PPE 3003 Exam 1 Study Guide || with 100% Errorless
Answers.
Psychology correct answers The scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior
Personality correct answers A person's characteristic thoughts, emotional responses, and
behaviors; can change over time
How is psychology a science? correct answers The scientific method is used
Theory vs. Hypothesis correct answers Hypothesis is a prediction derived from a tested theory
Hypothesis correct answers A testable prediction derived from a scientific theory
Theory correct answers Explanation for large findings in the world
What are ways by which we err in our thinking? correct answers - Naive realism (the belief that
people everywhere see the world in the same way; "seeing is believing"; an infomercial that
swears weight loss with this one smoothie mix)
- confirmation bias (ignoring evidence in order to favor information that serves your preexisting
beliefs; if you think left-handed people are more creative, you place importance and emphasis on
the "proof" every time you meet a left-handed person who is creative)
- failing to accurately judge source credibility (due to one's own opinions/beliefs)
- misuse of/not using statistics
- seeing relationships that don't exist ("all Heathers suck, so even though I haven't met this one
yet, I know I'm not going to like her")
- using relative comparisons ("I'm so introverted compared to my partner"; this doesn't make you
introverted, you could be an extrovert, but you see yourself as an introvert because maybe your
partner is super extroverted)
- accepting after-the-fact explanations
- taking mental shortcuts
-self-serving bias ("I'm a good driver I promise!" failure to see our inadequacies)
Sources of personality data correct answers Self-report data, observer-report data, test-data, life-
outcome data
Self-report data correct answers Person provides information about his/her own traits, feelings,
behaviors, etc.
- Methods: interviews, surveys, questionnaires)
- Pros: people know their private experiences and have more insight into them (ex: I may be
pretty talkative in social situations externally, but I also know that I am very anxious on the
inside); easy and convenient
- Cons: they may be overcritical of themselves or overenthusiastic of themselves (ex: just not
self-aware; ex: better than average effect); people may also lie on these self-reports to make
themselves look better
, *note: it also matters what the reference group is; a person may answer their view of themselves
differently when compared to regular FSU students vs. compared to professional doctors
Observer data correct answers A report of a test subject from an outside source such as
friends/family, strangers, or professionals (researchers, interviewers, etc.)
- Methods: natural environment (most likely the subject is unaware they are being
studied/observed) or testing environment
- Pros: have insight to things the participant doesn't (i.e. don't have self-serving bias or a biased
view of them), especially if testing in natural. environment
- Cons: doesn't have insight on the participant's feelings/thoughts, only their actions/behaviors;
only sees them under certain conditions (they may act differently when with a partner vs when
with a colleague; may be assertive at work but laid back at home)
*Ex: MacDonald and Ross study (1999)*
MacDonald and Ross study (1999) correct answers Students, their roommates, and their parents,
were asked to predict the success of the student's relationship with his/her partner. Students were
more confident/optimistic about the relationship, but less accurate than the observer groups (the
most accurate were the roommates because they're on the outside and not motivated to see the
partner positively or negatively and get to see them in a home environment)
Test data correct answers Participant is placed in a controlled environment/situation and
responses are recorded
- Pros: not limited by self bias; controlled environment so the context is the same for all
participants involved. (when people self-report, it's unclear what situations they're thinking of);
allow for comparisons across people tested
- Cons: participants might guess what's being studied; researchers may influence responses;
people may interpret the situation differently
*Ex: Darley & Batson, 1973*
Darley & Batson (1973) correct answers This study investigated the role of situational or
dispositional factors in helping behavior. It found that seminary students were less likely to help
a man in need when they were told they were running late than when they were in no rush.
Degree of religiosity did not play a significant role in helping, however. Being told the story of
the Good Samaritan also did not help much, whether or not they were in a supposed rush
Life outcome data correct answers Information that can be gleaned from the events, activities,
and outcomes in a person's life that are available to public scrutiny (if someone has been arrested
for fighting someone unprovoked, they're most likely not a laid back person); ex:
marriage/divorce info, level of school, income, etc.
- Pros: less affected by personal biases and hard to go against since personality can predict many
of these events/activities
- Cons: can be affected by many things (we have to take these separate things into account to
truly analyze the situation); ex: a divorce may happen not because of a personality trait (like
disagreeableness) but because of a certain situation, such as finance
*personality predicts everything*
Answers.
