PSY 102 Final Exam V2 | PSY 102 General
Psychology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(PSY102 Final Exam) | Grand Canyon
University
1. Which of the following historical perspectives in psychology focused primarily on the
adaptive functions of consciousness, influenced largely by Charles Darwin’s theory of
evolution?
A. Structuralism
B. Behaviorism
C. Functionalism
D. Psychoanalysis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Functionalism, championed by William James, sought to understand how
mental activities helped an organism fit into its environment. This perspective was a direct
application of evolutionary theory to the study of the mind. Unlike structuralism, which
looked at the components of the mind, functionalism focused on the purpose of
consciousness.
2. Select all that apply: Which of the following are considered essential ethical requirements
for conducting psychological research with human participants according to the APA?
A. Informed Consent
,B. Deception must never be used
C. Confidentiality of data
D. Debriefing after the study
E. Freedom from coercion to participate
F. Participants must be paid for their time
Correct Answer: A, C, D, E
Rationale: Ethical research requires informed consent so participants understand risks,
and confidentiality to protect their privacy. Debriefing is mandatory if any deception was
involved or simply to explain the study’s purpose. Participation must always be voluntary
and free from any form of coercion or undue pressure.
3. A researcher is studying the relationship between sleep deprivation and cognitive
performance. If the results show that as sleep hours decrease, the number of errors on a test
increases, what type of correlation is this?
A. Positive Correlation
B. Zero Correlation
C. Negative Correlation
D. Spurious Correlation
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: A negative correlation occurs when two variables move in opposite directions.
In this case, sleep hours go down while errors go up, signifying an inverse relationship.
Understanding the direction of correlation is fundamental to interpreting descriptive
research data in psychology.
4. In a formal experiment, which variable is the one that the researcher intentionally
manipulates to observe its effects?
A. Independent Variable
B. Confounding Variable
C. Dependent Variable
D. Control Variable
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The independent variable is the experimental factor that is manipulated; it is
the variable whose effect is being studied. By changing this variable, researchers can
determine if it causes a change in the dependent variable. This manipulation is what allows
for the determination of cause-and-effect relationships.
5. Which part of the neuron is responsible for receiving incoming signals from other neurons?
A. Axon
B. Dendrites
C. Soma
Psychology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(PSY102 Final Exam) | Grand Canyon
University
1. Which of the following historical perspectives in psychology focused primarily on the
adaptive functions of consciousness, influenced largely by Charles Darwin’s theory of
evolution?
A. Structuralism
B. Behaviorism
C. Functionalism
D. Psychoanalysis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Functionalism, championed by William James, sought to understand how
mental activities helped an organism fit into its environment. This perspective was a direct
application of evolutionary theory to the study of the mind. Unlike structuralism, which
looked at the components of the mind, functionalism focused on the purpose of
consciousness.
2. Select all that apply: Which of the following are considered essential ethical requirements
for conducting psychological research with human participants according to the APA?
A. Informed Consent
,B. Deception must never be used
C. Confidentiality of data
D. Debriefing after the study
E. Freedom from coercion to participate
F. Participants must be paid for their time
Correct Answer: A, C, D, E
Rationale: Ethical research requires informed consent so participants understand risks,
and confidentiality to protect their privacy. Debriefing is mandatory if any deception was
involved or simply to explain the study’s purpose. Participation must always be voluntary
and free from any form of coercion or undue pressure.
3. A researcher is studying the relationship between sleep deprivation and cognitive
performance. If the results show that as sleep hours decrease, the number of errors on a test
increases, what type of correlation is this?
A. Positive Correlation
B. Zero Correlation
C. Negative Correlation
D. Spurious Correlation
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: A negative correlation occurs when two variables move in opposite directions.
In this case, sleep hours go down while errors go up, signifying an inverse relationship.
Understanding the direction of correlation is fundamental to interpreting descriptive
research data in psychology.
4. In a formal experiment, which variable is the one that the researcher intentionally
manipulates to observe its effects?
A. Independent Variable
B. Confounding Variable
C. Dependent Variable
D. Control Variable
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The independent variable is the experimental factor that is manipulated; it is
the variable whose effect is being studied. By changing this variable, researchers can
determine if it causes a change in the dependent variable. This manipulation is what allows
for the determination of cause-and-effect relationships.
5. Which part of the neuron is responsible for receiving incoming signals from other neurons?
A. Axon
B. Dendrites
C. Soma
