Question 1

The _____ perspective emphasizes studying how behavior is acquired or modified by environmental causes.
A) psychodynamic
B) humanistic
C) behavioral
D) biological

Accepted Answer

The behavioral perspective focuses on how behavior is learned or modified based on environmental factors such as rewards, punishments, and reinforcement. It emphasizes observable behaviors over internal mental processes.

Question 2

As one of the advocates of _____, _____developed a theory of motivation that emphasized psychological growth.
A) functionalism; G. Stanley Hall
B) psychoanalysis; Sigmund Freud
C) humanistic psychology; Abraham Maslow
D) structuralism; Edward B. Titchener

Accepted Answer

The theory of motivation that emphasizes psychological growth is closely associated with humanistic psychology. Abraham Maslow was a prominent advocate of this perspective, and he developed the hierarchy of needs theory, which outlines five levels of basic needs that must be met for an individual to achieve self-actualization. This theory has had a significant influence on the field of psychology and has served as a framework for understanding human motivation and behavior.

Question 3

Researchers at the United Family Therapy Center are conducting a study to determine how quickly different forms of psychotherapy reduce symptoms of anxiety. What is the dependent variable in this study?
A) change in the symptoms of anxiety
B) the method used to recruit participants for the study
C) the type of psychotherapy used to treat anxiety
D) the number of participants receiving each type of psychotherapy

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured or observed in an experiment, and in this case, it is the change in symptoms of anxiety. The other options (recruitment method, type of psychotherapy, and number of participants) are independent variables, as they are the variables that the researchers manipulate or control in the study.

Question 4

Mary Whiton Calkins:
A) founded the first psychology laboratory in America at Yale University.
B) studied with Sigmund Freud and became the first female psychoanalyst in the United States.
C) is best known for her pioneering research on comparative psychology and for her book The Animal Mind.
D) conducted research on personality, dreams, and memory, and was the first woman elected president of the American Psychological Association.

Accepted Answer

Mary Whiton Calkins conducted research on personality, dreams, and memory, and was the first woman elected president of the American Psychological Association. She did not found the first psychology laboratory in America at Yale University (A), study with Sigmund Freud (B), or focus on comparative psychology and write The Animal Mind (C).

Question 5

Edward Titchener is associated with which early approach or "school" of psychology?
A) behaviorism
B) structuralism
C) functionalism
D) psychoanalysis

Accepted Answer

Edward Titchener is associated with structuralism, an early approach or "school" of psychology that focused on analyzing the basic elements of consciousness through introspection.

Question 6

Of the following correlation coefficients, which represents the weakest relationship between two factors?
A) -.67
B) +.53
C) +.32
D) -.12

Accepted Answer

The correlation coefficient of -.12 represents the weakest relationship between two factors as it is closest to zero, indicating a very weak or negligible relationship between the variables.

Question 7

Correlational research:
A) can indicate causality in either a positive or a negative direction.
B) provides the most compelling evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables.
C) can reveal the degree to which two factors are related to or associated with each other in a systematic way.
D) has been banned by the American Psychological Association since the 1960s, but it is still allowed in other countries.

Accepted Answer

Correlational research can reveal the degree to which two factors are related to or associated with each other in a systematic way. However, it cannot establish causality, as there may be underlying third variables or reverse causation present.

Question 8

The term _____ refers to the tendency to use one's own culture as the standard for judging other cultures.
A) ethnocentrism
B) expectancy effect
C) empirical
D) collectivistic

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture and values are superior to others. This can lead to biases and judgments about other cultures based on one's own cultural standards. Expectancy effect refers to the effect of bias or expectations on the outcome of a study, empirical refers to evidence-based knowledge, and collectivistic refers to cultures that prioritize group harmony and cooperation over individual goals.

