Introduction to Psychology - Final Exam

James

"I am a prominent early American. I proposed that the newborn experiences the world as a 'blooming, buzzing confusion.' Who am I?" A. Skinner B. Watson C. Titchener D. James

demonstrates conservation

A four-year-old child is shown a row of seven red checkers. He is asked to place a black checker immediately above each red one. On doing so, the child agrees that there are as many red as black checkers. The experimenter then spreads out the black checkers so that the line they form is longer than that formed by the red checkers. The experimenter asks whether there are more red checkers or more black checkers in order to determine whether the child: A. has attained object permanence B. can perform formal operations C. has a theory of mind D. demonstrates conservation

a common-causal variable

A researcher argues that the number of violent TV shows that a child watches is positively correlated with the aggressiveness of the child's play due to the fact that the discipline style of the parents causes both TV viewing and aggressive play. The researcher believes that parental discipline style is which of the following? A. a common-causal variable B. an independent variable C. an outcome variable D. a causal variable

construct validity

A researcher develops a questionnaire to assess the personality trait of impulsivity among adults. In a journal article, she presents evidence that college students tend to get essentially the same score if they take the test twice, 2 months apart. When you look at the sample questionnaire items she included in the article, though, it seems that they relate more to whether a person is sociable, outgoing, and fun than to whether an individual is impulsive. You are questioning the __________ of the researcher's questionnaire. A. reliability B. objectivity C. construct validity D. external validity

the relationship between two variables

A scatterplot is a visual representation of: A. the central tendency of the data B. the statistical significance of the results C. the variability in the data D. the relationship between two variables

Freud

A space-time anomaly catapulted a group of 19th-century psychologists to this year's APA conference. Freud, Skinner, Thorndike, and Watson discuss the conference's proceedings thus far. Which of these psychologists would be most comfortable with the current study of consciousness in psychology? A. Skinner B. Watson C. Freud D. Thorndike

interdependence

A synonym for collectivism is: A. dependence B. interdependence C. intradependency D. group think

testosterone; positively

According to research reported in your text, levels of the hormone _________ are ________ correlated with crude, unruly, or violent behavior among fraternity members, juvenile delinquents, and prisoners. A. adrenaline; negatively B. adrenaline; positively C. testosterone; not D. testosterone; positively

six

According to your text, how many basic types of taste are there? A. six B. three C. four D. five

thousands

According to your text, the average child in the U. S. has viewed ________ of murders on network TV by the time he or she graduates from elementary school. A. hundreds B. thousands C. dozens D. millions

25

Adults spend about ______% of their sleep in REM sleep. A. 25 B. 10 C. 35 D. 15

changes from negative to positive

As an action potential occurs, the neuron's electrical charge: A. changes from negative to more negative B. changes from neutral to positive C. changes from neutral to negative D. changes from negative to positive

False

Auditory cortex is located in the parietal lobe. True/False

research can sometimes provide facts that can help people develop their values.

Based on your text's discussion, which of the following alternatives best expresses the relationship between facts and values? A. research can sometimes provide facts that can help people develop their values. B. values are more important than facts. C. facts and values are often indistinguishable. D. facts and values are independent of each other.

True

Behaviorists believe it is possible to develop laws of learning that can explain all behaviors. True/False

electroencephalography (EEG)

Brent is taking part in an experiment in which the electrical activity of his brain is recorded through electrodes on his skull. The brain scanning technique used in this study is ________. A. functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) B. positron emission tomography (PET) C. electroencephalography (EEG) D. transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

denial

Charles has been told that he has lung cancer that is beyond treatment. His doctor tells him that he will probably die within a year. Charles suddenly starts to laugh and tells the doctor that the lab must have mixed up the test results. Charles is most likely in the stage of grieving identified by Kübler-Ross as: A. denial B. anger C. depression D. bargaining

True

Circadian rhythms are one example of biorhythms. True/False

free will is an illusion; the strength of the illusion varies in different situations.

