Psychology 2000 Alex Cohen Exam 1 LSU

Dr. Mattar is interested in knowing more about brain injury to the occipital cortex, and he studies patients individually in order to gain in-depth knowledge about their behaviors. These studies would best be described as ________. a. case studies b. surveys c. cross-sectional d. correlational

a. case studies

The ________ receives messages from muscles, tendons, joints, and structures in our ear to control balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills. Select one: a. cerebellum b. substantia nigra c. ventral tegmental area d. sensory cortex

a. cerebellum

Sandra strongly believes that attending daycare is detrimental to children's development so she decides to write her psychology term paper on this topic. She does a literature search and finds several sources supporting her opinion, but she finds that the majority of research indicates that children attending daycare experience healthy development. She writes a paper using the sources that find negative associations with daycare attendance. This is an example of ________. Select one: a. confirmation bias b. observer bias c. confounding variable d. correlational research

a. confirmation bias

Harrison et al. are conducting a study assessing the ability of depressed versus non-depressed participants to remember negative emotions in a short story about a family whose car breaks down. They plan to ask participants to read the story and then make a list of the emotions expressed in the story. Before beginning the study, they make a list of negative emotions (e.g., sadness and anger) that they will record from the participants' responses. In this example, negative emotions are the ________. Select one: a. dependent variable b. independent variable c. signicant variable d. operational denition

a. dependent variable

Which aspect of the scientific method occurs first? Select one: a. hypothesis b. observation c. experiment d. data collection

a. hypothesis

Guillermo spends some time each day applying the principles of structuralism to examine his own conscious experience as carefully as possible. Guillermo is engaged in ________. Select one: a. introspection b. behaviorism c. client-centered therapy d. psychoanalysis

a. introspection

A group of preschool-age children are enrolled in a study that plans to follow them over time in order to assess behaviors and other characteristics that may predict later development of schizophrenia. This is an example of a ________ design. a. longitudinal b. experimental c. cross sectional d. survey

a. longitudinal

A major advantage of case studies is ________. Select one: a. large sample size b. detailed information c. quick data collection d. generalizability

b. detailed information

Which of the following research designs will allow cause-and-effect conclusions? Select one: a. survey b. experimental c. quasi-experimental d. correlational

b. experimental

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. developmental d. personality

c. developmental

Psychoanalytic theory focuses on ________ and early childhood experiences. Select one: a. a person's consciousness b. fetal development c. sexual identity d. a person's unconsciousness

a. a person's consciousness

Which correlation coefficient best represents a moderate relationship showing fewer anxiety symptoms in people who report higher life satisfaction? a. -0.5 b. +0.4 c. -0.2 d. +0.7

a. -0.5

Which of the following does not influence perception? Select one: a. Gestalt b. previous experiences c. where we focus our attention d. cultural background

a. Gestalt

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a good hypothesis? a. It is complex b. It is falsiable c. It can be tested using empirical methods d. It is an if-then statement

a. It is complex

A negative correlation means ________. Select one: a. one variable decreases as the other increases b. there is a relationship between two variables, but it is not statistically signicant c. a third variable eliminates a correlational relationship d. two variables increase together, but they are associated with an undesirable outcome

a. one variable decreases as the other increases

People who have their corpus callosum severed for medical reasons would be able to tell you about which images shown to ________. Select one: a. only the right visual field b. only the left visual field c. neither visual field d. both visual fields

a. only the right visual field

Behaviorists all focus on ________. Select one: a. physiological responses that result in action b. individual attitudes c. the subconscious d. the internal motivation for action

a. physiological responses that result in action

Stan and Jenny are in a psychology course that requires them to repeat an experiment that researchers have conducted in the past, in order to determine whether they produce the same results. This is called ________. Select one: a. replication b. inter-rater reliability c. validity d. reliability

a. replication

Green et al. used a ________ from their ________ of interest in order to make a ________. a. sample; population; generalization b. generalization; sample; hypothesis c. population; sample; generalization d. sample; population; hypothesis

a. sample; population; generalization

Susan wants to study prejudice, attraction, how we explain our own behavior versus how we explain the behavior of others, and how we resolve interpersonal conflicts. Susan should conduct research in the area of ________. Select one: a. social psychology b. Gestalt psychology c. psychoanalysis d. personality

a. social psychology

The ________ group does not get the experimental treatment. Select one: a. independent b. control c. dependent d. alternate experimental

b. control

Which of the following is a criticism of evolutionary psychology? Select one: a. It is easy to disprove theories developed by evolutionary psychologists. b. It ignores non-genetic factors in determining human behavior. c. There are no female evolutionary psychologists. d. It places too much emphasis on genetic factors in determining human behavior.

b. It ignores non-genetic factors in determining human behavior.

