Psychology Research Questions

A researcher is conducting a study to determine the effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. Participants are randomly assigned to either a sleep deprivation group (4 hours of sleep per night) or a control group (8 hours of sleep per night). After one week, both groups complete a series of cognitive tasks, and their performance is measured. Which of the following is the independent variable in this study?

• Cognitive performance on the tasks

• The amount of sleep participants received

• The age of the participants

• The time of day the tasks were completed

During a competitive race, Aaron feels a rush of energy that allows him to sprint faster than usual. This sudden burst of energy is most likely due to the increased release of which neurotransmitter?

• Dopamine

• Serotonin

• Substance P

• Norepinephrine

A psychologist wants to know if there is a correlation between the number of hours students study per week and their GPA. The psychologist collects data from 100 students and finds a correlation coefficient of +0.85. What does this correlation coefficient suggest?

• A strong negative correlation between study hours and GPA

• A weak negative correlation between study hours and GPA

• A strong positive correlation between study hours and GPA

• No correlation between study hours and GPA

Maria is startled when she hears a loud noise behind her while walking home at night. Her heart rate increases, her breathing quickens, and her pupils dilate. Which part of Maria's nervous system is primarily responsible for these physiological changes?

• Parasympathetic nervous system

• Sympathetic nervous system

• Somatic nervous system

• Central nervous system

A researcher is studying the influence of environmental factors on intelligence. She conducts a study comparing the IQ scores of adopted children to those of their adoptive parents and their biological parents. The researcher finds that the children’s IQ scores are more similar to their biological parents than to their adoptive parents. Which concept is best illustrated by this finding?

• Natural selection

• Genetic predisposition

• Social learning theory

• Classical conditioning

According to evolutionary psychology, why might humans have developed a tendency to form strong social bonds and networks?

• To increase the likelihood of finding mates

• To reduce the risk of genetic mutations

• To enhance cooperation for survival and resource acquisition

• To better adapt to changing environmental conditions

A researcher is studying the impact of a new teaching method on student performance. The researcher uses two different classes: one class uses the traditional teaching method, and the other uses the new method. At the end of the semester, the researcher compares the test scores of both classes. Which of the following would be a potential confounding variable in this study?

• The test scores at the end of the semester

• The teaching methods used

• The initial knowledge level of the students

• The number of students in each class

Jessica accidentally touches a hot stove and immediately pulls her hand away. Which neurotransmitter is most directly involved in transmitting the sensation of pain to her brain?

• Acetylcholine

• Dopamine

• Substance P

• GABA

In an experiment to determine the effect of exercise on memory, researchers have participants engage in either 30 minutes of aerobic exercise or 30 minutes of stretching before taking a memory test. They find that the group that did aerobic exercise performs better on the memory test. What type of research design is this?

• Correlational study

• Case study

• Experiment

• Naturalistic observation

During an experiment, a researcher stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system of a participant. Which of the following effects would most likely be observed?

• Increased heart rate and rapid breathing

• Pupil dilation and adrenaline release

• Decreased heart rate and digestion activation

• Enhanced muscle contraction and reflexes