WGU C180 PSYC
1010 INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT REVIEW
LATEST UPDATE EXAM 2026/2027
COMPLETE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED
ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS AND CORRECT EXPLAINED
RATIONALES | GET IN 100% A+
GUARANTEED PASS !!!
Page1
,Question 1
A researcher conducts a study in which participants are randomly assigned to either a
treatment group that receives a new antidepressant or a control group that receives a
placebo. Which type of research design is this?
A) Correlational study
B) Naturalistic observation
C) Experimental design
D) Case study
Answer: C
This is an experimental design because it involves manipulation of the independent
variable (treatment vs placebo) and random assignment to conditions , which allows the
researcher to draw cause-and-effect conclusions. Correlational studies (A) measure
relationships but cannot determine causation. Naturalistic observation (B) involves
observing behavior without manipulation. Case studies (D) are in-depth investigations of a
single person or small group.
Question 2
A patient experiences damage to their hippocampus following a head injury. Which of the
following memory functions would be most impaired?
A) Remembering how to ride a bicycle (procedural memory)
B) Recalling the name of their first pet (long-term declarative memory consolidation)
C) Repeating a phone number just heard (short-term memory)
D) Recognizing a familiar tune (implicit memory)
Answer: B
The hippocampus is critical for consolidating new explicit (declarative) memories (facts
and events) from short-term to long-term storage . Damage typically causes anterograde
amnesia: inability to form new long-term declarative memories, though remote memories
may be spared. Procedural memory (A) depends on the cerebellum and basal ganglia.
Short-term memory (C) does NOT require the hippocampus. Implicit memory (D) is largely
intact with hippocampal damage.
Question 3
A child learns to say "please" because her parents praise her every time she uses the word.
This is an example of which type of learning?
Page2
,A) Classical conditioning
B) Observational learning
C) Operant conditioning (positive reinforcement)
D) Latent learning
Answer: C
Praise is a positive reinforcer that increases the likelihood of the behavior (saying "please") .
This is operant conditioning because the behavior is controlled by its consequences
(reinforcement). Classical conditioning (A) involves associating two stimuli (bell + food).
Observational learning (B) involves watching a model. Latent learning (D) occurs without
reinforcement.
Question 4
A student studies for an exam in a quiet library but takes the exam in a noisy auditorium.
Despite knowing the material, the student performs poorly. Which memory phenomenon
best explains this?
A) Retroactive interference
B) Proactive interference
C) State-dependent memory
D) Context-dependent memory
Answer: D
Context-dependent memory occurs when retrieval is improved when the environmental
context at retrieval matches the context at encoding . Studying in a quiet library and testing
in a noisy auditorium creates a mismatch, leading to poorer recall. State-dependent
memory (C) refers to internal states (mood, drugs). Interference (A, B) involves competition
between memories.
Question 5
A therapist helps a patient identify maladaptive thought patterns such as "I must be perfect
in everything I do" and works to replace them with more realistic thoughts. Which
therapeutic approach is this?
A) Humanistic therapy
B) Psychoanalysis
C) Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
D) Behavioral therapy
Page3
, Answer: C
CBT focuses on identifying and restructuring cognitive distortions (irrational thoughts) and
modifying associated behaviors . The therapist targets the maladaptive belief "I must be
perfect" (cognitive component) and will also address behavioral patterns. Humanistic
therapy (A) emphasizes self-actualization and unconditional positive regard.
Psychoanalysis (B) focuses on unconscious conflicts. Behavioral therapy (D) focuses only
on observable behaviors, not thoughts.
Question 6
According to Piaget, a child who understands that the amount of water remains the same
when poured from a short wide glass into a tall thin glass has acquired which cognitive
ability?
A) Object permanence
B) Egocentrism
C) Conservation
D) Abstract reasoning
Answer: C
Conservation is the understanding that quantity remains constant despite changes in
shape or appearance . This ability emerges during the concrete operational stage (ages 7-
11). Object permanence (A) develops in the sensorimotor stage. Egocentrism (B) is
characteristic of the preoperational stage. Abstract reasoning (D) develops in the formal
operational stage.*
Question 7
A participant in an experiment is asked to carefully observe and report the contents of their
conscious experience, including sensations, feelings, and images. This method is
associated with which school of psychology?
A) Functionalism
B) Structuralism
C) Behaviorism
D) Psychoanalysis
Answer: B
Structuralism (Wundt, Titchener) used introspection (systematic self-report) to analyze the
basic elements of consciousness . Functionalism (James) focused on the purpose of
Page4
1010 INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT REVIEW
LATEST UPDATE EXAM 2026/2027
COMPLETE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED
ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS AND CORRECT EXPLAINED
RATIONALES | GET IN 100% A+
GUARANTEED PASS !!!
