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AP Psychology - History & Approaches and Research Methods

Total questions: 85

Worksheet time: 1hrs 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

After the events of 9/11, your friend suggested that the CIA and FBI should have foreseen the likelihood of this form of terrorism. According to her, all the clues were there. This perception most clearly illustrates:

a)

the false consensus effect

b)

the hindsight bias

c)

random sampling

d)

the placebo effect

2.

This technique gathers self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people by questioning them randomly and representatively.

a)

Experiment

b)

Case Study

c)

Survey

d)

Exploratory study

3.

This is a self-correcting process for asking questions and observing nature's answer.

a)

The observational method

b)

the theory method

c)

the scientific method

d)

the hypothetical method

4.

Researchers cannot generalize findings unless their samples are random. In order for a sample to be truly random, every member of the entire group has to have an equal chance of being chosen to participate. Which of the following is an example of a random sampling procedure used to pick 100 participants for a research project?

a)

Design a Web site that has an online version of a questionnaire and include the first 100 people who complete the survey.

b)

Put an ad in the newspaper and pick the first 100 people who respond.

c)

Choose participants from the entire population of interest by putting all the names in a bowl, picking names one at a time until you reach 100, and involving as many of those 100 as possible.

d)

Send questionnaires to the entire population of interest and include the first 100 people who return the questionnaire.

5.

A hypothesis is a prediction that is:

a)

Self-evident.

b)

Testable

c)

Founded in Semantics.

d)

Able to be replicated.

6.

This is an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth.

a)

Survey

b)

Case Study

c)

Exploratory study

d)

Experiment

7.

A researcher is interested in determining if infant crying and caretaker responses are different in developed and developing nations. She trains her research assistants to watch and record babies' behaviors in 3-minute increments, including variations in crying (e.g., whimpering, pain cries, etc.), as well as caregiver responses (e.g., holding, speaking, etc.). She then chooses 50 participants in four different countries to be included in her study. What type of research design is she using?

a)

Naturalistic observation

b)

Case study

c)

Survey research

d)

Correlation

8.
A description of the specific procedure used to determine the presence of a variable.  Created so that the experiment can be replicated by others.
a)
operational definition
b)
independent variable
c)
controlled group
9.
Careful observations of humans or animals in real life situations
a)
case study
b)
survey
c)
naturalistic observation
10.
Repetition of the methods used in a previous experiment to see whether the same methods will yield the same results.
a)
validity
b)
research
c)
replication
11.

What is one disadvantage of a survey?

a)

People don't tell the truth.

b)

Yields a lot of information

c)

Provides a good way to generate hypotheses

d)

Can provide information about many people since it’s cheap and easy to do

12.
A correlation coefficient of 0.8 is a _______________ and suggests that as one variable ____________, the other variable ______________.
a)
strong positive | increases | increases
b)
weak positive | increases | increases
c)
strong positive | increases | decreases
d)
weak positive | increases | decreases
13.
Operational definitions are used for which of the following reasons?
a)
They enable researchers to replicate studies by precisely describing the variables and how they are used.
b)
They exclude mental processes from being studied, as they are no longer considered part of the scientific study of psychology.
c)
They determine which test of statistical significance will be used to analyze the results of the experiment
d)
They determine whether the experiment is better suited for a laboratory or a field setting
14.

I believe people choose to live meaningful lives. I share many of the same beliefs as Carl Rogers. Most important, I believe many people have the ability to reach self-actualization. Who am I?

a)

Wertheimer

b)

Skinner

c)

Terman

d)

Maslow

e)

Seligman

15.

Jill wants to study the process of thinking. Which field of psychology should she choose?

a)

Cognitive

b)

Social

c)

Personality

d)

Learning

e)

Perception

16.

Of the following, who is associated with the Gestalt school of psychology?

a)

Watson

b)

James

c)

Pavlov

d)

Wertheimer

e)

Freud

17.

Psychology is considered a science mainly because it relies on direct observation. Which field of psychology supports this?

a)

Behaviorism

b)

Psychodynamic

c)

Social

d)

Cognitive

e)

Structuralism

18.

Psychoanalytic psychology focuses mainly on:

a)

rewards and punishments

b)

self-esteem and self-actualization

c)

biology and genetics

d)

internal conflict and unconscious desires

e)

sensation and perception

19.

Which of the following psychologists was a structuralist?

a)

Watson

b)

Wundt

c)

James

d)

Wertheimer

e)

Freud

20.

