Question 1

A psychologist is interested in how memory processes change as people age. Which branch of psychology does this research most likely fall under?

Accepted Answer

Developmental psychology

Question 2

A researcher wants to examine the relationship between hours of sleep and test performance, but does not manipulate any variables. Which research design is being used?

Accepted Answer

Correlational study

Question 3

Which of the following best describes a heuristic?

Accepted Answer

A mental shortcut that allows people to solve problems quickly and efficiently

Question 4

In an experiment testing the effect of caffeine on memory, what is the independent variable?

Accepted Answer

The amount of caffeine administered

Question 5

A study is conducted in a highly controlled laboratory setting, but the results may not generalize to real-world situations. This study has:

Accepted Answer

High internal validity and low external validity

Question 6

A researcher finds a $$p-$$value of $$0.03$$ when comparing two groups. What does this indicate about statistical significance?

Accepted Answer

The result is statistically significant at the $$\alpha = 0.05$$ level

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of inferential statistics?

Accepted Answer

Using a sample mean to estimate the population mean

Question 8

A correlation coefficient of $$r = -0.85$$ between stress and sleep quality suggests:

Accepted Answer

A strong negative relationship: as stress increases, sleep quality decreases

Question 9

Which brain imaging technique measures electrical activity on the scalp and is often used to study sleep?

Accepted Answer

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Question 10

A child is given a piece of candy every time they clean their room. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement

Question 11

In classical conditioning, what is the unconditioned stimulus (US)?

Accepted Answer

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response

Question 12

A slot machine pays out after an unpredictable number of lever pulls. This is an example of which reinforcement schedule?

Accepted Answer

Variable ratio

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the sympathetic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

It prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses

Question 14

A teacher rewards a student for each step they take toward completing a complex project. This process is known as:

Accepted Answer

Shaping

Question 15

After repeated exposure to a loud noise, a person stops responding to it. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Habituation

Question 16

What is the primary purpose of peer review in scientific research?

Accepted Answer

To ensure the quality and credibility of research before publication

Question 17

A researcher wants to determine if a new therapy reduces anxiety. She randomly assigns participants to a therapy group or a control group and measures anxiety levels after treatment. What is the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

Anxiety levels after treatment

Question 18

Which of the following is a key difference between a case study and a correlational study?

Accepted Answer

A case study focuses on an in-depth analysis of a single individual or group, while a correlational study examines relationships between variables across many individuals.

Question 19

If a researcher finds a correlation coefficient of $$r = 0.00$$ between two variables, what does this mean?

Accepted Answer

There is no linear relationship between the two variables

Question 20

A researcher uses an fMRI to study brain activity while participants solve math problems. What is the main advantage of fMRI over PET scans?

Accepted Answer

fMRI provides better spatial and temporal resolution without exposure to radioactive tracers

Core Concepts in Introductory Psychology: Study Guide

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards