Question 1

Which of the following best describes the main difference between Plato's and Aristotle's beliefs about the origins of knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Plato believed knowledge is innate, while Aristotle believed it comes from sensory experience.

Question 2

A researcher wants to study the effect of sleep deprivation on memory recall. She randomly assigns participants to either a sleep deprivation group or a control group and measures their performance on a memory test. In this experiment, what is the independent variable?

Accepted Answer

The amount of sleep participants receive

Question 3

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of inattentional blindness?

Accepted Answer

A person fails to notice a gorilla walking through a basketball game while counting passes.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the function of the myelin sheath in a neuron?

Accepted Answer

It increases the speed of electrical impulses along the axon.

Question 5

A correlation coefficient of $$r = -0.85$$ indicates:

Accepted Answer

A strong negative relationship between two variables.

Question 6

Which of the following is a criticism of structuralism?

Accepted Answer

It relied heavily on introspection, which is subjective and unreliable.

Question 7

Which neurotransmitter is most directly associated with mood regulation and is affected by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin

Question 8

A psychologist is conducting a study to determine if a new teaching method causes improved test scores. Which type of research design should she use to determine causality?

Accepted Answer

Experimental design

Question 9

Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is primarily responsible for processing visual information?

Accepted Answer

Occipital lobe

Question 10

According to the activation synthesis model, dreams are:

Accepted Answer

Random neural activity that the brain attempts to make sense of.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the difference between the endocrine system and the nervous system?

Accepted Answer

The endocrine system uses hormones for slower, longer-lasting communication; the nervous system uses electrical impulses for rapid communication.

Question 12

A patient has difficulty forming new memories after a brain injury. Which brain structure is most likely damaged?

Accepted Answer

Hippocampus

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of an operational definition in a psychological study?

Accepted Answer

Measuring intelligence as the score obtained on a standardized IQ test.

Question 14

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of selective attention?

Accepted Answer

Failing to notice a change in the environment because you are focused on a task.

Question 15

Which of the following is a principle from the Belmont Report that guides ethical research with human participants?

Accepted Answer

Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

Question 16

A person is startled by a loud noise and their heart rate increases. Which division of the nervous system is primarily responsible for this response?

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 17

Which of the following statements about the psychoanalytic theory of dreams is supported by current scientific evidence?

Accepted Answer

There is little scientific support for the idea that dreams reveal unconscious desires.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the function of the thalamus?

Accepted Answer

Acts as a relay station for sensory information (except smell) to the cerebral cortex.

Question 19

Which of the following is a real-world example of psychological dependence?

Accepted Answer

Craving the feeling of relaxation that comes from smoking, even in the absence of physical withdrawal.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the main function of the corpus callosum?

Accepted Answer

Connects the two hemispheres of the brain and allows communication between them.

Exam 1 Study Guide: Psychology Chapters 1-4 (Intro, Research, Biopsychology, Consciousness)

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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