Question 9

Which of the following titles would most likely be found in a research journal for biological psychology?
A) "Increased levels of the hormone testosterone causes increased aggressive behavior in laboratory rats"
B) "The effects of compliments on helping behavior"
C) "Decreases in intellectual functioning can be reversed through increased mental activities in the older adult"
D) "Spacing rehearsals during learning improves long-term memory for nonsense syllables"

Accepted Answer

The title describes a specific study on the effects of hormones on behavior, which would be a topic of interest in a research journal for biological psychology.

Question 10

Evidence that is the result of observation, measurement, and experimentation is referred to as _____ evidence.
A) empirical
B) pseudoscientific
C) hypothetical
D) theoretical

Accepted Answer

Empirical evidence is based on direct observations, measurements, and experiments, making it a reliable source of information in scientific research. Pseudoscientific evidence, on the other hand, lacks a scientific basis and often relies on anecdotes or unproven theories. Hypothetical and theoretical evidence may be based on logical deductions or models, but they are not as reliable as empirical evidence because they have not been directly tested or observed.

Question 11

The first African American to earn a Ph.D. in psychology was:
A) Mary Whiton Calkins.
B) Francis C. Sumner.
C) Edward B. Titchener.
D) G. Stanley Hall.

Accepted Answer

Francis C. Sumner was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in psychology in 1920.

Question 12

Several correlational studies point to the basic conclusion that the more time students spend playing violent video games, the greater their tendency to engage in delinquent behavior. Based on this result, you would be justified in stating that:
A) playing violent video games causes delinquent behavior.
B) there is a positive correlation between delinquent behavior and playing violent video games.
C) there is a negative correlation between playing violent video games and delinquent behavior.
D) the researchers were conducting pseudoscientific research.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is B because the correlational studies found a positive correlation between playing violent video games and delinquent behavior, indicating that there is a relationship between the two variables but not necessarily a causal relationship. Option A is not the best choice because correlation does not equal causation. Option C is not the best choice because it contradicts the findings of the correlational studies. Option D is not the best choice because there is no evidence in the scenario to suggest that the research was pseudoscientific.

Question 13

Professor Diaz is studying the development of the human brain from infancy to early adulthood. She takes the _____ perspective and her specialty area is _____ psychology.
A) humanistic; social
B) evolutionary; cognitive
C) behavioral; social
D) biological; developmental

Accepted Answer

Professor Diaz is studying the development of the human brain, indicating a focus on developmental psychology. Additionally, her perspective is focused on the biological factors involved in this development, which aligns with the biological specialty area of psychology.

Question 14

Who wrote On the Origin of Species?
A) Sigmund Freud
B) John B. Watson
C) B. F. Skinner
D) Charles Darwin

Accepted Answer

Charles Darwin wrote On the Origin of Species.

Question 15

Which of the following terms refers to a procedure that assures that all participants have an equal chance of being assigned to any of the experimental conditions?
A) the double-blind technique
B) random assignment
C) the single-blind technique
D) random selection

Accepted Answer

Random assignment is the procedure that assures that all participants have an equal chance of being assigned to any of the experimental conditions. The double-blind technique refers to a procedure in which neither the experimenter nor the participant knows which group received the experimental treatment. The single-blind technique refers to a procedure in which only the participant is unaware of the group assignment. Random selection refers to the process of randomly selecting participants from the population.

Question 16

A collectivistic culture is one in which:
A) the self is seen as less interdependent with others compared to individualistic cultures.
B) a person's social behavior is influenced more by individual preference than by cultural values and norms.
C) a person's individual preferences and goals are considered to be more important than the requirements and goals of his or her social group.
D) the needs and goals of the group are considered to be more important than the needs and goals of the individual.

Accepted Answer

In a collectivistic culture, the needs and goals of the group are considered to be more important than the needs and goals of the individual. Collective harmony and group cohesion are emphasized over standing out as an individual.

Question 17

Professor Newberg decided to study the social activity level of senior citizens, so he visited a local retirement village and invited residents to participate in a lengthy survey. Professor Newberg's survey results are probably invalid because he did not use:
A) a valid hypothesis.
B) an operational definition.
C) independent and dependent variables.
D) random selection of participants.

