1|Page
AICE PSYCHOLOGY FINAL ACTUAL EXAM
PREP 2026 ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
ALREADY A GRADED WITH EXPERT
FEEDBACK |NEW AND REVISED
1. In the study by Dement and Kleitman (1957), what was the primary
aim of the research?
A. To investigate the effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive
performance.
B. To investigate the relationship between REM sleep and dreaming.
C. To compare the sleep patterns of adults and children.
D. To examine the role of the prefrontal cortex in dream recall.
Rationale: Dement and Kleitman aimed to explore whether dreaming
occurs primarily during REM sleep by waking participants at different
sleep stages and recording dream recall. The study used EEG
recordings and controlled laboratory conditions.
2. A researcher is conducting a study on sleep and dreaming. They wake
participants during REM sleep and during NREM sleep, asking them to
report whether they were dreaming. Which of the following best
describes the independent variable in this study?
A. The participant's report of whether they were dreaming.
B. The sleep stage during which participants were awakened (REM
vs. NREM).
C. The EEG recordings of brain activity.
D. The time of night the participants were awakened.
,2|Page
Rationale: The independent variable is the variable manipulated by the
researcher. In Dement and Kleitman's study, the IV was the sleep
stage (REM vs. NREM) during which participants were awakened.
The dependent variable was the dream recall.
3. In the study by Hassett et al. (2008), what was the primary finding
regarding toy preferences in juvenile rhesus monkeys?
A. Male monkeys preferred plush toys, while female monkeys preferred
wheeled toys.
B. Male monkeys preferred wheeled toys, while female monkeys
preferred plush toys.
C. All monkeys showed no preference for either type of toy.
D. Toy preferences were determined entirely by social learning.
Rationale: Hassett et al. found that male juvenile rhesus monkeys
spent significantly more time with wheeled toys, while female monkeys
spent more time with plush toys, mirroring the patterns typically
observed in human children and suggesting a biological
predisposition.
4. A psychologist is evaluating the generalizability of the Hassett et al.
(2008) study. Which of the following represents the strongest criticism
regarding generalizability?
A. The sample size was too large to draw meaningful conclusions.
B. The findings may not generalize beyond rhesus monkeys to other
species, including humans.
C. The study was conducted in a laboratory setting, reducing ecological
validity.
D. The monkeys were not randomly assigned to conditions.
Rationale: While the study had high ecological validity due to
naturalistic observation, the findings are limited in generalizability
beyond rhesus monkeys. Extrapolating to human sex differences in toy
preferences requires caution.
,3|Page
5. In the study by Hölzel et al. (2011), what was the primary dependent
variable?
A. The number of hours participants meditated.
B. Changes in gray matter density measured through MRI scans.
C. The participants' self-reported stress levels.
D. The participants' performance on a memory test.
Rationale: Hölzel et al. investigated whether an 8-week mindfulness
meditation program would alter brain structure. The dependent
variable was the change in gray matter density measured via MRI
scans, particularly in areas linked to memory and emotional
regulation.
6. A researcher wants to replicate the Hölzel et al. (2011) study. Which
of the following ethical considerations is most important to address?
A. Ensuring participants are paid a high monetary incentive.
B. Obtaining informed consent and ensuring participants
understand the meditation commitment.
C. Avoiding the use of MRI scans due to their invasive nature.
D. Ensuring participants are all of the same gender.
Rationale: Hölzel et al. required participants to commit to an 8-week
meditation program and undergo MRI scans. Informed consent,
protection from harm, and debriefing are essential ethical
considerations. MRI scans are non-invasive.
7. In the study by Andrade (2010), what was the primary aim of the
research?
A. To investigate whether doodling impairs memory performance.
B. To investigate whether doodling improves concentration and
recall during monotonous tasks.
C. To compare the effects of doodling and note-taking on memory.
D. To examine the role of creativity in attention.
, 4|Page
Rationale: Andrade aimed to test whether doodling during a
monotonous auditory task would enhance concentration and improve
recall of information. The study found that doodlers recalled more
details than non-doodlers.
8. A student is listening to a monotonous lecture and begins doodling.
Based on Andrade's (2010) findings, what effect is the doodling most
likely to have on the student's recall of the lecture content?
A. Doodling will significantly impair recall by distracting the student.
B. Doodling will slightly improve recall by preventing mind-
wandering.
C. Doodling will have no effect on recall.
D. Doodling will improve recall only if the student is artistic.
Rationale: Andrade found that doodling aids concentration by
preventing daydreaming, leading to slightly better recall of the
monotonous message compared to non-doodlers. The effect was
modest but significant.
9. In the study by Baron-Cohen et al. (2001), the "Reading the Mind in
the Eyes" test was designed to measure:
A. Visual acuity.
B. Theory of mind (the ability to attribute mental states to others).
C. Facial recognition memory.
D. Emotional intelligence.
Rationale: The Eyes Test was developed to assess theory of mind
(ToM)—the ability to understand others' mental and emotional states.
Participants with autism spectrum disorder scored lower on the test
compared to control groups.
10. A researcher is using the Eyes Test to assess theory of mind in a
group of participants. Which of the following findings would be most
consistent with Baron-Cohen et al.'s (2001) results?
AICE PSYCHOLOGY FINAL ACTUAL EXAM
PREP 2026 ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
ALREADY A GRADED WITH EXPERT
FEEDBACK |NEW AND REVISED
1. In the study by Dement and Kleitman (1957), what was the primary
aim of the research?
A. To investigate the effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive
performance.
B. To investigate the relationship between REM sleep and dreaming.
C. To compare the sleep patterns of adults and children.
D. To examine the role of the prefrontal cortex in dream recall.
Rationale: Dement and Kleitman aimed to explore whether dreaming
occurs primarily during REM sleep by waking participants at different
sleep stages and recording dream recall. The study used EEG
recordings and controlled laboratory conditions.
2. A researcher is conducting a study on sleep and dreaming. They wake
participants during REM sleep and during NREM sleep, asking them to
report whether they were dreaming. Which of the following best
describes the independent variable in this study?
A. The participant's report of whether they were dreaming.
B. The sleep stage during which participants were awakened (REM
vs. NREM).
C. The EEG recordings of brain activity.
D. The time of night the participants were awakened.
,2|Page
Rationale: The independent variable is the variable manipulated by the
researcher. In Dement and Kleitman's study, the IV was the sleep
stage (REM vs. NREM) during which participants were awakened.
The dependent variable was the dream recall.
3. In the study by Hassett et al. (2008), what was the primary finding
regarding toy preferences in juvenile rhesus monkeys?
A. Male monkeys preferred plush toys, while female monkeys preferred
wheeled toys.
B. Male monkeys preferred wheeled toys, while female monkeys
preferred plush toys.
C. All monkeys showed no preference for either type of toy.
D. Toy preferences were determined entirely by social learning.
Rationale: Hassett et al. found that male juvenile rhesus monkeys
spent significantly more time with wheeled toys, while female monkeys
spent more time with plush toys, mirroring the patterns typically
observed in human children and suggesting a biological
predisposition.
4. A psychologist is evaluating the generalizability of the Hassett et al.
(2008) study. Which of the following represents the strongest criticism
regarding generalizability?
A. The sample size was too large to draw meaningful conclusions.
B. The findings may not generalize beyond rhesus monkeys to other
species, including humans.
C. The study was conducted in a laboratory setting, reducing ecological
validity.
D. The monkeys were not randomly assigned to conditions.
Rationale: While the study had high ecological validity due to
naturalistic observation, the findings are limited in generalizability
beyond rhesus monkeys. Extrapolating to human sex differences in toy
preferences requires caution.
,3|Page
5. In the study by Hölzel et al. (2011), what was the primary dependent
variable?
A. The number of hours participants meditated.
B. Changes in gray matter density measured through MRI scans.
C. The participants' self-reported stress levels.
D. The participants' performance on a memory test.
Rationale: Hölzel et al. investigated whether an 8-week mindfulness
meditation program would alter brain structure. The dependent
variable was the change in gray matter density measured via MRI
scans, particularly in areas linked to memory and emotional
regulation.
6. A researcher wants to replicate the Hölzel et al. (2011) study. Which
of the following ethical considerations is most important to address?
A. Ensuring participants are paid a high monetary incentive.
B. Obtaining informed consent and ensuring participants
understand the meditation commitment.
C. Avoiding the use of MRI scans due to their invasive nature.
D. Ensuring participants are all of the same gender.
Rationale: Hölzel et al. required participants to commit to an 8-week
meditation program and undergo MRI scans. Informed consent,
protection from harm, and debriefing are essential ethical
considerations. MRI scans are non-invasive.
7. In the study by Andrade (2010), what was the primary aim of the
research?
A. To investigate whether doodling impairs memory performance.
B. To investigate whether doodling improves concentration and
recall during monotonous tasks.
C. To compare the effects of doodling and note-taking on memory.
D. To examine the role of creativity in attention.
, 4|Page
Rationale: Andrade aimed to test whether doodling during a
monotonous auditory task would enhance concentration and improve
recall of information. The study found that doodlers recalled more
details than non-doodlers.
8. A student is listening to a monotonous lecture and begins doodling.
Based on Andrade's (2010) findings, what effect is the doodling most
likely to have on the student's recall of the lecture content?
A. Doodling will significantly impair recall by distracting the student.
B. Doodling will slightly improve recall by preventing mind-
wandering.
C. Doodling will have no effect on recall.
D. Doodling will improve recall only if the student is artistic.
Rationale: Andrade found that doodling aids concentration by
preventing daydreaming, leading to slightly better recall of the
monotonous message compared to non-doodlers. The effect was
modest but significant.
9. In the study by Baron-Cohen et al. (2001), the "Reading the Mind in
the Eyes" test was designed to measure:
A. Visual acuity.
B. Theory of mind (the ability to attribute mental states to others).
C. Facial recognition memory.
D. Emotional intelligence.
Rationale: The Eyes Test was developed to assess theory of mind
(ToM)—the ability to understand others' mental and emotional states.
Participants with autism spectrum disorder scored lower on the test
compared to control groups.
10. A researcher is using the Eyes Test to assess theory of mind in a
group of participants. Which of the following findings would be most
consistent with Baron-Cohen et al.'s (2001) results?
