Intro to psych exam 1

Which of the following statements is true of the cones of the eye's retina? A. Cones are used for color perception. B. Cones are not light-sensitive. C. Cones are not found in the fovea. D. Cones operate best in the dark.

A. Cones are used for color perception.

In the auditory system, which of the following is the ear's sensory receptor? A. Hair cells B. Stirrup C. Oval window D. Pinna

A. Hair cells

In the context of divisions of the nervous system, the central nervous system consists of the _____. A. brain and spinal cord B. somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system C. heart and lungs D. parasympathetic nervous system and sympathetic nervous system

A. brain and spinal cord

In a _____, neither the participants nor the experimenter administering the treatment are aware of which participants belong to the experimental group and which are part of the control group. A. double-blind experiment B. controlled experiment C. correlational study D. case study

A. double-blind experiment

According to the ----- approach to psychology, a person is in control of his or her life and has the capacity for positive growth A. humanistic B. psychodynamic C. evolutionary D. biological

A. humanistic

In the context of areas of specialization in psychology, personnel matters and human resource management are among the main concerns of ---- psychology A. industrial B. organizational C. social D. personality

A. industrial

which of the following is NOT an idea used or propagated by evolutionary psychologists? A. introspection B. reproduction C. adaption D. natural selection

A. introspection

In the context of research settings, researchers who use _____ attempt to view behavior without disturbing the environment. A. naturalistic observation B. controlled observation C. experimental research D. double-blind experimentation

A. naturalistic observation

Saundra says that whenever she drinks coffee in the evenings it interferes with her ability to fall asleep. The more coffee she drinks before sleeping, the less sleep she gets. In the context of correlational research, Saundra is describing a _____ between caffeine intake and sleep. A. negative correlation B. positive correlation C. casual correlation D. lack of relationship

A. negative correlation

Psychologists use the perspective of ----- to study the role of the brain in psychological processes A. neuroscience B. psychoanalysis C. humanism D. behaviorism

A. neuroscience

Which of the following areas of specialization in psychology deals specifically with peoples interpersonal relationships, group perceptions, and attitudes A. social psychology B. personality psychology C. psychodynamic psychology D. developmental psychology

A. social psychology

In inferential statistics, _____ means that the differences observed between two groups are large enough that it is highly unlikely that those differences are merely due to chance. A. statistical significance B. double-blind C. random assignment D. operational definition

A. statistical significance

With which of the following psychological approaches is Sigmund Freud associated? A. the psychodynamic approach B. the humanistic approach C. the cognitive approach D. the sociocultural approach

A. the psychodynamic approach

which of the following is a potential problem of using correlational studies in psychological research? A. they do not enable researchers to establish a casual connection between variables B. they do not allow researchers to use just one variable to predict the movement of the other variable C. they cannot be used in situations where the issue of ethics is important D. they can be used to study the relationship between only two variables

A. they do not enable researchers to establish a casual connection between variables

In the context of correlational research, if there is no relationship between two variables, what is the correlation coefficient A. +1.00 B. 0.00 C. -0.87 D. -0.99

B. 0.00

In the context of the difference threshold, _____ is the principle that two stimuli must differ by a constant proportion to be perceived as different. A. Stroop effect B. Weber's law C. the law of effect D. the Ponzo illusion

B. Weber's law

In surveys conducted by Gerald, many adolescents reported that they started smoking cigarettes because of peer pressure. In observing adolescent groups, however, Gerald rarely sees adolescents offering each other cigarettes or putting pressure on others to smoke. Gerald predicts that if he conducts further studies on this topic, he will be able to prove that peer pressure is not the primary reason that adolescents start smoking cigarettes. In the context of psychology's scientific method, Gerald is basing his further studies on, A. historical fact B. a hypothesis C. meta-analysis D. an operational definition

B. a hypothesis

William James called the natural flow of thought A. free recall B. a stream of consciousness C. an association of ideas D. natural selection

B. a stream of consciousness

In the context of the neural impulse, another term that describes "firing" of neurons is the _____ potential. A. resting B. action C. graded D. polarized

B. action

In the context of the neural impulse, the action potential in a neuron abides by the _____ principle. A. depolarizing B. all-or-nothing C. permeability D. nature-nurture