________ is the electrical signal that typically moves from the cell body down the axon to the axon terminals. Select one: a. threshold of excitation b. action potential c. hyperpolarization d. depolarization

b. action potential

Introspection refers to a process by which someone examines ________ as objectively as possible. Select one: a. her own subconscious experience b. another person's consciousness c. her own conscious experience d. the social construction of consciousness

b. another person's consciousness

The two major divisions of the nervous system are the ________ and ________. Select one: a. autonomic; somatic nervous systems b. central; peripheral nervous systems c. autonomic; sympathetic nervous systems d. parasympathetic; sympathetic nervous systems

b. central; peripheral nervous systems

Ashya wants to focus on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other problematic patterns of behavior. What area of psychology should she work in? Select one: a. cognitive psychology b. clinical psychology c. social psychology d. organizational psychology

b. clinical psychology

Wendy's mother has blue eyes and her father has brown eyes. The allele for brown eye color is dominant (B) to the allele for blue eye color (b), but Wendy has blue eyes. Therefore, Wendy's ________ must be ________ and her father's must be Bb. Select one: a. phenotype; Bb b. genotype; bb c. genotype; Bb d. phenotype; bb

b. genotype; bb

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? Select one: a. thalamus b. hypothalamus c. Broca's area d. substantia nigra

b. hypothalamus

Patwardhan et al. report data from a study where they hired experimental confederates to attend speed dating events, posing as daters, and carefully take notes on the behaviors of the daters. What type of research design did they use? a. survey b. naturalistic observation c. case study d. experiment

b. naturalistic observation

Psychotropic medications are drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring ________ balance. Select one: a. emotional b. neurotransmitter c. serotonin d. GABA

b. neurotransmitter

A ________ is a description of how the researchers will measure the variables of interest. Select one: a. hypothesis b. operational definition c. experimental plan d. theory

b. operational definition

The ________ nervous system is responsible for stimulating digestion and causing the bladder to contract. Select one: a. autonomic b. parasympathetic c. somatic d. sympathetic

b. parasympathetic

Edmund wants to identify relatively consistent patterns of thought and behavior, measure these traits, and determine how these traits interact in a particular context to determine how a person will behave in any given situation. Edmund wants to conduct research in the area of ________. Select one: a. social psychology b. personality c. perception d. cognition

b. personality

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

b. random sampling; random group assignment

The ________ nervous system is responsible for responses such as pupil dilation, increased heart rate, and increased respiration. Select one: a. somatic b. sympathetic c. autonomic d. parasympathetic

b. sympathetic

The space between two neurons is called the ________. Select one: a. vesicle b. synapse c. soma d. terminal button

b. synapse

The ________ of a neuron contain ________ that house neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of the nervous system. Select one: a. axons; terminal buttons b. terminal buttons; synaptic vesicles c. terminal buttons; transport proteins d. dendrites; synaptic vesicles

b. terminal buttons; synaptic vesicles

Studying close relatives allows behavioral geneticists to determine ________. Select one: a. how behaviors have changed over time b. the relative contributions of genes and environment in a population c. whether genes or environment cause a behavior or trait d. the contribution of genes or environment to the behavior in the individuals studied

b. the relative contributions of genes and environment in a population

A series of dots arranged in the shape of a face will be perceived as a face, not a series of dots. A psychologist studying this phenomenon is applying the principals of ________. Select one: a. psychoanalytic theory b. structuralism c. Gestalt psychology d. humanism

c. Gestalt psychology

Magali and Jean-Gabriel have been asked to design a study investigating happiness across the lifespan. They decide their study will involve going to the mall and asking people of a variety of ages if they are happy or unhappy. What is the most serious flaw of this design? Select one: a. Their results will depend on how busy the mall is b. People will know that they are part of a research study and may decline participation c. They have not dened happiness or how it will be measured d. Survey data is not as valid as experimental data

c. They have not dened happiness or how it will be measured

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. Broca's area b. occipital cortex c. Wernicke's area d. prefrontal cortex

c. Wernicke's area

I provide Ralph with the positive reinforcement of a candy bar when he does something I like. I punish him by squirting him with a squirt gun when he does something I don't like. I am applying the principles of ________ in an attempt to modify Ralph's behavior. Select one: a. classical conditioning b. functionalism c. operant conditioning d. humanism

