Question 1

For much of its history,psychologists focused mostly on:

Accepted Answer

For much of its history, psychology has been defined as the scientific study of behavior and not the mind, brain, or disorders. While the study of the mind and brain has gained more attention in recent years, the central focus of psychology continues to be on understanding and explaining human and animal behavior.

Question 2

Why is critical thinking important in evaluating psychological research?

Accepted Answer

Psychological research can have limitations that can affect the accuracy and generalization of the findings. Therefore, it is important to critically evaluate the research methods and results to determine the validity and reliability of the research.

Question 3

Trying to understand the relationship between the actions of neurons and a thought is an example of the connection between:

Accepted Answer

The relationship between the actions of neurons and thought is at the intersection between the physical, biological brain (neurons) and the abstract, psychological mind (thought). Therefore, it is an example of the connection between the brain and the mind.

Question 4

Taj is writing a paper on global warming.He only includes research findings that support his own beliefs about global warming because he thinks that all the contradictory findings must be the result of flawed research.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Taj's behavior is an example of confirmation bias, which is the tendency to search for, interpret, and favor information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses while ignoring or rejecting information that contradicts them. Taj is only considering research findings that support his own beliefs about global warming, while dismissing contradictory findings as flawed, which is a clear manifestation of confirmation bias.

Question 5

Barry and Candace are disagreeing.Barry states that psychology is the study of the mind.Candace believes that psychology is the science of behavior.Given your knowledge of psychology,how would you resolve this argument?

Accepted Answer

Psychology is the study of both the mind and behavior. While traditional psychology has focused on the mind and internal processes such as cognition and emotions, the field has expanded to encompass behavior as well. Today, psychologists study a range of behaviors, including social interactions, group dynamics, and developmental milestones. Therefore, both Barry and Candace have partially correct answers.

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of a psychologist who is studying the brain?

Accepted Answer

Studying how neural activity changes as newborn babies develop involves studying the brain. The other choices do not specifically pertain to the study of the brain.

Question 7

Which of the following is one factor that contributes to the confirmation bias?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to seek and interpret information in a way that confirms our existing beliefs. Selective memory is one factor that contributes to this bias, as it leads us to better remember information that supports our beliefs and ignore or forget information that goes against them. Selective emotionality, on the other hand, refers to the tendency to better remember information that is either positive or negative, regardless of whether it supports our existing beliefs.

Question 8

Allanah is a psychology major.Which of the following best describes what Allanah will learn about?

Accepted Answer

The field of psychology encompasses the study of the mind, the brain, and behavior. As a psychology major, Allanah will learn about various psychological theories and perspectives, research methods, and how to apply psychology to real-world situations. This includes topics such as cognitive processes, social behavior, development, perception, motivation, and more. While she may also study specific mental disorders and their treatments, this is just one aspect of the broad field of psychology.

Question 9

Psychological science is the study of:

Accepted Answer

Psychological science encompasses the study of the mind, brain, and behavior, so all of the above choices are correct.

Question 10

The difference between using critical thinking explanations and everyday explanations for psychological phenomena is that:

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking requires the use of evidence and scientific support to draw logical conclusions, whereas everyday explanations may rely more heavily on personal experiences and beliefs.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of a psychologist who is studying behavior?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Hull's focus on studying facial expressions during a fight indicates that they are interested in behavior, specifically nonverbal communication between partners during a conflict. Choice A focuses on studying how smells can trigger feelings, which is related more to sensory perception. Choice B focuses on patterns of neural activity related to drug use, which is more related to neuroscience. Choice C focuses on thought processes related to decision making, which is related to cognitive psychology.

Question 12

You are asked to write a newspaper article on a controversial political topic and you want to make sure you are not influenced by the confirmation bias.Which of the following should you do in order to avoid the confirmation bias?

Accepted Answer

In order to avoid confirmation bias, it is important to seek out evidence that both supports and contradicts your own beliefs. This allows for a more balanced and objective analysis of the topic at hand. Focusing mainly on evidence that supports your own beliefs can lead to ignoring important information that may contradict those beliefs, leading to a biased and incomplete understanding of the issue.

Question 13

Which of the following is a characteristic of a good consumer of scientific research?

Accepted Answer

A good consumer of scientific research should be open to new ideas, carefully consider the facts, and be wary of scientific findings to ensure they are credible and valid.

Question 14

Which of the following is the best definition of psychological science?

Accepted Answer

Psychological science is the study of the mind, the brain, and behavior. It involves the scientific examination of human and animal behavior and mental processes, including perception, cognition, emotion, and motivation. It also involves the study of neurological and physiological processes that underlie behavior and mental processes.

Question 15

According to your text,amiable skepticism is an important element in a type of reasoning called:

Accepted Answer

The text describes amiable skepticism as a key characteristic of critical thinking. Therefore, the correct answer is D) critical thinking.

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of a psychologist who is studying the mind?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an example...

Question 17

Which of the following is an important goal of your psychology textbook?

Accepted Answer

The goal of a psychology textbook is to provide education about the methods of psychological science, including the theories, research methods, and findings that have been discovered through the discipline of psychology. While understanding abnormal behavior and predicting how people will interact are important areas of study within psychology, they are not the primary goal of a psychology textbook. Similarly, while some students may use their psychology education to become therapists, this is not the sole purpose of the textbook.

Question 18

Based on your textbook's definition of psychology,which statement best reflects the relationship between the mind and the brain?

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook's definition of psychology, the objective of psychology is to understand the behavior and mental processes of individuals. Since the brain is responsible for controlling the body and the mental processes of an individual, it can be concluded that the brain influences the mind. Therefore, option B is the best choice as it reflects the relationship between the mind and the brain.

Question 19

Critical thinking is best defined as thinking that:

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking is defined as a systematic and reasonable approach to evaluating information, ideas, and evidence in order to make informed decisions and judgments. It involves analyzing arguments, making inferences, and drawing logical conclusions based on evidence, rather than simply accepting or rejecting information without questioning it. Open-mindedness and creativity are also important aspects of critical thinking, but they are not sufficient on their own without a systematic and reasonable approach. Criticizing others' opinions may be part of critical thinking in certain contexts, but it is not the primary focus. Lastly, critical thinking is not limited to using inferences, but also involves problem-solving in order to reach informed decisions.

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of using critical thinking and scientific reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Conducting research to investigate the effectiveness of left brain/right brain games in improving memory involves critical thinking and scientific reasoning because it involves gathering evidence and testing a hypothesis through controlled experiments. This requires careful planning, analysis of data, and drawing conclusions based on evidence rather than personal opinions or anecdotal evidence. A, B, and C all involve relying on personal experience or secondary sources without testing for evidence or alternative explanations, which is not a good example of critical thinking or scientific reasoning.

Quiz 1: The Science of Psychology