B. all-or-nothing

if a psychologist was to study the emotion of "love" he or she would need to have ---- love. Without this specific information, the hypothesis could not be tested. A. personal experience B. an operational definition for C. existing data on D. strong opinion about

B. an operational definition for

In the context of depth perception, _____ cues are ones that depend on the combination of the images in the left and right eyes. A. opponent B. binocular C. gradient D. monocular

B. binocular

The somatosensory cortex in the human brain processes information about _____. A. facial recognition B. body sensations C. voluntary movement D. spatial dimensions

B. body sensations

In the context of the organization of the brain, thinking and planning are mediated by the _____ of the brain. A. hippocampus B. cerebral cortex C. amygdala D. somatosensory cortex

B. cerebral cortex

In the ---- view of psychology, an individuals mental processes are in control of behavior through memories, perceptions, images, and thinking A. sociocultural B. cognitive C. behavioral D. biological

B. cognitive

---- is the broad name given to the field of psychology that specifically examines attention, consciousness, information processing, and memory A. psychopathology B. cognitive psychology C. behavioral psychology D. psychoanalysis

B. cognitive psychology

In the visual system, the major purpose of the iris of the eye is to: A. protect the eye from injury. B. control the pupil size. C. focus light on the retina. D. transform light energy.

B. control the pupil size.

Parkinson disease is specifically associated with low levels of the neurotransmitter _____. A. serotonin B. dopamine C. acetylcholine D. oxytocin

B. dopamine

In the context of the auditory system, place theory states that: A. the vibrations in the ear produced by auditory stimuli travel in one direction—from the tip of the cochlea to the oval window. B. each frequency produces vibrations at a particular spot on the basilar membrane of the inner ear. C. the perception of a sound's frequency depends on how often the auditory nerve fires. D. a cluster of nerve cells in the inner ear can fire neural impulses in rapid succession.

B. each frequency produces vibrations at a particular spot on the basilar membrane of the inner ear.

According to the science of psychology, which of the following is a mental process? A. swimming B. feeling proud C. crying D. reading out loud

B. feeling proud

---- psychology is the field of psychology that applies psychological concepts to the legal system A. educational B. forensic C. psychodynamic D. physiological

B. forensic

The two halves of the cerebral cortex are called cerebral _____. A. sulci B. hemispheres C. association areas D. lobes

B. hemispheres

Jason, a 19-year-old, has been depressed for a few years. Even after talking to various therapists, he is unable to get to the cause of his depression. He worries that his symptoms may be the result of experiences in his childhood that he has no memory of. In this scenario, the causes of Jason's depression may be best uncovered by a ----- A. neuroscientist B. psychoanalyst C. cognitive psychologist D. behavioral psychologist

B. psychoanalyst

In the context of the opponent-process theory of color vision, afterimages refer to: A. all the images stored in the human brain. B. sensations that remain once a stimulus is removed. C. the entire spectrum of colors. D. figure-ground relationships.

B. sensations that remain once a stimulus is removed.

Which school of psychology is Whilhelm Wundt associated with? A. functionalism B. structuralism C. humanism D. behaviorism

B. structuralism

in psychological research, a correlational study is used to determine A. cause and effect between variables B. the link between variables C. the nature of dependent and independent variables D. a measure of central tendency

B. the link between variables

In psychology, personality is defines as---- A. a single distinguishing feature of a person's character B. the relatively enduring characteristics of an individual C. the ability to internalize learning D. the continuous flow of changing sensations, images, thoughts, and feelings

B. the relatively enduring characteristics of an individual

In the context of perception, _____ processing involves starting with a sense of what is happening and then applying that framework to incoming information from the world. A. forward B. top-down C. backward D. bottom-up

B. top-down

The _____, located in the occipital lobe at the back of the brain, is the part of the cerebral cortex involved in sight. A. cerebellum B. visual cortex C. medulla D. reticular formation

B. visual cortex

As a part of a medical research study, a researcher exposes two groups of participants either to an actual painkiller or a sugar pill. The participants feel their pain being eliminated even with the sugar pill. In this case, the sugar pill is known as the: A. confederate. B. random sample. C. placebo. D. independent variable.

