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AP Psych Midterm Review

Total questions: 120

Worksheet time: 2hrs 34mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A moderate positive correlation has been found between a person's weight and hours of television watched per week. Which of the following scatterplots best shows this relationship?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

4

2.

The part of the brain most closely associated with maintaining balance and the coordination of complex sequences of movements is the 

a)

hypothalamus

b)

cerebellum

c)

medulla

d)

pons

3.

What is the function of the hippocampus with in the brain?

a)

The organization of emotional events

b)

To store long term memories and regulate short term memories

c)

to regulate fear and anger

d)

the process of connecting the left and right hemispheres

4.

__________ are retinal receptors that detect black,white, and grey.

a)

cones

b)

rods

c)

optic nerves

d)

foves

5.

Diamond went swimming with friends who did not want to get into the water because it was cold. Diamond jumped in and after a few minutes declared it was cold when she first got in but then her body got used to it. Diamond's body got accustomed to the water due to....

a)

perceptual set

b)

absolute threshold

c)

selective attention

d)

sensory adaptation

6.

Parents say, “I’m taking away your phone because you failed Chemistry.”  Parents are using           

a)

positive punishment

b)

negative punishment

c)

positive reinforcement

d)

classical conditioning

7.

Which theory of color vision states that the thalmaus will produce afterimages of black-white, red-green, and blue-yellow colors when overly stimulated?

a)

Young-Helmholtz

b)

Place

c)

Parallel Processing

d)

Opponent Processing

8.

Which of  the following perspectives is most likely to address how the encoding, storing, and retrieval of information might alter our thoughts? 

a)

Behavioral 

b)

Humanistic

c)

Cognitive 

d)

Biological

9.

An individual with an exceptional memory is identified. She is capable of recalling major events, the weather, and what she did on any given date. What research method is being used if a psychologist conducts an in-depth investigation of this individual including questionnaires, brain scans,and memory tests.

a)

Naturalistic Observation

b)

Survey

c)

Interview

d)

Case Study

10.

If a researcher wants to be able to predict if two variables are related to each other they would use

a)

experimental research

b)

correlational research

c)

case study

d)

illusory research

11.

Although located far from the eyes the ______ helps with vision. 

a)

Frontal Lobe

b)

Occipital Lobe

c)

Parietal Lobe

d)

Reticular Formation 

12.

This part of the nervous system produces what is known as the "fight or flight" response 

a)

parasympathetic

b)

sympathetic

c)

somatic

d)

peripheral

13.

The part of the brain that controls life-sustaining functions, such as heartbeat, breathing, and swallowing, is the:

a)

cerebral cortex.

b)

cerebellum.

c)

medulla.

d)

hippocampus.

14.

The ______ lobes are responsible for higher mental processes such as decision making.

a)

parietal

b)

frontal

c)

temporal

d)

occipital

15.

Humans with damage to the amygdala show decreased:

a)

fear response.

b)

sex drive.

c)

incidence of depression.

d)

allergies to food.

16.

The left hemisphere of the brain (broca and wernicke) specializes in which of the following?

a)

visual-spatial perception

b)

language

c)

emotional thought and recognition

d)

pattern recognition

17.

The drunken driving suspect was unable to hold his hand out to the side and bring his finger to a stop on his nose because one of the brain structures depressed first by alcohol is the

a)

amygdala

b)

hypothalamus

c)

corpus callosum

d)

cerebellum

18.

After Paul's serious snow-skiing accident, doctors detected damage to his cerebral cortex in Wernicke's area. Because of the damage, Paul is most likely to experience difficulty in:

a)

controlling voluntary muscles

b)

remembering past events

c)

pronouncing words correctly

d)

understanding what others are saying

19.

The sudden realization of a problem's solution is known as

a)

coping

b)

self-control

c)

latent learning

d)

insight

20.

Brian ate a tuna salad sandwich that had become tainted from being in the sun too long.  Not long after eating, Brian became extremely nauseated and felt awful.  After that, even the sight of a tuna sandwich caused Brian to feel nauseated.  In this scenario, what is the conditioned response (CR)?

a)

tuna

b)

nausea

c)

mayo

d)

sight of any sandwich

21.