Which philosopher was the first to conclude that knowledge results from our memories of our experiences?

a)

Plato

b)

Socrates

c)

Kant

d)

Descarte

e)

Aristotle

21.

Introspection was the basic research tool used by ________ in order to study people's inner sensations and mental images.

a)

Watson

b)

Darwin

c)

Titchener

d)

Skinner

e)

Calkins

22.

The early school of psychology known as functionalism was developed by

a)

Wundt

b)

James

c)

Descartes

d)

Watson

e)

Freud

23.

Who was a student of William James and the first female president of the American Psychological Association?

a)

Piaget

b)

Bacon

c)

Rayner

d)

Calkins

e)

Washburn

24.

Mr. Lopez believes that severe depression results primarily from an imbalanced diet and abnormal brain chemistry. Mr. Lopez favors a ________ perspective on depression.

a)

biological

b)

pyschodynamic

c)

behavioral

d)

cognitive

e)

psychoanalytic

25.

Akira believes that her son has become a good student because she always praises his learning efforts. Her belief best illustrates a ________ perspective.

a)

biopsychosocial

b)

biological

c)

psychodynamic

d)

behavioral

e)

structural

26.

Which psychological perspective highlights the manner in which people encode, process, store, and retrieve information?

a)

cognitive

b)

psychodynamic

c)

behavioral

d)

evolutionary

27.

The psychologist most likely to help an attorney make selections of jury members is a(n) ____ psychologist.

a)

counseling

b)

community

c)

educational

d)

forensic

28.

When a professional golfer continued to struggle with her swing, she consulted Dr. Ozak, who helped her learn new strategies to help her improve her performance. Dr. Ozak is a(n) _______ psychologist.

a)

counseling

b)

sports

c)

social

d)

psychometric

29.

The specialist most likely to have a medical degree is a(n)

a)

psychiatrist

b)

I/O psychologist

c)

clinical psychologist

d)

biological psychologist

30.

Which of the following best describes the view of the mind held by Plato and Socrates?

a)

The mind is made up of knowledge that is a result of our experiences.

b)

The mind should be studied through careful, empirical observations.

c)

The mind is an illusion produced by the brain.

d)

The mind is separate from the body and continues after the body dies.

31.

Which philosopher is most well known for theorizing that the mind at birth is tabula rasa or a “blank slate”?

a)

Plato

b)

Aristotle

c)

Immanuel Kant

d)

John Locke

32.

According to the text, the SQ3R study method is effective because it

a)

engages the whole brain, not just a small percentage.

b)

increases the investment you are making in studying psychology.

c)

utilizes active processing of the text information.

d)

demonstrates the power of unconscious processing.

33.

Mr. Kay is interested in whether individual differences affect learning. Mr. Kay is most likely a(n) ________ psychologist.

a)

social

b)

human factors

c)

clinical

d)

educational

34.
Which approach to psychology focuses on how behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures?
a)
humanistic
b)
psychodynamic
c)
social-cultural
d)
cognitive
35.
Contemporary psychology is defined as the
a)
science of mental phenomena.
b)
science of conscious and unconscious activity.
c)
science of behavior.
d)
science of behavior and mental processes.
36.
The first psychology laboratory was established by
a)
Wilhelm Wundt.
b)
William James.
c)
Sigmund Freud.
d)
John B. Watson.
37.
The biopsychosocial approach emphasizes the importance of
a)
different levels of analysis in exploring behavior and mental processes.
b)
basic research over pure research.
c)
pure research over basic research.
d)
having a single academic perspective to guide research.
38.
The self-reflective observation of one's own sensations and feelings is called
a)
clinical psychology.
b)
introspection.
c)
spaced practice.
d)
humanism.
39.
Dr. Winkle conducts basic research on the systematic changes in intelligence associated with aging. It is most likely that Dr. Winkle is a(n) ________ psychologist.
a)
biological
b)
social
c)
developmental
d)
industrial-organizational
40.
Which of the following subfields of psychology conducts applied research?
a)
developmental
b)
social
c)
personality
d)
clinical
41.
Which subfield of psychology is the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another?
a)
educational
b)
social
c)
human factors
d)
counseling
42.
Charles Darwin proposed that natural selection leads to the development of characteristics most suited to the survival and reproduction of a species.
His theory has most influenced which branch of Psychology? 
a)
Humanism
b)
Evolutionary psychology. 
c)
Cognitive psychology. 
d)
Behaviorism.
43.
Many humans across cultures share similar taboos, ideas or behaviors that are unacceptable. The perspective of evolutionary psychology would most likely explain this by saying: 
a)
Taboos develop because of behaviors that have caused harm or diminished reproductive success across past generations. 
b)
Taboos develop because of social norms created by institutions. 
c)
Children learn from a young age what is and is not acceptable from parents and other adults. 
d)
Humans share a common morality that creates an aversion to certain behaviors. 
44.
Roger is a freshman in college and is having trouble adjusting to the changes in his life.
What type of psychologist should he be referred to? 
a)
Developmental.
b)
Psychiatrist. 
c)
Clinical. 
d)
Counseling
45.
Who had the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany?
a)
William James
b)
Edward Titchner
c)
Wilhelm Wundt
d)
G. Stanley Hall
46.
Who studied unconscious and conscious behavior?
a)
Sigmund Freud
b)
B.F. Skinner
c)
Ivan Pavlov
d)
John B. Watson
47.
The study of the importance of satisfying love and acceptance needs best describes which school of psychology. 
a)
Behavioral 
b)
Functionalist 
c)
Humanistic 
d)
Structuralist 
48.

