AP PSYCH UNIT 1

The first psychological laboratory was established by

• John Watson
• Wilhelm Wundt
• Sigmund Freud
• William James

Contemporary psychology is best defined as the scientific study of

• thoughts, feelings, and perceptions.
• behavior and mental processes.
• conscious and unconscious mental activity.
• observable responses to the environment.

Psychoanalytic psychology focuses mainly on:

• rewards and punishments

• self-esteem and self-actualization

• biology and genetics

• internal conflict and unconscious desires

• sensation and perception

How do cognitive approaches to learning differ from traditional behaviorist explanations? 

• Cognitive psychologists focus on the changes in neural networks that result from learning. 
• Cognitive psychologists try to explain learning from an evolutionary perspective. 
• Cognitive psychologists believe that learning involves some sort of thinking. 
• Cognitive psychologists believe that researchers should only focus on observable behaviors. 

A researcher interested in investigating the attitudes or opinions of a large sample of people is most likely to use which research method?

• survey
• correlation
• naturalistic observation
• case study

In 1848, Phineas Gage, a railroad construction foreman, survived when an explosion drove an iron rod through his head damaging the functioning of the frontal lobes. This instance provided evidence that the frontal lobe plays a role in personality and behavior. Researchers have continued to study Gage's brain to better understand this link. Which research method is being used?

• experimentation
• correlation
• case study
• naturalistic observation

Why is replication important to science?

• Researchers can test the impact of belief on behavior.
• Repeated research with similar results increases confidence in the reliability of the original findings.
• It allows you to obtain a representative sample of cases to study.
• Minimizing preexisting differences between groups increases confidence in findings about a specific theory.

An experiment was designed to study the potential impact of alcohol consumption on emotional stability. A specification of the procedures used to measure emotional stability illustrates

• the independent variable.
• the double-blind procedure.
• random assignment.
• an operational definition.

Why are researchers so careful about drawing conclusions regarding statistical significance?

• They want to make sure an observed difference isn't due to chance.
• They need to make sure the results are important.
• Statistical significance is primarily a subjective decision, so researchers need to be more careful.
• Statistical significance determines which research method should be used for a hypothesis.

Which professional specialty focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of people with psychological disorders?

• personality psychology
• clinical psychology
• biological psychology
• social psychology