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.

22.

Staying up especially late on weekends is most likely to have an influence on:

a)

narcolepsy

b)

sleep apnea

c)

the circadian rhythm

d)

seasonal affective disorder

23.

Your friend insists that she rarely has dreams.  What is the most likely explanation for this situation?

a)

She probably has dreams every night, but only rarely remembers her dreams

b)

she probably uses barbiturates to help her sleep every night

c)

this is normal; most people never dream

d)

she stays up too late at night and gets up too early in the morning

24.

Your young child wakes up a few nights per month seemingly in a panic.  She sits up in bed screaming and crying.  You rush in to calm her and to see what is happening.  The child usually returns to sleep and doesn't remember this happening at all.  What is the best explanation for this behavior?

a)

She may be exhibiting symptoms of early onset epilepsy

b)

She has excessive anxiety during the day

c)

she has too much  sugar in her diet

d)

She is probably experiencing night terrors, a fairly common event in early childhood

25.

Which of the following is the correct order of the structures through which light passes after entering the eye?

a)

Lens, pupil, cornea, retina

b)

Pupil, cornea, lens, retina

c)

Cornea, retina, pupil, lens

d)

Cornea, pupil, lens, retina

26.

The best way to assure that there is no bias in a study is to have a...

a)

Control group

b)

Random assignment

c)

Confounding variable

d)

Double-blind procedure

27.

Mariah developed a fear of the water when she fell off a river raft last summer. This year she took swimming lessons and thought she had finally overcome her fear of water. She was eagerly looking forward to an upcoming rafting trip, however, as soon as she stepped onto the raft she was instantly terrified again. 

a)

extinction

b)

generalization

c)

spontaneous recovery

d)

observational learning

28.

When Lindsay was nine years old, the neighbor’s Chihuahua bit her ankle. Today, Lindsay is still terrified of Chihuahuas, but she likes all other types of dogs. Lindsay’s fear illustrates the process of:

a)

Instinctive drift

b)

Stimulus discrimination

c)

Stimulus generalization

d)

Negative avoidance

29.

Which of the following scenarios illustrates a variable interval schedule of reinforcement?

a)

Receiving a paycheck every two weeks

b)

Holding regular, but unpredictable, fire drills

c)

Earning a prize for every five books read in the library’s summer reading program

d)

Receiving five additional vacation days for each year of employment at a company

30.

Which scan would give us a view of the brain waves occurring during sleep?

a)

EEG

b)

MRI

c)

PET

d)

CAT

31.

A relatively rare condition that involves irresistible attacks of sleepiness, brief periods of REM, and often muscle paralysis is called:

a)

Cataplexy

b)

Benzodiazepines

c)

Sleep Apnea

d)

Narcolepsy

32.

A drug that slows down body functions, especially in the nervous system (example-alcohol, barbiturates) is a(n)...?

a)

Hallucinogens

b)

Mood-altering drugs 

c)

Stimulant 

d)

Depressant

33.

Drugs that heighten alertness, arousal, and decrease appetite, including: cocaine, caffeine, nicotine, and methamphetamine

a)

Hallucinogens

b)

Depressants

c)

Stimulants

d)

Opiate

34.

Sleep spindles and k-complexes occur during which sleep stage?

a)

stage 1 NREM

b)

stage 2 NREM

c)

stage 3 NREM

d)

REM

35.

A little girl gets to eat dessert because she finished all the food on her plate. This is an example of:  

a)

Positive punishment

b)

Negative punishment

c)

Positive Reinforcement

d)

Negative Reinforcement

36.

Chris has failed English class repeatedly and has now stopped trying because he believes the situation is uncontrollable. This is an example of: 

a)

learned helplessness. 

b)

observational learning. 

c)

learned laziness. 

d)

behavior modification. 

37.

Which of the following sentences best describes the relationship between sensation and perception? 

a)

sensation is happens in the brain; perception is interpreting the stimuli detected

b)

sensation involves learning and expectations; perception  does not

c)

sensation is detecting stimuli; perception is interpreting the stimuli detected

d)

Sensation is strictly a mechanical phenomenon; perception is only a cognitive process

38.

