Page 1 of 70
PSYCHOLOGY: FROM INQUIRY TO UNDERSTANDING, 5TH CANADIAN
EDITION (LILIENFELD ET AL.) EXAM QUESTIONS LATEST EDITION 2026 –
2027 VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
PSYCHOLOGY: FROM INQUIRY TO UNDERSTANDING, 5th Canadian Edition
(Lilienfeld et al.) — QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
Question 1
The term __________ refers to the use of everyday or commonsense sources to
understand and explain human behaviour, often found in self-help books, media,
and informal advice.
A) counselling psychology
B) clinical psychology
C) popular psychology
D) experimental psychology
Answer: C) popular psychology
Rationale: Popular psychology encompasses the many everyday, commonsense
explanations and sources people use to understand behaviour, often found in self-help
books, media, and informal advice. It is distinct from scientific psychology, which relies
on empirical evidence and rigorous methodology.
, Page 2 of 70
Question 2
When students begin to read through their introductory psychology textbook, they
are often surprised to learn that many of their beliefs about the causes of thoughts
and behaviours are incorrect. This is primarily because:
A) common sense explanations are essential in the field of psychology.
B) many commonsense beliefs about psychology are contradicted by scientific
evidence.
C) psychology is a unique field of study separate from philosophy and biology.
D) psychologists do not study people's everyday behaviours.
Answer: B) many commonsense beliefs about psychology are contradicted by
scientific evidence.
Rationale: Research consistently shows that many commonsense beliefs about
psychology are contradicted by scientific evidence, which is often surprising to students
new to the field. This highlights the importance of scientific thinking over naïve realism.
Question 3
Psychology is formally defined as the scientific study of the mind, brain, and:
A) soul
B) body
C) behaviour
D) spirit
Answer: C) behaviour
Rationale: Psychology is formally defined as the scientific study of the mind, brain, and
behaviour. This definition emphasizes both internal mental processes and observable
actions, distinguishing psychology from other disciplines.
, Page 3 of 70
Question 4
We trust our common sense and may believe in popular psychology claims
because we are prone to __________, the belief that we see the world exactly as it is.
A) the confirmation bias
B) naïve realism
C) logical fallacies
D) communalism
Answer: B) naïve realism
Rationale: Naïve realism is the belief that we see the world exactly as it is, leading us to
trust our own perceptions and commonsense explanations without questioning them.
This cognitive bias makes us susceptible to pseudoscientific claims.
Question 5
A major problem with commonsense proverbs is that they often coexist with their
complete opposite (e.g., "haste makes waste" vs. "strike while the iron is hot"). This
violates which principle of critical thinking?
A) Replicability
B) Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence
C) Parsimony/Occam's razor
D) Falsifiability
Answer: D) Falsifiability
Rationale: For a theory to be scientifically useful, it must be falsifiable—capable of
being disproven. Proverbs that coexist with their opposites cannot be falsified because
they explain all possibilities, making them scientifically useless.
Question 6
Which of the following best describes the principle of parsimony (Occam's razor) in
scientific thinking?
, Page 4 of 70
A) The simplest explanation that fits the evidence is usually the best one.
B) Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
C) A theory must be capable of being disproven.
D) Findings must be replicated before they are accepted.
Answer: A) The simplest explanation that fits the evidence is usually the best one.
Rationale: Parsimony, also known as Occam's razor, is the principle that the simplest
explanation that fits the evidence is usually the best one. It encourages scientists to
avoid unnecessary assumptions when explaining phenomena.
Question 7
Wilhelm Wundt is credited with founding the first psychology laboratory in 1879.
His approach, which focused on identifying the basic elements of conscious
experience through introspection, was known as:
A) functionalism
B) behaviourism
C) structuralism
D) psychoanalysis
Answer: C) structuralism
Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt founded structuralism, which aimed to identify the basic
elements or structures of conscious experience through introspection. Functionalism
(A) was developed by William James. Behaviourism (B) was founded by John B. Watson.
Psychoanalysis (D) was developed by Sigmund Freud.
Question 8
Which of the following is an example of a pseudoscientific claim?
A) A claim that has been tested and replicated by multiple independent researchers
B) A claim that is presented as scientific but lacks empirical support and relies on
anecdotal evidence
PSYCHOLOGY: FROM INQUIRY TO UNDERSTANDING, 5TH CANADIAN
EDITION (LILIENFELD ET AL.) EXAM QUESTIONS LATEST EDITION 2026 –
2027 VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
PSYCHOLOGY: FROM INQUIRY TO UNDERSTANDING, 5th Canadian Edition
(Lilienfeld et al.) — QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
Question 1
The term __________ refers to the use of everyday or commonsense sources to
understand and explain human behaviour, often found in self-help books, media,
and informal advice.
A) counselling psychology
B) clinical psychology
C) popular psychology
D) experimental psychology
Answer: C) popular psychology
Rationale: Popular psychology encompasses the many everyday, commonsense
explanations and sources people use to understand behaviour, often found in self-help
books, media, and informal advice. It is distinct from scientific psychology, which relies
on empirical evidence and rigorous methodology.
, Page 2 of 70
Question 2
When students begin to read through their introductory psychology textbook, they
are often surprised to learn that many of their beliefs about the causes of thoughts
and behaviours are incorrect. This is primarily because:
A) common sense explanations are essential in the field of psychology.
B) many commonsense beliefs about psychology are contradicted by scientific
evidence.
C) psychology is a unique field of study separate from philosophy and biology.
D) psychologists do not study people's everyday behaviours.
Answer: B) many commonsense beliefs about psychology are contradicted by
scientific evidence.
Rationale: Research consistently shows that many commonsense beliefs about
psychology are contradicted by scientific evidence, which is often surprising to students
new to the field. This highlights the importance of scientific thinking over naïve realism.
Question 3
Psychology is formally defined as the scientific study of the mind, brain, and:
A) soul
B) body
C) behaviour
D) spirit
Answer: C) behaviour
Rationale: Psychology is formally defined as the scientific study of the mind, brain, and
behaviour. This definition emphasizes both internal mental processes and observable
actions, distinguishing psychology from other disciplines.
, Page 3 of 70
Question 4
We trust our common sense and may believe in popular psychology claims
because we are prone to __________, the belief that we see the world exactly as it is.
A) the confirmation bias
B) naïve realism
C) logical fallacies
D) communalism
Answer: B) naïve realism
Rationale: Naïve realism is the belief that we see the world exactly as it is, leading us to
trust our own perceptions and commonsense explanations without questioning them.
This cognitive bias makes us susceptible to pseudoscientific claims.
Question 5
A major problem with commonsense proverbs is that they often coexist with their
complete opposite (e.g., "haste makes waste" vs. "strike while the iron is hot"). This
violates which principle of critical thinking?
A) Replicability
B) Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence
C) Parsimony/Occam's razor
D) Falsifiability
Answer: D) Falsifiability
Rationale: For a theory to be scientifically useful, it must be falsifiable—capable of
being disproven. Proverbs that coexist with their opposites cannot be falsified because
they explain all possibilities, making them scientifically useless.
Question 6
Which of the following best describes the principle of parsimony (Occam's razor) in
scientific thinking?
, Page 4 of 70
A) The simplest explanation that fits the evidence is usually the best one.
B) Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
C) A theory must be capable of being disproven.
D) Findings must be replicated before they are accepted.
Answer: A) The simplest explanation that fits the evidence is usually the best one.
Rationale: Parsimony, also known as Occam's razor, is the principle that the simplest
explanation that fits the evidence is usually the best one. It encourages scientists to
avoid unnecessary assumptions when explaining phenomena.
Question 7
Wilhelm Wundt is credited with founding the first psychology laboratory in 1879.
His approach, which focused on identifying the basic elements of conscious
experience through introspection, was known as:
A) functionalism
B) behaviourism
C) structuralism
D) psychoanalysis
Answer: C) structuralism
Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt founded structuralism, which aimed to identify the basic
elements or structures of conscious experience through introspection. Functionalism
(A) was developed by William James. Behaviourism (B) was founded by John B. Watson.
Psychoanalysis (D) was developed by Sigmund Freud.
Question 8
Which of the following is an example of a pseudoscientific claim?
A) A claim that has been tested and replicated by multiple independent researchers
B) A claim that is presented as scientific but lacks empirical support and relies on
anecdotal evidence