Concerning free will, which statement is most accurate in light of contemporary empirical research? A. most people underestimate their own free will. B. the behaviorist view of free will has been completely discredited. C. it is not possible to examine free will scientifically. D. free will is an illusion; the strength of the illusion varies in different situations.

trichromatic

Contemporary television and computer monitors are based on the _________ theory of color perception. A. trichromatic B. frequency C. place D. opponent-process

positive

Dr. Frazier measures testosterone levels among a sample of professional athletes. Which term best describes the correlation she might find between testosterone levels and scores on measures of aggressive or antisocial behavior off the field, such as disciplinary suspensions, arrests, and so on? A. weak B. linear C. negative D. positive

experimental

Dr. Ingram deliberately manipulated the number of items on a list that participants had to learn and later measured participants' recall of the items. Dr. Ingram conducted a(n) ___________ study. A. correlational B. descriptive C. observational D. experimental

to think more abstractly about objects

During the preoperational stage children begin to use language and: A. use their ability to reason B. become egocentric C. to think more abstractly about objects D. use their ability to deduce

feelings of guilt

Elizabeth is 5 years old, and she wants to show her independence and initiative by helping her mother when it is time for dinner. But Elizabeth's mother doesn't allow her to help. Based on Erikson's theory, Elizabeth may develop: A. feelings of guilt B. a sense of initiative C. a general sense of mistrust D. feelings of inferiority

asking a sample of students a series of questions about their sexual attitudes and behaviors

Fidelma is undertaking survey research. Which of the following is she probably doing? A. observing the problem-solving strategies of an extremely gifted middle-school girl B. asking a sample of students a series of questions about their sexual attitudes and behaviors C. comparing students' performance on abstract and concrete versions of problems D. recording the behaviors of sea lions in their natural habitat

even infants as young as 6 months of age perceive depth

Gibson and Walk's (1960) 'visual cliff' studies revealed that: A. depth perception is very poor in infants B. depth perception depends largely on experience C. even infants as young as 6 months of age perceive depth D. infants do not perceive depth until they are at least 14 months of age

leads to an increase in the probability of a behavior

Negative reinforcement: A. leads to an increase in the probability of a behavior B. is the same thing as punishment C. is the same thing as secondary reinforcement D. decreases the likelihood that a behavior will be performed

True

Nicotine is an acetylcholine agonist. True/False

the spacing effect

One of the most fundamental principles of learning is: A. that it differs from individual to individual B. the spacing effect C. studying in a loud environment helps train you to test under adverse conditions D. the benefit of cramming material up to the last minute before testing

True

Positive reinforcement is a more effective way to modify behavior than is punishment. True/False

cognitive

Psychologists have studied the ways that best allow people to acquire, store, and retain information. These are _____ psychologists. A. forensic B. environmental C. cognitive D. developmental

consciousness

Psychologists refer to our awareness of ourselves and our environment as: A. consciousness B. intelligence C. perception D. cognition

basic; applied

Psychologists use the term ___________ research to refer to research that answers fundamental questions about behavior. The term _________ research refers to research that provides solutions to everyday problems. A. academic; applied B. practical; experimental C. basic; applied D. experimental; practic

values affect science.

Regarding science, which of the following statements is most accurate? A. science is value-free. B. science is completely objective. C. science is not at all objective. D. values affect science.

people may believe that they have free will even when they do not

Research reported in your text is most consistent with which of the following statements? A. it is difficult to convince people that they have free will B. free will is observed more frequently in men than in women C. people may believe that they have free will even when they do not D. free will is not possible to study scientifically

True

Scientists have suggested a specific genetic basis for left-handedness. True/False

cohort; cross-sectional

The "Woodstock era" brings to mind middle- and upper-middle-class individuals who reached late adolescence or early adulthood in the later 1960s. A developmental psychologist might refer to such a group as a _______. Differences between such groups represent a confound in ________ designs. A. cohort; cross-sectional B. cohort; longitudinal C. generation; longitudinal D. generation; cross-sectional

True

The ability to change and cope has a positive impact on aging. True/False

the brain's frontal lobe is involved in emotion and morality

The case study involving Phineas Gage helped provide early evidence that: A. the cerebral cortex controls breathing B. damage to a major part of the brain will not necessarily result in any problems for the injured party C. injuries to the frontal lobe can impact speech D. the brain's frontal lobe is involved in emotion and morality

cognitive

The computer metaphor is at the heart of the _____ approach to psychology. A. cognitive B. behaviorist C. functionalist D. psychodynamic

True

The ear is particularly sensitive to sounds in the same frequency as the human voice. True/False

True

The fact that different organisms have different sensations is part of their evolutionary adaptation. True/False

True

The fetal period is the longest stage of prenatal development. True/False

Fechner

The field of psychophysics was founded by the German psychologist __________. A. Weber B. Wundt C. Ebbinghaus D. Fechner

Weber

The function relating the value of a stimulus along some dimension to the just noticeable difference is known as __________'s law. A. Jung B. Wundt C. Weber D. Tichener

laws

The physical sciences contain some principles that are so general that they apply to all situations. These are termed _________. A. theories B. laws C. precepts D. hypotheses

reinforcement

The process by which a stimulus increases the likelihood that a preceding behavior will be repeated is called: A. conditioning B. latent learning C. reward D. reinforcement