C. placebo.

Researchers' assignment of participants to groups by chance, to reduce the likelihood that an experiment's results will be due to preexisting differences between groups is known as ---- assignment A. correlative B. meta-analytical C. random D. replicative

C. random

Every day, one sees, hears, smells, tastes, and feels stimuli from the outside world. The process of collecting this data about the world is referred to as _____. A. perception B. inoculation C. sensation D. transduction

C. sensation

in the context of the correlational method of study, the "third variable problem" refers to a: A. study in which an independent variable is not manipulated B. study in which the results reveal zero correlation C. situation where a variable that is not measured actually accounts for the relationship D. situation where the proper dependent variable is not measured.

C. situation where a variable that is not measured actually accounts for the relationship

participants in an experimental research study listen to a lecture either in a lecture hall filled with natural light or in a lecture hall with no windows and artificial light. before leaving the lecture halls, the participants fill out a mood survey. What is the independent variable in the study? A. the participants responses to the survey questions B. the number of participants in the experiment C. the type of light in the rooms D. the mood survey

C. the type of light in the rooms

In the context of psychological research methods, which of the following scenarios is an example of the survey method? A. Dr. Adele watches children as they learn B. Dr. Gomes studies his patients while they undergo psychological counseling C. Dr. Trooper collects children's school grades and test scores D. Dr. Frank asks people how many hours of television they watch per week

D. Dr. Frank asks people how many hours of television they watch per week

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of psychology as a science? A. It uses systematic methods to observe the natural world B. It draws conclusions from data C. It tests assumptions D. It uses speculation to form opinions about behavior

D. It uses speculation to form opinions about behavior

Dominic is a marathon runner. He admits that whenever he runs, he feels euphoric. He cannot begin his day without running for an hour. In the context of neurotransmitters, which of the following is most likely responsible for his feelings of pleasure from running? A. The action of serotonin depletion during physical exertion B. The extended "high" from GABA reuptake C. The compensatory effects of acetylcholine D. The release of endorphins

D. The release of endorphins

In the context of sensory receptors, chemoreception occurs when: A. a person punches a wall. B. a person stares at bright light. C. a person listens to the radio. D. a person smells a rose.

D. a person smells a rose.

A psychological study indicates a strong positive correlation between two variables. This means that: A. as one variable increases, the other decreases B. the correlation coefficient is o.oo C. one variable causes the other variable to occur D. as one variable increases, the other also increases

D. as one variable increases, the other also increases

Jake, a researcher, measures the levels of testosterone in adult males when they perform aggressive acts. He is of the opinion that hormone levels are the single most prominent cause of male aggression. In this scenario, Jake is most likely using the _____ approach in his study. A. evolutionary B. humanistic C. sociocultural D. biological

D. biological

In the context of a correlational study, what does the positive or negative sign of correlation coefficient indicate? A. case of the relationship B. strength of the relationship C. number of data points D. direction of the relationship

D. direction of the relationship

In an experimental study, external validity refers to the: A. extent to which the results of a study can improve human life. B. fact that the study was subjected to some form of experimenter bias. C. fact that the finding of the study is replicated each time the experiment is conducted. D. extent to which the experimental design reflects the real-world issues it explores.

D. extent to which the experimental design reflects the real-world issues it explores.

a researcher predicted that talking to plants enhances their growth. She gave 24 plants the same amount of water and sunlight. She talked to 12 of the 24 plants daily for 6 weeks and then measured their growth. In this experiment, which of the following is the dependent variable. A. food, water, and sunlight B. the plants C. talking to the plants D. growth of the plants

D. growth of the plants

Which of the following is true of neuroscience as a contemporary approach to psychology? A. it focuses on natural selection as the method of evolution for any species B. it focuses on the unconscious elements of behavior, thought, and emotions C. it emphasizes that behavior can only be understood through direct observation D. it emphasizes that the brain is central to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion

D. it emphasizes that the brain is central to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion

Introspection as the method of study used by Wilhelm Wundt invloved: A. studying the psychology of the human brain B. evaluating the thoughts of other people C. interpreting the results of experimental data D. looking inside one's own mind.

