Psych 181 Unit 1 practice questions

The _______________ perspective is a psychological approach that emphasizes the mental processes in perception, memory, language, and problem solving. A) cognitive B) biological C) learning D) sociocultural

A) cognitive

Which of the following correlation coefficients represents the weakest relationship between two variables? A) +.05 B) -.10 C) -.70 D) +.50

A) +.05

What is the term for the minimum amount of energy needed for a person to detect a stimulus 50 percent of the time? A) Absolute threshold B) Signal detection theory C) Difference threshold D) Just noticeable difference

A) Absolute threshold

Which of the following is NOT an ethical principle for psychological research? A) Avoid any deception B) Obtain informed consent C) Voluntary withdrawal from research D) Minimize harm to participants

A) Avoid any deception

What concept explains how a person can perceive lines in a diagram, even though distinct lines are not actually part of the diagram? A) Illusory contour B) Size constancy C) Color constancy D) Perceptual set

A) Illusory contour

A doctor wants detailed pictures of the structures in a patient's brain but doesn't want to expose the patient to any radiation. What would be the best method of assessment for the doctor to use? A) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) B) Positron emission tomography (PET) C) Computed tomography (CT) D) Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Which theory of color vision states that we have three special receptor cells to process color that work in an opposing manner? A) Opponent process theory B) Afterimage theory C) Trichromatic theory D) Opposite receptor cell theory

A) Opponent process theory

Andre suffered brain damage from an accident at work. Since his accident, he seems to be unaware of his own body parts and at times unable to feel pain. Which lobe of his brain is likely to have incurred damage? A) Parietal B) Frontal C) Temporal D) Occipital

A) Parietal

This type of brain scan provides a functional assessment of the brain. A) Positron emission tomography (PET) B) Computed tomography (CT) C) Cranial ultrasound D) magnetoencephalography (MEG)

A) Positron emission tomography (PET)

Rayna considers herself to be a creative person. She creates sculptures out of recycled materials and loves to paint. She also seems to be skilled at reading people's emotional expressions. Which hemisphere of Rayna's brain would be the most active in these situations? A) Right hemisphere B) Left hemisphere C) Predominantly the left hemisphere and some of the right hemisphere D) A combination of both the left and the right hemispheres

A) Right hemisphere

When a person drives on a dark road at night, which receptor cells in the retina help detect the low levels of light to navigate the road? A) Rods B) Cones C) Bipolar cells D) Ganglion cells

A) Rods

List the three layers of cells in the correct order that transmit neural signals from the retina to the optic nerve. A) Rods and cones, bipolar cells, ganglion cells B) Nasal retina, rods and cones, bipolar cells C) Ganglion cells, rods, nasal retina D) Cones, ganglion cells, bipolar cells

A) Rods and cones, bipolar cells, ganglion cells

We hear with our ears, but which lobe of our brain is used to understand language? A) Temporal lobe B) Occipital lobe C) Parietal lobe D) Frontal lobe

A) Temporal lobe

Which perceptual illusion has been shown to vary across cultures and as a result is one of the most well-known and extensively researched perceptual illusions? A) The Müller-Lyer illusions B) The rotating mask C) The lilac chaser D) The devil's trident

A) The Müller-Lyer illusions

All of the following variables, except for ________, would likely show a positive correlation. A) alcohol consumption and scores on a driving test B) height and weight C) school grades and IQ scores D) men's educational level and their income

A) alcohol consumption and scores on a driving test

The administration of Midwest State University wants to know if the arrangement of chairs affects student participation in classrooms. They arrange the chairs in two different ways (theater style and circular) and then measure participation. In this study, ________ is the independent variable, and _________ is the dependent variable. A) arrangement of chairs; student participation B) arrangement of chairs: theater style or circular C) student participation; arrangement of chairs D) theater style or circular; arrangement of chairs

A) arrangement of chairs; student participation

A detailed description of a particular individual being studied or treated is called a ________. A) case study B) representative sample C) naturalistic observation D) single-blind study

A) case study

Dr. Sardonicus wants to know whether or not the first three years of life are critical for acquiring language. She decides to study a child who was tragically deprived of human language by her parents. This type of research is called a(n): A) case study. B) survey. C) experiment. D) correlational study.

A) case study.

Place theory suggests that people hear differing high-pitched sounds by the activation of different sets of _________ along the cochlea's ___________. A) hair cells; basilar membrane B) hair cells; auditory nerve C) neurons; auditory nerve D) neurons; basilar membrane

A) hair cells; basilar membrane

The place theory of hearing explains _________; the frequency theory explains ____________; and the volley principle explains _____________. A) high frequencies; low frequencies; low and moderate frequencies B) low frequencies; low and moderate frequencies; high frequencies C) moderate frequencies; high frequencies; low frequencies D) low frequencies; high frequencies; low and moderate frequencies

A) high frequencies; low frequencies; low and moderate frequencies

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are secreted by the adrenal glands and are both _____________ when used in the nervous system and _________ when used in the endocrine system. A) neurotransmitters; hormones B) stress regulators; calming agents C) hormones; neurotransmitters D) calming agents; stress regulators

A) neurotransmitters; hormones

Sayla has had to monitor her blood sugar levels since she was a child to make sure she doesn't get sick. Although she would like to be able to eat sweets, she understands she can't because her ______ does not produce enough _________. A) pancreas; insulin B) adrenal glands; insulin C) adrenal glands; cortisol D) pancreas; sugar