True

The relationship between two variables may be depicted using a scatterplot. True/False

about 50,000

There were about how many opioid overdoses in the U.S. in 2016? A. Less than 1,000 B. Over 5 million C. Over 1 million D. About 50,000

positively-sloped line

Verna found a positive correlation between self-reported alcohol and drug use and sick days taken in a study of white-collar workers. A scatterplot of her results would show a(n): A. negatively-sloped line B. U-shaped curve C. positively-sloped line D. horizontal line

the retina

Visual accommodation is the process of changing the curvature of the lens to keep the light entering the eye focused on what? A. cones B. the optic nerve C. the retina D. rods

False

Waking consciousness is associated with alpha waves. True/False

research has not supported some of its ideas, but the approach has had a lasting influence.

Which alternative best expresses the influence of the psychodynamic approach? A. research has not supported its ideas, and the influence of the approach has declined. B. research has not supported some of its ideas, but the approach has had a lasting influence. C. research has supported most of its ideas, but the influence of the approach has declined. D. research has supported most of its ideas, and the approach has had a lasting influence.

a trance-like state of consciousness marked by heightened suggestibility

Which alternative correctly defines hypnosis? A. a focus on a specific object, word, or process B. the lack of ability to respond to the commands of others C. a trance-like state of consciousness marked by heightened suggestibility D. the intentional reduction of stimulation to one or more of the senses

naturalistic observation - involves the examination of everyday events

Which alternative correctly describes one of the descriptive research techniques mentioned in your text? A. naturalistic observation - involve interviews or questionnaires B. survey - provide systematic records of an individual's behavior C. naturalistic observation - involves the examination of everyday events D. case study - entail the deliberate manipulation of one or more variables

stimulants - block reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine

Which alternative correctly pairs a class of psychoactive drugs with its mechanism of action? A. hallucinogens - mimic endorphins B. depressants - mimic endorphins C. stimulants - block reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine D. opioids - increase production of GABA; decrease production of acetylcholine

false alarm; the observer responds "yes" when the stimulus is not presented

Which alternative pairs a signal detection outcome with the correct definition? A. miss; the observer responds "yes" when the stimulus is presented B. correct rejection; the observer responds "no" when the stimulus is presented C. hit; the observer responds "no" when the stimulus is not presented D. false alarm; the observer responds "yes" when the stimulus is not presented

Moro reflex; following a loud noise or sudden drop in height, an infant extends its arms and legs and quickly brings them in

Which infant reflex is correctly matched with its description? A. grasping reflex; an infant turns its head toward something touching its cheek B. Moro reflex; following a loud noise or sudden drop in height, an infant extends its arms and legs and quickly brings them in C. rooting reflex; an infant flexes its leg when a soft pin prick is applied to the sole of its foot withdrawal reflex; when an infant is laid on its back, it D. turns its head to one side and extends the arm on the same side

behavior - norms - culture

Which of the following alternatives correctly arranges the concepts of norms, behavior, and culture in order of increasing breadth? A. behavior - culture - norms B. behavior - norms - culture C. norms - culture - behavior D. norms - behavior - culture

they calm, produce sleep, and slow heart rate and respiration

Which of the following alternatives correctly defines the effects of depressants? A. they enhance mood and increase energy B. they calm, produce sleep, and slow heart rate and respiration C. they slow body functions including heart rate and may create constipation and addiction D. they create altered consciousness and hallucinations

they create altered consciousness and hallucinations

Which of the following alternatives correctly defines the effects of hallucinogens? A. they enhance mood and increase energy B. they slow body functions including heart rate and may create constipation and addiction C. they create altered consciousness and hallucinations D. they calm, produce sleep, and slow heart rate and respiration

medulla, pons, reticular formation

Which of the following alternatives identifies the structures in the brainstem? A. medulla, thalamus, amygdala B. reticular formation, thalamus, amygdala C. medulla, thalamus, reticular formation D. medulla, pons, reticular formation

your mouth waters at the sight of a display of fresh chili peppers in the supermarket.

Which of the following alternatives illustrates classical conditioning? A. your mouth waters at the sight of a display of fresh chili peppers in the supermarket. B. you don't know how best to organize the points you wish to make in one section of a political science term paper. The solution suddenly comes to you, though, after you work on your statistics homework for a while. C. you no longer use a vending machine in the foyer of the computer science building on campus because it has sometimes failed to deliver your soda. D. you squirm at the sight of an addict shooting up in a television movie.

you no longer use a vending machine in the foyer of the computer science building on campus because it has sometimes failed to deliver your soda.

