Question 1

Which of the following best describes the main focus of structuralism in early psychology?

Accepted Answer

Analyzing the structure and characteristics of the mind through introspection.

Question 2

A psychologist wants to study the relationship between hours spent texting and aggression in teenagers. Which research method is most appropriate for examining the strength and direction of this relationship?

Accepted Answer

Correlational research

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of confirmation bias?

Accepted Answer

Seeking out information that supports your existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.

Question 4

A researcher finds a strong positive correlation ($$r = +0.85) $$between the number of hours children spend playing video games and their scores on an aggression scale. Which of the following conclusions is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

There is a strong relationship between video game play and aggression, but causation cannot be determined.

Question 5

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of operational definition in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

Measuring intelligence by the score on a standardized IQ test.

Question 6

In an experiment testing whether listening to music improves test performance, what is the dependent variable (DV)?

Accepted Answer

The test scores of participants

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Participants may respond in socially desirable ways rather than truthfully.

Question 8

A study finds that children who delay gratification (waiting longer for a treat) tend to have better SAT scores years later. Which research method was most likely used in this study?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal study

Question 9

Which of the following statements about validity and reliability is correct?

Accepted Answer

A measure can be reliable without being valid.

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of a third variable problem in correlational research?

Accepted Answer

A third factor influences both variables, creating a spurious association.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the main difference between basic and applied research in psychology?

Accepted Answer

Basic research examines how the mind works, while applied research utilizes findings to solve real-world problems.

Question 12

A psychologist is interested in the effects of a new teaching method on student performance. She randomly assigns students to either the new method or the traditional method. What is the independent variable (IV) in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

The teaching method used

Question 13

Which of the following is a characteristic of a scientific hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

It must be falsifiable.

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of the emotional reasoning fallacy?

Accepted Answer

Believing a claim is true because it makes you feel good.

Question 15

A researcher wants to ensure that her sample accurately represents the population. Which technique should she use?

Accepted Answer

Random selection

Question 16

Which of the following is a key ethical guideline for human research?

Accepted Answer

Participants must give informed consent.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the main advantage of naturalistic observation?

Accepted Answer

It provides high external validity and rich, detailed information.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of belief perseverance?

Accepted Answer

Continuing to believe something even after it has been disproven.

Question 19

A psychologist uses a 7-point Likert scale to measure how much a person likes cats. Which concept is being demonstrated?

Accepted Answer

Operationalization

Question 20

Which of the following is a danger of pseudoscience?

Accepted Answer

It can result in opportunity costs, such as wasted time, energy, or money.

Introduction to Psychology: Perspectives, Methods, and Research

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