A) pancreas; insulin

The interpretation of raw stimuli from our senses into meaningful information is called ____________. A) perception B) neuron communication C) transduction D) sensation

A) perception

When viewing an ambiguous picture, we will tend to see an image that is consistent with our own culture and experience. This phenomenon is called __________. A) perceptual set B) perceptual constancy C) size constancy D) illusory contour

A) perceptual set

The __________ is comprised of multilayered tissue at the back of the eye and is responsible for visual transduction. A) retina B) lens C) receptor cells D) cornea

A) retina

Marcus loves to listen to music, podcasts, and radio talk shows. He usually falls asleep while listening to something on the Internet and has his earphones in almost 5-6 hours a day. He has noticed lately that he seems to be asking his wife to repeat what she said several times before he can hear it. What type of hearing loss may Marcus be experiencing? A) Sensorineural hearing loss B) Nerve deafness C) Mixed hearing loss D) Conductive hearing loss

A) sensorineural hearing loss

Most parents can pick up their own baby's cry out of a large, noisy group such as a room full of children. This is an example of ____________. A) signal detection theory B) difference threshold C) Weber's law D) absolute threshold

A) signal detection theory

Sensory neurons carry information ________________ the central nervous system, and motor neurons carry information ______________ the central nervous system. A) toward; away from B) within; outside C) outside; within D) away from; toward

A) toward; away from

The results of the Human Genome Project concluded that the human genome has approximately _________________ genes. A) 10,000 B) 20,000 C) 50,000 D) 5,000

B) 20,000

Which characteristic of a soundwave represents its volume? A) Timbre B) Amplitude C) Frequency D) Hertz

B) Amplitude

Which part of the ear carries the message to the brain? A) Basilar membrane B) Auditory nerve C) Hammer, anvil, and stirrup D) Cochlea

B) Auditory nerve

A person who steps outside first thing in the morning to smell the air, feel the breeze on their face, and see the rays of light as the sun rises would be doing which type of processing? A) Top-down processing B) Bottom-up processing C) Neither bottom-up nor top-down processing D) Both bottom-up and top-down processing

B) Bottom-up processing

Which structure of the eye first makes contact with light? A) Retina B) Cornea C) Pupil D) Iris

B) Cornea

Ricky has blue eyes. Both of his parents have brown eyes. How is this possible? A) Homozygous alleles were inherited from his grandparents. B) His parents both had recessive genes for blue eyes. C) His father had a dominant gene for blue eyes, and his mother had a dominant gene for brown eyes. D) His parents both had dominant genes for blue eyes.

B) His parents both had recessive genes for blue eyes.

What are the five basic tastes that humans recognize? A) Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent B) Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami C) Sour, sweet, bitter, fatty, brothy D) Sour, salty, bitter umami, fatty

B) Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami

Which sense originates in the inner ear and can cause you to lose your balance when you have an ear infection? A) Skin sense B) Vestibular sense C) Kinesthetic sense D) Hearing

B) Vestibular sense

Harper was born with severe hearing loss. She received a cochlear implant just after her first birthday and was able to hear clearly for the first time. The cochlear implant helped Harper to hear by ___________________. A) mechanically stimulating the bones of her inner ear to pass the sound on for processing B) directly stimulating her auditory nerve C) directly stimulating the hair cells on her basilar membrane D) amplifying sounds from the environment

B) directly stimulating her auditory nerve

Helmut is at a crowded park walking his dog. He is looking for a friend and finally sees his friend's face among the crowd. He is using his ______________ neurons to detect faces. A) complex facial B) feature detector C) nasal retina D) simple cell

B) feature detector

The ______ is the colored muscle of the eye that dilates and constricts according to the amount of light. A) pupil B) iris C) lens D) retina

B) iris

Strong bright lights will cause sensory neurons to ______ fire while dim low lights will cause sensory neurons to ___________ fire. A) slowly; rapidly B) rapidly; slowly C) weakly; strongly D) strongly; weakly

B) rapidly; slowly

The process by which we detect physical energy from our environment and send the information to our brain is called __________. A) perception B) sensation C) neuron impulses D) transduction

B) sensation

You are attending a lecture with your friend but can't quite hear what the presenter is saying. Once your friend tells you the title of the lecture is "Psychology in Oscar-Winning Movies," you are able to understand much more of what was being said. This is an example of ____________. A) bottom-up processing B) top-down processing C) parallel processing D) perceptual constancy

B) top-down processing

Preterm infants have been found to thrive when their sense of _________ is stimulated by their mother. A) sound B) touch C) vision D) taste

B) touch

What advice might John B. Watson have offered to psychologists of his time? A) "Life is an effort to overcome inferiority." B) "We cannot know others until we know ourselves." C) "Focus on observable behavior" D) "Remember that what we accomplish is due to the composition of our genes."

C) "Focus on observable behavior."

