Psych/Soc MQL
A researcher observing the interactions between a mother and her child, notes that the child does not react to his mother entering or leaving the room. Furthermore, the child does not display any preference between his mother and the research assistant. These observations are best explained by concepts of which social behavior? A) attraction B) attachment C) aggression D) altruism
B; An attachment is an emotional tie with another person. This tie is shown in young children seeking closeness to their caregiver and showing distress upon separation. Thus, the best explanation for the child's behavior would require analysis of attachment, and (B) is the best answer.
Sound-induced vibrations depolarize hair cells of the cochlea by opening ion channels that are gated in what way? A) chemically B) mechanically C) electrically D) synaptically
B; This is a Biology question that falls under the content category "Sensing the environment." The answer to this question is B because hair cells of the cochlea are specialized mechanoreceptors. This is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and Principles question because it relates to basic concepts of auditory processing.
Belief perseverance is a type of: A) cognitive bias B) heuristic C) problem solving D) decision making
A; Belief perseverance is a type of cognitive bias in which people have a tendency to reject convincing proof that goes against their existing beliefs. Choice (A) is correct.
An individual with a generally negative attitude toward welfare recipients thinks that welfare recipients are incompetent in general. What aspect of her attitude does this information convey? A) cognitive B) affective C) behavioral D) emotional
A; Attitude has three components. The correct answer describes one of them, and the wrong answer choices describe the others. The three components are: Affective - This is the emotional component of attitude, where the individual has, for example, a dislike of welfare recipients that makes her harbor feelings of anger toward them. Choices (B) and (D), which both describe this component of attitude, are the wrong answer choices because the question stem describes a belief, not an emotion. Behavioral - This is the component of attitude which results in a tendency to behave i na certain manner, e.g. wanting to prevent welfare recipients from living in the neighborhood. Choice (C) is the wrong answer choice because the question stem describes a belief, not a behavior or an action. Cognitive - This component comprises our thoughts and beliefs, which can often be stereotypes such as "welfare recipients are not competent enough to earn a livelihood on their own". This matches the attitude described in the question stem, so Choice (A) is the correct answer choice.
According to Piaget's stages of cognitive development, the children in the passage's study would be most likely to exhibit which of the following patterns of behavior? (the children are 4-6 years old and tasked with waiting to eat a piece of candy or waiting to receive better art supplies) A) assert that a cake cut into eight pieces is larger than an identical cake cut into four pieces B) ability to manipulate abstract symbols to solve puzzles and problems C) the ability to sympathize with the feelings of others D) engagement in counterfactual thinking and ability to imagine new realities
A; Children 4-6 years old, which is the age range of the children in the study in the passage, are in the middle of the preoperational stage (ages 2-7), and are still at a point where they lack the concept of conservation, the principle that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape. Choice (A) is an example of this. Choices (B) and (D) are examples of formal operation, which shouldn't develop until around age 12. Choice (C) is representative of the development of a theory of mind, which does not fully take shape until the concrete operational stage.
Which of the following best exemplifies a primary circular reaction during the sensorimotor stage of development? A) an infant repeatedly vocalizing the same syllable B) an infant repeatedly banging their fist against a wall C) an infant understanding that a toy which is taken out of their view continue to exist D) an infant considering a person to "disappear" during a game when they hide their face
A; Circular reactions are named for their repetitive nature and primary are those involving a repetitive behavior which the child finds soothing and secondary are those which involve a repetitive behavior that involves and affects their environment. Choice (B) describes a secondary circular reaction while (A) describes a primary circular reaction and is thus the correct answer.
Prior to assimilation, ethnic groups migrating from a less industrialized culture to a more industrialized culture generally compare to their new culture in which of the following ways? A) higher fertility, higher mortality B) higher fertility, lower mortality C) lower fertility, higher mortality D) lower fertility, lower mortality
A; Ethnic groups emigrating to a more industrialized culture typically have larger families, but shorter lifespans initially, and this matches Choice (A) perfectly.
Which of the following is NOT a type of explicit memory? A) procedural memory B) episodic memory C) semantic memory D) declarative memory
A; Explicit memory, also called declarative memory (D) , is the memory associated with conscious recall. This includes facts and concepts, as in semantic memory (C) , and events and experiences, as in episodic memory (B) . Procedural memory (A) is unconscious and necessary for skills involving muscle memory, such as riding a bicycle or throwing a ball.
*See passage for #16 on Kaplan Test 2 (short)* Which of the following beliefs held by callers would be least likely to produce a negative reaction in them during the study? A) a belief that recent technological advances have exceeded one's own technical abilities B) a belief that companies who outsource call centers to foreign countries are doing consumers a disservice C) a belief that the caller has attempted every basic maneuver that could potentially troubleshoot the technical glitch being experienced D) a belief that asking very basic questions regarding technology is an indication of ineptitude
A; If the caller believes that recent technological advances have exceeded his own technical abilities, he would be receptive to technical advice. In this case, the caller is more likely to respond positively to communication with a technical advisor. Hence choice (A) is correct. Choice (B) would be likely to produce a negative reaction, as the caller is going into the interaction believing something negative about the call center. Choice (C) is likely to produce a negative reaction if the technical adviser suggests directives that have already been attempted by the caller. Since the five directives have been described as "basic" in the passage, there is likely to be an overlap between the directives and the basic maneuvers attempted by the caller beforehand. Choice (D) would produce a negative reaction as the passage states that the questions the technical adviser is instructed to ask the caller are very basic.
A man lives alone and runs an online business, experiencing little contact with others. He makes enough money to buy food and pay for rent. He suffers from mild depression and has few creative outlets. Presently, according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the man is probable experiencing motivation to meet the need for: A) intimacy B) self-esteem C) safety D) self-actualization
A; Maslow's hierarchy of needs dictates that higher needs do not produce drives until lower needs are met. According to the question stem, this man has met the lowest two needs, physiological and safety, choice (C), but since he lives alone and has little interaction with others, he has not met the next need on the hierarchy, intimacy. Choice (A) is correct. Self-esteem and self-actualization, Choices (B) and (D), would not drive this person's behavior until his intimacy needs are met.
If the smoke alarm in a busy kitchen goes off regularly during normal cooking and those outside the kitchen but within earshot of the alarm typically do not react or otherwise seem to notice, this reaction can be categorized as a shift in: A) signal detection B) parallel processing C) sensory pathways D) auditory processing
A; People are not detecting the alarm. This is not because they cannot hear it, but rather because of other factors used to make judgments about the nature of the alarm. The signal has become "noise" that is being ignored. This indicates a shift in Choice (A). The other answer choices do not apply to the situation described. Choice (B) would only make sense if there were multiple facets of the stimuli in play, and typically parallel processing is related to vision more than anything else. Choice (C) would not fit, as there's no indication of a physiological change. Choice (D) is incorrect because the processing of the noise has not changed, just the reaction to what it means.