Accepted Answer

Random selection of participants is necessary to ensure that the sample is representative of the population of interest. Without this, the survey results may not accurately reflect the social activity levels of senior citizens as a whole, and thus the survey results may be invalid. The other options (A, B, and C) are also important for designing a valid study, but random selection of participants is critical for generalizability.

Question 18

The use of dogs and cats in psychological research:
A) is very common, especially in research investigating drug effects on sleep.
B) is prohibited by the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science.
C) is very common; approximately 90 percent of animals used in research are cats and dogs.
D) is rare.

Accepted Answer

The use of dogs and cats in psychological research is rare. While some animal research is still conducted in psychology, it is typically focused on rodents such as mice and rats. The American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science also strongly encourage the use of alternative research methods whenever possible.

Question 19

According to the Science Versus Pseudoscience feature in Chapter 1, which of the following items is NOT one of the strategies used by proponents of pseudoscience to give credibility to their claims?
A) shifting the burden of proof
B) use of irrefutable or nonfalsifiable claims
C) combining unfounded claims with established scientific findings
D) use of the scientific method and replication of their findings by other scientists

Accepted Answer

The use of the scientific method and replication of their findings by other scientists is not a strategy used by proponents of pseudoscience. It is a hallmark of genuine scientific inquiry. The other three strategies listed (shifting the burden of proof, use of irrefutable or nonfalsifiable claims, and combining unfounded claims with established scientific findings) are often employed by pseudoscientists in an attempt to make their claims seem more credible.

Question 20

In a study described in Chapter 1, psychologist Paul Solomon and his colleagues investigated the effects of the herb gingko biloba on memory, concentration, and other mental tasks. All participants in the study took a battery of tests at the beginning and end of the six-week study. The results showed that:
A) test scores increased about the same for the participants in the experimental group and for the participants in the placebo control group.
B) test scores actually decreased for the participants in the experimental group and increased slightly for the participants in the no-treatment control group.
C) test scores were virtually identical both times the participants were tested.
D) although test scores stayed about the same, participants in the study subjectively rated their memory and concentration as being significantly improved.

Accepted Answer

The study found that test scores increased about the same for the participants in the experimental group (who received gingko biloba) and for the participants in the placebo control group (who received a placebo). This suggests that gingko biloba did not have a significant effect on memory, concentration, or mental tasks in this study.

Quiz 1: Introduction and Research Methods

The _____ perspective emphasizes studying how behavior is acquired or modified by environmental causes.

As one of the advocates of _, _developed a theory of motivation that emphasized psychological growth.

Researchers at the United Family Therapy Center are conducting a study to determine how quickly different forms of psychotherapy reduce symptoms of anxiety. What is the dependent variable in this study?

Mary Whiton Calkins:

Edward Titchener is associated with which early approach or "school" of psychology?

Of the following correlation coefficients, which represents the weakest relationship between two factors?

Correlational research:

The term _____ refers to the tendency to use one's own culture as the standard for judging other cultures.

Which of the following titles would most likely be found in a research journal for biological psychology?

Evidence that is the result of observation, measurement, and experimentation is referred to as _____ evidence.

The first African American to earn a Ph.D. in psychology was:

Several correlational studies point to the basic conclusion that the more time students spend playing violent video games, the greater their tendency to engage in delinquent behavior. Based on this result, you would be justified in stating that:

Professor Diaz is studying the development of the human brain from infancy to early adulthood. She takes the _ perspective and her specialty area is _ psychology.

Who wrote On the Origin of Species?

Which of the following terms refers to a procedure that assures that all participants have an equal chance of being assigned to any of the experimental conditions?

A collectivistic culture is one in which:

Professor Newberg decided to study the social activity level of senior citizens, so he visited a local retirement village and invited residents to participate in a lengthy survey. Professor Newberg's survey results are probably invalid because he did not use:

The use of dogs and cats in psychological research:

According to the Science Versus Pseudoscience feature in Chapter 1, which of the following items is NOT one of the strategies used by proponents of pseudoscience to give credibility to their claims?