Psychology correct answers The scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior
Personality correct answers A person's characteristic thoughts, emotional responses, and
behaviors; can change over time
How is psychology a science? correct answers The scientific method is used
Theory vs. Hypothesis correct answers Hypothesis is a prediction derived from a tested theory
Hypothesis correct answers A testable prediction derived from a scientific theory
Theory correct answers Explanation for large findings in the world
What are ways by which we err in our thinking? correct answers - Naive realism (the belief that
people everywhere see the world in the same way; "seeing is believing"; an infomercial that
swears weight loss with this one smoothie mix)
- confirmation bias (ignoring evidence in order to favor information that serves your preexisting
beliefs; if you think left-handed people are more creative, you place importance and emphasis on
the "proof" every time you meet a left-handed person who is creative)
- failing to accurately judge source credibility (due to one's own opinions/beliefs)
- misuse of/not using statistics
- seeing relationships that don't exist ("all Heathers suck, so even though I haven't met this one
yet, I know I'm not going to like her")
- using relative comparisons ("I'm so introverted compared to my partner"; this doesn't make you
introverted, you could be an extrovert, but you see yourself as an introvert because maybe your
partner is super extroverted)
- accepting after-the-fact explanations
- taking mental shortcuts
-self-serving bias ("I'm a good driver I promise!" failure to see our inadequacies)
Sources of personality data correct answers Self-report data, observer-report data, test-data, life-
outcome data
Self-report data correct answers Person provides information about his/her own traits, feelings,
behaviors, etc.
- Methods: interviews, surveys, questionnaires)
- Pros: people know their private experiences and have more insight into them (ex: I may be
pretty talkative in social situations externally, but I also know that I am very anxious on the
inside); easy and convenient
- Cons: they may be overcritical of themselves or overenthusiastic of themselves (ex: just not
self-aware; ex: better than average effect); people may also lie on these self-reports to make
themselves look better
, *note: it also matters what the reference group is; a person may answer their view of themselves
differently when compared to regular FSU students vs. compared to professional doctors
Observer data correct answers A report of a test subject from an outside source such as
friends/family, strangers, or professionals (researchers, interviewers, etc.)
- Methods: natural environment (most likely the subject is unaware they are being
studied/observed) or testing environment
- Pros: have insight to things the participant doesn't (i.e. don't have self-serving bias or a biased
view of them), especially if testing in natural. environment
- Cons: doesn't have insight on the participant's feelings/thoughts, only their actions/behaviors;
only sees them under certain conditions (they may act differently when with a partner vs when
with a colleague; may be assertive at work but laid back at home)
*Ex: MacDonald and Ross study (1999)*
MacDonald and Ross study (1999) correct answers Students, their roommates, and their parents,
were asked to predict the success of the student's relationship with his/her partner. Students were
more confident/optimistic about the relationship, but less accurate than the observer groups (the
most accurate were the roommates because they're on the outside and not motivated to see the
partner positively or negatively and get to see them in a home environment)
Test data correct answers Participant is placed in a controlled environment/situation and
responses are recorded
- Pros: not limited by self bias; controlled environment so the context is the same for all
participants involved. (when people self-report, it's unclear what situations they're thinking of);
allow for comparisons across people tested
- Cons: participants might guess what's being studied; researchers may influence responses;
people may interpret the situation differently
*Ex: Darley & Batson, 1973*
Darley & Batson (1973) correct answers This study investigated the role of situational or
dispositional factors in helping behavior. It found that seminary students were less likely to help
a man in need when they were told they were running late than when they were in no rush.
Degree of religiosity did not play a significant role in helping, however. Being told the story of
the Good Samaritan also did not help much, whether or not they were in a supposed rush
Life outcome data correct answers Information that can be gleaned from the events, activities,
and outcomes in a person's life that are available to public scrutiny (if someone has been arrested
for fighting someone unprovoked, they're most likely not a laid back person); ex:
marriage/divorce info, level of school, income, etc.
- Pros: less affected by personal biases and hard to go against since personality can predict many
of these events/activities
- Cons: can be affected by many things (we have to take these separate things into account to
truly analyze the situation); ex: a divorce may happen not because of a personality trait (like
disagreeableness) but because of a certain situation, such as finance
*personality predicts everything*