Which of the following personality perspectives views personality as a product of an individual's unconscious urges and desires? A) psychoanalytic perspective B) humanistic perspective C) social cognitive perspective D) behaviorist perspective
A; Personality theories that focus on how an individual's unconscious internal states influence their external behavior are said to follow a psychoanalytic perspective. Sigmund Freud's work with the id, ego, and superego illustrates a theory from a psychoanalytic perspective.
Research suggests that people from individualist cultures (i.e cultures that value personal goals and independence) tend to overestimate the role their own capabilities and effort played in their success more than people from collectivist cultures (i.e. cultures that value conformity and interdependence). What term explains this phenomenon? A) self-serving bias B) defensive attribution C) fundamental attribution error D) learned helplessness
A; Self-serving bias describes the tendency to over-value dispositional or personality-based causes for behavior while under-valuing the role of external circumstances. The question stem describes the overestimation of internal factors, and hence choice (A) is the correct answer. Choice (B) is used to describe a set of beliefs that are held by an individual in order to alleviate concern over the chances of a calamity befalling her. Choice (C) is the bias toward making dispositional attributions rather than situational attributions in regard to the actions of others. Choice (D) describes a condition in which people become apathetic because they feel powerless to change their situation.
*See passage for #22 on Kaplan Test 1* Provided the sample is representative of the general population and the data is accurate, which of the following conclusions is most consistent with the data in the table? A) on average, the nutritionists underestimated the relative health of the diets of both groups B) primary purchasers who lived alone consumed healthier food than those who purchased food for others C) primary purchasers are more likely to make accurate health-conscious decisions if they have large families D) of the primary purchasers who answered "yes" to the health question, 38% were incorrect
A; Since the "Health Question" that was posed to participants and nutritionists was phrased, "Is your diet healthier than most people's?," the true ration of "yes" to "no" answers should be 1-to-1; by definition, half of the population will have a better-than-average diet, and half will have a worse-than-average diet. However, since the nutritionists gave an answer of below 50% for both groups, they must be implying that less than 50% of the population has a diet that is "healthier than most people's", which is statistically impossible. Thus, they were too pessimistic in their evaluations and Choice (A) is correct. Choice (B) is suggested by the data (they are more likely true than untrue) because the non-primary purchasers have a lower overall health rating than primary purchasers, and most of those non-primary purchasers will have come from households with large families. However, since eating patterns may vary within a household and non-primary purchasers may purchase a small amount of unhealthy food on their own, there are too many potentially confounding factors for us to solidly support wither of these conclusions. Choice (C), an opposite of Choice (B), similarly cannot be concluded for the same reasons. Choice (D) is incorrect, because there is no indication that only those who answered "yes" actually had healthy diets (as indicated by the nutritionists). The 40% of diets that the nutritionists considered healthy could come from either group of responders.
*See graph for #31 on Kaplan Test 2 (short)* According to the Demographic Transition model, at which point in the chart above would a society expect to see the lowest population? A) A B) B C) C D) D
A; The Demographic Transition model tracks birth and death rate as a country undergoes a shift from a pre-industrial to an industrial economy. Throughout the transition, population within the society increases steadily. Therefore, the lowest population should occur at the beginning of the chart, at point A. Choice (A) is correct.
*See passage for #24 on Kaplan Test 2 (short)* Which of the following is NOT a likely contributor to the link between addiction and heredity, as described in the passage? A) adaptive value of behaviors B) regulatory genes C) observational learning D) social modeling
A; The answer choices will have three potential contributing factors to the link. The factors could be genetic or social. Choice (A) would not be a good explanation, since substance abuse has a negative adaptive value. Choice (B) would be a potential link, as genes are hereditary and regulatory genes are often different in addicts. Choice (C) could be a contributing factor, because a child of an addict would likely observe the behavior of the addict parent. Choice (D) could also be a contributing factor; if children learn by watching their parents, then this modeling could extend to addiction. Also, bold reference(s) to answer choice(s) in explanation.
*See passage for #18 on Kaplan Test 2 (short)* Which of the scenarios presented below follows a pattern similar to the study described in the passage? A) a 60 year old employee watches two presentations of comparable quality, but concludes that the presentation made by the older presenter was superior B) a new employee defers to an executive in a meeting, even though the new employee has more expertise on the subject matter under discussion C) an employee avoids discussing her professional challenges with the foreign-born director of human resources because when she did so previously, her issue was not resolved D) a non-native speaker is fluent in his new country's language, but takes classes to lose his accent, believing that this will improve his professional standing
A; The data in Tables 1 and 2 indicate a prejudice held by the caller against someone with an accent different from himself. Choice (A) is close to this, because the 60 year old employee exhibits prejudice against the younger employee, presumably due to the difference in their ages. Choice (B) shows the new employee deferring to status, which is not prejudice. Choice (C). The employee has a justification as to why she's acting in the way she is. Choice (D) is more like a reaction to the data rather than an analogous circumstance.
An athlete notices that, after lifting a 100 kilogram weight, he has to increase the weight to 105 kilograms before he feels that the weight is actually heavier. If the athlete later lifts a 200 kilogram weight, which of the following coincides with the just noticeable difference for this weight? A) a 190kg weight B) a 205kg weight C) a 215kg weight D) a 220kg weight
A; The first example allows us to calculate a JND for weight. Weber's law states that JND = change / original, so the JND for weight would be 5/100 = 5%. Since the second weight is 200 kg, the JND should be +/- 5% of 200, or +/- 10 kg. Choice (A) corresponds with this weight. Choice (B) assumes that JND is a constant number, rather than a percent of the stimulus. Choices (C) and (D) are more than the JND calculated using Weber's law.
*See passage for #35 on Kaplan Test 1* If a psychologist were to analyze the data and determine that the repeated actions of the non-DRD4 thrill-seekers were based on positive responses from peers, he or she would be adopting which personality theory perspective? A) behaviorist perspective B) biological perspective C) psychoanalytic perspective D) trait perspective
A; The psychologist is using positive reinforcement as the basis for the behavior of those without the gene variant. This determination would conform to Choice (A), as behaviorist theory includes the idea that behavior is based upon reinforcement and punishment. Choice (B) is basically the opposite, and would more apply to the DRD4 group. Choice (C) would revolve around the unconscious desires of the thrill-seeker, which is not clearly relevant. Choice (D) is more about internal personality traits, and the psychologist is using external factors in his or her explanation.
