PSYC 255 Midterm Exam Test
Questions All Solved Correct 2025-
2026 Updated.
Goal of psychological research - Answer - to describe; provide a clear, accurate description and
identify regularly occurring sequence of events, including both stimuli or environmental events
and responses or behavioral events
- to predict; to say that regular and predictable relationships exist for psychological phenomena;
EX: correlation
- to explain some behavior; to know what caused it to happen; can conclude that X is causing Y
to occur through experimental research
- to apply principles of behavior learned through research; translational research = research that
is done for both better understanding of a particular phenomenon as well for its application to
promote physical and psychological well-being
Ways of knowing: Authority - Answer - accept the validity of information from a source that
we judge to be an expert
-fast and efficient
- authorities can be wrong, information can be harmful or biased
Ways of knowing: Reason - Answer - drawing conclusions based on logic
- a priori = belief developed as a result of logical argument before having direct experience with
phenomenon
- can be used to reach opposing conclusions; value of conclusion depends on the truth of the
premises; no way to check accuracy of assumptions
Ways of Knowing: Empiricism - Answer - process of learning things through direct observation
or experience, and reflection on those experiences
- experiences are limited by our interpretations of them
- experiences can be influenced by social cognition biases such as confirmation bias, belief
perseverance, availability heuristic
, - availability heuristic = experience unusual events then overestimate how often they occur
Ways of Knowing: Science - Answer - researchers assume determinism and discoverability
- systematic, empirical, data-driven, tentative, and falsifiable
- pure objectivity is impossible
- can rely on authority, argue logically, prone to social biases
- VALID AND RELIABLE
- produces data based conclusions
Determinism and Discoverability - Answer - events have causes
- by using scientific methods, causes can be discovered with some degree of confidence
- would like to know what causes behavior, and with tools of science we can discover those
causes
The scientific method; the steps of the method, the logic of the method, characteristics of the
method - Answer - Theory
- Empirical research question (specific and testable)
- Hypothesis (can be falsified)
- Design study
- Measure/collect data
- Analyze data
- Result (hypothesis T or F; if T, supports theory, if F, fails to support)
- Deductive reasoning/inference: larger to specific (theory to hypothesis)
Inductive: specific to larger (results affect on theory or hypothesis)
What does it mean that the scientific method can lead to tentative conclusions? What is an
empirical question? - Answer - conclusions are subject to revision based on future research
- science is a self-correcting enterprise and its conclusions are not absolute
Questions All Solved Correct 2025-
2026 Updated.
Goal of psychological research - Answer - to describe; provide a clear, accurate description and
identify regularly occurring sequence of events, including both stimuli or environmental events
and responses or behavioral events
- to predict; to say that regular and predictable relationships exist for psychological phenomena;
EX: correlation
- to explain some behavior; to know what caused it to happen; can conclude that X is causing Y
to occur through experimental research
- to apply principles of behavior learned through research; translational research = research that
is done for both better understanding of a particular phenomenon as well for its application to
promote physical and psychological well-being
Ways of knowing: Authority - Answer - accept the validity of information from a source that
we judge to be an expert
-fast and efficient
- authorities can be wrong, information can be harmful or biased
Ways of knowing: Reason - Answer - drawing conclusions based on logic
- a priori = belief developed as a result of logical argument before having direct experience with
phenomenon
- can be used to reach opposing conclusions; value of conclusion depends on the truth of the
premises; no way to check accuracy of assumptions
Ways of Knowing: Empiricism - Answer - process of learning things through direct observation
or experience, and reflection on those experiences
- experiences are limited by our interpretations of them
- experiences can be influenced by social cognition biases such as confirmation bias, belief
perseverance, availability heuristic
, - availability heuristic = experience unusual events then overestimate how often they occur
Ways of Knowing: Science - Answer - researchers assume determinism and discoverability
- systematic, empirical, data-driven, tentative, and falsifiable
- pure objectivity is impossible
- can rely on authority, argue logically, prone to social biases
- VALID AND RELIABLE
- produces data based conclusions
Determinism and Discoverability - Answer - events have causes
- by using scientific methods, causes can be discovered with some degree of confidence
- would like to know what causes behavior, and with tools of science we can discover those
causes
The scientific method; the steps of the method, the logic of the method, characteristics of the
method - Answer - Theory
- Empirical research question (specific and testable)
- Hypothesis (can be falsified)
- Design study
- Measure/collect data
- Analyze data
- Result (hypothesis T or F; if T, supports theory, if F, fails to support)
- Deductive reasoning/inference: larger to specific (theory to hypothesis)
Inductive: specific to larger (results affect on theory or hypothesis)
What does it mean that the scientific method can lead to tentative conclusions? What is an
empirical question? - Answer - conclusions are subject to revision based on future research
- science is a self-correcting enterprise and its conclusions are not absolute