If a researcher is studying different approaches to dieting to determine which is the most effective for weight loss, the experimenter's manipulation of dieting is the:

a)

Control condition

b)

Independent variable

c)

Dependent variable

d)

Placebo

49.

If you choose a sample of the population that gives each person an equal chance of participating, this would be:

a)

A biased sample

b)

A random sample

c)

An optimal sample

d)

An atypical sample

50.

You are fascinated by an eccentric neighbor, who is well-known for having taken in numerous stray animals. You are also interested in studying how to get more people to adopt pets from the animal shelter. Which of the following is the best approach for studying this type of altruistic behavior?

a)

Conduct an experiment, using your neighbor as the sole participant, subjecting her to PET and MRI scans to determine if there is a biological component to her altruism.

b)

Conduct a correlational study, using your neighbor as the sole participant, administering several questionnaires on altruistic behavior.

c)

Conduct a case study by intensely interviewing your neighbor over the course of a year, but remembering that anything you learn about her altruistic behaviors might not be relevant to the rest of the population.

d)

There is no point to conducting an experiment, because altruism cannot be measured or observed.

51.

In an experiment, researchers manipulate one or more _______________ and then determine whether this manipulation had an effect on the _______________.

a)

independent variables; dependent variable

b)

dependent variables; independent variable

c)

correlations; association

d)

personality characteristics; outcome

52.

We tend to overestimate the extent to which other people share our attitudes and opinions. This is because we spend most of our time with people who represent:

a)

A biased sample.

b)

A random sample.

c)

A sampling technique

d)

Atypical individual cases.

53.

Professor Garcia would like to study parental spanking and aggressive behavior in children. Which of the following research methods would NOT be feasible due to ethical problems associated with trying to manipulate the spanking variable?

a)

Naturalistic observation

b)

Case study

c)

Experimental method

d)

correlational study

54.

In order to control for experimenter bias as well as extraneous variables such as severity of condition, attitudes, age, etc., researchers assign subjects to groups by:

a)

Random assignment

b)

Replication

c)

Naturalistic observation

d)

Operational definitions

55.

The survey method is different from case studies because:

a)

Many people are included in the sample.

b)

A representative sample is used.

c)

Self-reported attitudes and behaviors are ascertained.

d)

All of the answers are true.

