WGU C180 INTRODUCTION TO
PSYCHOLOGY FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. In an experiment, which variable is deliberately manipulated by the researcher to observe
its effect on another variable?
A. Independent variable
B. Control variable
C. Dependent variable
D. Confounding variable
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The independent variable is the factor that is changed or
manipulated by the experimenter to determine its influence on the dependent variable.
2. Which psychological perspective focuses on how people process, store, and retrieve
information?
A. Behaviorism
B. Psychoanalysis
,C. Humanistic Psychology
D. Cognitive Psychology
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Cognitive psychology examines internal mental processes such
as problem-solving, memory, and language.
3. Which part of the neuron receives incoming signals from other neurons?
A. Dendrites
B. Myelin sheath
C. Axon
D. Axon terminal
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Dendrites are the branch-like structures that receive messages
from other neurons and conduct them toward the cell body.
4. A researcher finds a correlation of -0.85 between exercise and stress levels. What does this
indicate?
A. Exercise causes stress levels to drop.
B. There is a strong inverse relationship between exercise and stress.
C. There is a weak positive relationship between the variables.
, D. No relationship exists between exercise and stress.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A correlation coefficient of -0.85 indicates a strong negative
(inverse) relationship, meaning as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease.
5. Which brain structure acts as a relay station, directing incoming sensory information to the
appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex?
A. Hypothalamus
B. Hippocampus
C. Amygdala
D. Thalamus
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The thalamus is known as the brain’s sensory switchboard,
routing signals for all senses except smell.
6. In classical conditioning, what is the term for a stimulus that naturally and automatically
triggers a response without prior learning?
A. Conditioned stimulus
B. Neutral stimulus
C. Unconditioned stimulus
D. Reinforcing stimulus
PSYCHOLOGY FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. In an experiment, which variable is deliberately manipulated by the researcher to observe
its effect on another variable?
A. Independent variable
B. Control variable
C. Dependent variable
D. Confounding variable
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The independent variable is the factor that is changed or
manipulated by the experimenter to determine its influence on the dependent variable.
2. Which psychological perspective focuses on how people process, store, and retrieve
information?
A. Behaviorism
B. Psychoanalysis
,C. Humanistic Psychology
D. Cognitive Psychology
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Cognitive psychology examines internal mental processes such
as problem-solving, memory, and language.
3. Which part of the neuron receives incoming signals from other neurons?
A. Dendrites
B. Myelin sheath
C. Axon
D. Axon terminal
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Dendrites are the branch-like structures that receive messages
from other neurons and conduct them toward the cell body.
4. A researcher finds a correlation of -0.85 between exercise and stress levels. What does this
indicate?
A. Exercise causes stress levels to drop.
B. There is a strong inverse relationship between exercise and stress.
C. There is a weak positive relationship between the variables.
, D. No relationship exists between exercise and stress.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A correlation coefficient of -0.85 indicates a strong negative
(inverse) relationship, meaning as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease.
5. Which brain structure acts as a relay station, directing incoming sensory information to the
appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex?
A. Hypothalamus
B. Hippocampus
C. Amygdala
D. Thalamus
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The thalamus is known as the brain’s sensory switchboard,
routing signals for all senses except smell.
6. In classical conditioning, what is the term for a stimulus that naturally and automatically
triggers a response without prior learning?
A. Conditioned stimulus
B. Neutral stimulus
C. Unconditioned stimulus
D. Reinforcing stimulus