Theory that the retina contains three different color receptors- Red, Green, and Blue

a)

Young Helmholtz Trichromatic  Theory

b)

Gate control Theory

c)

Place Theory

d)

Tri Hue Theory

39.

One classic measure of the minimum amount of sound the typical human can detect at least half the time it is present the tick of a watch under quiet conditions at a distance of 20 feet. This is an example of

a)

Assimilation

b)

Absolute Threshold

c)

Gate Control

d)

Just Noticeable Difference 

40.

If you move your watchband up your wrist an inch or so, you will feel it for only a few moments. This best illustrates: 

a)

parallel processing

b)

accommodation

c)

sensory adaption

d)

Weber's Law

41.

While touring a haunted house, you experience an increased HR, rapid breathing, and sweating. After leaving, you return to normal thanks to your

a)

sympathetic nervous system

b)

parasympathetic nervous system

c)

central nervous system

d)

somatic nervous system

42.

What are the 3 stages of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)?

a)

Alarm, fight, relaxation

b)

Alarm, Control, Exhaustion

c)

Resistance, Alarm, Relaxation

d)

Alarm, Resistance, Exhaustion

43.

During this stage of stress the fight-flight-freeze response occurs, which makes heart rate/breathing increase and pupils dilate.

a)

Alarm

b)

Resistance

c)

Exhaustion

44.

Which perspective would focus on the extent to which different styles of parenting are encouraged among various ethnic communities?

a)

cognitive

b)

psychodynamic

c)

social-cultural

d)

biological

45.

Humanistic psychologists focused on the importance of

a)

childhood memories

b)

unconscious thoughts

c)

healthy growth potentional

d)

punishment and reinforcement

46.

A focus on genetics, chemical imbalances, and brain differences between humans characterizes the

a)

sociocultural approach

b)

humanistic approach

c)

biological approach

d)

behavioral approach

47.

Research question: does the distance a person kicks a soccer ball effect how well they will do on their math test.  What is the dependent (measurable) variable?

a)

How far they kick the soccer ball

b)

who the person is

c)

how well they do on the math test

d)

Type of soccer ball.

48.

When experimenting with the growth of a plant, a scientist uses three (of the same type of) plants, two different fertilizers, equal light, and equal water. What type of variable is the fertilizer?

a)

Dependent

b)

Independent

c)

Control

d)

Compound

49.

What would the INDEPENDENT variable be in an experiment testing which types of paper airplane goes furthest?

a)

the paper used

b)

the type of paper airplane

c)

the distance of each plane's flight

d)

how hard the plane is thrown

50.

An experiment is performed on plants to see how different liquids affect plant growth. Each plant in the experiment is given a different liquid; water, apple juice, or milk. Each plant has the same amount of soil, sunlight, and listens to the same music. In this investigation, what is the dependent variable?

a)

Type of plant

b)

Water, apple juice, milk

c)

Plant growth

d)

Color of the plant's leaves

51.
If plants receive more water, the number of leaves will increase. 
This is an example of 
a)
Testable Question
b)
Hypothesis
c)
Variables
d)
None of the above
52.
The subgroup of the sample that receives the independent variable.
a)
experimental group
b)
control group
c)
population
53.
Division of the sample into groups so that every individual has an equal chance of being put in any group or condition.
a)
single blind
b)
double blind
c)
random assignment
d)
random sampling
54.
A psychological or physical treatment given to the control group that resembles the treatment given to the experimental group, but that contains no active ingredient. 
a)
independent variable
b)
placebo
c)
dependent variable
55.
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
56.
Measures the average difference between each score and the mean of the data set.
a)
median
b)
range
c)
standard deviation
57.
The comparison group, the subgroup of the sample that is similar to the experimental group in every way except for the presence of the independent variable. 
a)
experimental group
b)
control group
c)
population
58.
Careful observations of humans or animals in real life situations
a)
case study
b)
survey
c)
naturalistic observation
59.

What part of the brain regulates the sleep/wake cycles.

a)

Hypothalamus

b)

thalamus

c)

pons

d)

cerebrum

60.