______________ usually divide their time between supervising and teaching students, completing administrative tasks, and carrying out psychological research. A) Psychiatric social workers B) Counseling psychologists C) Academic psychologists D) Sports psychologists

C) Academic psychologists

What is the brief electrical impulse that travels down the axon called? A) Refractory period B) Synaptic transmission C) Action potential D) Resting potential

C) Action potential

Which of the following is a good example of a physiological illusion? A) Müller-Lyer illusion B) Rubin Vase C) Afterimages D) A rainbow

C) Afterimages

What part of the brain allows us to detect danger even below the level of conscious awareness? A) Basal ganglia B) Hippocampus C) Amygdala D) Reticular formation

C) Amygdala

Which structure of the limbic system is considered the center of our emotions? A) Hypothalamus B) Hippocampus C) Amygdala D) Thalamus

C) Amygdala

Where are the olfactory receptor sites located? A) Behind the sinus cavities B) In the semicircular canals C) At the top of the nasal cavity D) At the bottom of the nasal cavity

C) At the top of the nasal cavity

What are the names of the three small bones in the middle ear? A) Ear drum, hammer, and stirrup B) Basilar membrane, cilia, and cochlea C) Hammer, anvil, and stirrup D) Hammer, ear drum, and stirrup

C) Hammer, anvil, and stirrup

You attend a lecture by a psychologist who uses terms such as free will and self-actualization. Which psychological perspective is most consistent with the points the psychologist presented? A) Psychodynamic B) Functionalism C) Humanism D) Behaviorism

C) Humanism

Which of the following is CORRECT concerning random assignment? A) The best formula for random assignment is birth dates. B) Random assignment can only be determined after an experiment is over. C) In random assignment, each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to each condition. D) In random assignment, each participant is assigned alphabetically to each condition.

C) In random assignment, each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to each condition.

An 80-year-old man may have trouble with reading on the computer because of which condition? A) Myopia B) Visual habituation C) Presbyopia D) Visual accommodation

C) Presbyopia

What is the function of the outer ear? A) To vibrate the middle ear bones B) To protect our ears from loud sounds C) To funnel sound waves to the ear drum D) To funnel sound waves to the cochlea

C) To funnel sound waves to the ear drum

Which theory of color vision states that we have three different cone receptors that are sensitive to varying wavelengths of light? A) Afterimages theory B) Opponent process theory C) Trichromatic theory of color vision D) The color mixing theory

C) Trichromatic theory of color vision

Manny is a 15-year-old boy who has been begging his parents to let him try out for his high school football team. Manny's parents are concerned about the risk of a ________ if he plays football. A) broken leg B) coma C) concussion D) decrease in his grades

C) concussion

The inward movement of our eyes when we look at something close up is called __________. A) monocular cues B) binocular cues C) convergence D) retinal disparity

C) convergence

In a laboratory, children are given either a beverage with sugar or one without sugar. The experimenter measures the level of hyperactivity in the children following consumption of the beverage. The experimental group in this scenario consists of children who ____________________. A) are in the waiting room B) do not drink anything C) drink the beverage with sugar D) drink the beverage without sugar

C) drink the beverage with sugar

Samson is a client in a sleep lab and is going to have his brain wave activity measured while sleeping. He will have electrodes placed all over his skull so that the test can measure his brain activity. This type of test is called ______. A) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) B) magnetoencephalography (MEG) C) electroencephalogram (EEG) D) positron emission tomography (PET)

C) electroencephalogram (EEG)

Chen has felt depressed for the last six months and is on an antidepressant. He still struggles with depressed mood and difficulty with his memory. His psychologist suggested getting more ______ because that may increase the volume of the _______ in his brain. A) vitamin D; blood B) rest; hippocampus C) exercise; hippocampus D) protein; neurotransmitters

C) exercise; hippocampus

Brett was up to bat and the pitcher threw a wild pitch hitting Brett in the back of the head. Luckily, Brett's batting helmet covered his neck protecting his ______________, which controls breathing and heartbeat. A) pons B) midbrain C) medulla D) cerebellum

C) medulla

Our sense of pain is experienced by ___________________, which can detect harmful pressure, chemicals, or temperatures. A) joints B) sensory neurons C) nociceptors D) proprioceptors

C) nociceptors

Jamal stared at a green screen for a long time and then looked at a white piece of paper. The __________________ theory of color vision would predict that Jamal would see the color ___________ when he looked at the white paper. A) opponent process; yellow B) trichromatic; yellow C) opponent process; red D) trichromatic; red

C) opponent process; red

Maeve spent the day in the Museum of Modern Art enjoying all the paintings and artwork. She was amazed at the fact that her visual system could take in all the motion, color, depth, and form and convert it into an exceptional art appreciation experience in her brain. This is called ____________. A) visual accommodation B) parallel accommodation C) parallel processing D) sensory processing theory

C) parallel processing

Weber's law states that detectable differences between stimuli involve the ______ difference between them. A) minimal B) actual C) percentage D) absolute

C) percentage

Phineas Gage became a famous case study demonstrating how damage to the ________________ can lead to significant personality changes. A) somatosensory cortex B) parietal lobe C) prefrontal cortex D) temporal lobe

C) prefrontal cortex

Specialized nerve cells in our muscles, tendons, and joints called __________, provide a constant stream of information from our body parts through our spinal cords and into the cortex of the parietal lobe. A) semicircular canals B) vestibular sacs C) proprioceptors D) receptor cells

C) proprioceptors

Behavioral geneticists use twin and adoption studies to examine the role of genetics. In general, adopted individuals have traits that _______________________. A) come from a mixture of genes from both biological and adopted parents B) resemble their adoptive parents C) resemble their biological parents D) don't resemble either their biological or adoptive parents

C) resemble their biological parents

As Gina's boyfriend Omar walks toward her, the image on Gina's retina will change the closer he gets. However, Gina's perception of Omar's size does not change. She does not perceive him as growing bigger or taller because of _____________. A) retinal constancy B) shape constancy C) size constancy D) color constancy