A female patient in a mental health facility presents with a history of risky sexual behavior and self-cutting. During treatment, she seeks constant attention from staff and becomes irritable when ignored. The most likely diagnosis for this patient is: A) borderline personality disorder B) manic-depressive disorder C) schizotypal personality disorder D) major depressive disorder
A; The symptoms described, especially the attention seeking behavior, are very typical of borderline personality disorder. Choice (A) is the closest match. Choice (B) . Manic-depressive, or bipolar disorder, would present with alternating periods of (perhaps self-destructive) mania and depression. Choice (C). Schizotypal personality disorder would present with isolation, social anxiety, and the disorganized thought typical of schizophrenia. Choice (D). Depressed individuals tend to isolate, and would present with other common symptoms such as depressed affect and anhedonia.
Which effect is LEAST likely to occur with the process of gentrification? A) development of affordable housing B) increased neighborhood stratification C) displacement of lower-income residents D) expanded tax base for local government
A; This is a Sociology question that falls under the content category "Demographic characteristics and processes." The answer to this question is A, development of affordable housing. Gentrification is the reinvestment in lower income neighborhoods in urban areas, which results from the influx of more affluent groups. With the arrival of more affluent residents, housing demand increases and generally results in a decrease of affordable housing for lower income residents. In contrast, the other response options present more likely outcomes of gentrification. Because it requires you to make a prediction about demographic change based on a sociological concept, it is a Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving question.
Which of the following is the correct order in which visual information reaches the cerebral cortex? A) retina, optic nerve, optic chiasm, optic radiations, occipital lobe B) retina, optic radiations, optic chiasm, optic nerve, occipital lobe C) retina, optic chiasm, optic nerve, occipital lobe, optic radiations D) retina, optic nerve, optic radiations, optic chiasm, occipital lobe
A; Visual information is picked up by the retina in the eye. Here, the information is passed to the optic nerve, crosses over at the optic chiasm, moves along the optic radiations to the occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex. Choice (A) correctly orders the pathways and thus is the correct answer.
A participant in the group that consumed >=3 drinks believed that the encounter with his acquaintance was mutually pleasant. However, the acquaintance found the meeting quite unpleasant. It's likely that the participant had which of the following impaired by alcohol? A) working memory B) sensory memory C) implicit memory D) iconic memory
A; Working memory is involved in reasoning and comprehension. A breakdown in working memory prevents the brain from properly processing information, which could lead one to reach incorrect conclusions. This is exactly what seems to have happened to the participant, and hence choice (A) is the best answer. Choice (B). Sensory memory pertains only to memories of sensory information, and is not involved in reasoning and comprehension. Choice (C). Implicit memory is the unconscious memory of skills and conditioned responses. Choice (D) is a subset of sensory memory.
*See passage for #33 on Kaplan Test 2 (short)* Respondents who answered that women were angry due to a belief that women are unjustly treated in both social and professional situations are most clearly expressing: A) symbolic interactionism B) conflict theory C) social constructionism D) game theory
B; Anger or dissatisfaction based on inequality is the definition of Choice (B), conflict theory. Choice (A) is a theory about how people act on the basis of meaning and interpretation, and would not be relevant here. Choice (C) is based on choices as opposed to judgments, making it irrelevant in this context. Choice (D) relates to how opposition between different groups affects behavior, but is unrelated in this case, as game theory is more about numbers and actions/results than about perceptions and beliefs.
Political parties are sometimes guilty of focusing solely on ideas generated by members within their respective parties, while ignoring and dismissing the opposing party's views. This is most clearly an example of: A) deindividuation B) groupthink C) peer pressure D) group polarization
B; Choice (B) . Groupthink occurs when individuals in a group ignore outside ideas and thoughts and focus only on member ideas. This phenomenon leads to members not considering all points of the view and dissenting opinions unable to express their beliefs. Choice (D) refers to the phenomenon whereby groups tend to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of the members. Since the question refers to the dismissal of new ideas by the group as a whole and nothing is known of the members initial inclinations, group polarization does not accurately explain the observation.
According to the Yerkes-Dodson law, which of the following is true about task difficulty and arousal? A) for simple tasks, low arousal is associated with peak performance B) for simple tasks, high arousal is associated with peak performance C) for complex tasks, low arousal is associated with peak performance D) for complex tasks, high arousal is associated with peak performance
B; Choice (B) . The Yerkes-Dodson law of social facilitation states that simpler tasks are performed better with higher amounts of arousal. For example, if a person is told to press a button continuously for an hour, the task would be completed more effectively if the person is allowed to listen to music than if the person was forced to sit in complete silence. Furthermore, this increase in performance is not seen if the task is too complex since complex tasks require more focus and high levels of arousal may actually distract the individual from completing the task effectively. Choice (C) and (D) . Peak performance on complex tasks is predicted with moderate arousal.
Which process allows for the quick recognition of an object without analysis of the details of that object? A) bottom-up processing B) top-down processing C) perceptual organization D) continuity
B; Choice (B) . Top-down processing uses past experiences and memories to quickly identify an object. For example, if an individual is given a picture of a group of people, they would be able to identify their mother in the group much faster than if they were asked to identify a complete stranger.
*See passage for #17 on Kaplan Test 2 (short)* Which of the following pieces of information, assuming it is true, would NOT be considered a finding of the experiment? A) there were at least some callers who requested escalation and still rated the worker as "positive." B) the ratings for callers who mentioned the accent of the technical adviser were automatically recorded as "neutral." C) callers who demonstrated that they recognized the technical adviser was following a script always gave "negative" ratings D) the percentage of calls in each category that resulted in resolution of callers' issues due to use of directives was about the same
B; Choice (B), assuming it is true, is a part of the methodology of the experiment, and is NOT a conclusion or finding based on data analysis. Choices (A), (C) and (D) are possible conclusions/pieces of information that could be mined from the data.
Which of the following functions is LEAST regulated by a structure within the brain? A) involuntary breathing B) reflexive motor responses C) the vestibular sense D) blood pressure
B; Motor reflexes are caused by interactions between the peripheral nervous system and the spinal cord. The brain does not get involved in the production of these responses. Choice (B) is correct.
*See passage for #20 on Kaplan Test 1* Which of the following questions directed to all participants would most help to validate or invalidate the hypothesis that the objectivity of the study was influenced by participants' projections of their own self-concept onto the photographs? A) is your partner of similar, greater, or lesser weight (BMI) than you? B) would you be more professionally successful if you weighed less? C) do you have family members who are of greater weight (BMI) than you? D) are you aware of your own BMI?
