on human behavior and experiences. A comparative psychologist (A) compares behavior across different species or cultural contexts, a learning psychologist (C) studies how people acquire knowledge and skills, and a developmental psychologist (D) studies how people change and grow throughout life. While these fields may overlap with the study of gender, it is not the primary focus in those areas.

Question 9

Brain mechanisms involved in hunger and thirst would most likely be studied by a

Accepted Answer

Biopsychologists study the biological basis of behavior and are particularly interested in how the brain and nervous system are involved in hunger and thirst.

Question 10

The differences in persons exhibiting Type A and Type B behaviors would be of most interest to

Accepted Answer

Type A and Type B behaviors are related to personality traits, so personality theorists would be most interested in studying and understanding these differences.

Question 11

The domestication of various species of animals would be of primary importance to which area of specialization in psychology?

Accepted Answer

Comparative psychology is the area of psychology that studies the behavior and mental processes of animals, including the domestication and breeding of different species. Therefore, the domestication of animals falls under the purview of comparative psychology.

Question 12

"I am using a computer game in order to assess how the human mind makes decisions and stores information for future use.Who am I?"

Accepted Answer

The use of a computer game to assess how the human mind makes decisions and stores information for future use suggests that the person is studying cognitive psychology, which focuses on mental processes including perception, memory, and decision-making.

Question 13

I investigate how people come to know the world through their visual ability.I also study how people interpret this visual information in order to recognize faces.Who am I?

Accepted Answer

The individual is studying how people come to know the world through their visual ability and interpret visual information, which falls under the field of sensation and perception psychology.

Question 14

Dr.Causey is interested in how the effects of dopamine levels impact schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.Dr.Causey is most likely a

Accepted Answer

Dr. Causey is studying the impact of dopamine levels on specific neurological diseases, which suggests a focus on the biological basis of behavior. Biopsychologists specialize in this area of research, which combines principles of neuroscience and psychology to understand how physical factors such as brain chemistry and genetics influence behavior.

Question 15

A _____ psychologist might explore how we recognize someone's voice over the telephone through our interpretation of the pitch.

Accepted Answer

Sensation and perception psychologists study how we interpret sensory information from the environment, which includes recognizing and interpreting qualities of sound such as pitch in the case of recognizing someone's voice over the phone. Personality psychology focuses on understanding individual differences in behavior and thought processes, comparative psychology examines similarities and differences in behavior across different species, and learning psychology focuses on how individuals acquire new behaviors and skills.

Question 16

Comparative psychologists are primarily interested in

Accepted Answer

Comparative psychologists study animal behavior and compare it across different species to better understand the evolution and adaptation of behaviors.

Question 17

_____ psychologists are primarily interested in how individuals remember, reason, and solve problems.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive psychologists study mental processes such as perception, attention, language, memory, problem-solving, and thinking. They are interested in understanding how humans acquire, process, and use information to make decisions, solve problems, and achieve goals.

Question 18

Which area in psychology would be most likely to study the phenomena of friendships and peer influences?

Accepted Answer

The area in psychology that would most likely study friendships and peer influences is social psychology, which focuses on the interactions and relationships between individuals and the social context in which they occur.

Question 19

"I am studying how the human mind is able to interpret depth and distance when looking at a painting on a flat canvas.Who am I?"

Accepted Answer

Theorists who study sensation and perception focus on understanding how the brain processes and interprets sensory information, including visual cues that allow us to perceive depth and distance in two-dimensional artworks.

Question 20

Which type of psychologist would most likely study the behavior of gorillas or the communication abilities of porpoises?

Accepted Answer

Comparative psychologists study the behavior and mental processes of different animal species, including primates like gorillas and animals like porpoises that have complex communication abilities. Biopsychologists study the biological basis of behavior and mental processes, environmental psychologists focus on the interaction between humans and their environment, and forensic psychologists apply psychological principles to legal issues.

Quiz 1: Extension B: Introduction to Psychology and Research Methods