C) size constancy

Kenai goes to the grocery store with a list to buy only milk and eggs, but she is also hungry. What Kenai does not know is that the grocery store is flooding the store with a very faint smell of cookies. Kenai doesn't register the smell consciously, but she does end up buying cookies from the bakery section. This is an example of ____________. A) signal detection theory B) sensory adaptation C) subliminal persuasion D) subliminal perception

C) subliminal persuasion

Leander was really hungry before being interviewed about his study habits. Researchers whispered "taco truck" several times during his interview although he didn't hear the words. He was then given the opportunity to eat food from a taco truck or from the cafeteria. Leander would most likely choose the taco truck. He was subjected to what researchers call ____________. A) manipulation B) subliminal perception C) subliminal priming D) social facilitation

C) subliminal priming

Mixing objects (such as paint) is referred to as _____________ color mixing; whereas, mixing colors of light is called ___________ color mixing. A) trichromatic; opponent process B) additive; subtractive C) subtractive; additive D) opponent process; trichromatic

C) subtractive; additive

Jana conducts a study in which she calls participants and asks them questions about their opinions. She is conducting a: A) case study. B) biased study. C) survey. D) laboratory observation.

C) survey

Julius gets up in the middle of the night and turns on the bathroom light to get a drink of water. The process by which his receptor cells take the light from the environment and convert it into electrical signals is referred to as ___________. A) sensation B) perception C) transduction D) photoreduction

C) transduction

Brandi loved the smell of chocolate chip cookies because it reminded her of her grandmother. Brandi learned that smell can evoke vivid memories because it is directly related to which brain structures? A) Hippocampus; thalamus B) Amygdala; hypothalamus C) Thalamus; hypothalamus D) Amygdala; hippocampus

D) Amygdala; hippocampus

Most perception involves which type of processing? A) Top-down processing B) Perceptual set processing C) Bottom-up processing D) Both bottom-up and top-down processing

D) Both bottom-up and top-down processing

Which structure is considered part of the endocrine system and the nervous system? A) Thalamus B) Pituitary gland C) Adrenal glands D) Hypothalamus

D) Hypothalamus

What does the term Gestalt mean for psychological purposes? A) It refers to the science of understanding perception and processing. B) It refers to how individual parts must be broken down before the whole shape can be understood. C) It refers to the constant changing nature of shapes and objects. D) It refers to how we naturally group objects together and perceive whole shapes instead of individual parts.

D) It refers to how we naturally group objects together and perceive whole shapes instead of individual parts.

A group of preschoolers are taken on a field trip and given matching hats to wear. The teacher is making use of what Gestalt principle to easily identify the children? A) Figure-ground B) Continuity C) Proximity D) Similarity

D) Similarity

Ava has had her corpus callosum severed and is referred to as a "split brain patient." When her doctor presents an apple in her left visual field she claims she doesn't see anything. Why is this? A) The severing of the corpus callosum decreases language ability. B) The left visual field is processed by both sides of the brain, but because her corpus callosum has been cut, the hemispheres of her brain can't talk to each other. C) The left visual field is processed by the left side of the brain, which is not associated with language. D) The left visual field is processed by the right side of the brain, which is not associated with language.

D) The left visual field is processed by the right side of the brain, which is not associated with language.

Why has the Müller-Lyer Illusion intrigued psychological researchers for years? A) Babies can see the illusion even before they can talk. B) The illusion is more prevalent in non-Western countries. C) There are reliable gender differences, with women being more apt to see visual illusions. D) There are reliable cultural differences in perception of the illusion, but no consensus regarding why the differences exist.

D) There are reliable cultural differences in perception of the illusion, but no consensus regarding why the differences exist.

According to the visual cliff experiment, when can most humans judge depth? A) At 18 months of age B) By the time they can walk C) At 36 months of age D) By the time they can crawl

D) by the time they can crawl

When a person is shown a series of disconnected curved lines in a circular pattern, the brain will interpret it as a circle. Which Gestalt principle is this example illustrating? A) Proximity B) Figure ground C) Similarity D) Closure

D) closure

Keisha was brought to the ER with a bump on her head. The doctor ordered a test that consists of a series of x-rays from many different perspectives that will display a two-dimensional image of her brain. This test is called ___________. A) positron emission tomography (PET) B) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) C) magnetoencephalography (MEG) D) computed tomography (CT)

D) computed tomography (CT)

The study of how the external environment can influence and change gene functions is called ____________. A) genetic restructuring B) epidemiology C) heritability studies D) epigenetics

D) epigenetics

The ability to see in 3D comes from the brain, which receives two slightly different images from each ____________ and puts those together with cues from the ___________ to construct the world in three dimensions. A) brain hemisphere; occipital lobe B) eye; occipital lobe C) brain hemisphere; environment D) eye; environment

D) eye; environment

Kendra likes to listen to soft music while studying. Each time her roommate Layla comes in, Layla turns the music up by one. Kendra doesn't always notice the change, but she does notice it more than 50 percent of the time. This is an example of __________. A) absolute threshold B) Weber's law C) sensory receptor change D) just noticeable difference

D) just noticeable difference

The only lobes of the brain that touch all other lobes are the __________ lobes. A) frontal B) occipital C) no lobe touches all other lobes D) parietal

D) parietal

Stephan convinced his friend Derek that if he played a Beatles song backward, he would hear it whispering, "Worship Satan." Derek tried it and did hear the words "Worship Satan." Derek's perception of these words was probably influenced by __________. A) bottom-up processing B) perceptual constancy C) perceptual processing D) perceptual set

