Question 1

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of confirmation bias in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

A researcher only seeks out evidence that supports their hypothesis and ignores data that contradicts it.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT one of the six principles of scientific thinking described in the textbook?

Accepted Answer

Naïve realism

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

As hours spent watching TV increase, exam scores tend to decrease strongly.

Question 4

Which of the following is a warning sign of psychological pseudoscience?

Accepted Answer

Reliance on anecdotal evidence

Question 5

Which research method is most appropriate for studying rare psychological disorders in depth?

Accepted Answer

Case study

Question 6

What is the main difference between random selection and random assignment in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

Random selection refers to how participants are chosen for a study, while random assignment refers to how participants are placed into experimental groups.

Question 7

A researcher wants to ensure that their experiment can be generalized to the broader population. Which type of validity should they be most concerned with?

Accepted Answer

External validity

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

It speeds up the transmission of electrical impulses along the axon.

Question 9

Which scenario best illustrates the difference between sensation and perception?

Accepted Answer

Detecting a sound (sensation) and recognizing it as your favorite song (perception).

Question 10

Which theory of color vision explains why we can see afterimages in complementary colors?

Accepted Answer

Opponent process theory

Question 11

A psychologist conducts a twin study to investigate the heritability of intelligence. Which of the following would provide the strongest evidence for genetic influence?

Accepted Answer

Monozygotic twins reared apart have similar intelligence scores.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of top-down processing?

Accepted Answer

Reading a word quickly because you expect it in the context of a sentence.

Question 13

Which part of the central nervous system is primarily responsible for coordinating voluntary movement and balance?

Accepted Answer

Cerebellum

Question 14

A researcher finds that their measure of anxiety produces similar results when given to the same participants two weeks apart. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Test-retest reliability

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the function of neurotransmitters?

Accepted Answer

They transmit chemical signals across the synaptic gap between neurons.

Question 16

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using self-report measures in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

Participants may respond in socially desirable ways rather than truthfully.

Question 17

Which of the following is a logical fallacy that involves assuming that because two events occur together, one must cause the other?

Accepted Answer

Implying causation from correlation

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the role of the somatic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

It controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

Question 19

Which of the following is a misconception about heritability?

Accepted Answer

A high heritability means that a trait cannot be changed by the environment.

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of a study with poor internal validity?

Accepted Answer

A study in which the experimental and control groups differ in more than just the independent variable.

Introduction to Psychology: Exam 1 Comprehensive Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards