Question 1

Which of the following best illustrates the fallacy of implying causation from correlation?

Accepted Answer

A study finds that people who eat more ice cream tend to have higher rates of sunburn, and concludes that eating ice cream causes sunburn.

Question 2

Which of the following is a key difference between random selection (sampling) and random assignment in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

Random selection ensures that every member of the population has an equal chance of being included in the study, while random assignment ensures that participants have an equal chance of being placed in any experimental group.

Question 3

A researcher wants to study the effects of sleep deprivation on memory. She recruits 100 college students, randomly assigns them to either a sleep deprivation group or a control group, and measures their memory performance. Which of the following is a potential pitfall in this experimental design?

Accepted Answer

Demand characteristics, where participants guess the purpose of the study and alter their behavior.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the process of electrical communication in a neuron?

Accepted Answer

An action potential is generated when the neuron's membrane potential reaches the threshold, causing a rapid depolarization and subsequent repolarization along the axon.

Question 5

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the trichromatic theory and opponent process theory of color vision?

Accepted Answer

Trichromatic theory explains color vision at the level of the cones, while opponent process theory explains color processing at later stages in the visual system.

Question 6

A patient is unable to form new long-term memories but can remember events from childhood. Which type of amnesia does this patient most likely have?

Accepted Answer

Anterograde amnesia

Question 7

According to operant conditioning, which of the following scenarios best illustrates negative reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

A student turns off a loud alarm by getting out of bed, increasing the likelihood they will get up when the alarm sounds in the future.

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the function and characteristics of working (short-term) memory?

Accepted Answer

It temporarily holds information for manipulation and conscious processing, with a typical span of 7 ± 2 items and a duration of about 20 seconds.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of a fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

A factory worker is paid for every 10 products they assemble.

Question 10

According to Piaget, which cognitive ability is characteristic of the concrete operational stage?

Accepted Answer

Understanding conservation of mass and volume.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the main finding of the Milgram obedience study?

Accepted Answer

A majority of participants were willing to administer what they believed were dangerous electric shocks to another person when instructed by an authority figure.

Question 12

Which of the following is a key criticism of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory?

Accepted Answer

It lacks falsifiability, making it difficult to test scientifically.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the Big Five trait of conscientiousness?

Accepted Answer

Being organized, responsible, and careful.

Question 14

Which of the following is a symptom of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Experiencing hallucinations and delusions.

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the two most effective study techniques identified in 'The Science of Studying' article?

Accepted Answer

Distributed practice and practice testing.

Question 16

A person who believes that their own group is superior to others and holds negative attitudes toward members of other groups is demonstrating which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Prejudice

Question 17

Which of the following best describes Selye’s general adaptation syndrome?

Accepted Answer

A three-stage response to stress: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of cognitive dissonance?

Accepted Answer

A person who values health continues to smoke cigarettes and feels uncomfortable about the inconsistency.

Question 19

Which of the following is a key feature of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Accepted Answer

Persistent, excessive worry about a variety of topics for at least six months.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the difference between external validity and internal validity in research?

Accepted Answer

External validity refers to the generalizability of findings to real-world settings, while internal validity refers to the extent to which a study can establish cause and effect.

Comprehensive Study Guide: Introduction to Psychology (Exam 4 Topics)

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