B; The correct answer should be relevant to what exactly the study tries to conclude, and should deal with the participants' identity and/or self-concept. Choice (B) would do this, because if a high percentage of participants believed that their success would be improved by losing weight, then they would potentially be projecting their own feelings. Choice (A) would be unlikely to help. Since the opposite gender ratings were more sporadic, there is no clear evidence in the data that there was any problem with objectivity in evaluating opposite genders. Choice (C) does not provide direct information about the participants own self-concept. Choice (D) involves self-concept, but it does not provide information about undesired feelings that might be projected onto another.
*See passage for #35 on Kaplan Test 2 (short)* Based on the discussion of emotion detection in the first paragraph, which of the following occurrences is most probable? A) a person unfamiliar with two parties in a conversation picks up on body language of one party that the distracted other party does not B) a person unfamiliar with two parties braces him or herself for an altercation between the two only to see the two parties begin laughing at each other C) a person familiar with another individual is taken aback when the normally calm individual lashes out over a misunderstanding D) a person familiar with another individual effectively predicts how the individual will act when placed in a specific social predicament
B; The first paragraph discusses different ways in which acquaintance may recognize subtle clues, and individuals unfamiliar with a person may mistake these signs. Choice (B) is a perfect example of the latter, and closely mirrors the idea that two acquaintances may use feigned hostility as an expression of affection. Choice (A) would not fit with the description, as familiarity is shown to aid recognition in the first paragraph. Choice (C) would not fit with the description in the first paragraph. Choice (D) is close, but the paragraph is about interpreting and detecting behavior and emotion, not about predicting action in a hypothetical scenario.
If a thrill-seeker engages in dangerous activities because the fear of death wards off recollection of painful memories, he or she is most closely mirroring: A) schizophrenia B) dissociative disorder C) bipolar disorder D) sociopathic behavior
B; The thrill-seeker is putting him or herself in a special state that removes the feelings of painful memories. This is Choice (B), dissociative disorder, which is marked by those afflicted going into a state that removes unpleasant memories.
Interoceptive awareness involves sensitivity to increases in the activity of the: A) reticular activation system B) autonomic nervous system C) limbic system D) somatic nervous system
B; This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Individual influences on behavior." The answer to this question is B because interoceptive awareness is described as increased sensitivity to internal bodily sensations, such as heartbeat and blood pressure, which are regulated by the autonomic nervous system. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and Principles question because it requires you to recognize a scientific concept from behavioral science.
If adults performed the block tapping task as a measure of working memory capacity, they would most likely replicate sequences of what length correctly? A) 9 plus or minus 1 B) 7 plus or minus 2 C) 10 plus or minus 1 D) 16 plus or minus 2
B; This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Making sense of the environment." The answer to this question is B because early memory research with adults led to the belief that the capacity of working memory was between 5 and 9 items. The so-called "magic number 7 ± 2" was the name George Miller (1956) gave to this estimate. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and Principles question because it requires you to demonstrate your understanding of a foundational concept in behavioral science.
*See passage for #43 on AAMC Test 1* Which type of memory would most likely be activated first during the computer task, before working memory is activated? A) implicit memory B) sensory memory C) short-term memory D) episodic memory
B; This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Making sense of the environment." The answer to this question is B because seeing squares light up on the computer screen would register with visual sensors, forming a sensory memory before working memory is activated. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and Principles question because it requires you to demonstrate your understanding of a foundational concept in behavioral science.
*See passage for #3 on AAMC Test 1* The findings described in the passage suggest that memory for locations: A) is comparable to adults by nine years of age B) is influenced by categorical knowledge C) becomes more accurate with age D) relies solely on recall of distances
B; This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Making sense of the environment." The answer to this question is B because the nine-year-olds performed differently from adults, suggesting that spatial memory keeps undergoing changes after nine years of age. Because this categorical bias was present in adults, spatial memory does not necessarily become more accurate with age. Because world knowledge about categories affects people's judgments of distance, it is not accurate to say that spatial memory relies solely on the recall of distances. It is a Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving question because it requires you to use scientific findings to determine the credibility of arguments about cause and effect.
*See passage for #56 on AAMC Test 1* Based on the passage, which conclusion is best supported? A) gender discrimination is more likely to occur than racial discrimination B) race and gender discrimination manifest in similar ways C) the incidence of race and gender discrimination is equivalent D) minority women are especially subject to discrimination
B; This is a Sociology question that falls under the content category "Social inequality." The correct answer is B. As shown in the table in the passage, both the race and gender discrimination claims were very similar in how they were distributed across the researchers' categories. The conclusions in the other options are not supported by the research findings reported in the table or the passage. Because the question requires you to select the conclusion that is best supported by the study, it is a Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving question.
Neighborhood-level socioeconomic inequalities are most likely to affect physician-patient interactions through which phenomenon? A) status hierarchies rely on socioeconomic differences above other master status characteristics B) physical boundaries create social boundaries and closed networks which develop their own cultures C) socioeconomic inequalities create role conflict in physicians who are trained to treat all patients equally D) the physician-patient relationship is not subject to the same external forces that govern other relationships
B; This is a Sociology question that falls under the content category "Social inequality." The correct answer is B. Neighborhoods that are segregated by socioeconomic status create increased social distance to the extent that people from different backgrounds have trouble relating to each other's experiences. The correct answer succinctly explains this by referring to closed networks and social boundaries that exist across neighborhoods. Because the question requires you to evaluate explanations and select the response with the most likely implications for physician-patient interactions, it is a Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving question.
*See figure for #59 on Kaplan Test 1* The following figure illustrates the average words in the vocabulary of native English speakers at given stages of development. This relationship can most accurately be described as: A) curvilinear B) logarithmic C) exponential D) quadratic
B; This relationship increases steadily but the rate of increase gradually tapers off and appears to approach a maximum value. This is descriptive of a logarithmic relationship, Choice (B). Curvilinear relationships, Choice (A), are those which increase linearly to a maximum value before beginning to decrease linearly. Exponential relationships, Choice (C), do the opposite of logarithmic relationships - they start off with a small rate of change and build to a very large rate of change. Quadratic relationships, Choice (D), are second-degree polynomials which result in parabolas.
*If you want, see passage for #6 on Kaplan Test 1 (don't really need it to answer)* Based on the passage, what would be the expected results for a study evaluating the effect of chlorpromazine, a tranquilizer, on subjects who were not informed about the effects of the injection? A) the chlorpromazine subjects would display greater emotional response than the epinephrine-ignorant and placebo subjects B) the chlorpromazine subjects would display less emotional response than the epinephrine-ignorant subjects but greater emotional response than the placebo subjects C) the chlorpromazine subjects would display less emotional response than the epinephrine-ignorant and placebo subjects D) the chlorpromazine subjects would display greater emotional response than the epinephrine-ignorant subjects but less emotional response than the placebo subjects
C; A tranquilizer would stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and would make those subjects less excitable (and less emotional) than the epinephrine and placebo subjects. Choice (C) is the correct answer.
