BRMP Practice Exam Questions with Correct Answers

BRMP Practice Exam Questions with Correct Answers Define psychology - Answer-the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes. Why is psychology a science? - Answer-because it uses empirical methods and takes a scientific approach to understanding human behaviour. Science is a general way of understanding the natural world. Its 3 main features are: - Answer-1. Systematic empiricism 2. Empirical questions 3. Public knowledge Pseudoscience refers to - Answer-beliefs and activities that are claimed to be scientific but lack one or more of the three features of science (eg. theory of biorhythms) Scientific claims must be - Answer-Falsifiable (address empirical questions) The 5 steps a researcher takes - Answer-1. Formulates a RQ 2. Designs and conducts a study to answer the RQ 3. Analyses the data 4. Draws conclusions about the answer to the RQ 5. Publishes the findings so that they become part of the research literature. Sources of RQs - Answer-1. Research literature 2. Informal observations 3. Practical problems that need to be solved 4. Chance/by accident Once the researcher comes up with a RQ, they must check the research literature to: - Answer-1. Check the RQ hasn't already been answered 2. Refine the RQ based on previous research findings Example of the general model of a scientific research in psychology - Answer-As cell phones became more widespread during the 90s, researchers inquired about whether cell phone use had a negative effect on driving. Previously published research showed that engaging in a simple verbal task impairs performance on a perceptual or motor task carried out at the same time, but no one had studied the effect specifically of cell phone use on driving. In controlled conditions, researchers compared people's driving performance while using a cell phone and while not. They analysed the data and found that people's ability to detect road hazards, reaction time, and control of the vehicle were all impaired by cell phone use. They then published the results and future studies grew the research literature on this topic. Scientific research in psychology is conducted mainly by people with (1), most of whom are (2). - Answer-(1) doctoral degrees in psychology and related fields (2) university faculty members