Thinking Critically With Psychological Science
1. Psychology is best defined as the scientific study of ______.
A. conscious experience only
B. behavior and mental processes
C. unconscious drives and conflicts
D. observable actions alone
Rationale: The modern definition of psychology encompasses both behavior (anything
an organism does) and mental processes (internal experiences such as sensations,
perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings) .
2. Which early school of psychology used introspection to identify the basic
elements of the mind?
A. Functionalism
B. Structuralism
C. Behaviorism
D. Psychoanalytic theory
Rationale: Structuralism, associated with Edward Titchener, encouraged people to
introspect and identify the parts and functions of the mind .
3. In an experiment testing whether a new study technique improves exam scores,
the study technique is the ______ variable and exam scores are the ______ variable.
A. dependent; independent
B. control; experimental
C. independent; dependent
D. confounding; dependent
Rationale: The independent variable is the factor the researcher manipulates (study
technique), while the dependent variable is the outcome measured (exam scores) .
4. Which correlation coefficient represents the strongest relationship?
A. +0.2
B. −0.4
,C. +0.6
D. −0.8
Rationale: Correlation coefficients range from −1 to +1, with values closest to either
extreme indicating the strongest relationships. The absolute value matters, not the sign .
Chapter 2: The Biology of Mind
5. The junction between one neuron's axon and another neuron's dendrite is called
the ______.
A. myelin sheath
B. synapse
C. action potential
D. threshold
Rationale: The synapse is the region where the axon of one neuron closely approaches
another neuron, allowing chemical communication .
6. Which brain scan would a doctor most likely use to determine whether a car
crash caused structural brain damage?
A. PET
B. fMRI
C. MRI
D. EEG
Rationale: MRI and CT scans provide detailed structural information about the brain.
PET, EEG, and fMRI primarily detect brain function rather than structure .
Chapter 3: Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind
7. Which of the following is a stimulant drug?
A. Alcohol
B. Amphetamine
C. Heroin
D. Marijuana
, Rationale: Amphetamines are stimulants that accelerate body functions and produce
energy and mood changes. Alcohol and heroin are depressants; marijuana is a
hallucinogen .
Chapter 5: Developing Through the Life Span
8. The rooting reflex is an infant's tendency to ______.
A. throw legs up when startled
B. open the mouth and turn the head when touched on the cheek
C. wave arms when startled
D. follow a moving object with the eyes
Rationale: The rooting reflex helps newborns locate food by turning their head toward
a touch on the cheek .
9. Harry Harlow's experiments with monkeys and surrogate mothers
demonstrated the importance of ______.
A. satisfying hunger
B. maintaining body temperature
C. contact comfort
D. visual stimulation
Rationale: Harlow's monkeys preferred a soft cloth surrogate over a wire surrogate that
provided food, demonstrating that contact comfort is more important than mere
feeding .
Chapter 7: Learning
10. What is the major difference between classical and operant conditioning?
A. Operant conditioning was established before classical conditioning.
B. Classical conditioning involves pairing stimuli; operant conditioning involves
pairing a response with a stimulus.
C. Operant conditioning stops behaviors; classical conditioning trains new behaviors.
D. Classical conditioning is more effective than operant conditioning.
1. Psychology is best defined as the scientific study of ______.
A. conscious experience only
B. behavior and mental processes
C. unconscious drives and conflicts
D. observable actions alone
Rationale: The modern definition of psychology encompasses both behavior (anything
an organism does) and mental processes (internal experiences such as sensations,
perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings) .
2. Which early school of psychology used introspection to identify the basic
elements of the mind?
A. Functionalism
B. Structuralism
C. Behaviorism
D. Psychoanalytic theory
Rationale: Structuralism, associated with Edward Titchener, encouraged people to
introspect and identify the parts and functions of the mind .
3. In an experiment testing whether a new study technique improves exam scores,
the study technique is the ______ variable and exam scores are the ______ variable.
A. dependent; independent
B. control; experimental
C. independent; dependent
D. confounding; dependent
Rationale: The independent variable is the factor the researcher manipulates (study
technique), while the dependent variable is the outcome measured (exam scores) .
4. Which correlation coefficient represents the strongest relationship?
A. +0.2
B. −0.4
,C. +0.6
D. −0.8
Rationale: Correlation coefficients range from −1 to +1, with values closest to either
extreme indicating the strongest relationships. The absolute value matters, not the sign .
Chapter 2: The Biology of Mind
5. The junction between one neuron's axon and another neuron's dendrite is called
the ______.
A. myelin sheath
B. synapse
C. action potential
D. threshold
Rationale: The synapse is the region where the axon of one neuron closely approaches
another neuron, allowing chemical communication .
6. Which brain scan would a doctor most likely use to determine whether a car
crash caused structural brain damage?
A. PET
B. fMRI
C. MRI
D. EEG
Rationale: MRI and CT scans provide detailed structural information about the brain.
PET, EEG, and fMRI primarily detect brain function rather than structure .
Chapter 3: Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind
7. Which of the following is a stimulant drug?
A. Alcohol
B. Amphetamine
C. Heroin
D. Marijuana
, Rationale: Amphetamines are stimulants that accelerate body functions and produce
energy and mood changes. Alcohol and heroin are depressants; marijuana is a
hallucinogen .
Chapter 5: Developing Through the Life Span
8. The rooting reflex is an infant's tendency to ______.
A. throw legs up when startled
B. open the mouth and turn the head when touched on the cheek
C. wave arms when startled
D. follow a moving object with the eyes
Rationale: The rooting reflex helps newborns locate food by turning their head toward
a touch on the cheek .
9. Harry Harlow's experiments with monkeys and surrogate mothers
demonstrated the importance of ______.
A. satisfying hunger
B. maintaining body temperature
C. contact comfort
D. visual stimulation
Rationale: Harlow's monkeys preferred a soft cloth surrogate over a wire surrogate that
provided food, demonstrating that contact comfort is more important than mere
feeding .
Chapter 7: Learning
10. What is the major difference between classical and operant conditioning?
A. Operant conditioning was established before classical conditioning.
B. Classical conditioning involves pairing stimuli; operant conditioning involves
pairing a response with a stimulus.
C. Operant conditioning stops behaviors; classical conditioning trains new behaviors.
D. Classical conditioning is more effective than operant conditioning.
