PSY 150 Exam 1 Review

LeVon convinces his wealthy clients that they can move objects with their minds. He tells them that if they truly believe, the objects will move. If the objects do not move, it is because they do not truly believe. LeVon's argument fails which important criteria of science? Select one: a. Falsifiability b. Inductive reasoning c. Deductive reasoning d. the null hypothesis test

a. Falsifiability

Which of the following statements about Freud's work is true? Select one: a. His theories do not lend themselves to experimentation. b. His psychoanalytic techniques are replicated in their original form today. c. His patients were primarily working-class men and therefore not representative of the broader population. d. His theories were based exclusively on animal studies.

a. His theories do not lend themselves to experimentation.

In order to assess whether viewpoints on decriminalization of marijuana for medical purposes change with age, four groups of participants, ages 20, 30, 40, and 50, are asked whether they support this issue. What is one flaw of this design? Select one: a. Social or cultural generational factors may influence the results, not age. b. Marijuana has already been decriminalized in some places. c. Recruitment could be a challenge because people of different ages are difficult to sample. d. Longitudinal research is time consuming.

a. Social or cultural generational factors may influence the results, not age.

Marcus is conducting a squid axon electrophysiology experiment with Dr. Flores. While monitoring a recording electrode placed within a squid axon, Marcus reports to Dr. Flores that the neuron is in a refractory period. What does this mean? Select one: a. The cell is hyperpolarized and another action potential is unlikely or impossible. b. The cell is hyperpolarized and is getting ready to fire a larger action potential. c. The cell is depolarized and cannot fire another action potential. d. The cell is depolarized and is getting ready to fire a larger action potential.

a. The cell is hyperpolarized and another action potential is unlikely or impossible.

Which statement best describes the relationship between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system? Select one: a. The central nervous system is the command center; the peripheral nervous system carries out the commands. b. The central nervous system carries out the commands; the peripheral nervous system is the command center. c. The central nervous system consumes the fuel; the peripheral nervous system is the fuel station. d. The central nervous system is the fuel station; the peripheral nervous system consumes the fuel.

a. The central nervous system is the command center; the peripheral nervous system carries out the commands.

Brindel is a contemporary psychologist who has been examining the "nature versus nurture" question. Which of the following would she be most likely to conclude? Select one: a. The mind is a result of interactions between inborn characteristics and everyday experiences. b. We are solely a product of our surroundings and environment. c. Psychology should not concern itself with this question, as neither nature nor nurture can be studied in a scientific manner. d. We are nothing more than the sum of our genes.

a. The mind is a result of interactions between inborn characteristics and everyday experiences.

Which cliché most fully encompasses the beliefs of early Gestalt psychologists? Select one: a. The whole is more than the sum of its parts. b. Be all that you can be. c. Reality is what you think, not what you see. d. If at first you don't succeed, try again!

a. The whole is more than the sum of its parts.

Rosemary had a stroke about a year ago and now she cannot understand what people are saying to her. This is embarrassing for her, so she responds using vague language and tries to make it appear as though she understands. Which area of Rosemary's brain was likely damaged by the stroke? Select one: a. Wernicke's area b. occipital cortex c. Broca's area d. prefrontal cortex

a. Wernicke's area

Psychoanalytic theory emphasizes the formative role of early childhood experiences and focuses on ____. Select one: a. a person's unconscious b. a person's consciousness c. sexual identity d. fetal development

a. a person's unconscious

The ________, which is involved in identifying, remembering, and responding to fear and aggression, takes its name from the Greek word for "________." Select one: a. amygdala; almond b. dura mater; little mother c. hippocampus; spiral d. hypothalamus; seahorse

a. amygdala; almond

Dr. Pohler is a neurobiologist studying ways to enhance the perception of sound in people with hearing difficulties. He discovers a natural neurotransmitter that increases the chance a neuron will fire an action potential, increasing sensitivity to sound. What is the effect of this neurotransmitter on the receiving neuron? Select one: a. excitatory, causing depolarization b. excitatory, causing hyperpolarization c. inhibitory, causing hyperpolarization d. inhibitory, causing depolarization

a. excitatory, causing depolarization

Spurling et al. investigated the effects of two vocabulary learning strategies on word retention two weeks later. In this example, learning strategy is the ________ variable and word retention is the ________ variable. Select one: a. independent; dependent b. dependent; independent c. experimental; control d. control; experimental

a. independent; dependent

Operational definitions are encouraged in research in order to: Select one: a. make terms used in a study as explicit as possible b. increase the probability that experiments will succeed c. make sure the research is publishable d. make psychological research more easily understood by laypersons

a. make terms used in a study as explicit as possible

Jared has to have a procedure where his physician will inject a radioactive substance into his bloodstream, and then will use that tracer to observe blood flow in Jared's brain while he performs certain tasks. Which neuroimaging study will Jared's physician order? Select one: a. positron emission tomography (a PET scan) b. computed tomography (a CT scan) c. electroencephalogram (EEG) d. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

a. positron emission tomography (a PET scan)

