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 Scientific research is classified as being either... - Answer-Basic or applied Basic research - Answer-Aims to increase the scientific knowledge base and achieve a more accurate understanding of human behaviour Applied research - Answer-Aims to address practical problems Folk psychology - Answer-intuitive beliefs about people's behavior, thoughts, and feelings Example of folk psychology - Answer-The belief that anger can be relieved by "letting it out", such as screaming/punching a pillow. BUT research showed that this approach tends to leave people feeling MORE angry, not less. Contributing factors to folk psychology: - Answer-1. We rely on mental shortcuts in forming and maintaining our beliefs 2. Confirmation bias 3. People hold some incorrect beliefs because they would like for them to be true Define confirmation bias - Answer-when people tend to focus on evidence that confirms their preexisting beliefs and not on that which disconfirms them Scientists cultivate an attitude of... - Answer-Scepticism How are scientists sceptical? - Answer-- They consider alternatives - Search for systematically collected empirical evidence - Assess the validity of source and evidence Scientists have a tolerance for... - Answer-uncertainty Tolerance to uncertainty is due to - Answer-there sometimes not being enough evidence to fully evaluate a claim 2 critical thinking attitudes - Answer-Scepticism and tolerance for uncertainty Psychology is also - Answer-the application of scientific research to "help people, organisations, and communities function better". Empirically supported treatments - Answer-treatments that undergo a systematic observation which proves that those who receive the treatment improve more than those who don't receive the treatment Examples of empirically supported treatments - Answer-- Exposure therapy for PTSD - Behavioural therapy for depression - Exposure therapy with response prevention for OCD The scientific approach to clinical psychology is essential to - Answer-Diagnose and treat psychological problems based on accurate knowledge The RQ has to be: - Answer-- Interestin