D) perceptual set

Humans receive images on their retinas from two slightly different angles. This binocular cue is referred to as ___________. A) monocular cues B) interposition C) convergence D) retinal disparity

D) retinal disparity

A person may not detect the smell of their house because their olfactory receptors have adapted to the stimuli. This is called ____________. A) absolute threshold B) just noticeable difference C) subliminal perception D) sensory adaptation

D) sensory adaptation

Research has determined that our brain is capable of sensing stimuli without conscious awareness of that stimuli. This is called ____________. A) unconscious detection B) subliminal persuasion C) subliminal advertising D) subliminal perception

D) subliminal perception

Anita has a severe reaction to chili peppers—they actually cause her pain—and she finds kale and broccoli too bitter to eat, while oranges are too sweet. Anita may have many more taste buds than the average person, which would make her a ____________. A) supertester B) tastemaster C) testtaster D) supertaster

D) supertaster

Processing that relies heavily on previous knowledge and is influenced by our beliefs, expectations, and experiences is called __________. A) parallel processing B) bottom-up processing C) experience processing D) top-down processing

D) top-down processing

Which of the following correlation coefficients represents the strongest relationship between two variables? A) -.75 B) -.25 C) .50 D) .25

A) -.75

Jaselyn has a pair of heterozygous genes for a "widow's peak" hairline. What kind of hairline will she inherit? A) A widow's peak hairline B) No widow's peak hairline C) This information doesn't tell us anything about the kind of hairline she will have when she is older. D) One side of her hairline will follow a widow's peak shape and the other won't.

A) A widow's peak hairline

A large automobile company says the cars the company makes are the safest in the world. You have driven one of these vehicles for a week and have not had any accidents or problems. Therefore, you believe the company's claim about safety. This error in critical thinking is related to which of the following steps? A) Avoid using emotions or personal experiences when evaluating the claim B) Consider any alternative explanations for the results C) Failing to do follow-up research D) Evaluate the quality of the evidence for the claim

A) Avoid using emotions or personal experiences when evaluating the claim

Which structure in the limbic system is responsible for voluntary movement and coordination? A) Basal ganglia B) Hypothalamus C) Hippocampus D) Thalamus

A) Basal ganglia

Muhammad Ali had trouble controlling his motor movements in the last decades of his life. He had tremors in his muscles, which made it difficult for him to walk and talk. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which means he had low levels of which neurotransmitter? A) Dopamine B) Serotonin C) Norepinephrine D) Acetylcholine

A) Dopamine

If you are reading a review of a product and discover that the person writing the review is a part owner of the product's company, you might question the reviewer's claims based on which of the following? A) The underlying motive of the writer B) The emotional appeal C) Alternative explanations for the results D) The quality of the evidence

A) The underlying motive of the writer

Paul records data that indicate that the number of hot chocolates sold at the concession stand increases as temperature outside decreases (for example, more hot chocolates are purchased during late fall than late spring). Which of the following statements is the most accurate depiction of this finding? A) There is a negative correlation between the two variables. B) There is no correlation between the two variables. C) There is a weak, positive correlation between the two variables. D) There is a strong, positive correlation between the two variables.

A) There is a negative correlation between the two variables.

Julie finds that the more she sleeps on the eve of an exam, the higher the score she gets on the exam. There is _______________ correlation between the amount Julie sleeps and her exam scores. A) a positive B) no C) a negative D) a perfect

A) a positive

After you have identified a problem you want to study, the next step in the scientific method is to ____________. A) conduct background research B) test the hypothesis C) report your results D) develop a hypothesis

A) conduct background research

The complete set of instructions for our physical and psychological characteristics is called our _______________. A) genome B) DNA C) recessive genes D) phenotype

A) genome

For most people, language is processed in which hemisphere of the brain? A) Left B) Language is handled in the prefrontal cortex. C) Split equally between the right and left sides of the brain D) Right

A) left

Dr. Littman-Smith is conducting research in Kenya into the ways that mothers and their toddlers interact throughout the day. Given the purpose of her study, she most likely is engaged in ________. A) naturalistic observation B) experimental research C) correlational research D) laboratory observation

A) naturalistic observation

Researchers designed an experiment that tested the impact of drinking alcohol on test taking abilities. They gave one group a drink with vodka and the other group a drink with tonic water. Neither group knew which drink they received. One interesting result of the experiment was that several members of the group who received the drink with the tonic water acted as if they were impaired. This result is called the _______________. A) placebo effect B) variable effect C) drunk effect D) bystander effect

A) placebo effect

An action potential occurs when the inside of a cell becomes more __________ charged and the ___________ charge moves down the axon. A) positively; electrical B) negatively; chemical C) negatively; electrical D) positively; chemical

A) positively; electrical

Professor Thomas approaches questions about human behavior from a perspective that emphasizes unconscious processes within the individual, such as inner forces or conflicts. It is most likely that she accepts which of the following psychological approaches? A) Psychodynamic approach B) Humanistic approach C) Behavioral approach D) Sociocultural approach

A) psychodynamic approach

Yuna loves to play soccer and is an aggressive player who will head the ball as often as she can. Her parents have noticed that she has been forgetting to turn in assignments and forgetting when she is supposed to hang out with friends. They are concerned because ________________. A) recent research has suggested that heading the ball can lead to memory problems. B) recent research has suggested that specializing in only one sport can lead to cognitive impairment. C) recent research has suggested that teenagers are very forgetful. D) she might be doing drugs.

A) recent research has suggested that heading the ball can lead to memory problems.

