PSY 102 Final Exam V2 | PSY 102 General Psychology | Actual Q&A
with Rationale (PSY102 Final Exam) | Grand Canyon University
1. Which psychological perspective focuses on how people process, store, and retrieve
information?
A. Behaviorism
B. Humanistic Psychology
C. Cognitive Psychology
D. Psychodynamic Theory
Answer: C
Rationale: Cognitive psychology is the study of mental processes such as attention,
memory, and problem-solving. This perspective emerged as a reaction to behaviorism,
which ignored internal mental states. It uses the computer metaphor to describe how the
human mind functions as an information processor.
2. In a formal experiment, the variable that is manipulated by the researcher is known as the:
A. Independent variable
B. Confounding variable
C. Dependent variable
D. Control variable
Answer: A
Rationale: The independent variable is the factor that the experimenter changes to
observe its effects on another variable. This manipulation allows researchers to establish
cause-and-effect relationships between variables. In contrast, the dependent variable is
what the researcher measures to see the outcome.
3. Which part of the neuron is responsible for receiving signals from other neurons?
A. Axon
B. Dendrites
C. Myelin sheath
D. Terminal buttons
Answer: B
,Rationale: Dendrites are branch-like structures that extend from the cell body to receive
electrochemical messages. These signals are then passed along to the soma, or cell body, for
integration. Without dendrites, the neuron would be unable to communicate with its
neighbors in the neural network.
4. The process of myelination is significant because it:
A. Increases the speed of neural impulses
B. Promotes the growth of new neurons
C. Decreases the threshold for firing
D. Prevents the reuptake of neurotransmitters
Answer: A
Rationale: The myelin sheath acts as an insulating layer around the axon, allowing
electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently. It permits ‘saltatory conduction,’
where the signal jumps between gaps known as nodes of Ranvier. Loss of this insulation
can lead to severe neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis.
5. Which brain structure is most involved in the formation of new long-term memories?
A. Amygdala
B. Hypothalamus
C. Hippocampus
D. Thalamus
Answer: C
Rationale: The hippocampus is a critical part of the limbic system that processes explicit
memories for storage. Damage to this area often results in anterograde amnesia, where an
individual cannot form new memories. Although it processes memories, it is not the final
storage site for them.
6. The ‘all-or-none’ principle refers to the fact that:
A. The brain uses all its capacity during complex tasks
B. All neurons in a cluster fire at the same time
C. A neurotransmitter fits into only one receptor site
D. A neuron either fires completely or not at all
Answer: D
Rationale: This principle states that if a stimulus is strong enough to reach the threshold,
the neuron will fire at full strength. Increasing the intensity of the stimulus beyond the
, threshold does not increase the strength of the action potential. Instead, higher intensity is
communicated through a higher frequency of firing.
7. Which sleep stage is characterized by rapid eye movements and vivid dreaming?
A. REM sleep
B. Stage 2
C. Stage 3
D. Stage 1
Answer: A
Rationale: REM sleep is often called paradoxical sleep because the brain is highly active
while the body’s muscles are essentially paralyzed. This stage is most strongly associated
with dreaming and memory consolidation. As the night progresses, the duration of REM
cycles typically increases.
8. In Pavlov’s classical conditioning experiments, the bell (after being paired with food)
became the:
A. Unconditioned stimulus
B. Conditioned stimulus
C. Unconditioned response
D. Conditioned response
Answer: B
Rationale: Initially, the bell was a neutral stimulus because it did not naturally cause
salivation. After repeated pairings with the meat powder (unconditioned stimulus), the bell
alone triggered the response. Therefore, the bell became a conditioned stimulus that
signals the arrival of food.
9. A child receives a sticker every time they finish their homework. This is an example of:
A. Negative reinforcement
B. Positive reinforcement
C. Positive punishment
D. Negative punishment
Answer: B
Rationale: Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus after a behavior to
increase the likelihood that the behavior will recur. In this case, the sticker is the added
stimulus that rewards the homework completion. This technique is highly effective in
behavioral modification programs for children.
with Rationale (PSY102 Final Exam) | Grand Canyon University
1. Which psychological perspective focuses on how people process, store, and retrieve
information?
