PSYC 101 Exam 1 V3 | PSYC 101 General
Psychology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(PSYC101 Exam 1) | Portage Learning
1. Which individual is historically credited with establishing the first formal laboratory for
psychological research in 1879?
A. William James
B. Sigmund Freud
C. John Watson
D. Wilhelm Wundt
Correct Answer: D
Wilhelm Wundt founded the first experimental psychology laboratory in Leipzig,
Germany. His work focused on objective measurement and introspection to understand the
structure of the human mind. This event is widely recognized as the formal beginning of
psychology as a distinct scientific discipline.
2. Which psychological perspective emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind and early
childhood experiences in shaping behavior?
A. Behaviorism
B. Psychoanalysis
C. Humanism
,D. Functionalism
Correct Answer: B
Psychoanalysis was developed primarily by Sigmund Freud and focuses on the influence
of the unconscious. It suggests that hidden impulses and childhood traumas dictate adult
personality and psychological conflicts. This approach differs significantly from later
schools that focused on observable behavior or conscious thought.
3. In a psychological experiment, the factor that is manipulated by the researcher to
determine its effect is known as the:
A. Independent variable
B. Dependent variable
C. Control group
D. Confounding variable
Correct Answer: A
The independent variable is the experimental factor that is changed or controlled in a
scientific study to test its effects on the dependent variable. Researchers vary this variable
to see if it causes a change in the participants’ responses. It is the ‘cause’ part of the cause-
and-effect relationship being investigated.
4. A researcher finds that as the number of hours spent sleeping decreases, levels of
irritability increase. This relationship is an example of a:
A. Positive correlation
, B. Negative correlation
C. Zero correlation
D. Experimental cause
Correct Answer: B
A negative correlation exists when two variables move in opposite directions. In this case,
as sleeping hours go down, irritability scores go up. This statistical relationship identifies a
pattern but does not necessarily prove that lack of sleep causes the irritability.
5. Which of the following describes the primary goal of the ‘double-blind’ procedure in
research?
A. To eliminate both researcher and participant bias.
B. To speed up the data collection process.
C. To ensure that the results are statistically significant.
D. To increase the sample size of the study.
Correct Answer: A
In a double-blind study, neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is
receiving a particular treatment. This procedure is critical for preventing the ‘placebo
effect’ and observer bias from influencing the results. It ensures that the outcomes are due
to the treatment itself rather than expectations.
Psychology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(PSYC101 Exam 1) | Portage Learning
1. Which individual is historically credited with establishing the first formal laboratory for
psychological research in 1879?
A. William James
B. Sigmund Freud
C. John Watson
D. Wilhelm Wundt
Correct Answer: D
Wilhelm Wundt founded the first experimental psychology laboratory in Leipzig,
Germany. His work focused on objective measurement and introspection to understand the
structure of the human mind. This event is widely recognized as the formal beginning of
psychology as a distinct scientific discipline.
2. Which psychological perspective emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind and early
childhood experiences in shaping behavior?
A. Behaviorism
B. Psychoanalysis
C. Humanism
,D. Functionalism
Correct Answer: B
Psychoanalysis was developed primarily by Sigmund Freud and focuses on the influence
of the unconscious. It suggests that hidden impulses and childhood traumas dictate adult
personality and psychological conflicts. This approach differs significantly from later
schools that focused on observable behavior or conscious thought.
3. In a psychological experiment, the factor that is manipulated by the researcher to
determine its effect is known as the:
A. Independent variable
B. Dependent variable
C. Control group
D. Confounding variable
Correct Answer: A
The independent variable is the experimental factor that is changed or controlled in a
scientific study to test its effects on the dependent variable. Researchers vary this variable
to see if it causes a change in the participants’ responses. It is the ‘cause’ part of the cause-
and-effect relationship being investigated.
4. A researcher finds that as the number of hours spent sleeping decreases, levels of
irritability increase. This relationship is an example of a:
A. Positive correlation
, B. Negative correlation
C. Zero correlation
D. Experimental cause
Correct Answer: B
A negative correlation exists when two variables move in opposite directions. In this case,
as sleeping hours go down, irritability scores go up. This statistical relationship identifies a
pattern but does not necessarily prove that lack of sleep causes the irritability.
5. Which of the following describes the primary goal of the ‘double-blind’ procedure in
research?
A. To eliminate both researcher and participant bias.
B. To speed up the data collection process.
C. To ensure that the results are statistically significant.
D. To increase the sample size of the study.
Correct Answer: A
In a double-blind study, neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is
receiving a particular treatment. This procedure is critical for preventing the ‘placebo
effect’ and observer bias from influencing the results. It ensures that the outcomes are due
to the treatment itself rather than expectations.
