Exam 1 - Psychology

Which of the following research designs will allow cause-and-effect conclusions?

experimental

What is the differences between hemispheres in the areas underlying language function?

lateralization

Which of the following refers to a broad explanation or group of explanations for some aspect of the natural world that is consistently supported by evidence over time?

scientific theory

Which state is marked by relatively low levels of physical activity and reduced sensory awareness that is distinct from periods of rest while awake?

sleep

What is a limitation that affects the generalizability of research results?

small sample size

Which branch of psychology focuses on studying thoughts and the brain?

Cognitive

Lily wants to study changes in cognitive skills, moral reasoning, and social behavior across the lifespan. Lily should specialize in _ (blank) _ psychology.

Developmental

Dora is pursuing a PhD in psychology. As part of her program she must write a long research paper based on the data she spent the last year gathering. What is the long research paper called?

Dissertation

Of adoptees whose biological mothers had schizophrenia and who were raised in disturbed family environments, 36.8% were likely to develop schizophrenia; of adoptees whose mothers did not have schizophrenia and who were raised in disturbed family environments, 5.3% were likely to develop schizophrenia. What is the most appropriate conclusion of these results?

Environmental factors and genetic factors interact to determine whether a person is likely to develop schizophrenia.

What is the perspective that emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans?

Humanism

What board reviews research that is conducted using human participants?

Institutional Review Board

Xander is sleeping. His eyelids are quivering because his eyes are darting around. Xander is probably experiencing what kind of sleep?

REM

Leslie, a sociology major, believes that waffles are the key to happiness. Her friend Ann, a psychology major, believes that good health is the key to happiness. How might the two friends resolve their disagreement?

They could research peer-reviewed articles to see if either perspective is supported.

In a study of mate preference differences between men and women that spanned 37 cultures, Buss (1989) found that men value youthful appearance more than women. Why?

Youthful looks provide fertility clues.

Psychoanalytic theory focuses on _ (blank) _ and early childhood experiences.

a person's unconsciousness

Which of the following senses is associated with the temporal lobe?

audition

Most people are awake during the day and asleep at night because their _ (blank) _ cycles are aligned with the outside world.

circadian

The _ (blank) _ rhythm is the biological rhythm that occurs over approximately 24 hours.

circadian

Which two neurotransmitters have roles in appetite suppression?

dopamine; norepinephrine

In what kind of study would both the researchers and the participants are unaware of the group assignments?

double-blind

When Brady is hot he sweats. When Brady is cold, he gets goose bumps on his skin so he will warm up more quickly. What is the body trying to achieve?

homeostasis

Elaina has been diagnosed with a small brain tumor. She first went to see her doctor after experiencing symptoms such as feeling very cold, almost fainting, a reduced appetite, and reduced sexual desire. Which of the following structures is her tumor most likely affecting?

hypothalamus

Cordelia lives in California. She takes an overnight flight to New York to visit with family for a month; when she arrives she is fatigued, sluggish, and irritable. For the next week or so she has trouble sleeping. What is Cordelia probably suffering from?

jet lag

What is the deep groove that separates the brain into two halves?

longitudinal fissure

Willow is describing her dream to a friend. She explains that in her dream she being chased by frogs and she escaped them by hiding in a refrigerator. Her description of her dream is focused on _ (blank) _ content.

manifest

What hormone does the pineal gland release?

melatonin

Sleepwalking, night terrors, and restless leg syndrome are all examples of what?

parasomnias

Which of the following best explains why The Tuskegee Syphilis Study was ethically problematic?

participants were not allowed to seek available treatment

For a scientific explanation to be testable, it must also be _ (blank) _.

perceivable and measurable

Agonists bind to _ (blank) _ and antagonists bind to _ (blank) _.

receptors; receptors

What is one task that a peer reviewer is not likely to participate in?

suggesting magazines that may be interested in publishing the research

Which branch of the nervous system is responsible for responses such as pupil dilation, increased heart rate, and increased respiration?

sympathetic

What is the space between two neurons called?

synapse

Sher heard from her friends that marijuana use can cure glaucoma so it should be legal in all 50 states. Sher knows that she is biased in favor of marijuana legalization, so she decides to exercise some skepticism about this claim. She researches where her friends got their information, how reliable it is, and what other sources say about legalizing marijuana. What is Sher doing?

thinking critically

A basic experiment involves a minimum of how many participant group(s)?

two

Devine et al. are interested in assessing whether active versus passive play causes a preference for sweet or salty foods in toddlers. They assign groups of children to either an active play, passive play, or no play group and record their food choices when presented with a variety of sweet and salty foods. In this study, what is the independent variable and what is the control group?

type of play; no play