Chapter 1 Introducing the World of Psychology
Test Bank Psychology in Your Life

MULTIPLE CHOICE

	1.	Which of the following is the best definition of psychology?
a.	the study of the brain and its inner function	
b.	the analysis of the mind and its unconscious thoughts	
c.	the study of mental activity and behavior based on brain processes	
d.	the study of thoughts, social interactions, and emotions	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.1a	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	2.	Allanah has declared psychology as her major. Because of this, Allanah will most likely study
a.	the structure and function of the brain.	
b.	mental disorders and their treatment.	
c.	feelings, memory, and other inner states.	
d.	mental activity, behavior, and the brain.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.1a	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	3.	Barry states that psychology is the study of mental activity. Candace remarks that psychology is the science of behavior. Which is the correct evaluation of these two statements?
a.	Barry’s definition is correct; Candace’s definition is incorrect.	
b.	Neither of the statements are correct.	
c.	Taken together, the statements are correct.	
d.	Barry’s definition is incorrect; Candace’s definition is correct.	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.1a	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	4.	According to the textbook, “friendly skepticism” is an important element in a type of reasoning called
a.	functionalism.	
b.	introspection.	
c.	structuralism.	
d.	critical thinking.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.1b	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	5.	Critical thinking is best defined as thinking that
a.	systematically evaluates information.	
b.	criticizes others’ opinions.	
c.	is open-minded and creative.	
d.	uses inferences but does not solve problems.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.1b	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	6.	“Friendly skepticism” means
a.	finding flaws in an argument or claim.	
b.	being open to new ideas, while also being careful before accepting them.	
c.	asking a scientist to make her findings public so that they can be better evaluated.	
d.	accepting all claims, as long as they are based on the scientific method.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.1b	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	7.	Which of the following is an example of critical thinking?
a.	believing that sugar causes headaches because your head hurts after you eat a candy bar	
b.	concluding that eating spinach leads to a longer life after seeing an ad for spinach on television	
c.	using a personal example to explain the importance of time management	
d.	concluding that exercise is beneficial after evaluating the evidence of a research study	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.1b	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	8.	Talisa has to write a paper about critical thinking. One of her goals is to explain how critical thinking differs from everyday thinking. If Talisa is correct in her analysis, which of the following sentences will she write? “The difference between using critical thinking and everyday explanations about psychological phenomena is that
a.	critical thinking relies on evidence and scientific support for making conclusions.”	
b.	everyday explanations rely on common sense, reason, and logic for making conclusions.”	
c.	critical thinking relies on personal examples more than scientific evidence for making conclusions.”	
d.	everyday explanations rely on personal examples for making conclusions.”	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.1b	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	9.	You are confident that your new roommate is a critical thinker after noticing this bumper sticker on his car:
a.	“Show me the evidence!”	
b.	“The only truth is no truth”	
c.	“Trust your gut!”	
d.	“What is the meaning of life?”	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.1b	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	10.	You are discussing your psychology class with your aunt Annalise. She asks you “Can psychology really help people study?” You correctly answer,
a.	“Not really; psychologists generally agree that the field of education is better suited to provide people with techniques for studying.”	
b.	“Yes; psychological studies have shown that cramming before an exam can improve memory.”	
c.	“Yes; psychology provides us with techniques for improving memory and understanding.”	
d.	“It depends; psychology can enhance students’ learning, but most people will have difficulty using psychology to help them study.”	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.1c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	11.	Which of the following statements best describes psychology?
a.	Much of psychology is just common sense.	
b.	Much of psychology is about applying common sense to everyday life.	
c.	Psychological principles are highly applicable to everyday life.	
d.	Psychological principles are too scientific to apply to everyday life.	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.1c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	12.	Jeremy is studying for his final exam. Lauren has taken psychology and gives him a good tip about the best way to study. She correctly says,