During an action potential, what direction does the electrical signal travel through the neuron?

a)

From dendrites, down the Axon, and out Axon terminals

b)

From Axon terminals, down the Axon, & out of the dendrites

c)

Any direction up or down the cell

d)

From the Axon, to the Dendrites, and out the Axon terminals

61.

What does the neuron's Myelin Sheath do?

a)

Controls the actions of the neuron

b)

Produces food for the neuron

c)

Carries information from the cell body to other neurons

d)

Surrounds, insulates, and makes smooth message transmission in the axon.

62.

What do Dendrites do?

a)

Intakes information from other neurons

b)

Produces fatty tissue for the Myelin Sheath

c)

Sends information to the next cell

d)

Controls the speed of electrical signal through the axon

63.

What do Axon Terminals do?

a)

Intakes information from other neurons

b)

Produces fatty tissue for the Myelin Sheath

c)

Sends information to the next cell

d)

Controls the speed of electrical signal through the axon

64.

If someone is able to understand speech, but has an impaired ability to produce speech, they most likely have an injury in their...?

a)

Basal Ganglia

b)

Wernicke's Area

c)

Broca's Area

d)

Substantia Nigra

65.

What is the brief electrical charge that travels down an axon called?

a)

action potential

b)

resting potential

c)

all or none impulse

d)

myelination response

e)

refractory period

66.

The peripheral nervous system

a)

connects the brain to the spinal cord

b)

calms the body after an emergency

c)

is limited to the control of voluntary movement

d)

controls only the arms and the legs

e)

is the part of the nervous system that does not include the brain and the spinal cord

67.

Carla tutors other students because she likes to be helpful, whereas Jane tutors classmates strictly for pay. Their behaviors demonstrate the difference between...

a)

primary and secondary drives

b)

instinctive and derived drives

c)

appetitive and aversive motivation

d)

intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

e)

positive and negative reinforcement

68.
Japanese people have strict social rules about showing emotion in public situations – they simply do not show emotion, remaining cool, calm, and collected, at least on the outside. This is an example of which concept?
a)
Display Rules
b)
Show Rules
c)
Social Emotionality
d)
Public Emotion
69.
This theory suggests that each person has an optimum level of alertness that varies from one situation to another.
a)
Yerkes-Dodson Law
b)
Instinct Theory
c)
Arousal Theory
d)
Evolution
70.
Drive Reduction Theory relies on the idea that humans desire to exist in a state of __________________.
a)
Homeostasis
b)
Peace
c)
Tension
d)
Change
71.

A complex, unlearned, and fixed pattern of behavior common to all members of a

species is called a(n)

a)

homeostatis.

b)

drive.

c)

instinct.

d)

incentive.

72.

For a thirsty person, drinking water serves to reduce

a)

a drive.

b)

an instinct.

c)

an incentive.

d)

homeostasis.

73.

According to the Yerkes-Dodson law, test performance is typically ________ when

physiological arousal is ________.

a)

best; moderate

b)

worst; moderate

c)

best; very low

d)

best; very high

74.

Which of the following is an aroused motivational state created by a physiological need?

a)

drive.

b)

reflex.

c)

incentive.

d)

instinct.

75.

Although Bill was seated next to his friend, he was able to smell the burning popcorn a full minute earlier than his friend. Bill must have a lower _________ for smell.

a)

accommodation level

b)

absolute threshold

c)

tolerance level

d)

gustatory saturation level

e)

adaptation level

76.
Minimum difference between any two stimuli that a person can detect 50% of the time.
a)
Weber's Law
b)
Absolute threshold
c)
Difference threshold
77.
Information processing that begins with sensory receptors and works up into the brain.
a)
top down processing
b)
subliminal processing
c)
bottom up processing
78.
information processing guided by your pre existing knowledge or expectations to construct perceptions.
a)
top down processing
b)
Bottom up processing
c)
parallel processing
79.

Which psychological perspective emphasizes the role of the environment in shaping behavior?

a)

Cognitive

b)

Behavioral

c)

Humanistic

d)

Biological

80.

Which of the following is an example of observational learning?

a)

An athlete improves performance through practice

b)

A teenager learns to drive by watching their parents

c)

A student memorizes a poem by reading it aloud

d)

A child learns to walk by trying repeatedly

81.
part of autonomic nervous, calms you down
a)
Parasympathetic 
b)
sympathetic 
82.

How do antagonists affect receptor activity?

a)

They activate receptors

b)

They block receptors

c)

They enhance receptor sensitivity

d)

They degrade receptors

83.

Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the regulation of mood and is often referred to as the brain's natural painkiller?

a)

Dopamine

b)

Acetylcholine

c)

Endorphins

d)

GABA

84.

What is the primary function of GABA in the central nervous system?

a)

To enhance memory formation

b)

To inhibit neuronal activity

c)

To increase heart rate

d)

To excite neurons

85.

Acetylcholine is crucial for which of the following functions?

a)

Regulating sleep cycles

b)

Facilitating muscle contraction

c)

Modulating pain perception

d)

Controlling appetite

86.

Which imaging technique is most commonly used to assess brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow?

a)

X-ray

b)

fMRI

c)

PET Scan

d)

CAT Scan

87.

What is the primary difference between a CAT scan and a PET scan?

a)

CAT scans use X-rays, while PET scans use radioactive tracers

b)

CAT scans are used for soft tissue, while PET scans are used for bones

c)

CAT scans are faster than PET scans

d)

CAT scans are more expensive than PET scans

88.

Which of the following principles is most important to ensure the ethical treatment of participants in psychological research?

a)

Replication

b)

Confidentiality

c)

Random Sampling

d)

Deception

89.

Informed consent in psychological research primarily ensures that participants:

a)

are paid for their participation

b)

are guaranteed positive outcomes

c)

understand the nature and purpose of the research

d)

can withdraw at any time without penalty

90.

Which ethical guideline is violated if a researcher fails to debrief participants after a study involving deception?

a)

Respect for Persons

b)

Integrity

c)

Justice

d)

Beneficence

91.

What is the primary purpose of conducting a meta-analysis in research?

a)

To explore new research questions

b)

To combine results from multiple studies to identify overall trends

c)

To develop theoretical frameworks

d)

To conduct a single, large-scale experiment

92.

What is a common challenge associated with longitudinal studies?

a)

High participant dropout rates over time

b)

Lack of detailed data collection

c)

Difficulty in obtaining initial funding

d)

Inability to measure changes over time

93.

What is the primary purpose of random sampling in research studies?

a)

To control for confounding variables

b)

To increase the reliability of the results

c)

To select a representative subset of the population

d)

To ensure each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group

94.

How does random sampling differ from random assignment?

a)

Random sampling is used to select participants, while random assignment is used to assign them to groups

b)

Random sampling ensures equal group sizes, while random assignment ensures equal group characteristics

c)

Random sampling is a method of data collection, while random assignment is a method of data analysis

d)

Random sampling and random assignment are the same process

95.

How can researchers enhance the external validity of their study?

a)

By using a double-blind procedure

b)

By increasing the sample size

c)

By using random assignment

d)

By ensuring the study setting is similar to real-world conditions

96.

Which of the following is an example of a negatively skewed distribution?

a)

Height distribution of adult males

b)

Age distribution in a retirement community

c)

Test scores where most students scored very high

d)

Income distribution in a wealthy neighborhood

97.

Which of the following is a characteristic of a positively skewed distribution?

a)

The distribution is perfectly symmetrical

b)

The distribution has no tails

c)

The tail on the right side is longer

d)

The tail on the left side is longer

98.

What does a bimodal distribution indicate in a dataset?

a)

Three peaks or modes

b)

One peak or mode

c)

No peaks or modes

d)

Two peaks or modes

99.

Which of the following scenarios is most likely to result in a bimodal distribution?

a)

Heights of adult men and women combined

b)

Daily temperatures in a city

c)

Annual rainfall in a region

d)

Test scores of a single class

100.

Quantitative research is most likely to use which of the following methods?

a)

Surveys with closed-ended questions

b)

Case studies

c)

Interviews

d)

Focus groups

101.

Which of the following is a characteristic of qualitative research?

a)

Numerical data

b)

Subjective interpretation by researcher

c)

Large sample sizes

d)

Structured data collection

102.