Page1
,Question 1
A researcher conducts a study in which participants are randomly assigned to either a
treatment group that receives a new antidepressant or a control group that receives a
placebo. Which type of research design is this?
A) Correlational study
B) Naturalistic observation
C) Experimental design
D) Case study
Answer: C
This is an experimental design because it involves manipulation of the independent
variable (treatment vs placebo) and random assignment to conditions , which allows the
researcher to draw cause-and-effect conclusions. Correlational studies (A) measure
relationships but cannot determine causation. Naturalistic observation (B) involves
observing behavior without manipulation. Case studies (D) are in-depth investigations of a
single person or small group.
Question 2
A patient experiences damage to their hippocampus following a head injury. Which of the
following memory functions would be most impaired?
A) Remembering how to ride a bicycle (procedural memory)
B) Recalling the name of their first pet (long-term declarative memory consolidation)
C) Repeating a phone number just heard (short-term memory)
D) Recognizing a familiar tune (implicit memory)
Answer: B
The hippocampus is critical for consolidating new explicit (declarative) memories (facts
and events) from short-term to long-term storage . Damage typically causes anterograde
amnesia: inability to form new long-term declarative memories, though remote memories
may be spared. Procedural memory (A) depends on the cerebellum and basal ganglia.
Short-term memory (C) does NOT require the hippocampus. Implicit memory (D) is largely
intact with hippocampal damage.
Question 3
A child learns to say "please" because her parents praise her every time she uses the word.
This is an example of which type of learning?
Page2
,A) Classical conditioning
B) Observational learning
C) Operant conditioning (positive reinforcement)
D) Latent learning
Answer: C
Praise is a positive reinforcer that increases the likelihood of the behavior (saying "please") .
This is operant conditioning because the behavior is controlled by its consequences
(reinforcement). Classical conditioning (A) involves associating two stimuli (bell + food).
Observational learning (B) involves watching a model. Latent learning (D) occurs without
reinforcement.
Question 4
A student studies for an exam in a quiet library but takes the exam in a noisy auditorium.
Despite knowing the material, the student performs poorly. Which memory phenomenon
best explains this?
A) Retroactive interference
B) Proactive interference
C) State-dependent memory
D) Context-dependent memory
Answer: D
Context-dependent memory occurs when retrieval is improved when the environmental
context at retrieval matches the context at encoding . Studying in a quiet library and testing
in a noisy auditorium creates a mismatch, leading to poorer recall. State-dependent
memory (C) refers to internal states (mood, drugs). Interference (A, B) involves competition
between memories.
Question 5
A therapist helps a patient identify maladaptive thought patterns such as "I must be perfect
in everything I do" and works to replace them with more realistic thoughts. Which
therapeutic approach is this?
A) Humanistic therapy
B) Psychoanalysis
C) Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
D) Behavioral therapy
Page3
, Answer: C
CBT focuses on identifying and restructuring cognitive distortions (irrational thoughts) and
modifying associated behaviors . The therapist targets the maladaptive belief "I must be
perfect" (cognitive component) and will also address behavioral patterns. Humanistic
therapy (A) emphasizes self-actualization and unconditional positive regard.
Psychoanalysis (B) focuses on unconscious conflicts. Behavioral therapy (D) focuses only
on observable behaviors, not thoughts.
Question 6
According to Piaget, a child who understands that the amount of water remains the same
when poured from a short wide glass into a tall thin glass has acquired which cognitive
ability?
A) Object permanence
B) Egocentrism
C) Conservation
D) Abstract reasoning
Answer: C
Conservation is the understanding that quantity remains constant despite changes in
shape or appearance . This ability emerges during the concrete operational stage (ages 7-
11). Object permanence (A) develops in the sensorimotor stage. Egocentrism (B) is
characteristic of the preoperational stage. Abstract reasoning (D) develops in the formal
operational stage.*
Question 7
A participant in an experiment is asked to carefully observe and report the contents of their
conscious experience, including sensations, feelings, and images. This method is
associated with which school of psychology?
A) Functionalism
B) Structuralism
C) Behaviorism
D) Psychoanalysis
Answer: B
Structuralism (Wundt, Titchener) used introspection (systematic self-report) to analyze the
basic elements of consciousness . Functionalism (James) focused on the purpose of
Page4