D. looking inside one's own mind.

In the context of specialized cell structure, the primary function of dendrites is to _____. A. keep the cell alive B. insulate axons C. secrete hormones D. receive information

D. receive information

Dr. Ames is a scientist whose focus of research is on the way groups influence the decisions that individuals make. In the context of areas of specialization in psychology, Dr. Ames is most likely a ---- psychologist A. health B. personality C. developmental D. social

D. social

In the context of psychological research methods, a(n) _____ presents a standard set of questions, or items, to obtain people's self-reported attitudes or beliefs about a particular topic. A. experiment B. case study C. observation D. survey

D. survey

Which of the following is a function of the axon in a nerve cell in the context of specialized cell structure? A. It manufactures substances required for growth and maintenance. B. It is responsible for converting acting potential to resting potential. C. It carries information away from the cell body toward other cells. D. It receives information and orients it toward the neuron's cell body.

C. It carries information away from the cell body toward other cells.

Which of the following is true of the neurotransmitter serotonin? A. Its deficiency is responsible for Parkinson disease. B. Its excess is responsible for depression. C. It is involved in the regulation of mood and attention. D. It is not involved in the regulation of sleep.

C. It is involved in the regulation of mood and attention.

Which of the following actions involves the application of chemical senses? A. Reading a book B. Listening to music C. Smelling a flower D. Playing basketball

C. Smelling a flower

Maya burns her fingers while cooking dinner. Which of the following divisions of the nervous system will be primarily responsible for the pain she feels? A. The central nervous system B. The autonomic nervous system C. The somatic nervous system D. The parasympathetic nervous system

C. The somatic nervous system

which of the following techniques is NOT an example of the survey method? A. telephone interview B. online poll C. a naturalistic observation D. paper and pencil test

C. a naturalistic observation

Martin's father is experiencing memory loss related to Alzheimer disease. In the context of neurotransmitters, this is most likely due to the insufficient production of _____ in his brain. A. serotonin B. gamma aminobutyric acid C. acetylcholine D. dopamine

C. acetylcholine

The neurotransmitter that is specifically involved in muscle action, learning, and memory is _____. A. serotonin B. gamma aminobutyric acid C. acetylcholine D. dopamine

C. acetylcholine

According to the science of psychology, a behavior is a(n) A. feeling that is acknowledged B. attitude that can be changed C. action that can be directly observed D. goal for life

C. action that can be directly observed

Professor Milton wants to examine the relationship between brain damage and intelligence levels in adults. She wants to know whether brain damage has any relation to intelligence and, if so, what the extent of this relationship is likely to be. Which of the following psychological research methods is likely to be most suitable to Professor Milton's needs? A. case study B. survey C. correlational research D. experimental research

C. correlational research

a key requirement of the process of testing hypotheses in psychology research is ---- A. experimenter bias B. conjecture C. data analysis D. personal opinion

C. data analysis

Professor McDonald believes that most women prefer tall and psychically strong partners because this preference has been known to enhance the survival of their species. This opinion best illustrates the ---- approach to psychology A. industrial B. cognitive C. evolutionary D. psychodynamic

C. evolutionary

Lauren, a social psychologist, hypothesizes that the best way for a young woman to increase the number of friends she has on a social networking site is to place a smiling display picture in her profile. Lauren wants to establish a cause-effect relationship between these two variables. In order to accomplish her objective, Lauren should use: A. a survey B. correlational research C. experimental research D. an interview

C. experimental research

William James, a prominent American psychologist, and philosopher focused on human interactions with the outside world and the purpose of thoughts. His view is known as: A. psychoanalysis B. behaviorism C. functionalism D. structuralism

C. functionalism

Joe has suffered a massive stroke. Since then, he has started repeating many of his actions through the day. He brushes his teeth many times in the morning and takes a shower many times before bedtime. This is because he is unable to retain any memories of his actions. In the context of the organization of the brain, these behavioral symptoms are most likely due to a damaged _____. A. amygdala B. thalamus C. hippocampus D. hypothalamus

C. hippocampus

Dennis, a psychologist, conducts a survey on why most people tend to help a crying child. After the survey, he explains that most people help a crying child because they choose to live by higher values such as altruism. In this scenario, Dennis's explanation is reflective of the _____ approach to psychology. A. biological B. behavioral C. humanistic D. psychodynamic

C. humanistic

When describing the process of natural selection, Charles Darwin claimed that: A. genes only carry physical traits and not the traits associated with survival and reproduction B. environments that do not favor certain organisms will help these organisms propagate their species C. organisms that are best adapted to their environments will survive and produce offspring D. genetic mutations are initiated by human beings and are not responsible for evolution

C. organisms that are best adapted to their environments will survive and produce offspring