Which of the following statements is/are necessarily true? (Assume no inflation) I. If everyone's income increases and income distribution remains constant, absolute poverty will decline II. If everyone's income increases and income distribution remains constant, relative poverty remains constant III. The poverty line for absolute poverty is lower than the poverty line for relative poverty A) I only B) II only C) I and II only D) II and III only
C; Absolute poverty is a level of poverty in which an individual is unable to afford minimal standards of food, shelter, clothing and health-care. If everyone's income increased, and the cost of good remained unchanged, absolute poverty would decline since more people would be able to afford the basic necessities. Hence statement I is true. Relative poverty is a level of poverty in which an individual earns less than a predetermined income threshold that is relative to others in the population being studied. For example, one way to measure relative poverty is to declare that everyone who earns less than 60% of the village's median income is poor. In this case, if everyone's incomes increase, but the income distribution stayed the same, relative poverty would stay the same too. Hence statement II is true. In the above example, it is possible that someone who cannot afford basic necessities (absolutely poor) is not considered poor on the relative poverty scale, because he earns more than 60% of the village's median income. Hence statement III is not true. Since I and II are true, but III is false, Choice (C) is correct.
*See passage for #15 on Kaplan Test 1* From Day 80 onwards, the teacher went back to not responding to inappropriate talking and turning around in both experimental conditions. No further change in the number of instances of these target behaviors was observed. are these results consistent with the theory of operant conditioning? A) yes, because operant conditioning can result in shaping of target behaviors B) yes, because over the long-term, operant conditioning can lead to classical conditioning C) no, because withdrawal of consequences causes extinction of the target behavior D) no, because avoidance learning is permanent once established
C; According to the theory of operant conditioning, when a previously reinforced behavior is no longer positively or negatively reinforced, it leads to a decline in that behavior, called extinction. In the experiment described in the passage, the teacher positively reinforced the absence of inappropriate talking and turning by praising the class. When this reinforcement was withheld, a resurgence in inappropriate talking a turning around would be expected. Choice (C) is the correct answer. Choice (A) is wrong because shaping involves increasingly more specific behaviors, which does not match the situation. Choice (B) is wrong because operant conditioning is said to occur when a spontaneous, voluntary target behavior occurs more frequently, or less frequently, depending on the consequences of the behavior. Classical conditioning is said to occur when reflexive, involuntary behavior in response to a stimulus changes based on the stimulus conditions. Operant conditioning could not possible be replaced with classical conditioning in the experiment described in the passage. Choice (D) is wrong because avoidance learning is not necessarily permanent.
All of the following are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease EXCEPT: A) diffuse cerebral atrophy B) senile plaques C) decreased dopamine in the basal ganglia D) reduced levels of acetylcholine
C; All of the choices are found in alzheimer's disease except decreased dopamine in the basal ganglia. Decreased dopamine levels in the basal ganglia is associated with Parkinson's disease.
Which of the following psychologists developed a systematic 3-stage, 6-level sequence to explain moral development? A) Sigmund Freud B) Erik Erikson C) Lawrence Kohlberg D) Lev Vygotsky
C; Choice (C) . All four choices are psychologists who were influential in the area of personality development. However, Lawrence Kohlberg was responsible for introducing a theory of personality development that focused on moral reasoning. Kohlberg believed that individuals progress through six stages of moral development, with each stage signifying more developed and advanced arguments/reasoning of moral dilemmas.
To some, it is considered improper for a male physician to examine a female without her husband or father present. A physician is thus presented with a dilemma when the immediacy of a procedure conflicts with the patient's beliefs. This is an example of which of the following? A) rituals B) conflict theory C) cultural barrier D) nonmaleficence
C; Choice (C) . The physician is presented with a dilemma since his patient subscribes to cultural beliefs that are different from what the physician typically practices. Thus, the physician and patient are encountering a cultural barrier, or a social difference that is impacting the interaction between the two. Choice (A) . A ritual refers to a formal ceremony performed within a culture. Since the question describes a practice, or belief, this answer is incorrect. Choice (B) . Conflict theory emphasizes the importance of power and inequality within society, which does not describe the situation in the question stem. Choice (D) . Nonmaleficence is a ethical tenet of American medicine, but refers to the responsibility of healthcare worker to avoid treatments that pose a bigger risk to the patient than benefit.
Which of the following best describes the Schachter-Singer theory of emotion? A) physiological arousal -> emotion B) physiological arousal + emotion -> action C) physiological arousal + cognitive appraisal -> emotion D) emotion + cognitive appraisal -> action
C; Emotion is the combination of the physiological, behavioral, and cognitive responses to a situation. One of the hallmarks of the Schachter-Singer theories is that the contextual information of the environment affects the perception of emotion. For example, an individual's heart rate and respiratory rate may be interpreted as fear in the presence of a snake, but excitement when in the presence of an attractive individual. Thus, (C) is the correct answer. Choice (A) and (B) . These answers neglect environmental awareness. Choice (D) . The Schachter-Singer theory seeks to explain emotion as a result of physiological arousal and environmental awareness, so this is incorrect.
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be an example of an educational disparity caused by residential segregation? A) decrease use of classroom technology B) insufficient access to consistent bussing C) less access to federally funded educational programs D) inequality in access to well-trained teachers
C; Residential segregation is the result of separation of different groups into neighborhoods. Incorrect answers would be examples of disparities caused by the location of the neighborhood and the restriction of access to one school over another. Technology (A), teachers (D), and bussing (B) are all differences that change from one location to another. The odd one out is Choice (C): it describes a federally funded program which may or may not be an educational disparity (depending upon distribution), but is not caused by residential segregation.
As part of an experiment to determine the Weber fraction fro electric shocks, participants were subjected to mild electric shocks. Which of the following is NOT necessary as per the ethical guidelines for scientific research? A) getting an informed consent form signed prior to the experiment B) performing a risk-benefit analysis before the commencement of the experiments C) keeping the intensity of electric shocks at a levels that is barely perceptible to humans D) protecting privacy by keeping data in a secure place
C; Some of the key ethical guidelines to be taken into consideration while setting up an experiment are as follows: Beneficence: maximizing benefits and minimizing harm. So Choice (B) is wrong. Minimizing harmful effects on participants includes keeping their data private and confidential. So Choice (D) is wrong as well. Autonomy: ensuring participants are free to make an informed decision to voluntarily participate. This eliminates Choice (A). While every effort should be made to keep physical stress in human experiments to a minimum, if the potential benefits of the study outweigh the risks of administering perceptible shocks, a case could be made for increasing the intensity of shocks to a more than barely perceptible level. If all the above guidelines are followed, administering mildly uncomfortable electric shocks would still be considered ethical research. Hence Choice (C) is correct.