Following a spinal cord injury, formation of the ____ prevents neuronal regeneration in the ____. Select one: a. scar tissue from glia; central nervous system b. blood-brain barrier, peripheral nervous system c. blood-brain barrier, central nervous system d. scar tissue from glia; peripheral nervous system

a. scar tissue from glia; central nervous system

Before they travel across the synapse to bind with receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, chemical messengers are stored in what location on the presynaptic membrane? Select one: a. synaptic vesicles b. nodes of Ranvier c. ionotropes d. axon hillock

a. synaptic vesicles

Researchers find a correlation of +1.20 between coffee consumption and mental alertness. This indicates that: Select one: a. there is a flaw in the computation of the correlation coefficient b. drinking more coffee correlates with mental alertness c. drinking less coffee correlates with mental alertness d. these variables are causally related

a. there is a flaw in the computation of the correlation coefficient

Which of the following statements is the best description of science? Select one: a. Because scientists cannot remain objective, we can never trust science b. Although scientists try to remain objective, they cannot be perfectly objective. This is one reason it is important to replicate studies and use multiple measures c. Although the results of studies are usually incorrect, there are so many of them that—statistically speaking—some results have to be accurate d. Because science is objective it cannot be biased by values and opinions

b. Although scientists try to remain objective, they cannot be perfectly objective. This is one reason it is important to replicate studies and use multiple measures

The arrival of a(n)____ causes synaptic vesicles to be released from their protein anchors, allowing the vesicles to fuse with the cell membrane and release ____ into the synaptic cleft. Select one: a. neurotransmitter; more neurotransmitters b. action potential; neurotransmitters c. neurotransmitter; an electrical charge d. action potential; an electrical charge

b. action potential; neurotransmitters

Synaptic communication between two neurons usually occurs via ____. Select one: a. direct contact b. chemical messengers c. molecular transduction d. electrical signaling

b. chemical messengers

________ is a technique often used in studies investigating sleep patterns. Researchers place electrodes at various locations on a person's head in order to record brainwaves. Select one: a. functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) b. electroencephalography (EEG) c. positron emissions tomography (PET) d. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

b. electroencephalography (EEG)

Callie's data set regarding the working conditions and stress levels of domestic workers contains housing expenses. The average is surprisingly low, but then she realizes that many workers are live-in employees and report zero housing expense. A more useful measure of central tendency that would not be as impacted by these extreme, outlying scores would be the __________. Select one: a. mean b. median c. standard deviation d. frequency

b. median

You decide to study weekend dorm life for a sociology term paper. In order to do this, you attend several fraternity parties at a large university, week after week. What method of research are you employing? Select one: a. experiential observation b. naturalistic observation c. survey d. case study

b. naturalistic observation

The most forward part of the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex, known as the ____, is involved with ____. Select one: a. parietal cortex; processing touch, pain, and body position b. prefrontal cortex; the planning of behavior, attention, and judgment c. primary somatosensory cortex; processing emotions d. primary cortex; processing the movement of objects

b. prefrontal cortex; the planning of behavior, attention, and judgment

Junko's grandmother survived a stroke but is paralyzed on her left side. She has likely suffered damage to her ____. Select one: a. brain stem b. right hemisphere c. left hemisphere d. cerebellum

b. right hemisphere

The function of the myelin sheath is to: Select one: a. slow the transmission of action potentials b. speed up transmission of action potentials along the axon c. it filters the signals so that only the "correct" signals are sent d. protect the cell from blood borne poisons

b. speed up transmission of action potentials along the axon

Which of the following is an accurate match between a division of the autonomic nervous system and a bodily function or state? Select one: a. parasympathetic; induces sweaty palms b. sympathetic; increases heart rate c. sympathetic; constricts pupils d. parasympathetic; induces rapid breathing

b. sympathetic; increases heart rate

Markita is sitting in the first row of a baseball game, when a foul ball comes streaking at her head. She barely has time to move out of the way, and narrowly avoids getting hit. Which part of her nervous system will go into overdrive and mobilize her energy resources in the face of this near disaster? Select one: a. the caudal nervous system b. the sympathetic nervous system c. the rostral nervous system d. the parasympathetic nervous system

b. the sympathetic nervous system

A newspaper headline reads, "Are intellectual pursuits the key to preventing Alzheimer's disease?" The researchers scanned the brains of healthy seniors with no memory loss and asked the seniors to recall how much reading, writing, and game-playing they did in childhood. Those who reported doing daily brain activities from a young age had very low levels of amyloid plaques, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following best describes this study's findings? Select one: a. Amyloid plaques are the main cause of Alzheimer's disease. b. Intellectual pursuits and presence of amyloid plaque are positively correlated. c. There is a negative correlation between intellectual pursuits and the presence of amyloid plaques. d. Intellectual pursuits prevent Alzheimer's disease.

c. There is a negative correlation between intellectual pursuits and the presence of amyloid plaques.

