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WGU D570 Cognitive
Psychology
Complete Study Guide
NCLEX-Style Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
Topic Focus: Cognitive Psychology — Comprehensive Review
Complete Edition · September 2026
Table of Contents
1. Instructions for Use 2
2. History & Founders of Cognitive Psychology 2
3. Memory & Information Processing 3
4. Neuroscience & Brain Structures 4
,5. Language & Perception 4
6. Attention & Consciousness 5
7. Problem Solving & Decision Making 5
8. Developmental Cognitive Psychology 6
WGU D570 · Western Governors University Page 1
,WGU D570 COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY STUDY GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS & QUESTIONS
How to Use This Guide
Read each stem, choose your answer, then check the rationale directly below it. The correct
option is marked, and each wrong option is explained so you understand why it's wrong — not
just that it is. This guide contains comprehensive NCLEX-style questions covering all concepts
for WGU D570 Cognitive Psychology.
History & Founders of Cognitive Psychology
1 Who founded the first laboratory of scientific psychology?
A William James
B Wilhelm Wundt
C John Watson
D Hermann Ebbinghaus
Why B is correct: Wilhelm Wundt founded the first laboratory of scientific psychology in
1879 at the University of Leipzig, marking the formal beginning of psychology as a scientific
discipline.
A — James was a founder of functionalism but did not found the first lab.
C — Watson founded behaviorism.
D — Ebbinghaus studied memory but did not found the first lab.
, 2 Wundt's approach, which dominated psychology in the late 1800s and early 1900s,
was known as:
A Structuralism
B Functionalism
C Behaviorism
D Gestalt psychology
Why A is correct: Wundt's approach was known as structuralism, which focused on
analyzing the basic elements of consciousness through analytic introspection.
B — Functionalism was associated with William James.
C — Behaviorism was founded by Watson.
D — Gestalt psychology was developed by Wertheimer and others.
3 Who is considered the father of cognitive psychology?
A Wilhelm Wundt
B John Watson
C Ulric Neisser
D B.F. Skinner
Why C is correct: Ulric Neisser is considered the father of cognitive psychology. He
published "Cognitive Psychology" in 1967, which helped define the field.
A — Wundt founded structuralism.
B — Watson founded behaviorism.
D — Skinner was a behaviorist.
WGU D570 Cognitive
Psychology
Complete Study Guide
NCLEX-Style Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales
Topic Focus: Cognitive Psychology — Comprehensive Review
Complete Edition · September 2026
Table of Contents
1. Instructions for Use 2
2. History & Founders of Cognitive Psychology 2
3. Memory & Information Processing 3
4. Neuroscience & Brain Structures 4
,5. Language & Perception 4
6. Attention & Consciousness 5
7. Problem Solving & Decision Making 5
8. Developmental Cognitive Psychology 6
WGU D570 · Western Governors University Page 1
,WGU D570 COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY STUDY GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS & QUESTIONS
How to Use This Guide
Read each stem, choose your answer, then check the rationale directly below it. The correct
option is marked, and each wrong option is explained so you understand why it's wrong — not
just that it is. This guide contains comprehensive NCLEX-style questions covering all concepts
for WGU D570 Cognitive Psychology.
History & Founders of Cognitive Psychology
1 Who founded the first laboratory of scientific psychology?
A William James
B Wilhelm Wundt
C John Watson
D Hermann Ebbinghaus
Why B is correct: Wilhelm Wundt founded the first laboratory of scientific psychology in
1879 at the University of Leipzig, marking the formal beginning of psychology as a scientific
discipline.
A — James was a founder of functionalism but did not found the first lab.
C — Watson founded behaviorism.
D — Ebbinghaus studied memory but did not found the first lab.
, 2 Wundt's approach, which dominated psychology in the late 1800s and early 1900s,
was known as:
A Structuralism
B Functionalism
C Behaviorism
D Gestalt psychology
Why A is correct: Wundt's approach was known as structuralism, which focused on
analyzing the basic elements of consciousness through analytic introspection.
B — Functionalism was associated with William James.
C — Behaviorism was founded by Watson.
D — Gestalt psychology was developed by Wertheimer and others.
3 Who is considered the father of cognitive psychology?
A Wilhelm Wundt
B John Watson
C Ulric Neisser
D B.F. Skinner
Why C is correct: Ulric Neisser is considered the father of cognitive psychology. He
published "Cognitive Psychology" in 1967, which helped define the field.
A — Wundt founded structuralism.
B — Watson founded behaviorism.
D — Skinner was a behaviorist.
