Experimental Psychology – Tulane University Exam 1 2026 – Study Guide and
Practice Questions
Scientific Study - correct answer ✔✔ Study of behavior and mental process
Systematic empiricism - correct answer ✔✔ learning based on observation by planning,
recording, and analysis
Scientific Mentality - correct answer ✔✔ behavior can be predicted because it follows a natural
order
Skepticism - correct answer ✔✔ ideas must be evaluated based on logic and scientific
investigations
Empirical Data - correct answer ✔✔ data from observation
Theory-Data Cycle - correct answer ✔✔ scientists collect data to test, change, or update their
theories
Pre-registering - correct answer ✔✔ prevents researchers from overfitting their data, or too
specific to a particular sample or study
Theory - correct answer ✔✔ well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations
scientific law - correct answer ✔✔ a statement that summarizes the results of many
observations and experiments
, Hypothesis - correct answer ✔✔ a statement of the predicted relationship between variables
that are being tested
Can theories and hypotheses be proven correct? - correct answer ✔✔ Only supported by
empirical data
Falsifiable - correct answer ✔✔ capable of being disproved
parsimony - correct answer ✔✔ the simplest explanation is the best
applied research - correct answer ✔✔ scientific study that aims to solve practical problems
basic research - correct answer ✔✔ pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge
base
translational research - correct answer ✔✔ research that uses knowledge derived from basic
research to develop and test solutions to real-world problems
causal claim - correct answer ✔✔ covariance, temporal precedence, internal validity
Academic Sources - correct answer ✔✔ research that is produced by professional scholars and
published in peer-reviewed academic outlets
Media journal - correct answer ✔✔ not peer reviewed
pseudo-science - correct answer ✔✔ a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as
being based on scientific method.
Practice Questions
Scientific Study - correct answer ✔✔ Study of behavior and mental process
Systematic empiricism - correct answer ✔✔ learning based on observation by planning,
recording, and analysis
Scientific Mentality - correct answer ✔✔ behavior can be predicted because it follows a natural
order
Skepticism - correct answer ✔✔ ideas must be evaluated based on logic and scientific
investigations
Empirical Data - correct answer ✔✔ data from observation
Theory-Data Cycle - correct answer ✔✔ scientists collect data to test, change, or update their
theories
Pre-registering - correct answer ✔✔ prevents researchers from overfitting their data, or too
specific to a particular sample or study
Theory - correct answer ✔✔ well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations
scientific law - correct answer ✔✔ a statement that summarizes the results of many
observations and experiments
, Hypothesis - correct answer ✔✔ a statement of the predicted relationship between variables
that are being tested
Can theories and hypotheses be proven correct? - correct answer ✔✔ Only supported by
empirical data
Falsifiable - correct answer ✔✔ capable of being disproved
parsimony - correct answer ✔✔ the simplest explanation is the best
applied research - correct answer ✔✔ scientific study that aims to solve practical problems
basic research - correct answer ✔✔ pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge
base
translational research - correct answer ✔✔ research that uses knowledge derived from basic
research to develop and test solutions to real-world problems
causal claim - correct answer ✔✔ covariance, temporal precedence, internal validity
Academic Sources - correct answer ✔✔ research that is produced by professional scholars and
published in peer-reviewed academic outlets
Media journal - correct answer ✔✔ not peer reviewed
pseudo-science - correct answer ✔✔ a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as
being based on scientific method.