a.	“Be sure to cram your studying during the night before the final exam.”	
b.	“As you study, connect the information to something personal.”	
c.	“Memorize bold terms by writing and rewriting the definitions.”	
d.	“Study in the morning right before the exam deadline, because stress improves learning.”	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.1c	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	13.	Dualism is the classic idea in psychology that
a.	the mind and the brain are separate entities.	
b.	the mind and the brain are the same entity.	
c.	the mind and the brain are opposing forces.	
d.	there is no mind, just the brain.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2a	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	14.	The philosopher who promoted dualism as an explanation of the mind/body problem was
a.	William James.	
b.	Charles Darwin.	
c.	René Descartes.	
d.	Sigmund Freud.	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2a	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	15.	The belief that the mind and body are separate but intertwined describes
a.	dualism.	
b.	structuralism.	
c.	the nature/nurture debate.	
d.	cognitive psychology.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.2a	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	16.	Freddy and MaryAnne are having a disagreement about the nature/nurture debate. Freddy correctly says, “Actually, the ‘nature’ portion of the debate refers to how a person thinks and acts and is a result of
a.	early education.”	
b.	inborn influences.”	
c.	prenatal experiences.”	
d.	cultural norms.”	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2b	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	17.	In the nature/nurture debate, the term nature refers to the question of how _______ factors affect the mind, brain, and behavior.
a.	biological	
b.	environmental	
c.	either biological or environmental	
d.	conscious or unconscious	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2b	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	18.	With respect to the nature/nurture debate, psychologists now believe that __________ is/are important in understanding the mind, brain, and behavior.
a.	nature	
b.	nurture	
c.	both nature and nurture	
d.	neither nature nor nurture	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2b	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	19.	An early school of psychology used introspection to study the basic elements of mental experiences. This school of psychology was called
a.	functionalism.	
b.	behaviorism.	
c.	cognitivism.	
d.	structuralism.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	20.	Structuralism is a school of psychology introduced by
a.	Edward Titchener.	
b.	William James.	
c.	Charles Darwin.	
d.	Sigmund Freud.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	21.	The psychologist most closely associated with the school of functionalism is
a.	Sigmund Freud.	
b.	Wilhelm Wundt.	
c.	Edward Titchener.	
d.	William James.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	22.	Functionalism is the school of thought concerned with
a.	the structures of the mind.	
b.	the adaptive purposes of the mind and behavior.	
c.	how unconscious conflicts can lead to mental disorders.	
d.	how the presence of others influences behavior.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	23.	Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species had its strongest influence on the school of thought called
a.	structuralism.	
b.	Gestalt theory.	
c.	functionalism.	
d.	psychoanalytic theory.	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	24.	According to the concept of “survival of the fittest,”
a.	random mutations are always adaptive.	
b.	only the biggest animals will survive.	
c.	organisms that are most adaptive to their environment are most likely to survive.	
d.	organisms that have mutated genes based on the environment are most likely to survive.	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	25.	Psychoanalysis is a type of psychological treatment to resolve unconscious conflicts that cause mental disorders. This treatment was developed by
a.	Wilhelm Wundt.	
b.	Sigmund Freud.	
c.	William James.	
d.	Edward Titchener.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	26.	The person who established the first psychology laboratory, which marked the beginning of experimental psychology, was
a.	Wilhelm Wundt.	
b.	Sigmund Freud.	
c.	William James.	
d.	Edward Titchener.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	27.	The person who is most closely associated with the study of the unconscious is
a.	Sigmund Freud. 	
b.	William James.	
c.	Wilhelm Wundt.	
d.	B. F. Skinner.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	28.	The unconscious mind influences human behavior, according to
a.	structuralism.	
b.	psychoanalytic theory.	
c.	functionalism.	
d.	behaviorism.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	29.	Structuralists used a procedure to investigate the conscious parts of the mind. In this procedure an observer described the simple elements of a mental experience in as much detail as possible. This procedure was called
a.	introspection.	
b.	inner perception.	
c.	psychoanalysis.	
d.	individual analysis.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	30.	According to structuralism, the goal of psychology is to
a.	uncover the unconscious determinants of behavior.	
b.	focus on observable behavior itself.	
c.	explore the structures of the mind.	