Which of the following alternatives illustrates operant conditioning? A. you no longer use a vending machine in the foyer of the computer science building on campus because it has sometimes failed to deliver your soda. B. your mouth waters at the sight of a display of fresh chili peppers in the supermarket. C. you don't know how best to organize the points you wish to make in one section of a political science term paper. The solution suddenly comes to you, though, after you work on your statistics homework for a while. D. you squirm at the sight of an addict shooting up in a television movie.

a shared way of thinking or feeling

Which of the following best defines a social norm? A. a reinforcement schedule B. a psychodynamic repression C. a cognitive structure D. a shared way of thinking or feeling

attempts to understand why animals and humans have developed the particular psychological aspects that they currently possess

Which of the following best defines functionalism? A. focuses on the role of our unconscious thoughts, feelings, and memories and our early childhood experiences in determining behavior B. uses the method of introspection to identify the basic elements of psychological experience C. based on the premise that it is not possible to objectively study the mind, and therefore that psychologists should limit their attention to the study of behavior itself D. attempts to understand why animals and humans have developed the particular psychological aspects that they currently posses

A change in the lens that focuses light on the retina.

Which of the following best defines the visual phenomenon of accommodation? A. A change in the lens that focuses light on the retina. B. A change in the retina that focuses the lens C. A change in the iris that moves light into the eye D. A change in the cornea that prevents too much light from entering the eye.

limbic system

Which of the following brain structures, located behind the brain stem, governs memory and emotion? A. cerebellum B. thalamus C. limbic system D. medulla

theory - an integrated framework explaining the data in a given domain

Which of the following concepts is correctly matched with its definition? A. variable - a general, overarching principle B. hypothesis - a statement translating a conceptual definition into a measured definition C. law - an attribute that can assume different values D. theory - an integrated framework explaining the data in a given domain

something that naturally creates a response

Which of the following defines unconditioned stimulus (US)? A. a behavior that is acquired B. something that creates a response only after conditioning C. something that naturally creates a response D. a naturally-occurring behavior

a snail-shaped tube that contains the cilia

Which of the following describes the cochlea? A. a snail-shaped tube that contains the cilia B. the external, visible part of the ear C. the base of the auditory nerve D. the membrane at the end of the ear

ossicles - bones of the middle ear

Which of the following ear structures is correctly paired with its description? A. oval window - external, visible part of the ear B. tympanic membrane - membrane covering opening of cochlea C. pinna - fluid-filled structure in the inner ear D. ossicles - bones of the middle ear

the child perceives the environment only through the senses

Which of the following is a description of Piaget's sensorimotor stage? A. the child learns to understand time, space, and numbers and to use deductive reasoning B. the child can think in abstract terms C. the child is able to form mental images D. the child perceives the environment only through the senses

providing a spanking

Which of the following is the best example of positive punishment? A. providing a desired treat B. taking away a fun toy C. taking away a desired treat D. providing a spanking

an infant flexes its leg when a soft pin prick is applied to the sole of its foot

Which of the following is the correct definition of the withdrawal reflex? A. when an infant is laid on its back, it turns its head to one side and extends the arm on the same side B. following a loud noise or sudden drop in height, an infant extends its arms and legs and quickly brings them in C. an infant flexes its leg when a soft pin prick is applied to the sole of its foot D. an infant turns its head toward something touching its cheek

Freud

Which of the following prominent psychologists developed his theories primarily through using case studies? A. Skinner B. James C. Watson D. Freud

Dr. Innis, who is examining the tactile perception of a blind woman

Which of the following researchers is conducting a case study? A. Dr. Kulik, who is combing through newspaper stories on serial killers B. Dr. Innis, who is examining the tactile perception of a blind woman C. Dr. Jenner, who is observing children on a playground D. Dr. Henriette, who is measuring how fast a group of students can respond to a stimulus.

Impulses from both eyes travel to both sides of the brain

Which of the following statements best describes the path of optic nerve impulses in the brain? A. Impulses from both eyes travel to both sides of the brain B. All of the impulses from the left eye travel to the right side of the brain. C. All of the impulses from both eyes travel to the left side of the brain. D. All of the impulses from the left eye travel to the left side of the brain.

they increase sympathetic nervous system activity.

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the effect of caffeine and the other stimulants on the nervous system? A. they increase sympathetic nervous system activity. B. they decrease sympathetic nervous system activity. C. they decrease central nervous system activity. D. they decrease somatic nervous system activity.

they can counteract sensorineural hearing loss, as long as the auditory nerve is intact.

