Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between a theory and a hypothesis in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

A theory is a broad explanation for a set of observations, while a hypothesis is a specific, testable prediction derived from a theory.

Question 2

A researcher wants to study the effect of sleep deprivation on memory. She randomly assigns participants to either a sleep deprivation group or a control group and measures their memory performance. What type of research design is she using?

Accepted Answer

Experimental design

Question 3

Which of the following is the best example of a double-blind study?

Accepted Answer

Neither the participants nor the experimenters know which participants are in the experimental or control group.

Question 4

A psychologist finds a correlation coefficient of $$r = -0.85$$ between hours spent watching TV and exam scores. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

There is a strong negative relationship between TV watching and exam scores.

Question 5

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of external validity in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

The degree to which the results of a study can be generalized to other populations and settings.

Question 6

A researcher uses a convenience sample to study college students' stress levels. Which of the following is a major limitation of this sampling method?

Accepted Answer

It may not accurately represent the larger population.

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of a positive correlation?

Accepted Answer

As the number of hours spent studying increases, exam scores increase.

Question 8

In a study, the mean score is 100, the median is 90, and the mode is 80. What can you infer about the distribution of the data?

Accepted Answer

The distribution is positively skewed.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the function of the myelin sheath in the nervous system?

Accepted Answer

It increases the speed of neural transmission along the axon.

Question 10

A patient has suffered damage to Broca's area in the left hemisphere of the brain. Which of the following symptoms is most likely?

Accepted Answer

Difficulty producing speech

Question 11

Which neurotransmitter is most directly associated with the regulation of mood, sleep, and appetite?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the difference between an agonist and an antagonist in neuropharmacology?

Accepted Answer

An agonist increases the action of a neurotransmitter, while an antagonist decreases or blocks its action.

Question 13

A researcher finds that the test-retest reliability of a new intelligence test is $$r = 0.92. $$What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

The test produces consistent results over time.

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of a quasi-experimental research design?

Accepted Answer

Comparing academic performance between students from two different schools without random assignment.

Question 15

Which brain structure is primarily responsible for regulating basic life functions such as breathing and heart rate?

Accepted Answer

Medulla

Question 16

If a person has damage to the hippocampus, which ability is most likely to be affected?

Accepted Answer

Forming new long-term memories

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic system prepares the body for 'fight or flight,' while the parasympathetic system promotes 'rest and digest.'

Question 18

Which of the following is the best example of a confounding variable in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

A variable that unintentionally varies along with the independent variable, potentially affecting the results.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the function of the occipital lobe?

Accepted Answer

Processing visual information

Question 20

A psychologist is interested in the relationship between caffeine intake and reaction time. She collects data and finds $$r = 0.00. $$What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

There is no linear relationship between caffeine intake and reaction time.

Foundations of Psychological Science: Key Concepts and Study Guide

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