d.	identify the purposes of our behavior and mental processes.	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	31.	If you were asked to list all the thoughts and experiences you have while answering a test question, the technique used would be
a.	critical thinking.	
b.	psychoanalysis.	
c.	skepticism.	
d.	introspection.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	32.	Dr. Leleux asserts that psychologists should attempt to identify the basic elements of mental experience. Dr. Leleux’s beliefs are most closely matched with the school of thought called
a.	functionalism.	
b.	behaviorism.	
c.	structuralism.	
d.	Gestalt theory.	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	33.	The theories of Sigmund Freud and his followers
a.	state that behavior can be altered by the application of reinforcement and punishment.	
b.	emphasize the functions or adaptive purposes of the mind.	
c.	emphasize the concept that the whole is different from the sum of its parts.	
d.	state that much of human behavior is determined by the unconscious.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	34.	Noreen believes that our behavior often reflects unconscious motives and conflicts. This viewpoint is most consistent with the __________ approach in psychology.
a.	psychoanalytic	
b.	structuralist	
c.	cognitive	
d.	behaviorist	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	35.	The psychological approach that emphasizes the role of the environment in influencing behavior is
a.	psychoanalytic.	
b.	cognitive.	
c.	behaviorism.	
d.	Gestalt theory.	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2d	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	36.	The psychologist who would be mostly likely to focus on mental functions, such as problem solving and decision making, would be a
a.	behaviorist.	
b.	cognitive psychologist.	
c.	psychoanalyst.	
d.	social psychologist.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2d	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	37.	The cognitive revolution was launched by
a.	George Miller.	
b.	Sigmund Freud.	
c.	B. F. Skinner.	
d.	William James.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2d	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	38.	Gestalt theory is based on the idea that
a.	the whole is different from the sum of its parts.	
b.	the environment affects behavior.	
c.	social situations influence behavior.	
d.	science should be used to understand therapy.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2d	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	39.	Which of the following questions do behaviorists attempt to answer?
a.	Is behavior influenced by mental processes?	
b.	Which is more important, the parts or the unified whole?	
c.	Can unconscious conflicts be fully resolved?	
d.	How does the environment influence behavior?	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2d	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	40.	Gestalt psychology was developed based on the idea that a person’s experiences are more than just the collection of various “parts” or “elements” of consciousness. This idea is in direct contrast with the __________ approach.
a.	functionalist	
b.	psychoanalytic	
c.	cognitive psychology	
d.	structuralist	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.2d	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	41.	Your uncle John always argued, “Stop studying mental events that cannot be directly observed!” Which school of thought would most likely agree with your uncle John?
a.	cognitive	
b.	behaviorism	
c.	Gestalt	
d.	psychoanalytic	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.2d	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	42.	Four early psychologists suddenly appear in your psychology department. Who would be most discouraged to hear that modern psychology places a lot of emphasis on the study of mental processes?
a.	Sigmund Freud	
b.	Wilhelm Wundt	
c.	Edward Titchener	
d.	John Watson	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.2d	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	43.	Which statement best captures historical trends in cognitive psychology?
a.	Before the 1980s, cognitive psychology emphasized the mind; today, it focuses mostly on behavior.	
b.	Before the 1980s, cognitive psychology emphasized the mind; today, it focuses mainly on the brain.	
c.	Before the 1980s, cognitive psychology emphasized the brain; today, it focuses on the mind along with the brain.	
d.	Before the 1980s, cognitive psychology emphasized the mind; today, it focuses on both the mind and the brain.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.2d	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	44.	Which of the following questions would be best suited for a social psychologist?
a.	How can I strengthen my personal relationships?	
b.	Are my social skills determined by nature or nurture?	
c.	Can my personality change over time?	
d.	Why do I work much better when I study with a group of friends?	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.2d	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	45.	The shared beliefs, values, rules, and customs that exist within a group make up a person’s
a.	society.	
b.	culture.	
c.	civilization.	
d.	community.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3a	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 3, Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World

