PSI-101 FINAL UPDATED EXAM PRACTICE
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
2026
◉ Goals of Psychology.
Answer: Description, prediction, explanation, and control.
Explanation and control are the hardest to achieve; both require
identifying CAUSES.
◉ Behaviors vs. Mental Processes.
Answer: Behaviors are observable (actions); mental processes are
unobservable (thoughts, feelings, perceptions).
◉ Greek philosophers vs. 19th century psychologists.
Answer: Greek philosophers (e.g., Aristotle) relied on
reasoning/philosophy; 19th century psychologists (e.g., Wundt,
Donders) used systematic, scientific measurement.
◉ Analytic Introspection.
Answer: Method developed by Wundt in which trained observers
report their own conscious experiences in response to stimuli.
Criticized by Behaviorists (Watson) because it is not objective or
verifiable.
,◉ Why Introspection Fails as a Scientific Method.
Answer: Results cannot be independently verified — different
observers give different reports; not replicable or objective.
◉ Behaviorism: Pioneer.
Answer: B. F. Skinner (also John Watson). Focused only on
observable, measurable behavior.
◉ Behaviorism: Positive Outcomes.
Answer: Made psychology more rigorous and scientific; produced
systematic learning principles; eliminated reliance on unverifiable
self-report.
◉ Behaviorism: Negative Outcomes.
Answer: Ignored mental processes entirely; couldn't explain
language, thought, or complex human behavior.
◉ Chomsky vs. Skinner.
Answer: Chomsky argued Skinner's book "Verbal Behavior" couldn't
explain language because language is too complex and creative to be
explained by reinforcement alone — this helped bring about the
cognitive revolution.
,◉ Applied vs. Basic Research Psychologists.
Answer: Applied psychologists address real-world problems
(clinical, counseling, I/O); basic research psychologists study
fundamental processes for knowledge itself.
◉ The Scientific Method.
Answer: The general method psychologists (and all scientists) use to
draw conclusions about behavior — same as chemistry and biology.
◉ Psychologists Study....
Answer: Both observable and unobservable behaviors; both humans
and animals.
◉ Determinism.
Answer: The view that behavior is caused by prior events and
conditions — everything has a cause.
◉ Theory vs. Hypothesis.
Answer: A theory is a broad explanation supported by evidence; a
hypothesis is a specific, testable prediction derived from a theory.
◉ Standardization & Operational Definitions.
, Answer: Procedures to increase objectivity: standardization = same
procedure for everyone; operational definition = defining a variable
in measurable, specific terms.
◉ Experimental Method: Goal.
Answer: To establish cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating
one variable (IV) while controlling all others.
◉ Independent Variable (IV).
Answer: The variable the researcher manipulates to observe its
effect.
◉ Dependent Variable (DV).
Answer: The variable being measured; must be quantifiable and
specific.
◉ Experimental Group vs. Control Group.
Answer: Experimental group receives the manipulation; control
group does not — used as baseline for comparison.
◉ Confounding Variable.
Answer: An uncontrolled variable that varies along with the IV,
making it impossible to determine cause.
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
2026
◉ Goals of Psychology.
Answer: Description, prediction, explanation, and control.
Explanation and control are the hardest to achieve; both require
identifying CAUSES.
◉ Behaviors vs. Mental Processes.
Answer: Behaviors are observable (actions); mental processes are
unobservable (thoughts, feelings, perceptions).
◉ Greek philosophers vs. 19th century psychologists.
Answer: Greek philosophers (e.g., Aristotle) relied on
reasoning/philosophy; 19th century psychologists (e.g., Wundt,
Donders) used systematic, scientific measurement.
◉ Analytic Introspection.
Answer: Method developed by Wundt in which trained observers
report their own conscious experiences in response to stimuli.
Criticized by Behaviorists (Watson) because it is not objective or
verifiable.
,◉ Why Introspection Fails as a Scientific Method.
Answer: Results cannot be independently verified — different
observers give different reports; not replicable or objective.
◉ Behaviorism: Pioneer.
Answer: B. F. Skinner (also John Watson). Focused only on
observable, measurable behavior.
◉ Behaviorism: Positive Outcomes.
Answer: Made psychology more rigorous and scientific; produced
systematic learning principles; eliminated reliance on unverifiable
self-report.
◉ Behaviorism: Negative Outcomes.
Answer: Ignored mental processes entirely; couldn't explain
language, thought, or complex human behavior.
◉ Chomsky vs. Skinner.
Answer: Chomsky argued Skinner's book "Verbal Behavior" couldn't
explain language because language is too complex and creative to be
explained by reinforcement alone — this helped bring about the
cognitive revolution.
,◉ Applied vs. Basic Research Psychologists.
Answer: Applied psychologists address real-world problems
(clinical, counseling, I/O); basic research psychologists study
fundamental processes for knowledge itself.
◉ The Scientific Method.
Answer: The general method psychologists (and all scientists) use to
draw conclusions about behavior — same as chemistry and biology.
◉ Psychologists Study....
Answer: Both observable and unobservable behaviors; both humans
and animals.
◉ Determinism.
Answer: The view that behavior is caused by prior events and
conditions — everything has a cause.
◉ Theory vs. Hypothesis.
Answer: A theory is a broad explanation supported by evidence; a
hypothesis is a specific, testable prediction derived from a theory.
◉ Standardization & Operational Definitions.
, Answer: Procedures to increase objectivity: standardization = same
procedure for everyone; operational definition = defining a variable
in measurable, specific terms.
◉ Experimental Method: Goal.
Answer: To establish cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating
one variable (IV) while controlling all others.
◉ Independent Variable (IV).
Answer: The variable the researcher manipulates to observe its
effect.
◉ Dependent Variable (DV).
Answer: The variable being measured; must be quantifiable and
specific.
◉ Experimental Group vs. Control Group.
Answer: Experimental group receives the manipulation; control
group does not — used as baseline for comparison.
◉ Confounding Variable.
Answer: An uncontrolled variable that varies along with the IV,
making it impossible to determine cause.
