PSYC 100 Queen's practice questions and answers Already Passed
1. What are the ethics considered in an experiment? - AnswersSafety, Benefits outweigh the
risks, Informed consent, No coercion, Privacy/confidentiality.
2. What should be included in an experiment? - AnswersAccuracy, Fruitfulness, consistency,
scope, simplicity
3. What is deductive reasoning? - AnswersA form of reasoning in which a given premise
determines the interpretation of specific observations
4. What is inductive reasoning? - AnswersA form of reasoning in which a general conclusion is
inferred from a set of observations, which leads to the general conclusion.
5. What is Null-hypothesis significance testing (NHST)? - Answers5. In statistics, a test created
to determine the chances that an alternative hypothesis would produce a result as extreme as
the one observed if the null hypothesis were true.
6. What is a scientific theory? - AnswersAn explanation for observed phenomena that is
empirically well-supported, consistent, and fruitful (predictive).
7. What is a systematic observation? - AnswersThe careful observation of the natural world with
the aim of better understanding it. Observations provide basic data that allow scientists to track,
tally, or otherwise organize information about the natural world. Observations can help us
generate ideas
8. Explain the difference between a Type I error and Type I error. - AnswersA Type I error is when
the null hypothesis is rejected when it is true. And a Type Il error is when the null hypothesis is
not rejected when it should have been.
9. What is the attempt to study the unity of experience called? - AnswersGestalt Psychology.
10. What is the p-value used for? - AnswersThe P-value is used in order to determine the
probability of a result being a random result assuming there is only random chance at play. This
value determines the significance of the result
11. What is the level of significance? - AnswersResult under 0.05 or 5% is statistically significant.
Over 0.05 or 5% is most likely an error.
12. What are confounds? - AnswersFactors in an experiment that may alter the results.
13. Explain the differences between the independent and the dependent variables. - AnswersThe
independent variable is the variable under the experimenter's control, it is manipulated in order
to determine how the dependent variable will respond. The dependent variable is observed but
not controlled by the experimenter.
14. Describe ambulatory assessment. - AnswersAn overarching term to describe methodologies
,that assess the behavior, physiology, experience. and environments of humans in naturalistic
settings.
15. Explain external, internal, and face validity. - AnswersAn overarching term to describe
methodologies that assess the behavior, physiology, experience. and environments of humans
in naturalistic settings.
16. What is the normal standard deviation? - Answers68%, 95%, 99.7%.
17. What does a study need to be an experiment? - AnswersRandom assignment, IV, DV,
minimal confounds, ethics etc.
18. What is the nature-nurture debate? - AnswersThe debate about whether it is the environment
a person grows up in or the genetics inwhich a person has that determines certain behaviours
and character traits. The truth is that both play a role
19. What is behavioural genetics? - AnswersThe empirical study of how genetics and the
environment both explain the differences among individuals
20. What is the Heritability coefficient? - AnswersHeritability is a measure of how much of the
variation you see in a certain trait can be attributed to genetic variation.
21. What is Quantitative genetics? - AnswersThe scientific and mathematical methods for
inferring genetic and environmental processes based on the degree of genetic and
environmental similarity among organisms.
22. What is the error management theory? - AnswersA theory that explains how humans think
and make decisions using heuristics and biases may be embedded in the human brain.
23. Explain the difference between intrasexual competition and intersexual selection. -
AnswersIntersexual selection discusses the traits in which an organism of the opposite sex
causes them to be preferable. Intrasexual competition is the competing of members of the
same sex in order to mate. The "stronger" organism gets to reproduce.
24. What is Gene Selection Theory? - AnswersThe modern theory of evolution by selection by
which differential gene replication is the defining process of evolutionary change
25. What is natural selection? - AnswersThe process by which members of a species with more
desirable traits can reproduce and members with fewer desirable traits will die off.
26. Can epigenetics be influenced by the environment? - AnswersYes.
27. What is a nucleosome made up of? - AnswersDNA wrapped around 8 proteins (histones)
that altogether are called nucleosomes. Repeating nucleosomes are called chromatin.
28. What effect does early life nutrition have on health? - AnswersEarly life nutrition has the
potential to influence epigenetic programming in the brain not only during early development but
, also in adult life, thereby modulating health throughout life.
29. Explain DNA methylation. - AnswersThe covalent modifications of mammalian DNA that
occurs when Cytosine is methylated in the context of CpG dinucleotides. It can broadly impact
human brain development. It also plays a role in the maintenance of long-term memories.
30. What are pG dinucleotides? - AnswersCytosines that are followed by guanines.
31. What is epigenetics? - AnswersThe study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular
phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence.
Epigenetic marks include covalent DNA modifications and posttranslational histone
modifications. It can be affected by childhood nutrition, it causes DNA methylation, and
regulates learning and memory.
32. Explain the difference between a phenotype and a genotype. - AnswersA phenotype is the
pattern of expression of the genotype or the magnitude or extent to which it is observably
expressed. And a genotype is the DNA content of a cell's nucleus, whether a trait is externally
observable or not.
33. What are histone modifications? - AnswersPosttranslational modifications of the (negative
end) N-terminal "tails" of histone proteins that serve as a major mode of epigenetic regulation.
(These modifications include acetylation, phosphorylation, methylation, sumoylation,
ubiquitination, and ADP-ribosylation).
34. What are alleles? - AnswersVariations of genes. When both alleles are the same;
homozygous, when they are different; heterozygous (recessive or dominant).
35. What are psychological adaptations? - AnswersMechanisms of the mind that evolved to
solve specific problems of survival or reproduction; conceptualized as information processing
devices
36. Is forgetting a bad part of the learning process? - AnswersNO. It is actually a very important
part of the learning process. Forgetting gives us room for more, new information
37. Explain the difference between classical and operant conditioning. - AnswersClassical
conditioning is a type of learning between 2 stimuli, it also brings on involuntary behaviour
changed. Operant conditioning is a learning (stimulus-response) when certain behaviours are
punished or reinforced which influences voluntary change in behaviour.
38. Explain the different kinds of punishment and reinforcement used in operant conditioning. -
AnswersPositive punishment (when the consequence is something undesirable happens).
Negative punishment (the consequence is something desirable not happening). Positive
reinforcement (something good happening). Negative reinforcement (the consequence is
something undesirable not happening). If the consequences make the behaviour more likely to
occur, it is reinforcement. If the consequences make the behaviour less likely to occur it is
1. What are the ethics considered in an experiment? - AnswersSafety, Benefits outweigh the
risks, Informed consent, No coercion, Privacy/confidentiality.
2. What should be included in an experiment? - AnswersAccuracy, Fruitfulness, consistency,
scope, simplicity
3. What is deductive reasoning? - AnswersA form of reasoning in which a given premise
determines the interpretation of specific observations
4. What is inductive reasoning? - AnswersA form of reasoning in which a general conclusion is
inferred from a set of observations, which leads to the general conclusion.
5. What is Null-hypothesis significance testing (NHST)? - Answers5. In statistics, a test created
to determine the chances that an alternative hypothesis would produce a result as extreme as
the one observed if the null hypothesis were true.
6. What is a scientific theory? - AnswersAn explanation for observed phenomena that is
empirically well-supported, consistent, and fruitful (predictive).
7. What is a systematic observation? - AnswersThe careful observation of the natural world with
the aim of better understanding it. Observations provide basic data that allow scientists to track,
tally, or otherwise organize information about the natural world. Observations can help us
generate ideas
8. Explain the difference between a Type I error and Type I error. - AnswersA Type I error is when
the null hypothesis is rejected when it is true. And a Type Il error is when the null hypothesis is
not rejected when it should have been.
9. What is the attempt to study the unity of experience called? - AnswersGestalt Psychology.
10. What is the p-value used for? - AnswersThe P-value is used in order to determine the
probability of a result being a random result assuming there is only random chance at play. This
value determines the significance of the result
11. What is the level of significance? - AnswersResult under 0.05 or 5% is statistically significant.
Over 0.05 or 5% is most likely an error.
12. What are confounds? - AnswersFactors in an experiment that may alter the results.
13. Explain the differences between the independent and the dependent variables. - AnswersThe
independent variable is the variable under the experimenter's control, it is manipulated in order
to determine how the dependent variable will respond. The dependent variable is observed but
not controlled by the experimenter.
14. Describe ambulatory assessment. - AnswersAn overarching term to describe methodologies
,that assess the behavior, physiology, experience. and environments of humans in naturalistic
settings.