If you are interested in how patterns, beliefs, and customs influence behavior, you are interested in the ________ perspective. A) sociocultural B) psychodynamic C) cognitive D) behavioral

A) sociocultural

Tomas has been playing the piano since age 5. Throughout his adolescence, he also taught himself to play guitar, bass, and the drums. Due to his practice with musical instruments, Tomas's brain would show improved ________. A) synaptic plasticity B) neurotransmitter release C) receptor sites D) synaptic pruning

A) synaptic plasticity

In the process of neurotransmission, the action potential causes neurotransmitters to be released from the ______________ into the _______________. A) synaptic vesicles; synapse B) synaptic vesicles; soma C) soma; synapse D) soma; terminal buttons

A) synaptic vesicles; synapse

You read online that people who make more money are also healthier. Your friends says, "I guess money can even buy good health now." You respond with: A) "It looks like that is true!" B) "Just because those variables are correlated doesn't mean that one caused the other." C) "Money and health can't possibly be related." D) "Actually, people who are healthier are able to make more money."

B) "Just because those variables are correlated doesn't mean that one caused the other."

Which of the following is NOT an example of applied psychology? A) A clinical psychologist teaches a patient to use breathing exercises to calm his anxiety. B) A health psychologist researches a potential link between depression and brain tumors. C) A personality psychologist assists a prosecutor with the jury selection process for a trial. D) An I/O psychologist performs individual assessments to determine whether candidates are suitable for a position.

B) A health psychologist researches a potential link between depression and brain tumors.

___________ psychologists interview patients, give diagnostic tests, provide psychotherapy, and design and implement behavioral modification programs A) Academic B) Clinical C) Developmental D) Industrial organizational

B) Clinical

Danny has terrible migraines that interfere with his ability to complete his work. He just learned from his psychology class that the migraines could be caused by an overabundance of which neurotransmitter? A) Dopamine B) Glutamate C) Serotonin D) Norepinephrine

B) Glutamate

Brad is a 45-year-old man who was in a car accident and injured his lower spine area. As a result of the damage, he has lost feeling and movement in what parts of his body? A) Chest and lungs B) Hips and legs C) Chest and hips D) Arms and legs

B) Hips and legs

As Makelah does squats and lunges to warm her body up to play basketball, she realizes she is using which part of her peripheral nervous system? A) Sympathetic nervous system B) Somatic nervous system C) Parasympathetic nervous system D) Autonomic nervous system

B) Somatic nervous system

A case study would be the most appropriate method to investigate which of these topics? A) The math skills of students in Japan as compared to those of U.S. students B) The development of a male baby raised as a female after a surgical error destroyed his penis C) Physiological changes that occur when people watch violent movies D) The ways in which the games of boys differ from the games of girls

B) The development of a male baby raised as a female after a surgical error destroyed his penis

________ is an experiment in which neither the participants nor the individuals running the experiment know if participants are in the experimental or the control group until after the results are tallied. A) The single-blind study B) The double-blind study C) Field research D) Correlational research

B) The double-blind study

Golf skill is negatively correlated with golf scores. Based on this information, which of the following statements is true? A) Being highly skilled at golf causes people to have low golf scores. B) The more skilled you are at golf, the lower your golf score. C) The less skilled you are at golf, the lower your golf score. D) The more skilled you are at golf, the higher your golf score.

B) The more skilled you are at golf, the lower your golf score.

Correlations do not show ________. A) the direction of a relationship between two variables. B) causal relationships. C) the degree to which two variables are related. D) the strength of a relationship between two variables.

B) causal relationships.

An action potential occurs when: the inside of the cell becomes ____________ and reaches its threshold, which causes a(n) ______________ reaction. A) hyperpolarized; electrical B) depolarized; electrical C) depolarized; chemical D) hyperpolarized; chemical

B) depolarized; electrical

A researcher wants to know whether eating chocolate makes people nervous. Some participants are given two bars of chocolate to eat, and some are given no chocolate at all, and then all of the participants are tested for nervousness an hour later. In this experiment, the participants who eat the chocolate are in the __________ group, while the people who did not eat any chocolate are in the __________ group. A) dependent variable; independent variable B) experimental; control C) independent variable; dependent variable D) control; experimental

B) experimental; control

Which early movement of psychology investigated how our minds help us adapt to the world around us? A) cognitivism B) functionalism C) behavioralism D) structuralism

B) functionalism

"Children who watch violent cartoons will become more aggressive." According to the scientific method, this statement is most likely a ________. A) conclusion B) hypothesis C) result D) fact

B) hypothesis

The first step in any scientific investigation is ________. A) forming a hypothesis B) identifying the question C) coming to a conclusion D) developing an argument

B) identifying the question

The school of psychology called structuralism used a technique called ________, which involved "looking inward" and reporting the contents of consciousness to study a person's experiences. A) insight inventory B) introspection C) intervention D) induction

B) introspection

Sam conducted a naturalistic observation as a project for a psychology class. He observed the interactions of parents and children at a restaurant. He believes many parents spoil their children in today's society. He observed many parents allowing children to get away with bad behavior such as being rude to the wait staff. When Sam described his work to his teacher, she suggested he find out more about the ________. A) butterfly effect B) observer effect C) restaurant effect D) parent effect

B) observer effect

When you touch a hot stove and immediately withdraw your hand, it is called a ________ and is the result of interneurons within the __________. A) reflex; brain B) reflex; spinal cord C) ascending tract; spinal cord D) descending tract; brain