What is the primary function of the hammer, anvil, and stirrup in the ear?

a)

To produce sound waves

b)

To detect sound frequencies

c)

To filter out background noise

d)

To amplify sound vibrations

103.

What is the primary function of the fovea in the human eye?

a)

To provide sharp central vision

b)

To produce tears

c)

To detect peripheral vision

d)

To regulate the amount of light entering the eye

104.

Which type of photoreceptor cells are most densely packed in the fovea?

a)

Cones

b)

Rods

c)

Bipolar cells

d)

Ganglion cells

105.

What does the activation-synthesis theory suggest about the nature of dreams?

a)

Dreams are a reflection of our deepest desires.

b)

Dreams are random neural activity that the brain tries to make sense of.

c)

Dreams are messages from the subconscious mind.

d)

Dreams are a way to process daily experiences.

106.

According to the cognitive theory of dreams, what is the primary purpose of dreaming?

a)

To communicate with the spiritual world

b)

To predict future events

c)

To process and organize information from daily experiences

d)

To fulfill unconscious desires

107.

What is the primary function of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the human brain?

a)

Controlling circadian rhythms

b)

Processing visual information

c)

Managing hunger and thirst

d)

Regulating body temperature

108.

How does LASIK surgery differ from cataract surgery in terms of procedure?

a)

LASIK involves replacing the eye's lens, while cataract surgery reshapes the cornea.

b)

LASIK reshapes the cornea, while cataract surgery involves replacing the eye's lens.

c)

Both surgeries involve reshaping the cornea.

d)

Both surgeries involve replacing the eye's lens.

109.

What is the primary function of selective attention in cognitive processing?

a)

To filter out irrelevant information

b)

To increase sensory input

c)

To enhance memory retention

d)

To improve emotional regulation

110.

Which of the following is a characteristic of REM sleep?

a)

Muscle tension

b)

Decreased breathing rate

c)

Increased heart rate

d)

Slow brain waves

111.

In Pavlov's experiment, what was the conditioned stimulus?

a)

The dog

b)

The food

c)

The bell

d)

The salivation

112.

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'extinction' in Pavlov's experiment?

a)

The dog stops responding to the bell after the food is no longer presented

b)

The dog salivates more when the bell is rung

c)

The dog learns a new trick

d)

The dog becomes more aggressive

113.

Self-determination theory suggests that motivation is highest when individuals feel:

a)

Controlled by external rewards

b)

Disconnected from others

c)

Autonomous and competent

d)

Pressured to perform

114.

Which of the following best describes cognitive appraisal in the context of stress?

a)

The emotional response to a perceived threat

b)

The behavioral reaction to a stressful event

c)

The evaluation of a situation to determine its significance

d)

The physiological response to a stressor

115.

What does the facial feedback hypothesis suggest about the relationship between facial expressions and emotions?

a)

Emotions are solely responsible for facial expressions.

b)

Facial expressions and emotions are unrelated.

c)

Facial expressions have no impact on emotions.

d)

Facial expressions can influence emotional experiences.

116.

Who is most likely to exhibit the 'tend and befriend' response according to research?

a)

Elderly individuals in a community setting.

b)

Children in a safe environment.

c)

Women under high stress.

d)

Men under high stress.

117.

How can identifying one's signature strengths contribute to personal development?

a)

By enhancing self-awareness and confidence

b)

By ignoring personal values

c)

By focusing on weaknesses

d)

By reducing social interactions

118.

Which of the following is considered a primary emotional elicitor?

a)

Thirst

b)

Fatigue

c)

Fear

d)

Hunger

119.

In motivational conflicts theory, what type of conflict involves a decision between a positive and a negative outcome?

a)

Approach-avoidance conflict

b)

Double approach-avoidance conflict

c)

Avoidance-avoidance conflict

d)

Approach-approach conflict

120.

Which of the following best describes the function of mirror neurons?

a)

They fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe the same action performed by another.

b)

They transmit visual information from the retina to the brain.

c)

They are responsible for processing auditory stimuli.

d)

They regulate the body's circadian rhythm.