*See passage for #49 on Kaplan Test 1* Based on the ratings for the "Enjoyability of Tasks" question in Figure 1, which process were subjects most likely using to reduce cognitive dissonance? A) lowering the importance of the discordant opinion B) magnifying the importance of the consonant opinion C) changing the discordant opinion to resolve dissonance D) adding new opinions to make a consistent belief system
C; The $10 group subjects rated the tasks as more enjoyable than the $200 group subjects, who in turn rated the tasks as more enjoyable than the control group. This makes sense - the $10 and $200 group subjects were made to persuade confederates that the boring tasks were actually interesting. In order to reduce the resulting dissonance, they would have had to convince themselves that the tasks were actually interesting i.e. they would have had to change the discordant opinion. Hence, the correct answer is Choice (C).
Considering the outcomes that were found to correlate with gratification delay in the longitudinal component of Experiment 1, which of the following is the most serious potential flaw in the researcher's conclusions from that study? (children aged 4-6 years old were asked to not eat a piece of candy while the researcher left the room. If they could wait then they would receive a second candy) A) the researchers did not sufficiently establish that waiting to eat the candy qualifies as a measure of gratification delay B) the sample size of the participants used in the study is too small to be representative of the general population C) researchers failed to consider the socioeconomic status of the participants as a potential confounding variable D) the longitudinal study lacked a control group containing children who did not participate in the original study
C; The biggest potential problem is that many of the variables being examined (childhood hunger, low test scores, etc.) are associated with a potentially confounding factor, low socioeconomic status. Without considering such a confounding factor, it is impossible to conclude a causal relationship. Choice (C) is correct. Choice (A) is wrong because content validity is justified in this study. Choice (B) is wrong because a sample size of 32 is reasonable for such a study. Choice (D) is wrong because the children were rated based on their ability to delay gratification in the first study and then compared to one another from those designations in the longitudinal study. There is no requirement for a control group.
Which of the following most clearly illustrates the social component of the biopsychosocial approach in relation to a patient with schizophrenia? A) the patient's parents both suffered from schizophrenia B) the patient feels depressed that it's hard to find a job C) the patient has trouble affording medication due to being unemployed D) the patient had a brain scan that depicted excess dopamine in the brain
C; The biopsychosocial model takes into account everything that may affect a patient's illness and treatment, going beyond the illness itself. The bio aspect stresses the conventional biomedical portion; the fact that schizophrenia has a heritable component (A) and that it's associated with increased levels of dopamine in the brain (D) . The psycho aspect relates to how a patient feels about the disease and the consequences of having the disease (B) . Finally the social aspect deals with stressors the disease may have on the patient's family, friends, or career (C) .
The perception of pain would occur in an individual receiving an arm tattoo if: A) input to nociceptors in the arm is superseded by tactile stimulation to a nearby body part B) the Meissner corpuscles in the arm have not habituated to the painful stimulus C) input to nociceptors in the arm is preferentially transmitted to the brain by the spinal cord over other stimuli D) input to Meissner corpuscles in the arm is preferentially transmitted to the brain by the spinal cord over other stimuli
C; The correct answer must be one which conveys an accurate representation of our understanding of the theory of pain. Choice (A) invokes the gate theory of pain, but do so in a way which would explain why pain should not be perceived by this individual. Choice (B) refers to the Meissner corpuscles not being habituated to the painful stimulus, though their role is primarily in the perception of light touch.This also rule out Choice (D). Choice (C) correctly identifies how the gate theory of pain would explain this individual perceiving pain from receiving a tattoo and is thus the correct answer.
Later analysis revealed that measures of family functioning generally increased with a mother's age. The trend continued until late adulthood, after which a gradual decline was observed. Which of the following statements best explains this observation? A) a mother's family functioning peaks at the same time as her fluid intelligence B) young adults are less likely to have achieved the "universal human ethics" stage of postconventional morality which is strongly associated with parenting ability C) a mother's crystallized intelligence is an important factor in family functioning D) the transition to the postconventional stage of reasoning in middle adulthood results in the mother developing a more rational approach to parenting
C; The correct answer must explain why family functioning peaks when the mother is in middle adulthood and declines when she is either older or younger. Choice (A) flips the phenomenon of changing cognitive ability observed in adulthood. Fluid intelligence peaks in early adulthood while crystallized intelligence peaks in middle adulthood. This also means that Choice (C) identifies a possible explanation for this phenomenon. Choices (B) and (D) fail to recognize that if someone in late adulthood is more likely to have reached the postconventional stage of reasoning, then that stage will still have been achieved when that individual enters into later adulthood. This means that the decline in family functioning mentioned in the question is not explained by Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning. Choice (C) is correct.
Which of the following structures of the limbic system is responsible for creating long-term memories? A) thalamus B) hypothalamus C) hippocampus D) hippopotamus
C; The hippocampus, located within the temporal lobe, is primarily responsible for creating long-term memories. This brain structure plays an important role in memory and learning.
*See passage for #37 on Kaplan Test 2 (short)* Which of the following would be the most logical criticism of a potential personality disorder diagnosis based on the information in the first paragraph? A) behaving in a way that disadvantages one's own interests is something that most people do inadvertently throughout life B) people are typically conditioned to adjust their behaviors based on situational cues and norms, making behavior inherently inconsistent C) a severe socioeconomic disadvantage could condition an individual to adopt a values system that significantly deviates from that of dominant society D) someone in controlled and limited environs may be able to avoid diagnosis just by being in that environment
C; The primary criticism in paragraph one is that diagnoses may be a result of learned behavior patterns as opposed to a disorder. Choice (C) highlights a clear example of this. Choice (A) would not effectively define personality disorder, as the diagnosis is not based on accidental or incidental behavior. Choice (B) is far too minor to influence diagnoses, as inconsistent behavior in different spheres does not fit a diagnosis. Choice (D). The paragraph is more about inappropriate positive diagnoses rather than a lack of diagnosis.
*See passage for #26 on AAMC Test 1* Based on the findings in the passage, engaging in synchronous behaviors is most likely to lead to an increase in: A) egocentricism B) observational learning C) obedience D) social facilitation
C; This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Social processes that influence human behavior." The answer to this question is C because, based on Study 2's finding that synchrony can increase compliance, it may also increase obedience. It is a Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving question because it requires you to make a prediction based on empirical findings.