B) reflex; spinal cord

A study with London taxi cab drivers found that the hippocampus of their brains had greater volume, which was presumed to mean more neural connections, as a result of learning and driving new routes around the city. This finding demonstrates the concept of _________________. A) downregulation B) synaptic plasticity C) neurotransmission D) synaptic generativity

B) synaptic plasticity

Twin sisters Leah and Lily know they have the genetics for heart disease. Both sisters like to exercise, but Lily also has a high-stress job and only sleeps four hours a night. Leah is a yoga instructor and eats a mostly vegetarian diet. The field of epigenetics would suggest A) the stress in Lily's life will increase her cortisol levels and therefore decrease her chance of heart disease. B) the environment has the ability to change gene expression, so both women can change their risk of developing heart disease. C) the genetic predisposition will outweigh any lifestyle change, so they are both likely to develop heart disease. D) Leah will not get heart disease because she eats healthy and practices yoga.

B) the environment has the ability to change gene expression, so both women can change their risk of developing heart disease.

The variables of stress and depression are positively correlated. This means _______________. A) stress causes depression B) we cannot determine causality with a correlation C) there is a third variable that causes both stress and depression D) depression causes stress

B) we cannot determine causality with a correlation

Which of the following is an example of critical thinking? A) Accurately measuring and recording results B) Researching facts about a topic C) Considering alternative explanations for a study's results D) Copying a previous experiment

C) Considering alternative explanations for a study's results

What is the name for the band of axons that connects the right hemisphere of the brain to the left hemisphere? A) Amygdala B) Contralateral C) Corpus callosum D) Thalamus

C) Corpus callosum

Which of the following questions could be answered best by using the survey method? A) What is the effect of ingesting alcohol on problem-solving ability? B) Does wall color affect the frequency of violence in prison populations? C) Do students prefer a grading system with or without pluses and minuses? D) What is the relationship between number of hours of study per week and grade point average?

C) Do students prefer a grading system with or without pluses and minuses?

Sophie has entered her first spelling bee. In addition to studying from a long list of words, she spends time planning how to psyche out her competitors on the big day. Which lobe of her brain would she primarily be using during these activities? A) Academic B) Parietal C) Frontal D) Temporal

C) Frontal

____________ occurs in situations where a research participant's behavior is different than normal because the participant is being observed. A) False consensus effect B) Confounding C) Reactivity D) Hindsight bias

C) Reactivity

Ashley is using the scientific method to test whether male children are more violent than female children. What will she most likely do first? A) Perform statistical analysis to determine whether male children are more violent than female children. B) Select five male children and five female children and monitor their reaction to a violent video game. C) Research previous scientific studies about children, gender roles, and violence. D) Formulate a hypothesis stating that young males are more violent than young females.

C) Research previous scientific studies about children, gender roles, and violence.

Grady was adopted shortly after birth into a loving home. Neither of his adopted parents drank alcohol or did any drugs. Throughout his adolescence and into adulthood, Grady struggled with substance abuse. He eventually found out that his biological mother was an alcoholic for her entire life. What does this scenario suggest? A) Both genetics and environment have equally contributed to Grady's substance abuse. B) Adoption is a significant environmental stressor and increases the probability a person will develop a substance use disorder. C) There is likely a strong genetic explanation for Grady's substance abuse. D) There is likely a strong environmental explanation for Grady's substance abuse.

C) There is likely a strong genetic explanation for Grady's substance abuse.

_______________ established the first psychological laboratory in 1879. A) John Locke B) William James C) Wilhelm Wundt D) Sigmund Freud

C) Wilhelm Wundt

A drug like nicotine that produces a biological response in the brain is called a(n) ______________. A) benzodiazepine B) antagonist C) agonist D) GABA

C) agonist

Experiments are more valuable than other research methods because they _______________________. A) are always double-blind B) can determine correlations C) allow a determination of cause-effect relationships D) require informed consent

C) allow a determination of cause-effect relationships

All of the following variables would likely be negatively correlated EXCEPT _______. A) the value of a car and the age of a car B) average income and the incidence of dental disease C) calories consumed and weight gain D) hours spent watching TV and grade point average

C) calories consumed and weight gain

An antagonist can be described as a: A) chemical that increases the likelihood of another action potential to occur. B) neurotransmitter that irritates the nervous system. C) chemical that blocks the effects of a substance or neurotransmitter. D) chemical that increases the effect of a substance already in the body.

C) chemical that blocks the effects of a substance or neurotransmitter.

An action potential becomes a(n) ______________ event once the _______________ is/are released into the synapse. A) electrical; neurotransmitter B) electrical; enzymes C) chemical; neurotransmitter D) chemical; enzymes

C) chemical; neurotransmitter

A way of processing information in which we examine assumptions, evaluate evidence, look for hidden agendas, and assess conclusions is called __________________. A) hindsight bias B) false consensus C) critical thinking D) scientific evidence

C) critical thinking

Dr. Wiseman wants to know about the alcohol consumption patterns among college juniors in the United States. He should ________. A) remember that sample size is the most critical factor in survey research B) give the survey to every college junior in the country C) draw a representative sample among college juniors D) require students' names on each survey to avoid the tendency to lie

C) draw a representative sample among college juniors

The cerebral cortex is divided into ___________ lobes with the ____________ lobe at the back of the head. A) three; parietal B) four; parietal C) four; occipital D) three; occipital

