302 Study Guide Exam 1 Questions and Answers
2025/2026 | Complete Review & Verified Key
Description: A detailed study guide for PSYCH 302
Exam 1, covering research design, measurement, ethics,
and statistical reasoning. Includes verified exam
questions, clear explanations, and definitions for key
concepts. Perfect for first-exam preparation.
Keywords: PSYCH 302 exam 1 study guide research
design measurement ethics statistics psychology exam
Part 1: Research Fundamentals & The Scientific
Approach
1. What is the primary goal of the scientific method in
psychology?
A) To prove theories correct
B) To prove theories incorrect
C) To describe, predict, and explain behavior and mental
processes
D) To validate personal experiences
,2. A specific, testable prediction about what will
happen in a study is called a:
A) Theory
B) Hypothesis
C) Construct
D) Confound
3. A broad, explanatory framework that organizes
existing facts and makes testable predictions is a(n):
A) Hypothesis
B) Operational Definition
C) Theory
D) Empirical Observation
4. Which of the following is a characteristic of a good
theory?
A) It is unfalsifiable.
B) It is parsimonious.
C) It is based on a single data point.
D) It uses circular reasoning.
5. "Falsifiability" refers to the idea that a theory must
be:
A) Proven true
B) Capable of being disproven
, C) Based on observable facts
D) Complex and detailed
6. The principle of parsimony (Occam's Razor)
suggests that:
A) The simplest explanation fitting the data is preferred.
B) Complex phenomena always have complex causes.
C) All theories are equally valid.
D) The first theory proposed is usually correct.
7. Which of the following best represents an empirical
question?
A) Is love the most important human emotion?
B) Does listening to classical music improve infant
memory recall?
C) What is the meaning of life?
D) Is abstract art more beautiful than realism?
8. Peer review in scientific publishing is important
because it:
A) Guarantees the findings are correct.
B) Allows for evaluation by independent experts.
C) Is only used for controversial topics.
D) Prevents the publication of null results.
2025/2026 | Complete Review & Verified Key
Description: A detailed study guide for PSYCH 302
Exam 1, covering research design, measurement, ethics,
and statistical reasoning. Includes verified exam
questions, clear explanations, and definitions for key
concepts. Perfect for first-exam preparation.
Keywords: PSYCH 302 exam 1 study guide research
design measurement ethics statistics psychology exam
Part 1: Research Fundamentals & The Scientific
Approach
1. What is the primary goal of the scientific method in
psychology?
A) To prove theories correct
B) To prove theories incorrect
C) To describe, predict, and explain behavior and mental
processes
D) To validate personal experiences
,2. A specific, testable prediction about what will
happen in a study is called a:
A) Theory
B) Hypothesis
C) Construct
D) Confound
3. A broad, explanatory framework that organizes
existing facts and makes testable predictions is a(n):
A) Hypothesis
B) Operational Definition
C) Theory
D) Empirical Observation
4. Which of the following is a characteristic of a good
theory?
A) It is unfalsifiable.
B) It is parsimonious.
C) It is based on a single data point.
D) It uses circular reasoning.
5. "Falsifiability" refers to the idea that a theory must
be:
A) Proven true
B) Capable of being disproven
, C) Based on observable facts
D) Complex and detailed
6. The principle of parsimony (Occam's Razor)
suggests that:
A) The simplest explanation fitting the data is preferred.
B) Complex phenomena always have complex causes.
C) All theories are equally valid.
D) The first theory proposed is usually correct.
7. Which of the following best represents an empirical
question?
A) Is love the most important human emotion?
B) Does listening to classical music improve infant
memory recall?
C) What is the meaning of life?
D) Is abstract art more beautiful than realism?
8. Peer review in scientific publishing is important
because it:
A) Guarantees the findings are correct.
B) Allows for evaluation by independent experts.
C) Is only used for controversial topics.
D) Prevents the publication of null results.