	46.	The subfield of cognitive psychology focuses on
a.	groups, relationships, and workplace interactions.	
b.	personality, gender, and self-concept.	
c.	norm, beliefs, and values.	
d.	thinking, memory, and attention.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3a	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	47.	Which of the following is NOT an example of an interpersonal behavior?
a.	having a fight with your partner	
b.	persuading your boss to give you a day off	
c.	deciding that you should go out more often	
d.	speaking up at a team meeting	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.3a	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	48.	Psychological science occurs at which level(s) of analysis?
a.	biological	
b.	social	
c.	individual	
d.	all of the above	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3b	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	49.	In psychology, the cultural level of analysis emphasizes the study of
a.	genes and behavior.	
b.	norms and values.	
c.	perception and self-concept.	
d.	individual differences.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3b	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 3, Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World

	50.	The type of psychologists who study, assess, and treat individuals with psychological disorders are called __________ psychologists.
a.	school	
b.	personality	
c.	clinical	
d.	cognitive	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3b	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	51.	Sean is studying psychology. He decides to use the biological level of analysis to interpret his findings. Sean is most likely examining
a.	how depression results in chemical changes in the brain.	
b.	whether a person’s personality is stable or changing across the life span.	
c.	how being in a group changes whether a person will engage in illegal behavior.	
d.	how different cultures define mental illness.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3b	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	52.	Daniel is highly interested in workplace training and job placement. He would probably be most interested in speaking to a(n) __________ psychologist.
a.	counseling	
b.	clinical	
c.	industrial/organizational	
d.	developmental	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3b	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	53.	You catch your 12-year-old sister smoking. She says that she likes to smoke because her friends think it looks “cool.” Which level of psychological analysis is she using?
a.	biological	
b.	individual	
c.	social	
d.	cultural	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.3b	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	54.	The type of psychologist who studies how people are affected by the presence of others is called a __________ psychologist.
a.	developmental	
b.	cultural	
c.	social	
d.	clinical	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	55.	If you find yourself becoming a bit depressed, you should most likely seek help from a __________ psychologist.
a.	personality	
b.	social	
c.	developmental	
d.	counseling	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.3c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	56.	Your nephew is fascinated with human memory and the strategies that help people remember large amounts of information. If he were to become a psychologist, you suspect that he would be best suited for a career in
a.	industrial/organizational psychology.	
b.	cognitive psychology or neuroscience.	
c.	developmental psychology.	
d.	clinical psychology.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3c	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	57.	Dr. Ebrahim examines how children’s friendships change through the elementary and middle school years. Dr. Ebrahim is a(n) __________ psychologist.
a.	developmental	
b.	personality	
c.	cognitive	
d.	organizational	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3c	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	58.	Dr. Alvarez studies how the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain might contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis. Dr. Alvarez’s work best exemplifies the __________ subfield of psychology.
a.	cognitive	
b.	experimental	
c.	developmental	
d.	biological	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.3c	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	59.	Dr. Growe is reading an article discussing the effect of group size on the conformity of group members. Dr. Growe is most likely reading the Journal of __________ Psychology.
a.	Developmental	
b.	Social	
c.	Cultural	
d.	Personality	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.3c	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	60.	Before psychologists can begin a research project, they must receive approval from the
a.	American Psychological Association.	
b.	Association of Psychological Science.	
c.	National Science Foundation.	
d.	Institutional Review Board.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3d	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 3, Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World

	61.	Should people have access to data collected in an experiment? The latter question is associated with the ethical issue of
a.	deception.	
b.	informed consent.	
c.	anonymity.	
d.	confidentiality.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3d	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 3, Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World

	62.	If a researcher publicly discussed a participant’s responses and named the participant, that researcher would be guilty of violating the ethical principle of
a.	confidentiality.	
b.	anonymity.	
c.	privacy.	
d.	deception.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3d	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 3, Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World

	63.	Informed consent means that
a.	participants’ information must be kept strictly confidential.	
b.	participants must be told about a research study and allowed to choose whether or not they would like to participate.	
c.	a research study has been reviewed and approved by a group of reviewers based on ethical standards.	
d.	a researcher is not permitted to observe people in public places without their knowledge.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3d	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 3, Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World