C) four; occipital

Independent variable is to dependent variable as ________. A) experimental is to correlation B) effect is to confound C) manipulate is to measure D) measure is to manipulate

C) manipulate is to measure

At its resting state, the inside of a neuron is more ______________ than the outside. A) positively charged B) chemically charged C) negatively charged D) electrically charged

C) negatively charged

A research hypothesis proposes that consuming a low carbohydrate diet results in increased weight loss. One group of participants follows a low-carb diet for 3 weeks, whereas a second group follows a high-carb diet containing the same number of calories for 3 weeks. The average number of pounds lost for each group is then is compared. What is the dependent variable? A) Number of calories in each diet B) Amount of carbs in each diet C) Number of pounds lost D) Length of time on the diet

C) number of pounds lost

At its resting state, the outside of a neuron is more ______________ than the inside of the neuron. A) negatively charged B) electrically charged C) positively charged D) chemically charged

C) positively charged

The cell body that contains the nucleus, which includes DNA and other structures that support the neuron, is called the ___________. A) terminal buttons B) axon C) soma D) dendrites

C) soma

Javier has been complaining of being fatigued, cold, and depressed lately. His doctor decides to run some tests on his endocrine system. What condition might the doctor test for given his symptoms? A) Adrenal burnout syndrome B) Diabetes C) Hyperthyroidism D) Hypothyroidism

D) Hypothyroidism

Which of the following professionals is NOT a mental health practitioner? A) Psychiatric nurse B) Neuropsychologist C) Clinical psychologist D) Industrial organizational psychologist

D) Industrial organizational psychologist

Which of the following is a limitation of a case study? A) Case studies provide information that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. B) Case studies focus on too many people at one time. C) It is difficult to obtain detailed information using a case study. D) It is difficult to generalize to other people or situations based on a case study.

D) It is difficult to generalize to other people or situations based on a case study.

The endocrine system consists of many glands that release hormones for different functions. Which gland is considered the master gland that communicates with all the other glands? A) Thyroid gland B) Pancreas C) Adrenal gland D) Pituitary gland

D) Pituitary gland

The structures that extend out from the axon and release chemicals into the space between neurons are called ___________. A) soma B) dendrites C) myelin sheath D) terminal buttons

D) Terminal buttons

A group of randomly selected participants for a study that matches the population on important characteristics such as age and sex is called ________. A) volunteer bias B) an experimental group C) a control group D) a representative sample

D) a representative sample

Isabella is planning on studying the influence of intelligence on the ability to recall events from the 1960s. If Isabella does not account for variables such as age, which could also influence one's ability to recall these events, age could be considered a(n) ________ variable. A) random B) independent C) dependent D) confounding

D) confounding

Testing a hypothesis is the ______ step in a scientific investigation. A) third B) second C) first D) fourth

D) fourth

A person's genetic makeup is referred to as ___________, whereas the observable traits that are expressed from genes is referred to as ___________. A) phenotype; genotype B) DNA; heritability C) heritability; genotype D) genotype; phenotype

D) genotype; phenotype

A psychology student had to use the steps of the scientific method for a class project. He first decided to study the effect of age on clothing choices. He then formulated a hypothesis that older people would prefer more conservative clothing than younger people. Where did he go wrong? A) He did not first test his hypothesis. B) He did not analyze his results first. C) His hypothesis was not a testable statement. D) He did not conduct background research

D) he did not conduct background research

Chemical substances in the body that regulate bodily activities such as growth, metabolism, and sexual reproduction are called ____________. A) enzymes B) neurotransmitters C) pituitary proteins D) hormones

D) hormones

Which part of the neuron improves the speed of the neural impulse? A) Dendrite B) Axon C) Soma D) Myelin sheath

D) myelin sheath

When you watch dogs play in the park, or watch how your professors conduct their classes, you are engaging in a form of ________. A) survey research B) psychometric study C) case study research D) naturalistic observation

D) naturalistic observation

The neuron that secretes neurotransmitters into the synapse is called the _________, and the neuron that receives the signal is called the ________. A) postsynaptic neuron; presynaptic neuron B) preneurotransmitter; postneurotransmitter C) postneurotransmitter; preneurotransmitter D) presynaptic neuron; postsynaptic neuron

D) presynaptic neuron; postsynaptic neuron

Joaquin went to McDonald's to observe people eating in fast-food restaurants. He brought a camera crew and bright lights, and they all wore yellow jump suits. Joaquin said he wanted to do a naturalistic observation but may have had some problems because of ________. A) room crowding B) eating McDonald's food C) participant observation D) reactivity

D) reactivity

A study shows that the correlation between shoe size and intelligence is .05. This means that _____________. A) the larger your foot size, the higher your intelligence score. B) being highly intelligent causes people to have larger feet. C) the smaller your shoe size, the lower your intelligence score. D) there is no relationship between shoe size and intelligence score.

D) there is no relationship between shoe size and intelligence score.

Evolutionary psychology might suggest that certain cognitive strategies and goals are built into the brain because ____________________. A) human brains are similar to the brains of the higher primates B) they are the result of learning that has taken place over many centuries C) they are the result of memories we have inherited from our ancestors D) they help humans adapt to their natural environment

D) they help humans adapt to their natural environment

Clayton incurred a spinal cord injury, and the doctors wanted to enroll him in a clinical trial that used stem cells in the treatment. Stem cells are special because they can ______________________________. A) act like other cells in the body B) live only in the spinal cord C) divide more quickly than other cells D) turn into other specialized cells in the body

D) turn into other specialized cells in the body