c. operant conditioning

Dr. Bogdarian noticed that one of her students addresses her with the word mother instead of the word professor or doctor. Dr. Bogdarian applies the principles of ________, and hypothesizes the student misspeaks because he is unconsciously associating her with his mother. Select one: a. Gestalt psychology b. functionalism c. psychoanalytic theory d. structuralism

c. psychoanalytic theory

The central nervous system consists of the brain and the ________. Select one: a. peripheral nerves b. brainstem c. spinal cord d. internal organs

c. spinal cord

Select the correctly ordered list of psychological perspectives, with the earliest perspective listed first. Select one: a. structuralism, functionalism, humanism, behaviorism b. humanism, structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism c. structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, humanism d. humanism, behaviorism, structuralism, functionalism

c. structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, humanism

Behaviorism focuses on making psychology an objective science by ________. Select one: a. studying the genetic basis for behavior and theorizing how instincts influence behavior b. studying implicit motivations for behavior through the use of implicit association tests c. studying overt behavior and deemphasizing the importance of unobservable mental processes d. studying how emotional responses influence behavior while deemphasizing the importance of the subconscious

c. studying overt behavior and deemphasizing the importance of unobservable mental processes

Research shows that people who smoke cigarettes are more likely to get lung cancer than those who do not smoke. This research alone demonstrates that ________. Select one: a. there is a predisposition toward both smoking and lung cancer b. smoking contributes to lung cancer c. there is a relationship between smoking and lung cancer d. smoking causes lung cancer

c. there is a relationship between smoking and lung cancer

Cognitive psychology focuses on studying ________. Select one: a. the effect of gender, race, and class on behavior b. genetics and the effect of genetics on behavior c. thoughts and their relationship to our experiences and our actions d. sensation and the effect of culture on perception

c. thoughts and their relationship to our experiences and our actions

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. no play; type of play b. food choice; no play c. type of play; no play d. active play; passive play

c. type of play; no play

Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the case study of Phineas Gage's accident, which led to brain injury? Select one: a. Frontal lobe injury causes people to be incapable of controlling their emotional impulses. b. Injury to the brain causes changes in behavior, but specific brain areas are not linked to specific behaviors. c. Injury to the frontal lobe does not affect behavior. d. Injury to the brain causes changes in behavior, and specific brain areas are linked to particular behaviors

d. Injury to the brain causes changes in behavior, and specific brain areas are linked to particular behaviors

Which of the following is a criticism of structuralism? Select one: a. Structuralism was parsimonious. b. Wilhelm Wundt falsified his results. c. Scientific instruments were not sensitive enough to measure precise reaction times. d. The process was highly subjective

d. The process was highly subjective

What do structuralism, Gestalt psychology, and Sigmund Freud all have in common? Select one: a. They were all concerned with the nature of evil during the Nazi regime. b. They were all concerned with describing and understanding animal behavior. c. They were all concerned with diagnosing and treating female psychosis. d. They were all concerned with describing and understanding the inner experience.

d. They were all concerned with describing and understanding the inner experience.

The brain contains ________ of interconnected neurons and glia. Select one: a. thousands b. tens of thousands c. millions d. billions

d. billions

A ________ scan involves taking a number of x-rays of a particular section of a person's body or brain. Select one: a. magnet resonance imaging (MRI) b. functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) c. positron emission tomography (PET) d. computerized tomography (CT) scan

d. computerized tomography (CT) scan

A ________ is a variable that affects both variables of interest and may falsely give the impression of a cause-and-effect relationship. Select one: a. independent variable b. control variable c. dependent variable d. confounding variable

d. confounding variable

________ 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. positron emission tomography (PET) b. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) c. functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) d. electroencephalography (EEG)

d. electroencephalography (EEG)

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. a. experimental; control b. dependent; independent c. control; experimental d. independent; dependent

d. independent; dependent

Randolf is walking down the street of his hometown, after being away for several years, when he smells the scent of freshly baked pie coming from a local baker. He suddenly has vivid memories of walking down this street as a child, holding both of his parents' hands, and swinging between them, feeling relaxed and happy. This is because the sense of smell projects directly to the ________, which is responsible for ________ memories. Select one: a. basal ganglia; emotional b. limbic system; childhood c. basal ganglia; childhood d. limbic system; emotional

d. limbic system; emotional

For a scientific explanation to be testable, it must also be ________. Select one: a. hypothesized and theoretical b. experimental and provable c. conscious and unconscious d. perceivable and measurable

d. perceivable and measurable

The auditory cortex is located in which lobe of the brain? Select one: a. frontal b. parietal c. occipital d. temporal

d. temporal