56.
Which of the following is most important when conducting survey research?
a)
Choosing a representative sample
b)
Choosing a large sample
c)
Choosing a biased sample
d)
Choosing a sample whoes answers will likely support your hypothesis
57.
Which of the following questions is best investigated by means of a survey?
a)
Is IQ related to grades?
b)
Does extra sleep improve memory?
c)
Are students more likely to be politically liberal or conservative?
d)
What is the best way to study for AP Tests?
58.
Which descriptive statistic would a researcher use to describe how close a student's SAT score is to a school's average SAT score?
a)
Correlation coefficient 
b)
Mean
c)
Median 
d)
Standard deviation 
59.
Which method should a psychology researcher use if she is interested in testing whether a specific reward in a classroom situation causes students to behave better?
a)
case study 
b)
experiment 
c)
survey 
d)
correlation 
60.
When a distribution of scores is skewed, which of the following is the most representative measure of central tendency?
a)
Inference 
b)
Standard deviation 
c)
Mean 
d)
Median 
61.
Which statistical measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme scores?
a)
Mean
b)
Median 
c)
Mode
d)
Skew
62.
In a normal distribution, what percentage of the scores in the distribution falls within on standard deviation on either side of the mean?
a)
34 %
b)
40 %
c)
50 %
d)
68 %
63.
Which of the following is used only in correlation studies?
a)
Double blind 
b)
Placebo
c)
Random assignment 
d)
Scatterplot
64.
Which of the following correlation coefficients represents the strongest relationship between two variables?
a)
+ .30
b)
+ .75
c)
+ 1.3
d)
- .85
65.
Which of the following is an example of negative correlation?
a)
People who spend more time exercising tend to weigh less
b)
Teenage females tend to have fewer speeding tickets than teenage males.
c)
Students with low IQ scores tend to have lower grades.
d)
Students'' shoe sizes are not related to their grades.
66.
In a double-blind procedure, who is unaware of the experimental group assignment?
a)
The experimenter
b)
The participants
c)
Neither the experimenter nor the participants are aware
d)
Both the experimenter and participants are aware
67.
Mary watches several different species of birds to discover how they feed their young in their habitat, without being intrusive. This would be an example of what type of study?
a)
Case study
b)
Naturalistic observation
c)
Survey
d)
Experiment
68.
In an experiment the ____ group is NOT exposed to the independent variable.
a)
experimental
b)
control
c)
double blind
d)
single blind
69.
An experiment is performed to see if background music improves learning.  Two groups study the same material, one while listening to music and another without music. The independent variable is
a)
learning
b)
size of group
c)
material studied
d)
presence of music
70.
In an experiment to test the effects of hunger on aggressive behavior, aggressive behavior would be the
a)
placebo
b)
control
c)
dependent variable
d)
independent variable
71.
In a study of effects of alcohol on driving ability, the control group should be given
a)
a high dosage of alcohol
b)
one-half the dosage given the experimental group
c)
a driving test before and after drinking alcohol
d)
no alcohol at all
72.
A person displays a set of rare behaviors that psychologists had not known about previously, because nobody had ever shown them before. The best strategy to investigate the nature of those behaviors is
a)
an experiment
b)
a survey
c)
a case study
d)
cross sectional study
73.
Which is considered a disadvantage of naturalistic observation?
a)
it provides an overabundance of information
b)
it deals with behavior not tampered with by outside influences
c)
it limits biased observations through careful record keeping
d)
it doesn’t identify the cause of observed behavior
74.
To assess reactions to a proposed tuition hike at her college, Susan sent a questionnaire to every 15th person in the college registrar's alphabetical listing of all currently enrolled students. Susan employed the technique of:
a)
correlation.
b)
random assignment.
c)
random sampling. 
d)
replication.
75.
A phenomenon that occurs when a researcher's expectations or preferences about the outcome of a study influence the results. 
a)
placebo
b)
case study
c)
experimenter bias
76.
The subgroup of the sample that receives the independent variable.
a)
experimental group
b)
control group
c)
population
77.

Division of the sample into groups so that every individual has an equal chance of being put in the experimental group or the control group.

a)

single blind

b)

double blind

c)

random assignment

d)

random sampling

78.
Measures the average difference between each score and the mean of the data set.
a)
median
b)
range
c)
standard deviation
79.
A correlation coefficient of 0.8 is a _______________ and suggests that as one variable ____________, the other variable ______________.
a)
strong positive | increases | increases
b)
weak positive | increases | increases
c)
strong positive | increases | decreases
d)
weak positive | increases | decreases
80.
In an experiment the ___group gets ___.
a)
control, caffiene
b)
control, the independent variable
c)
experimental, the placebo
d)
control, the placebo
81.
The condition that exists when the probability that the findings are not due to chance
a)
statistical significance
b)
experimenter bias
c)
confounding variables
82.

When scores are "bunched up"in the center of a distribution, the

a)

mean will be relatively low

b)

standard deviation will be relatively low

c)

correlation coefficiaent will be a negative number

d)

standard deviation will be relatively high

83.
 
Which curve has the greater standard deviation (the greater spread)?
a)
Red
b)
Black
c)
Blue
84.
Which ethical principle requires that at the end of the study participants be told about the true purpose of the research?
a)
Institutional Review Board Approval
b)
Informed Consent
c)
Confidentiality
d)
Debriefing
85.
What is the Placebo Effect?
a)
the effect on a subject receiving a fake drug or treatment
b)
occurs when researchers’ preferences or expectations influence the outcome of their research
c)
the tendency of some research subjects to describe themselves in socially approved ways
d)
Jared