	64.	If a researcher was denied permission to conduct a study because participants might suffer harm, that decision would have been made by the
a.	American Psychological Association.	
b.	Institutional Review Board.	
c.	National Science Foundation.	
d.	Association of Psychological Science.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.3d	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 3, Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World

	65.	An explanation of how an observable phenomenon works is provided by a(n)
a.	theory.	
b.	hypothesis.	
c.	experiment	
d.	correlation.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4a	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	66.	Which of the following involves a specific, testable prediction?
a.	a theory	
b.	a hypothesis	
c.	descriptive methods	
d.	introspection	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4a	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	67.	In the scientific method, a set of interconnected ideas or concepts is called a(n)
a.	theory.	
b.	hypothesis.	
c.	experiment.	
d.	descriptive method.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4a	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	68.	Susannah observes and measures people’s traits to gain new knowledge about personality. Susannah’s work is
a.	biased.	
b.	theoretical.	
c.	subjective.	
d.	empirical.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.4a	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	69.	If Mike wants to use the scientific method, he would use all of the following elements EXCEPT
a.	focusing on a theory.	
b.	stating a hypothesis.	
c.	using a research method.	
d.	his personal experiences.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4b	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	70.	George is looking for a research project. To get started, he could make use of an existing theory because
a.	theories are shown to be true, so subsequent research is successful.	
b.	one of the benefits of theories is that they lead to testable hypotheses.	
c.	a theory can be successfully replicated by researchers.	
d.	theories lead to successful research.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.4b	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	71.	A researcher believes that presenting possible suspects in a lineup one at a time instead of in a group would lead to more accurate identification of the true suspect. This belief represents a(n)
a.	hypothesis.	
b.	independent variable.	
c.	correlation.	
d.	theory.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.4b	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	72.	An extensive study of a single person or a few people is characteristic of
a.	a self-report.	
b.	case studies.	
c.	the scientific method.	
d.	an experiment.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	73.	In correlational studies, there is ambiguity as to which variable is the cause and which is the effect. This phenomenon is known as
a.	the third variable problem.	
b.	random error.	
c.	selection bias.	
d.	the directionality problem.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	74.	When a researcher manipulates a variable to see what effect the manipulation has on another variable, the research design is a(n)
a.	correlational study.	
b.	experiment.	
c.	naturalistic observation.	
d.	case study.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	75.	The variable that a researcher measures in an experiment is called the
a.	independent variable.	
b.	dependent variable.	
c.	experimental group.	
d.	control group.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	76.	The variable that a researcher manipulates in an experiment is called the
a.	independent variable.	
b.	dependent variable.	
c.	third variable.	
d.	stimulus.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	77.	If a researcher wants to be able to generalize about a population using data pulled from a sample, it is best to use
a.	a convenience sample.	
b.	experience sampling.	
c.	a descriptive study.	
d.	a random sample.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	78.	Jane Goodall systematically watched and recorded the behavior of chimpanzees in their natural environment. She was conducting
a.	observational studies.	
b.	case studies.	
c.	experiments.	
d.	correlations.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	79.	Which of the following sampling techniques gives each member of the population an equal chance of being selected to participate?
a.	random sampling	
b.	convenience sampling	
c.	random assignment	
d.	a case study	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	80.	The precise way a researcher measures and defines a variable is known as the
a.	operational definition.	
b.	theory.	
c.	hypothesis.	
d.	independent variable.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	81.	The Hawthorne effect refers to changes in behavior associated with
a.	reactivity.	
b.	observer bias.	
c.	deception.	
d.	informed consent.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	82.	In an experiment, the independent variable is the variable that
a.	is hidden or unknown.	
b.	changes over time.	
c.	is measured by the researcher.	
d.	is deliberately manipulated by the researcher.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	83.	Investigators who are interested in studying attitudes and would like to gain a lot of information very quickly are likely to use
a.	a case study.	
b.	an experiment.	
c.	observation.	
d.	self-reports.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	84.	Wilhelm randomly assigns participants to two groups and compares the group that receives a treatment with the group that receives no treatment. The group that gets the treatment is the __________ group.
a.	variable	
b.	confound	
c.	experimental	
d.	control	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	85.	Paloma randomly assigns participants to two groups and compares the group that receives a treatment with the group that receives no treatment. The group that gets no treatment is the __________ group.
a.	variable	
b.	confound	
c.	experimental	
d.	control	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	86.	In order to maximize the likelihood that experimental and control groups are similar before any treatment has begun, researchers typically use
a.	naturalistic observation.	
b.	random assignment.	
c.	sampling.	
d.	observational studies.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	87.	A psychologist wants to create two groups that are as similar as possible at the beginning of an experiment. To do this, she should use
a.	random sampling.	
b.	random assignment.	
c.	self-report methods.	
d.	participant observation.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	88.	If a researcher created two groups by assigning the first 30 people to the experimental group and the last 30 to the control group, the process would violate the principle of
a.	the directionality problem.	
b.	confounds.	
c.	random assignment.	
d.	descriptive research.	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	89.	Bai is conducting a study on learning. When she manipulates an independent variable, it is possible that some other factor, such as noise in the hall, can affect learning in one of the groups but not in the other. This possibility reflects the presence of
a.	a confound.	
b.	a dependent variable.	
c.	selection bias.	
d.	random assignment.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	90.	If a psychologist’s goal is to describe behavior or mental processes, he might conduct a(n) __________ study.
a.	experimental	
b.	descriptive	
c.	independent	
d.	dependent	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	91.	If a researcher defined happiness based on the number of times a person smiled in a 15-minute period, the number of smiles would be
a.	a hypothesis.	
b.	the operational definition of happiness.	
c.	a measure of reaction time.	
d.	the independent variable.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Understanding
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	92.	Because Lucy becomes aware that all of the adults are watching her as she plays, she starts to act silly and make funny noises. Her behavior is called
a.	the directionality problem.	
b.	causality.	
c.	random sampling.	
d.	reactivity.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology

	93.	Johnny wants to show that watering his crop more in the spring causes a larger harvest in the fall. Which type of study should Johnny use?
a.	descriptive study	
b.	correlational study	
c.	experiment	
d.	case study	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	94.	Janice wants to use a descriptive research method to study the behavior of children following the birth of a new brother or sister. She could use any of the following EXCEPT a(n)
a.	case study.	
b.	observational study.	
c.	experiment.	
d.	survey.	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	95.	Dr. Stanley would like to find out whether her study guide helps students perform better on exams. She randomly assigns students to one of two groups: Group 1 receives her study guide and Group 2 receives no study guide. Then, after 3 weeks, the performance of each student is measured on an exam. What is the dependent variable in this study?
a.	the study guide	
b.	the group that did not receive the study guide	
c.	students’ performance on the exam	
d.	there is no dependent variable in this study	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	96.	Dr. Redbull conducts a study to determine whether her new energy drink helps children perform better on spelling tests. She randomly assigns children to one of two groups: Group 1 receives her energy drink and Group 2 receives water. She then gives both groups a spelling test and compares the results. Which of the following is true about this study?
a.	Group 1 is the dependent variable and Group 2 is the independent variable.	
b.	The independent variable is the type of drink the children receive.	
c.	Group 2 is the experimental group.	
d.	This is a correlational study.	

ANS:	B	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	97.	Because psychologists generally use college students as research participants, the research does NOT involve
a.	random sampling.	
b.	convenience sampling.	
c.	confounds.	
d.	random assignment.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	98.	In correlational studies, it is always possible that an unmeasured factor is responsible for the relationship observed. This complication is known as
a.	observer bias.	
b.	researcher bias.	
c.	the directionality problem.	
d.	the third variable problem.	

ANS:	D	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4d	MSC:	Remembering
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	99.	The more time Annie devoted to studying, the better her scores on exams. This fact illustrates a(n)
a.	correlation.	
b.	case study.	
c.	experiment.	
d.	survey.	

ANS:	A	DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4d	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

	100.	You notice that you are always in a good mood whenever wearing your lucky shirt. What conclusion should you draw from this observation?
a.	Your lucky shirt makes you feel good.	
b.	Your good mood makes you want to wear your lucky shirt.	
c.	There is a correlation between your mood and your lucky shirt.	
d.	There is no correlation between your mood and your lucky shirt.	

ANS:	C	DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4d	MSC:	Applying
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

SHORT ANSWER

	1.	A) Describe the nature/nurture debate. B) Discuss the modern view regarding the nature/ nurture debate.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: A) The nature/nurture debate refers to the factors that influence human behavior. Some argue that inborn, biological factors (nature) are responsible for human behavior. Others argue that human behavior is a result of a person’s experiences, culture, education, or other non-inborn factors (nurture). B) Nowadays, psychologists recognize that both nature and nurture work together to influence human behavior. In fact, there are many examples of how nature and nurture influence each other.

DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.2b	MSC:	Understanding		
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 4, Communication

	2.	Introductory psychology textbooks never leave out the name Wilhelm Wundt. Describe who Wundt was and explain why his accomplishments were important to the discipline of psychology.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: Wilhelm Wundt is considered the founder of experimental psychology. He established the first psychology laboratory that allowed for new ways of measuring and studying human experience. One of the new methods that he created was called introspection and it allowed people to measure conscious experience.

DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Understanding		
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 4, Communication

	3.	A) Discuss the key ideas underlying structuralism and functionalism. B) Explain how these schools of thought are different from each other.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: A) Structuralism is an early school of thought that explored the structures or the “parts” of the conscious mind. Functionalism is another early school of thought that explored the adaptive purposes of the mind. B) These schools of thought differ from each other in that structuralism attempts to identify the elements of conscious experience, whereas functionalism attempts to explain the functions of conscious experience.

DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Understanding		
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 4, Communication

	4.	Describe the key ideas of the psychoanalytic approach.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: A key idea of the psychoanalytic approach is that much of human behavior is influenced by mental processes that occur below the level of conscious awareness. The psychoanalytic approach proposes that troubling childhood experiences and unacceptable sexual urges lead to unconscious conflicts of the mind. Psychoanalysis is a therapeutic technique that can help a person cope with unconscious conflicts. This technique allows a therapist to help a client bring the contents of her unconscious into conscious awareness.

DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.2c	MSC:	Understanding		
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 4, Communication

	5.	Your younger brother believes that all psychologists are clinical psychologists who specialize in treating people with mental health difficulties. Write a response to him showing that psychology is broader than the clinical subfield by providing two examples of nonclinical areas of psychology. In your answer, be sure to name each subfield and to give a brief description of each.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: Answers will vary but should discuss any two of the following subfields: biological psychology, cognitive psychology/neuroscience, developmental psychology, personality psychology, social psychology, cultural psychology, or industrial/organizational psychology.

DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.3c	MSC:	Understanding		
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 4, Communication | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	6.	If you were to choose a career in psychology, which subfield would interest you the most? Briefly explain your chosen subfield and the types of questions that your subfield could help answer.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: Answers will vary.

DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.3c	MSC:	Applying	
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 4, Communication | APA Goal 5, Professional Development	

	7.	Michael Scott would like to conduct a study on the day-to-day behaviors of office workers. He would like to spend 6 years filming their behaviors and then analyzing the contents of the tapes. Describe the three ethical issues that Mr. Scott must consider when conducting research with human subjects.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: Three of the following should be discussed:
·	Privacy—Mr. Scott must protect his workers’ privacy. It would be unethical to observe their private behaviors without their knowledge.

·	Confidentiality—Mr. Scott must keep his findings confidential; he should only make his tapes available to a few, essential people (i.e., researchers in charge of analyzing the data); he should try to prevent other people from linking the study’s findings to particular individuals.

·	Informed consent—the office workers must be told about the study and allowed to choose whether they would like to participate.

·	Deception—sometimes deception may be used if knowledge of the study would alter participant behavior. If Mr. Scott uses any deception at all, he must inform his workers of the study’s goals once the study is completed. He must also explain to them why deception was necessary.