A. Behaviorism
B. Humanistic Psychology
C. Cognitive Psychology
D. Psychodynamic Theory
Answer: C
Rationale: Cognitive psychology is the study of mental processes such as attention,
memory, and problem-solving. This perspective emerged as a reaction to behaviorism,
which ignored internal mental states. It uses the computer metaphor to describe how the
human mind functions as an information processor.
2. In a formal experiment, the variable that is manipulated by the researcher is known as the:
A. Independent variable
B. Confounding variable
C. Dependent variable
D. Control variable
Answer: A
Rationale: The independent variable is the factor that the experimenter changes to
observe its effects on another variable. This manipulation allows researchers to establish
cause-and-effect relationships between variables. In contrast, the dependent variable is
what the researcher measures to see the outcome.
3. Which part of the neuron is responsible for receiving signals from other neurons?
A. Axon
B. Dendrites
C. Myelin sheath
D. Terminal buttons
Answer: B
,Rationale: Dendrites are branch-like structures that extend from the cell body to receive
electrochemical messages. These signals are then passed along to the soma, or cell body, for
integration. Without dendrites, the neuron would be unable to communicate with its
neighbors in the neural network.
4. The process of myelination is significant because it:
A. Increases the speed of neural impulses
B. Promotes the growth of new neurons
C. Decreases the threshold for firing
D. Prevents the reuptake of neurotransmitters
Answer: A
Rationale: The myelin sheath acts as an insulating layer around the axon, allowing
electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently. It permits ‘saltatory conduction,’
where the signal jumps between gaps known as nodes of Ranvier. Loss of this insulation
can lead to severe neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis.
5. Which brain structure is most involved in the formation of new long-term memories?
A. Amygdala
B. Hypothalamus
C. Hippocampus
D. Thalamus
Answer: C
Rationale: The hippocampus is a critical part of the limbic system that processes explicit
memories for storage. Damage to this area often results in anterograde amnesia, where an
individual cannot form new memories. Although it processes memories, it is not the final
storage site for them.
6. The ‘all-or-none’ principle refers to the fact that:
A. The brain uses all its capacity during complex tasks
B. All neurons in a cluster fire at the same time
C. A neurotransmitter fits into only one receptor site
D. A neuron either fires completely or not at all
Answer: D
Rationale: This principle states that if a stimulus is strong enough to reach the threshold,
the neuron will fire at full strength. Increasing the intensity of the stimulus beyond the
, threshold does not increase the strength of the action potential. Instead, higher intensity is
communicated through a higher frequency of firing.
7. Which sleep stage is characterized by rapid eye movements and vivid dreaming?
A. REM sleep
B. Stage 2
C. Stage 3
D. Stage 1
Answer: A
Rationale: REM sleep is often called paradoxical sleep because the brain is highly active
while the body’s muscles are essentially paralyzed. This stage is most strongly associated
with dreaming and memory consolidation. As the night progresses, the duration of REM
cycles typically increases.
8. In Pavlov’s classical conditioning experiments, the bell (after being paired with food)
became the:
A. Unconditioned stimulus
B. Conditioned stimulus
C. Unconditioned response
D. Conditioned response
Answer: B
Rationale: Initially, the bell was a neutral stimulus because it did not naturally cause
salivation. After repeated pairings with the meat powder (unconditioned stimulus), the bell
alone triggered the response. Therefore, the bell became a conditioned stimulus that
signals the arrival of food.
9. A child receives a sticker every time they finish their homework. This is an example of:
A. Negative reinforcement
B. Positive reinforcement
C. Positive punishment
D. Negative punishment
Answer: B
Rationale: Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus after a behavior to
increase the likelihood that the behavior will recur. In this case, the sticker is the added
stimulus that rewards the homework completion. This technique is highly effective in
behavioral modification programs for children.
