Test Bank for Psychology 13th Edition by David G. Myers
& C. Nathan DeWall (All Chapters) | Verified Questions &
Answers | Latest 2026 Update
,SECTION I: FOUNDATIONS AND CRITICAL THINKING
1. A cognitive psychologist is studying the effectiveness of a memory
enhancement technique. She randomly assigns participants to either a mnemonic
training group or a control group. After training, both groups are given a list of
words to memorize. The mnemonic group remembers significantly more words.
Which of the following is the independent variable?
A. Number of words remembered
B. Type of training (mnemonic vs. control)
C. Participant's baseline memory ability
D. The memory test
B
Rationale: The independent variable is the variable that the researcher manipulates. In this
study, the type of training (mnemonic vs. control) is manipulated. The number of words
remembered is the dependent variable (the outcome measured).
2. A social psychologist is investigating whether people are more likely to help
someone in distress when they are alone versus in a group. She stages an
emergency in a public place and observes helping behavior. Which of the
following ethical considerations is MOST critical in this study?
A. Ensuring anonymity of participants
B. Obtaining informed consent
C. Debriefing participants afterward
D. Minimizing the risk of psychological harm
,C
Rationale: While all ethical considerations are important, debriefing is particularly critical
in studies involving deception or staged emergencies. Participants must be fully informed
about the true nature of the study after participation to ensure they understand the
research and to address any potential distress caused by the deception.
3. A developmental psychologist is studying whether children who attend
preschool have better social skills than children who do not. She observes children
in both groups during play and rates their social interactions. Which of the
following is a potential confounding variable in this study?
A. The child's age
B. The observer's rating scale
C. Socioeconomic status of the families
D. The type of play activities observed
C
Rationale: Socioeconomic status is a potential confounding variable because families who
can afford preschool may also provide other enriching experiences that enhance social
skills. This makes it difficult to isolate the effect of preschool attendance alone.
4. A research psychologist is studying the effects of a new antidepressant
medication. He randomly assigns participants to either the medication group or a
placebo group. Neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving
which treatment. Which of the following BEST describes this study design?
A. Single-blind study
B. Double-blind study
C. Open-label study
, D. Cross-sectional study
B
Rationale: In a double-blind study, both the participants and the researchers are unaware
of who is receiving the active treatment versus the placebo. This design minimizes bias
and is considered the gold standard for clinical trials.
5. A psychologist is investigating whether there is a relationship between hours of
sleep and academic performance. She collects data from 300 college students and
finds that students who sleep more hours tend to have higher GPAs. Which of the
following conclusions can be drawn from this finding?
A. Increased sleep causes improved academic performance.
B. There is a positive correlation between sleep and academic performance.
C. Academic performance causes students to sleep more.
D. Sleep deprivation is the sole cause of poor academic performance.
B
Rationale: The finding indicates a positive correlation: as sleep hours increase, GPA tends
to increase. However, correlation does not imply causation. Other variables (e.g.,
motivation, time management) could explain the relationship.
6. A cognitive neuroscientist is studying brain activity during a memory task using
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). She finds increased activation in
the hippocampus during encoding of new information. Which of the following
BEST explains the role of the hippocampus in this process?
A. The hippocampus is primarily responsible for motor coordination.
B. The hippocampus is critical for the formation of new declarative memories.
C. The hippocampus regulates emotional responses to stimuli.
& C. Nathan DeWall (All Chapters) | Verified Questions &
Answers | Latest 2026 Update
,SECTION I: FOUNDATIONS AND CRITICAL THINKING
1. A cognitive psychologist is studying the effectiveness of a memory
enhancement technique. She randomly assigns participants to either a mnemonic
training group or a control group. After training, both groups are given a list of
words to memorize. The mnemonic group remembers significantly more words.
Which of the following is the independent variable?
A. Number of words remembered
B. Type of training (mnemonic vs. control)
C. Participant's baseline memory ability
D. The memory test
B
Rationale: The independent variable is the variable that the researcher manipulates. In this
study, the type of training (mnemonic vs. control) is manipulated. The number of words
remembered is the dependent variable (the outcome measured).
2. A social psychologist is investigating whether people are more likely to help
someone in distress when they are alone versus in a group. She stages an
emergency in a public place and observes helping behavior. Which of the
following ethical considerations is MOST critical in this study?
A. Ensuring anonymity of participants
B. Obtaining informed consent
C. Debriefing participants afterward
D. Minimizing the risk of psychological harm
,C
Rationale: While all ethical considerations are important, debriefing is particularly critical
in studies involving deception or staged emergencies. Participants must be fully informed
about the true nature of the study after participation to ensure they understand the
research and to address any potential distress caused by the deception.
3. A developmental psychologist is studying whether children who attend
preschool have better social skills than children who do not. She observes children
in both groups during play and rates their social interactions. Which of the
following is a potential confounding variable in this study?
A. The child's age
B. The observer's rating scale
C. Socioeconomic status of the families
D. The type of play activities observed
C
Rationale: Socioeconomic status is a potential confounding variable because families who
can afford preschool may also provide other enriching experiences that enhance social
skills. This makes it difficult to isolate the effect of preschool attendance alone.
4. A research psychologist is studying the effects of a new antidepressant
medication. He randomly assigns participants to either the medication group or a
placebo group. Neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving
which treatment. Which of the following BEST describes this study design?
A. Single-blind study
B. Double-blind study
C. Open-label study
, D. Cross-sectional study
B
Rationale: In a double-blind study, both the participants and the researchers are unaware
of who is receiving the active treatment versus the placebo. This design minimizes bias
and is considered the gold standard for clinical trials.
5. A psychologist is investigating whether there is a relationship between hours of
sleep and academic performance. She collects data from 300 college students and
finds that students who sleep more hours tend to have higher GPAs. Which of the
following conclusions can be drawn from this finding?
A. Increased sleep causes improved academic performance.
B. There is a positive correlation between sleep and academic performance.
C. Academic performance causes students to sleep more.
D. Sleep deprivation is the sole cause of poor academic performance.
B
Rationale: The finding indicates a positive correlation: as sleep hours increase, GPA tends
to increase. However, correlation does not imply causation. Other variables (e.g.,
motivation, time management) could explain the relationship.
6. A cognitive neuroscientist is studying brain activity during a memory task using
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). She finds increased activation in
the hippocampus during encoding of new information. Which of the following
BEST explains the role of the hippocampus in this process?
A. The hippocampus is primarily responsible for motor coordination.
B. The hippocampus is critical for the formation of new declarative memories.
C. The hippocampus regulates emotional responses to stimuli.
