Question 1

Which of the following best describes the main reason psychology is considered more than just common sense?

Accepted Answer

Psychology uses systematic scientific methods to test and safeguard against biases.

Question 2

A friend claims that because many people believe in astrology, it must be true. Which logical fallacy are they committing?

Accepted Answer

Bandwagon fallacy

Question 3

Which principle of scientific thinking is illustrated when researchers attempt to duplicate the results of a previous study?

Accepted Answer

Replicability

Question 4

A psychologist is studying whether stress causes insomnia. Which principle of scientific thinking should they use to ensure variable A causes variable B?

Accepted Answer

Correlation vs. causation

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Overreliance on anecdotes

Question 6

A theory in psychology must be falsifiable. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

It can be disproven by evidence.

Question 7

Which school of thought in psychology focuses on uncovering unconscious mental processes?

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalysis

Question 8

A psychologist is interested in how children’s thinking develops over time. Which type of psychologist are they most likely to be?

Accepted Answer

Developmental psychologist

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a main challenge in studying human behaviour according to the text?

Accepted Answer

Psychological influences are always independent

Question 10

Which principle of scientific thinking is best applied when considering whether a simpler explanation fits the data as well as a more complex one?

Accepted Answer

Occam’s razor

Question 11

A researcher finds a pattern in random data and believes it is meaningful. What psychological tendency does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Patternicity

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of an ad hoc immunizing hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

Changing the hypothesis after seeing the results to avoid falsification

Question 13

Which theoretical framework in psychology emphasizes the adaptive purposes of psychological characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Functionalism

Question 14

A psychologist is interested in the physiological bases of behaviour. Which type of psychologist are they?

Accepted Answer

Biopsychologist

Question 15

Which of the following is a danger of pseudoscience?

Accepted Answer

It can lead to direct harm.

Question 16

Which principle of scientific thinking requires that important alternate explanations should be considered?

Accepted Answer

Ruling out rival hypotheses

Question 17

Which debate in psychology asks whether our behaviours are a result of our genes or our environment?

Accepted Answer

Nature versus nurture

Question 18

A psychologist is conducting research to understand how memory works, without immediate practical application. What type of research is this?

Accepted Answer

Basic research

Question 19

Which school of thought in psychology focuses on general laws of learning by studying observable behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Behaviourism

Question 20

A psychologist is interested in how people interpret events and how these interpretations affect their behaviour. Which theoretical perspective are they most likely using?

Accepted Answer

Cognitivism

Psychology and Scientific Thinking: Foundations, Challenges, and Frameworks

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