How do drugs classified as "SSRIs," such as Prozac, alter neuronal communication? Select one: a. They decrease the effectiveness of the neurotransmitter serotonin by facilitating its metabolism by neuronal enzymes. b. They decrease the effectiveness of the neurotransmitter serotonin by returning it to the axon terminal for recycling. c. They increase the effectiveness of the neurotransmitter serotonin by blocking its reuptake into the axon terminal. d. They increase the effectiveness of the neurotransmitter serotonin by stopping its diffusion from the synaptic cleft.

c. They increase the effectiveness of the neurotransmitter serotonin by blocking its reuptake into the axon terminal.

On a graph of a correlation coefficient, points falling near to a straight sloped line indicate ________. Select one: a. it is unclear from the information given b. no correlation c. a strong correlation d. a weak correlation

c. a strong correlation

Police Officer Amy Randall suspects that the driver of a car in front of her is driving under the influence of alcohol. She pulls the driver over and administers a field sobriety test. She asks the driver to stand on one leg so that she can evaluate the driver's balance. This test is performed because the ____ is one of the first structures in the brain to be affected by alcohol. Select one: a. pons b. cerebral cortex c. cerebellum d. medulla

c. cerebellum

Which of the following refers to the very private and internal mental processes that the behaviorists avoided studying—information processing, thinking, reasoning, and problem solving? Select one: a. study of the id b. self-actualization c. cognition d. client-centered therapy

c. cognition

________ is a neurotransmitter involved in mood, reward, addiction, and movement. Select one: a. serotonin b. acetylcholine c. dopamine d. glutamate

c. dopamine

Christopher suffered a traumatic brain injury in an automobile accident. Since the accident, he has great difficulty in forming new memories but remembers his childhood well, which suggests that his ____ was damaged. Select one: a. basal ganglia b. amygdala c. hippocampus d. hypothalamus

c. hippocampus

An approach to psychology that sees people as inherently good and motivated to learn and improve is called ____. Select one: a. behaviorism b. Gestalt psychology c. humanistic psychology d. Freudian psychology

c. humanistic psychology

Statistical methods that allow experimenters to extend conclusions from samples to larger populations are called __________. Select one: a. representative samples b. distributions c. inferential statistics d. descriptive statistics

c. inferential statistics

Students who study for 7 hours over the course of a week (spaced learning) will perform better than students who cram for 7 hours the night before the exam. The independent variable in this hypothesis is: Select one: a. students b. number of hours studied c. method of studying (spaced or cramming) d. exam performance

c. method of studying (spaced or cramming)

In order to maximize the chances that experimental groups represent the population of interest, researchers should conduct ________ and ________. Select one: a. blind group assignment; blind sampling b. blind sampling; random group assignment c. random sampling; random group assignment d. blind group assignment; random sampling

c. random sampling; random group assignment

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, ________ is the independent variable and ________ is the control group. Select one: a. food choice; no play b. no play; type of play c. type of play; no play d. active play; passive play

c. type of play; no play

James is writing a paper on the nature of human ideas. In his paper he argues that our emotions and ideas are inborn. Which of the following philosophers is he referencing in his paper? Select one: a. David Hume b. Aristotle c. John Locke d. Rene Descartes

d. Rene Descartes

Dru is reading about the different types of research. If he reads, "This type of research has the primary advantage of allowing a scientist to determine cause and effect relationships," what kind of research method is he studying? Select one: a. a case study b. naturalistic observation c. a quasi-experimental design d. an experimental laboratory study

d. an experimental laboratory study

In order for researchers to be able to say that Variable A causes Variable B, they must eliminate the possible influence of ________. Select one: a. independent variables b. correlational variables c. dependent variables d. confounding variables

d. confounding variables

Lucy wants to study changes in cognitive skills, moral reasoning, and social behavior across the lifespan. Lucy should specialize in ________ psychology. Select one: a. social b. cognitive c. personality d. developmental

d. developmental

Amanda and Toni work for a polling institute. They spend hours polling citizens about their positions on various political topics and then the results are compiled. The polling institute then assumes that the trends they see in several hundred respondents apply to the larger population as a whole, suggesting the findings are _________. Select one: a. reliability b. bimodal c. true d. generalizable

d. generalizable

The endocrine system is comprised of a number of glands that release chemical messengers known as ____ into the ____. Select one: a. neurotransmitters; blood b. neurotransmitters; cerebrospinal fluid c. hormones; cerebrospinal fluid d. hormones; blood

d. hormones; blood

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is part of the: Select one: a. sympathetic nervous system b. somatic nervous system c. central nervous system d. none of the above

d. none of the above

Josh has a doctoral degree in psychology and is a therapist in New York. His sister Sarah has a medical degree and is in a residency program for psychiatry. Currently, the biggest difference between the two professions is that, in contrast to Josh, Sarah can ____. Select one: a. conduct research b. conduct psychotherapy c. peer review the work of other researchers d. prescribe medication

d. prescribe medication

According to William James, the purpose of psychology was to ________. Select one: a. interpret dreams b. study the structure and characteristics of the mind c. manipulate human behavior d. study the function of behavior

d. study the function of behavior

Research results do not prove hypotheses because _________. Select one: a. anecdotal evidence proves hypotheses b. theories prove hypotheses c. hypotheses are unable to be falsified d. they are based on probabilities, not proof

d. they are based on probabilities, not proof