15. Explain external, internal, and face validity. - AnswersAn overarching term to describe
methodologies that assess the behavior, physiology, experience. and environments of humans
in naturalistic settings.
16. What is the normal standard deviation? - Answers68%, 95%, 99.7%.
17. What does a study need to be an experiment? - AnswersRandom assignment, IV, DV,
minimal confounds, ethics etc.
18. What is the nature-nurture debate? - AnswersThe debate about whether it is the environment
a person grows up in or the genetics inwhich a person has that determines certain behaviours
and character traits. The truth is that both play a role
19. What is behavioural genetics? - AnswersThe empirical study of how genetics and the
environment both explain the differences among individuals
20. What is the Heritability coefficient? - AnswersHeritability is a measure of how much of the
variation you see in a certain trait can be attributed to genetic variation.
21. What is Quantitative genetics? - AnswersThe scientific and mathematical methods for
inferring genetic and environmental processes based on the degree of genetic and
environmental similarity among organisms.
22. What is the error management theory? - AnswersA theory that explains how humans think
and make decisions using heuristics and biases may be embedded in the human brain.
23. Explain the difference between intrasexual competition and intersexual selection. -
AnswersIntersexual selection discusses the traits in which an organism of the opposite sex
causes them to be preferable. Intrasexual competition is the competing of members of the
same sex in order to mate. The "stronger" organism gets to reproduce.
24. What is Gene Selection Theory? - AnswersThe modern theory of evolution by selection by
which differential gene replication is the defining process of evolutionary change
25. What is natural selection? - AnswersThe process by which members of a species with more
desirable traits can reproduce and members with fewer desirable traits will die off.
26. Can epigenetics be influenced by the environment? - AnswersYes.
27. What is a nucleosome made up of? - AnswersDNA wrapped around 8 proteins (histones)
that altogether are called nucleosomes. Repeating nucleosomes are called chromatin.
28. What effect does early life nutrition have on health? - AnswersEarly life nutrition has the
potential to influence epigenetic programming in the brain not only during early development but
, also in adult life, thereby modulating health throughout life.
29. Explain DNA methylation. - AnswersThe covalent modifications of mammalian DNA that
occurs when Cytosine is methylated in the context of CpG dinucleotides. It can broadly impact
human brain development. It also plays a role in the maintenance of long-term memories.
30. What are pG dinucleotides? - AnswersCytosines that are followed by guanines.
31. What is epigenetics? - AnswersThe study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular
phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence.
Epigenetic marks include covalent DNA modifications and posttranslational histone
modifications. It can be affected by childhood nutrition, it causes DNA methylation, and
regulates learning and memory.
32. Explain the difference between a phenotype and a genotype. - AnswersA phenotype is the
pattern of expression of the genotype or the magnitude or extent to which it is observably
expressed. And a genotype is the DNA content of a cell's nucleus, whether a trait is externally
observable or not.
33. What are histone modifications? - AnswersPosttranslational modifications of the (negative
end) N-terminal "tails" of histone proteins that serve as a major mode of epigenetic regulation.
(These modifications include acetylation, phosphorylation, methylation, sumoylation,
ubiquitination, and ADP-ribosylation).
34. What are alleles? - AnswersVariations of genes. When both alleles are the same;
homozygous, when they are different; heterozygous (recessive or dominant).
35. What are psychological adaptations? - AnswersMechanisms of the mind that evolved to
solve specific problems of survival or reproduction; conceptualized as information processing
devices
36. Is forgetting a bad part of the learning process? - AnswersNO. It is actually a very important
part of the learning process. Forgetting gives us room for more, new information
37. Explain the difference between classical and operant conditioning. - AnswersClassical
conditioning is a type of learning between 2 stimuli, it also brings on involuntary behaviour
changed. Operant conditioning is a learning (stimulus-response) when certain behaviours are
punished or reinforced which influences voluntary change in behaviour.
38. Explain the different kinds of punishment and reinforcement used in operant conditioning. -
AnswersPositive punishment (when the consequence is something undesirable happens).
Negative punishment (the consequence is something desirable not happening). Positive
reinforcement (something good happening). Negative reinforcement (the consequence is
something undesirable not happening). If the consequences make the behaviour more likely to
occur, it is reinforcement. If the consequences make the behaviour less likely to occur it is