Which statement best expresses the effectiveness of cochlear implants in countering hearing loss? A. they can counteract sensorineural hearing loss, as long as the auditory nerve is intact. B. they are effective in almost all cases of sensorineural hearing loss. C. they can counteract conductive hearing loss, as long as the eardrum is intact. D. they are effective in almost all cases of conductive hearing loss.

pervasive

Which term best describes the effects of our mind-set and our expectations on perception? A. negligible B. moderate C. minimal D. pervasive

operational

Your text states that, "women whose menstrual cycles have stopped for 12 consecutive months are considered to have entered menopause." This phrase offers a(n) __________ definition of menopause. A. experimental B. operational C. procedural D. conceptual

1970s

Your text suggests that psychologists began to devote increasing attention to the study of adulthood during the ___________. A. 1950s B. 1980s C. 1960s D. 1970s

positive

Your text suggests that the correlation between the surface area of the cortex and intelligence is probably: A. unknown B. negative C. zero D. positive

psychodynamic

Your text suggests that the stereotype of psychology held by the person on the street accords most closely with the _____ approach. A. cognitive B. psychodynamic C. behaviorist D. functionalist

True

Hypnosis has been successful as a method for changing unwanted behavior. True/False

True

In classical conditioning, the stimulus that normally triggers a naturally occurring response is termed the unconditioned stimulus. True/False

peer

In the _______ review process, research is screened and critiqued by scientists in the field before it is published. A. panel B. expert C. peer D. scientific

thalamus

Information travels from our sensory receptors to the _______ in the brain, which relays it to higher association areas. A. thalamus B. cerebellum C. hypothalamus D. amygdala

yes, these skills will help you evaluate evidence to draw valid conclusions

Is there any advantage to improving your critical thinking skills? A. yes, these skills will allow you to provide constructive criticism, when needed B. no, most knowledge is gained through simpler thought processes C. no, these skills are not strong predictors of future success D. yes, these skills will help you evaluate evidence to draw valid conclusions

sympathetic

Izzy's pupils are dilated and her heart is pounding; her breathing is shallow and rapid. Her _________ nervous system is active. A. parasympathetic B. sympathetic C. auto-sympathetic D. somatic

survey research

James Marcia investigated identity development among adolescents by asking them questions concerning such issues as religion, politics, sexual behavior, and occupational interests. Think back to the chapter on research methods in your text. Which research technique does Marcia's work most likely exemplify? A. survey research B. peer-review research C. naturalistic observation D. case study method

meditation

Janelle is concentrating on a mantra, a specific word. In which of the following activities is Janelle most likely engaged? A. meditation B. sensory deprivation C. hypnosis D. attentional focusing

transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Juan is applying magnetic pulses to the brains of his research participants to temporarily deactivate a brain region. Which of the following techniques is Juan using? A. functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) B. positron emission tomography (PET) C. electroencephalography (EEG) D. transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

balancing her checkbook

Kate has suffered right-hemisphere damage. Which of the following processes is LEAST likely to be affected? A. achieving feng shui in her living room by rearranging the couch and the TV B. balancing her checkbook C. reading that look on her boyfriend's face D. thinking that a new song on the radio is really catchy

all of the above

Learning is an important topic in psychology because: A. it explains how we acquire new knowledge B. it helps explain both appropriate and inappropriate social behaviors C. it helps explain our behavior D. all of the above

evolutionary

Macrae et al. (2002) found that women better process male faces on days of their menstrual cycle associated with a high risk of conception than on days associated with a low risk of conception. This result is most consistent with the _______ perspective in psychology. A. psychodynamic B. Gestalt C. cognitive D. evolutionary

16; 10; 9

Macy is a newborn; Laurel is a preschooler; and Maddie is an elementary-school student. Ideally, Macy sleeps ______ hours per day. Laurel sleeps _______ hours each day. Finally, Maddie prefers _______ hours of sleep each night. A. 12; 10; 8 B. 16; 14; 12 C. 16; 10; 9 D. 16; 9; 8

True

Malnourishment is a common symptom of cocaine users. True/False

does not yet understand conservation.

Mr. Eseston asks Colin if he wants his sandwich in one piece, or cut into two pieces. Colin asks him to keep it in one piece because he isn't hungry enough to eat two pieces. Colin's answer suggests that he A. does not yet understand conservation. B. has not achieved object permanence. C. has mastered the concept of conservation. D. does not have a theory of mind.