MCAT Official Prep Online Practice Questions- Psychology
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_c2wcck
1. Which conclusion is supported by the findings in Figure 1?
A. Non-obese participants experience more cognitive dissonance than obese
participants.
B. Participants experience more cognitive dissonance in homophilous groups
C. Non-obese participants conform more than obese participants
D. Participants conform more in homophilous groups: D. Participants conform more in
homophilous groups
The question requires identifying the concept that is assessed in the study as conformity and combining this information
with the numeric information in Figure 1. The "Fraction of diary adopters" refers to the fraction of participants who
adopted a diary after they were told that their buddy had started using one, which is an example of conformity. The
figure shows that all participants conform more in homophilous groups (indicated by the gray bars).
2. How could the researchers use the foot-in-the-door technique to increase the
participants' likelihood of adopting a diet diary?
A. Encourage the participants to sign a petition in support of diet diaries
B. Have the participants personally interact with the healthy buddy who adopt-
ed the diet diary
C. Tell the participants that the healthy buddy who adopts the diet diary is a
trustworthy health expert
D. Tell the participants that by agreeing to be in the study, they have agreed to
cooperate with the researchers.: A. Encourage the participants to sign a petition in support of diet
diaries
The foot-in-the-door technique refers to convincing individuals to make a small commitment toward a cause, because
this small commitment increases the likelihood of a larger commitment toward the same cause in the future. Option A
is an example of this. If the participants make a small commitment toward diet diaries (signing a petition), according
to the foot-in-the-door technique, they will be more likely to adopt a diet diary in the future.
3. Which statement is NOT compatible with the hypothesis that the self-serving
bias can account for participants' explanations of their body weights?
A. Obese participants view their unhealthy weight as a result of having too
, MCAT Official Prep Online Practice Questions- Psychology
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_c2wcck
many fast food restaurants near home.
B. Non-obese participants view their healthy weight as a result of having strong
willpower
C. Obese participants view their unhealthy weight as a result of not having time
to exercise regularly
D. Non-obese participants view their healthy weight as a result of not having
any fast food restaurants near their home: D. Non-obese participants view their healthy weight
as a result of not having any fast food restaurants near their home
Self-serving bias suggests that when explaining their own behavior, individuals attribute positive behaviors to internal,
stable sources, but attribute negative behaviors to external sources. A non-obese individual would attribute his or her
healthy weight to an internal, stable source, such as strong willpower. However, a non-obese individual would not
attribute his or her healthy weight to an external source, such as not having any fast food restaurants near home.
Therefore, D is incompatible with the self-serving bias.
4. All the participants in the study are given information regarding the benefits
of a healthy diet. According to the cognitive dissonance theory, which hypo-
thetical finding is most likely?
A. Obese participants will change their unhealthy eating behaviors
B. Non-obese participants will change their unhealthy eating behaviors
C. Obese participants will question the validity of the information provided
D. Non-obese participants will overemphasize the importance of the informa-
tion provided.: C. Obese participants will question the validity of the information provided
C is correct. According to the cognitive dissonance theory, when an individual's attitudes are incongruent with his or
her behavior, this leads to cognitive dissonance. To eliminate cognitive dissonance, the individual can either change his
or her attitudes or his or her behavior. The theory posits that individuals are more likely to adjust their attitudes to align
with their behavior than the other way around. Therefore, obese participants are likely to question the importance of
the information provided.
5. If the study were modified to investigate the effect of homophily on the
changes in participants' exercise patterns as well as their likelihood of adopting
an Internet-based diary, how would this change the design of the study?
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_c2wcck
1. Which conclusion is supported by the findings in Figure 1?
A. Non-obese participants experience more cognitive dissonance than obese
participants.
B. Participants experience more cognitive dissonance in homophilous groups
C. Non-obese participants conform more than obese participants
D. Participants conform more in homophilous groups: D. Participants conform more in
homophilous groups
The question requires identifying the concept that is assessed in the study as conformity and combining this information
with the numeric information in Figure 1. The "Fraction of diary adopters" refers to the fraction of participants who
adopted a diary after they were told that their buddy had started using one, which is an example of conformity. The
figure shows that all participants conform more in homophilous groups (indicated by the gray bars).
2. How could the researchers use the foot-in-the-door technique to increase the
participants' likelihood of adopting a diet diary?
A. Encourage the participants to sign a petition in support of diet diaries
B. Have the participants personally interact with the healthy buddy who adopt-
ed the diet diary
C. Tell the participants that the healthy buddy who adopts the diet diary is a
trustworthy health expert
D. Tell the participants that by agreeing to be in the study, they have agreed to
cooperate with the researchers.: A. Encourage the participants to sign a petition in support of diet
diaries
The foot-in-the-door technique refers to convincing individuals to make a small commitment toward a cause, because
this small commitment increases the likelihood of a larger commitment toward the same cause in the future. Option A
is an example of this. If the participants make a small commitment toward diet diaries (signing a petition), according
to the foot-in-the-door technique, they will be more likely to adopt a diet diary in the future.
3. Which statement is NOT compatible with the hypothesis that the self-serving
bias can account for participants' explanations of their body weights?
A. Obese participants view their unhealthy weight as a result of having too
, MCAT Official Prep Online Practice Questions- Psychology
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_c2wcck
many fast food restaurants near home.
B. Non-obese participants view their healthy weight as a result of having strong
willpower
C. Obese participants view their unhealthy weight as a result of not having time
to exercise regularly
D. Non-obese participants view their healthy weight as a result of not having
any fast food restaurants near their home: D. Non-obese participants view their healthy weight
as a result of not having any fast food restaurants near their home
Self-serving bias suggests that when explaining their own behavior, individuals attribute positive behaviors to internal,
stable sources, but attribute negative behaviors to external sources. A non-obese individual would attribute his or her
healthy weight to an internal, stable source, such as strong willpower. However, a non-obese individual would not
attribute his or her healthy weight to an external source, such as not having any fast food restaurants near home.
Therefore, D is incompatible with the self-serving bias.
4. All the participants in the study are given information regarding the benefits
of a healthy diet. According to the cognitive dissonance theory, which hypo-
thetical finding is most likely?
A. Obese participants will change their unhealthy eating behaviors
B. Non-obese participants will change their unhealthy eating behaviors
C. Obese participants will question the validity of the information provided
D. Non-obese participants will overemphasize the importance of the informa-
tion provided.: C. Obese participants will question the validity of the information provided
C is correct. According to the cognitive dissonance theory, when an individual's attitudes are incongruent with his or
her behavior, this leads to cognitive dissonance. To eliminate cognitive dissonance, the individual can either change his
or her attitudes or his or her behavior. The theory posits that individuals are more likely to adjust their attitudes to align
with their behavior than the other way around. Therefore, obese participants are likely to question the importance of
the information provided.
5. If the study were modified to investigate the effect of homophily on the
changes in participants' exercise patterns as well as their likelihood of adopting
an Internet-based diary, how would this change the design of the study?
