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 phenomenon, 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 recall. She randomly assigns participants to either a sleep-deprived group or a well-rested group and measures their recall 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 receiving the treatment and which are receiving a placebo.

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 correlation between TV watching and exam scores.

Question 5

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of reliability in psychological measurement?

Accepted Answer

A test consistently yields similar results when administered to the same person under similar conditions.

Question 6

A researcher uses a random sample to select participants for a study. What is the main advantage of this sampling method?

Accepted Answer

It ensures that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Comparing test scores between students in two different schools where assignment to schools is not random.

Question 8

In the context of genetics, what is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?

Accepted Answer

Genotype refers to genetic makeup, while phenotype refers to observable traits.

Question 9

Which neurotransmitter is most directly associated with movement and is deficient in Parkinson’s disease?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine

Question 10

A patient suffers damage to the hippocampus. Which ability is most likely to be affected?

Accepted Answer

Ability to form new memories

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Processing visual information

Question 12

A researcher finds that the mean score on a test is 100, the median is 90, and the mode is 80. What does this suggest about the distribution of scores?

Accepted Answer

The distribution is positively skewed.

Question 13

Which of the following is a key characteristic of scientific research?

Accepted Answer

It is systematic and objective.

Question 14

Which brain structure is primarily responsible for regulating basic drives such as hunger and thirst?

Accepted Answer

Hypothalamus

Question 15

A psychologist wants to measure the relationship between stress and immune function over time in a group of participants. Which research method is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal study

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

An agonist enhances the action of a neurotransmitter, while an antagonist blocks it.

Question 17

Which of the following formulas represents the calculation of the mean for a set of scores $x_1, x_2, ..., x_n$?

Accepted Answer

$\frac{\sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i}{n}$

Question 18

Which of the following is a potential disadvantage of using animal models in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

Ethical concerns and differences in physiology may limit generalizability to humans.

Question 19

A researcher wants to determine if a new drug improves memory. She finds a statistically significant difference between the drug and placebo groups. What does statistical significance mean in this context?

Accepted Answer

The observed difference is unlikely to have occurred by chance, according to a predetermined threshold (e.g., $p < 0.05$).

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

It connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing communication between them.

Introduction to Psychological Science: Study Guide and Key Concepts

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards