Chapter 1 Questions

Question 1

In 1879 in psychology’s first experiment, ______ and his students measured the time lag between hearing a ball hit a platform and pressing a key.

a. Jean Piaget
b. William James
c. Sigmund Freud
d. Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 1

d. Wilhelm Wundt

Question 2

A prominent psychology text was published in 1890. Its author was…

a. Wilhelm Wundt
b. Mary Whiton Calkins
c. Carl Rogers
d. William James

Answer 2

d. William James

Question 3

In the early 20th century, ______ redefined psychology as “the science of observable behavior.”

a. John B. Watson
b. Abraham Maslow
c. William James
d. Sigmund Freud

Answer 3

a. John B. Watson

Question 4

The perspective in psychology that focuses on how behavior and thought differ from situation to situation and from culture to culture is the…

a. cognitive perspective
b. behavioral perspective
c. social-cultural perspective
d. neuroscience perspective

Answer 4

c. social-cultural perspective

Question 5

In the history of psychology, a major topic has been has been the relative influence of nature and nurture. Nature is to nurture as…

a. personality is to intelligence
b. biology is to experience
c. intelligence is to biology
d. psychological traits are to behaviors

Answer 5

b. biology is to experience

Question 6

A psychologist using the behavioral perspective would be most likely to study…

a. the effect of school uniforms on classroom behaviors
b. the hidden meaning in children’s themes and drawings
c. the age at which children can learn algebra
d. whether certain mathematical abilities appear to be inherited

Answer 6

a. the effect of school uniforms on classroom behaviors.

Question 7

A psychologist treating emotionally troubled adolescents at a local mental health agency is most likely to be a/an…

a. research psychologist
b. psychiatrist
c. industrial-organizational psychologist
d. clinical psychologist

Answer 7

d. clinical psychologist

Question 8

A psychologist conducting basic research to expand psychology’s knowledge base would be most likely to…

a. design a computer screen with limited glare and assess the effect on computer operators’ eyes after a day’s work
b. treat older people who are overcome by depression
c. observe 3- and 6- year olds solving puzzles and analyze differences in their abilities
d. interview children with behavioral problems and suggest treatments

Answer 8

c. observe 3- and 6- year olds solving puzzles and analyze differences in their abilities.

Question 9

Hindsight bias refers to our tendency to…

a. perceive events as obvious or inevitable after the fact
b. be more confident than correct in estimating distances.
c. overestimate our ability to predict the future
d. make judgments that fly in the face of common sense.

Answer 9

a. perceive events as obvious or inevitable after the fact.

Question 10

As scientists, psychologists view theories with curiosity, skepticism, and humility. This means that they…

a. approach research with a negative cynicism.
b. assume that an article published in a reputable journal
c. believe that every important human question can be studied scientifically.
d. are willing to ask questions and to reject claims that cannot be verified by research.

Answer 10

d. are willing to ask questions and to reject claims that cannot be verified by research.

Question 11

A newspaper article describes how a “cure for cancer has been found.” A critical thinker probably will…

a. dismiss the article as untrue
b. accept the information as a wonderful breakthrough.
c. question the article, evaluate the evidence, and assess the conclusions.
d. question the article but quickly accept it as true if the author has an excellent reputation.

Answer 11

c. question the article, evaluate the evidence, and assess the conclusions.

Question 12

The predictions implied by a theory are called…

a. operational definitions
b. correlations
c. hypotheses
d. replications

Answer 12

c. hypotheses

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT one of the techniques psychologists use to observe and describe behavior?

a. case study
b. naturalistic observation
c. correlational research
d. phone survey

Answer 13

c. correlational research

Question 14

You wish to take an accurate poll in a certain country by questioning people who truly represent the country’s adult population. Therefore, you need to ensure that you question…

a. at least 50% males and 50% females
b. a small but intelligent sample of the population
c. a very large sample of the population
d. a random sample of the population

Answer 14

d. a random sample of the population

Question 15

A study finds that the more childbirth training classes women attend, the less pain medication they require during childbirth. This finding can be states as a/an…

a. positive correlation
b. negative correlation
c. cause-effect relationship
d. illusory correlation

Answer 15

b. negative correlation

Question 16

Knowing that 2 events are correlated provides…

a. a basis for prediction
b. an explanation of why the events are related
c. proof that as one increases, the other also increases
d. an indication that an underlying 3rd factor is at work

Answer 16

a. a basis for prediction

Question 17

Some people wrongly perceive that their dreams predict future events. This is an example of a/an ______ correlation.

a. negative
b. positive
c. illusory
d. naturalistic

Answer 17

c. illusory

Question 18

Descriptive and correlational studies describe behavior, detect relationships, and predict behavior. But to explain behaviors, psychologists use…

a. naturalistic observations
b. experiments
c. surveys
d. case studies

Answer 18

b. experiments

Question 19

To test the effects of a new drug on depression, we randomly assign people to control and experimental groups. Those in the experimental group take a pink pill containing the new medication; those in the control group take a pink pill that contains no medication. Which statement is true?

a. The medication is the dependent variable.
b. Depression is an independent variable.
c. Participants in the control group take a placebo.
d. Participants in the experimental group take a placebo.

Answer 19

c. Participants in the control group take a placebo.

Question 20

A double-blind procedure is often used to prevent researchers’ biases from influencing the outcome of an experiment. In this procedure…

a. only the participants know whether they are in the control group or the experimental group.
b. experimental and control group members will be carefully matched for age, sex, income, and education level.
c. neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in the experimental group or control group.
d. someone separate from the researcher will ask people to volunteer for the experimental group or the control group.

Answer 20

c. neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in the experimental group or control group.

Question 21

A researcher wants to determine whether noise level affects the blood pressure of elderly people. In one group she varies the level of noise in the environment and records participants’ blood pressure. In this experiment, the level of noise is the…

a. control condition.
b. placebo.
c. dependent variable.
d. independent variable.

Answer 21

d. independent variable.

Question 22

The laboratory environment is designed to…

a. exactly re-create the events of every day life.
b. re-create psychological forces under controlled conditions.
c. create opportunities for naturalistic observation.
d. minimize the use of animals and humans in psychological research.

Answer 22

b. re-create psychological forces under controlled conditions.

Question 23

Which of the following is true regarding gender differences and similarities?

a. Differences between the genders out-weigh the similarities.
b. Despite some gender differences, the underlying processes of human behavior are the same.
c. Both similarities and differences between and genders depend more on biology than on environment.
d. Gender differences are so numerous, it is difficult to make meaningful comparisons.

Answer 23

b. Despite some gender differences, the underlying processes of human behavior are the same.

Question 24

In defending their experimental research with animals, psychologists have noted that…

a. animals’ physiology and behavior can tell us much about our own
b. animal experimentation sometimes helps animals as well as humans.
c. advancing the well-being of humans justifies animal experimentation.
d. all of these statements are correct.

Answer 24

d. all of these statements are correct.