*See passage for #53 on AAMC Test 1* The research in the passage is best described as a: A) qualitative study B) quantitative study C) mixed-methods study D) case study
C; This is a Sociology question that is covered by the content category "Demographic characteristics and processes." The correct answer is C, because the study in the passage takes a mixed methods approach. The research design employs both a quantitative component (the statistical analysis of the total claims) and a qualitative component (the in-depth analysis of a subset of cases). Bringing together quantitative methods and qualitative methods is referred to as mixed methods in sociology. Because the question requires you to identify the best description of the research design, it is a Reasoning about the Design and Execution of Research question.
The participants' failure to inform the cashier of being undercharged would most accurately constitute a: A) taboo B) sanction C) violation of social mores D) violation of social folkways
C; When the participants are undercharged, they are pocketing money to which they may not be morally entitled. This level of dishonesty is not so severe that it constitutes a taboo (unacceptable, disgusting, or reprehensible behavior), and it is presumably not a sanction against the cashier (to maintain social control). This makes it an issue of scale: is it a violation of a broader social more or a violation of the behavior expected in a very specific circumstance, a folkway? Keeping hold of something of value that does not belong to you is a broadly applicable faux pas (deceit or dishonesty, perhaps) that applies to far more than just customer-cashier etiquette. Choice (C) is the best fit.
*See passage for #41 for Kaplan Test 1* Perceiving itself to be of median strength (which is unrelated to aggression), an individual adopts a third strategy: acting as an aggressor when it perceives itself as stronger than its rival and as an avoider when it perceives itself as weaker. The expected payoff for this individual when it meets an avoider is: A) V/2 B) V/2 - C/2 C) 3V/4 D) 2V
C; While this question requires a little math, it can be done by imagining what will happen in each of two possible scenarios. When this new individual (the "assessor") approaches an avoider, it will decide whether it is stronger or weaker. Half of the time it will be stronger, and will act aggressively, scaring away the avoider. Its reward in this scenario is V. Half of the time it will be weaker, and will act as an avoider, sharing the resource. Its reward here is V/2. Its total expected payoff, then, is 0.5(V)+ 0.5(V/2) = 3V/4, or Choice (C).
A therapist treats a patient with agoraphobia. If the therapist subscribes strongly to the tenets of cognitive-behavioral therapy, which of the following treatments would be most representative of the therapist's view of the causes of the disordeR? A) showing the patient pictures of crowded situations while playing soothing music B) preparing the patient with relaxation techniques before having her spend a day in a busy airport C) prescribing a serotonin reuptake inhibitor to treat the symptoms of anxiety generally D) accompanying the patient to the mall and challenging her belief that she will become trapped with no escape
D; A cognitive-behavioral therapy therapist would see the causes of disorder as stemming from the interactions between thoughts and behaviors. While a cognitive-behavioral therapy therapist may use associative learning, Choice (A), flooding, Choice (B), or medication, Choice (C), as part of therapy, only Choice (D) mentions correcting patterns of conscious thought and it is therefore most representative and the correct answer.
*See passage for #36 on Kaplan Test 2 (short)* If the study were to further divide the results so that the gender of the participants is known, what effect would that have on the study? A) it would reduce the conclusiveness of the results B) it would dilute the representativeness of the results C) it would add a second independent variable D) it would add a third independent variable
D; As the study stands now, the gender of the conversants (first independent variable) is known , but the gender of participants is not. The conversations (second independent variable) heard by the participants are also manipulated. Therefore, Choice (D) is correct, as the gender of the participants would be a third independent variable. Choice (A) is incorrect, because the original results could still be determined, and the added variable would improve certain connections. Choice (B) is basically the opposite, since the representativeness would actually be improved by the genders of the participants being isolated. Choice (C) is incorrect, because it would actually be a third variable.
*See passage for #36 on Kaplan Test 1* Which of the following questions would provide the most insight into the validity of the social environment metrics? A) what fraction of the fellow thrill-seekers had the DRD4 gene? B) what, exactly, is the definition of reckless driving? C) what was the expertise level of those attempting rock climbing without ropes? D) are the activities in the higher-numbered ranks less appealing to non-participants?
D; In order to validate the different groups, they need to be comparable across the measurements. Choice (D) is a great match, since the different crowd measurements would be affected if the activities weren't appealing to the non-participants, and that would limit the potential for a mixed crowd. Choice (A) would not affect the validity of the experiment because the social environment is the same whether they are a thrill-seeker with or without the DRD4 gene. Choice (B) is a potential issue with one example of rank 2, but it's not inferable that is would have any significant effect on the overall numbers. Choice (C) could slightly affect the danger level of rank 3, but it's unlikely to make its classification different.
*See graph for #45 on Kaplan Test 2 (short)* A study's participants are given $50 in play money and told that they may "donate" a portion of the money to a charity. The participants are given to understand that there are other contributors donating as well. Which of the following best describes the results shown in the graph above? A) the findings are an example of social loafing, since the amount of money "donated" generally decreased as the number of contributors increased B) the findings discredit the concept of social loafing, since each participant gave away most of his or her money regardless of experimental condition C) the findings are ambiguous, as this type of statistical analysis is inappropriate for the kind of data gathered in the course of the study D) the findings should not be taken to support any particular conclusion because the study, as designed, lacks construct validity
D; In the study, participants are given an unrealistic scenario: give some imaginary money to an imaginary charity. There is no consequence for giving any more or less, since it is all play money anyway. Since the experimental design of the study doesn't actually test the situation it purports to, it lacks construct validity. Choice (D) is correct.
Which of the following is true of culture? A) culture cannot be taught and must be learned through personal experience B) cultural symbols have intrinsic meanings that lend them their primary importance C) individuals invariably question the culture of which they are a part D) Lamarckian inheritance more accurately characterizes cultural evolution than biological evolution
D; Lamarck believed in "use and disuse" inheritance. He argued that biological traits could be modified during an individual's lifetime. For example, if a particular physical characteristic were used frequently, then it would grow, while lack of use would cause it to wither away. He also asserted that acquired traits could be passed on to offspring. Lamarck's theory has been proven incorrect and was replaced by the Darwinian model. However, the concept of "use and disuse" does apply to cultural evolution. Cultural traditions that are consistently practiced will persist through generations while out-dated traditions will be forgotten. Therefore, choice (D) is correct. Choice (A). Culture can be taught and thus passed through the generations. Choice (B). Cultural symbols are more likely to have been assigned meaning rather than possessing inherent meaning. Choice (C). It is more likely that people accept the culture in which they were born and raised, although a minority that questions that culture invariably exists.