·	Risks—Mr. Scott may not ask his workers to endure unreasonable pain or discomfort. He must assess the risk/benefit ratio of his study and determine whether the benefits outweigh potential benefits.

DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.3d	MSC:	Applying	
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 3, Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World | APA Goal 4, Communication	

	8.	Describe the five steps of the scientific method. In your answer, be sure to explain the difference between a theory and a hypothesis.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: The first step of the scientific method is to create a theory. A theory is a model of interconnected ideas that explains what is observed and makes predictions about the future. Next, a hypothesis is created. A hypothesis is a specific prediction of what should be observed if the theory is correct. The third step is to test the hypothesis using research methods. The fourth step is to analyze the data using appropriate statistics; the fifth step is to report the results and determine what additional investigation is needed.

DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.4a	MSC:	Understanding		
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 4, Communication

	9.	Danielle is using self-report surveys to determine how many people in her neighborhood experienced depression during childhood. What might be some advantages and disadvantages to her using surveys for this study?

ANS:	
Suggested answer: Advantages: Information can be quickly and easily collected from a large number of people; self-report measures are usually inexpensive. Disadvantages: People can introduce bias in their answers (self-report bias) or they may be unable to remember information accurately.

DIF:	Easy	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Understanding		
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 4, Communication

	10.	Many studies use random assignment when placing research participants into the conditions of an experiment. In fact, random assignment is considered an important element of experimental design. First, describe random assignment. Then, explain why it is important for an experimenter to use random assignment.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: Random assignment involves placing research participants into the conditions of an experiment in a way that allows each participant to have an equal chance of being assigned to any level of the independent variable. Random assignment is an important part of experimental design because it creates to two identical groups. That is, if random assignment is used, the two groups should be equal on all variables expect for the one independent variable that the experimenter is manipulating. In other words, random assignment balances out all unknown factors.

DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Understanding		
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 4, Communication | APA Goal 5, Professional Development

	11.	A drawback to correlational studies is the third variable problem. What does this mean? Use an example to explain your answer.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: The third variable problem describes the possibility that a third variable can explain the relationship between two variables in a correlational study. For example, drinking alcohol before driving can be highly correlated with distracted driving. However, stress could be a variable that causes people to both drink and drive and also to be distracted while driving. Thus, the third variable, stress, prevents us from understanding an outcome in a correlational study. It is one of the reasons why we cannot infer causality from a correlational study.

DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Applying	
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 4, Communication

	12.	Daniel believes that skipping breakfast will cause students to perform worse on final exams. Design a strong research study that could test whether a causal relationship exists between eating breakfast and exam performance.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: Answers will vary. An experimental design should be discussed, with well-defined independent and dependent variables. The design should include experimental and control groups. Also, random assignment should be discussed.

DIF:	Difficult	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Applying	
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 4, Communication

	13.	The mayor of Houston is conducting an experiment to determine whether introducing gym classes in certain school districts will lower the rate of childhood obesity. Identify the dependent and independent variables in this study.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: The dependent variable is obesity. The independent variable is the gym classes.

DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Analyzing	
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 4, Communication

	14.	Deshawnda has just read an article reporting a “strong correlation between baldness and heart attacks.” She concludes that you should never shave your head because it will increase your chances of developing a heart attack. Evaluate Deshawnda’s interpretation of this article. Explain why you agree or disagree with her conclusion.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: I disagree with Deshawnda’s interpretation. Deshawnda is incorrectly inferring a causal relationship from a correlation. A correlation is a descriptive statistic. That is, a correlation merely describes the relationships between two variables. Deshawnda should only conclude that a change in one variable causes a change in another variable when an experimental design is being used.

DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4c	MSC:	Evaluating	
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 4, Communication

	15.	Explain correlations by providing a personal example of a positive correlation and a negative correlation. Hint: Think of two variables in your personal life that are strongly related to each other.

ANS:	
Suggested answer: Answers will vary.

DIF:	Moderate	OBJ:	1.4d	MSC:	Applying	
NOT:	APA Goal 1, Knowledge Base in Psychology | APA Goal 2, Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking | APA Goal 4, Communication