Some studies of cognitive dissonance have investigated different dissonance-reduction behaviors in infants and young children. Which of the following is a stage of cognitive development into which subjects of such studies might be classified? A) identity vs. role confusion B) latency C) postconventional morality D) sensorimotor
D; Piaget's theory of cognitive development covers the years of infancy and early childhood, and it divides cognitive development into the sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, and formal operational stage. Choice (D) is the correct answer. The other answer choices are stages of development according to different theories, but none of them match the needed description. Choice (A) is one of the stages of psychosocial development according to Erikson and it normally corresponds to the years of adolescence, not of infancy or childhood. Choice (B) is one of the stages os psychosexual development according to Freud, but it is a later stage. The "oral" and "anal" phases would better correspond to infancy and early childhood. Choice (C) is one of the stages of development of morality according to Kohlberg, but it is the highest phase, normally only achieved by adults.
When faced with a predator, sometimes individuals of a group of Thompson's gazelles will, instead of running away, engage in stotting: leaping into the air with all four feet simultaneously in front of the predator. Stotting is LEAST likely to be considered an example of: A) an honest, costly signal of fitness to predators B) a fitness display for potential mates C) an altruistic alarm signal for the other members of the group D) a maladaptive misfiring of adaptive escape behavior
D; Stotting behavior has been viewed through many eyes and there are several theories that attempt to explain it. The correct answer is an unlikely theory and the best answer is (D) because this behavior would presumably endanger the individual without any clear benefit.
An individual who identifies herself as being a moderate supporter of a political movement is presented with a number of articles, some of which provide views that support the movement and some of which describe dissenting views. Which of the following is the most likely result? A) the individual changes her position to oppose the movement B) the individual changes her position to that of neutrality C) the individual's position remains unchanged D) the individual increases her support of the movement
D; The concept of belief perseverance dictates that, when presented with information of varying opinion, people are more likely to believe information that confirms their opinion and discount evidence which refutes it. The result, therefore, is that even when presented with information supporting both sides, people tend to confirm and solidify their position. Choice (D) is the most likely result.
If a psychologist wished to classify the substance abuse of a child of an addict as behavioral rather than genetic, which of the following would be the best and most complete explanation? A) the presence of substances in the home of the child and the related experiences trigger similar feelings when the child sees the substance as an adult B) the erratic behavior of the addict parent results in inconsistent reinforcement for the child, making the child uncertain as to what constitutes acceptable behavior C) the reward pathway of the child is similar to that of the addict parent, leading the drug addiction likelihood of the child to be significantly higher than average D) the parental substance abuse was a chronic stressor to the child, and the child's eventual abuse was a behavioral reaction to the stressor
D; The correct answer must both be entirely behavioral and should logically increase the tendency of addiction. Choice (D) is the best answer, as it makes the parent an external behavioral issue and the child's eventual reaction one as well. Choice (A) doesn't necessarily explain why the child would eventually be an addict; the response is not described, and does not imply that the child is likely to engage in the substance. Choice (B) could potentially contribute to the child engaging in deviant behavior, but there's no reason to believe that this would be a direct link to addiction. Choice (C) is a biological explanation.
*See passage for #40 on Kaplan Test 2 (short)* Which of the following would accurately describe the study? A) the results are based on situational behavior B) the results are perceived by the administrators C) there is one independent variable D) there are at least two independent variables
D; The correct answer will identify a facet of the study as it was performed. Choice (D) would fit, because the individuals, when subdivided were asked one of two question types, so there are at least two independent variables in this study. Choice (A) is the opposite in the study, as the results are based on responses; behavior is never recorded. Choice (B). The groups are chosen by the perceptions of the administrators, but not the results. Choice (C) is incorrect because the participant's group designation and the question type put to the participant are two separate independent variables in this study.
Suppose 25 students took a test and the median score was 75%, how many students scored higher than 75%? A) 11 B) 12 C) 13 D) cannot be determined
D; The median of a data set is the middle number when the data set is arranged in increasing order. With the given median and number of students, it can be concluded that the 13th person scored 75% and that there are 12 students who scored as well or better. However, the number of students that specifically scored better is unknown. Therefore, choice (D) is correct.
A child points to a tree and says he sees a bird. The mother turns around toward the tree but does not see any bird. She assumes the child is lying. What tendency is the mother most closely exhibiting? A) cognitive dissonance B) belief perseverance C) confirmation bias D) fundamental attribution error
D; The mother was unable to see the bird. This could have a number of explanations - the bird flew away by the time she saw it, the bird was camouflaged by the tree, the mother's eyesight was poor, the child was hallucinating or was unable to communicate properly what he actually saw. By assuming that the child was lying, the mother overestimated the effect of the child's personality and underestimated the effect of the situation itself. This is an example of the fundamental attribution error. Choice (D) is the correct answer choice.
*See passage for #9 on AAMC Test 1* Which two processes best summarize maintenance factors 1 and 2, respectively? A) operant conditioning and top-down processes B) classical conditioning and affective processes C) operant conditioning and physiological processes D) classical conditioning and cognitive processes
D; This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Making sense of the environment." The answer to this question is D because Maintenance Factor 1 focuses on classical conditioning of a fear response to bodily sensations, whereas Maintenance Factor 2 focuses on cognitive appraisal (interpretation) of bodily sensations. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and Principles question because it requires you to recognize two scientific concepts from behavioral science.
*See passage for #42 on AAMC Test 1* Suppose squares 1, 2, 3, and 4, moving from left to right at the top of the grid light up and some participants think "top row lights up first," to remember the sequence. Which process is most likely being used to enhance working memory capacity? A) divided attention B) priming C) automatic processing D) chunking
D; This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Making sense of the environment." The answer to this question is D because the participants are organizing single unit squares into larger rows to help them hold more information in working memory. This encoding process, which is referred to as "chunking," requires effortful processing and therefore involves selective attention and conscious effort. It is a Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and Principles question because it requires you to demonstrate your understanding of a foundational concept in behavioral science.
*See passage for #18 on Kaplan Test 1* If a person in the study were to meet someone to whom they gave three "no" votes and, for no other reason, holds a negative opinion of him or her, the person in the study is most clearly exhibiting behavior related to: A) in-group bias B) fundamental attribution error C) mate choice D) self-fulfilling prophecy
D; the person making the judgement is doing so without reason, but because of prior expectation. Choice (D) is the correct answer, as self-fulfilling prophecies based on bias work in this way. Choice (A) cannot be the definitive cause because it is unknown whether the two are in-group or out-group. The fundamental attribution error (B) is a tendency to attribute another's behavior to disposition and not to the situation - this type of reasoning is absent from the given situation.
