MCAT AAMC PSYCH/SOC SB
Questions and Answers
Shadowing task - CORRECT ANSWERS -Shadowing task allows one to test for selective attention.
Subjects are presented with two different messages, one in their right ear and one in their left,
then they're told to shadow the attended message by repeating it out loud with a delay of a
few seconds between hearing a word and repeating the word.
Researchers conducted a replication of the pilot training study with bus drivers. How accurately
will the measure of a person's ability to redirect attention predict accident rates among drivers?
The error rates in:
A Phase 1 will be directly related to accident rates.
Bphase 1 will be inversely related to accident rates.
Cphase 2 will be directly related to accident rates.
Dphase 2 will be inversely related to accident rates. - CORRECT ANSWERS -C
The answer to this question is C because it describes a logical prediction/extension of the
findings reported in the passage. In fact, it was the primary finding of a follow-up study that
used bus drivers as participants. Thus, the selective listening task provides a robust measure of
a person's susceptibility to having a change in the orientation of attention cause a transient
disruption of attention on any task that demands the ability to redirect attention.
Passage states negative correlation between errors and completion of training SO directly
related to accident rates
Did the task used in the study fulfill the original need described in the first paragraph?
A
Yes, because cadets who completed training on more advanced equipment had performed
significantly better on the task than those who dropped out of the training earlier
B
No, because performance in Phase 2 of the task did not predict performance on other tests
used in pilot selection
C
,Yes, because cadets' ability to divide attention between simultaneous inputs was predicted by
their performance in Phase 1
D
No, because cadets' performance in Phase 1 did not predict their ability to redirect attention in
Phase 2 - CORRECT ANSWERS -A
This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Making sense of the
environment." The answer to this question is A because the main requirement was for a test of
how quickly a flight cadet can redirect attention, and because the selective listening task
fulfilled that requirement and allowed the "modern air force" to test this ability quickly and
inexpensively. It is a Data-based and Statistical Reasoning question because it requires you to
draw a valid conclusion from the results of the study.
Didnt read properly/ understand the answer choice
By limiting the initial sample to low-SES participants living in a large U.S. city, the researchers:
A
Eliminated all the variables that would have confounded interpretation of the results.
B
Set up an experiment to assess how cocaine might affect the human brain.
C
Reduced variability due to differences in the quality of public schools.
D
Were unable to draw any conclusions regarding prenatal cocaine exposure. - CORRECT
ANSWERS -C
This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Making sense of the
environment." The answer to this question is C because SES stability was mentioned in the
passage and the quality of public schools would vary if mothers from different geographic areas
or cities had participated in the study. It is a Reasoning about the Design and Execution of
Research question because it requires you to identify factors that might potentially confuse the
inferences that can be drawn from the results.
, I had chosen A but thats an extreme answer becuase says "all"
In mammals, which brain area is LEAST involved in the abilities mentioned in the first
paragraph?
A
Frontal lobe
B
Hippocampus
C
Hypothalamus
D
Thalamus - CORRECT ANSWERS -C
This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Individual influences on
behavior." The answer to this question is C because the hypothalamus is concerned largely with
the maintenance of homeostatic equilibrium. Damage restricted to the hypothalamus would be
unlikely to interfere with discrimination learning or attention skills. It is a Knowledge of
Scientific Concepts and Principles question because it requires you to demonstrate your
knowledge of relationships among brain areas and mental functions.
Researchers hypothesized that cocaine is pharmacologically active in the primate fetal brain
when pregnant primates are administered cocaine at doses typically used by human drug users.
Which experimental observation best supports their hypothesis?
A
Glucose metabolism in the fetal brain increased.
B
Imaging studies showed that cocaine entered the fetal circulation.
C
The fetus had an increase in tolerance to pain.
D
Imaging studies showed increased internalization of dopamine receptors. - CORRECT ANSWERS
-A
Questions and Answers
Shadowing task - CORRECT ANSWERS -Shadowing task allows one to test for selective attention.
Subjects are presented with two different messages, one in their right ear and one in their left,
then they're told to shadow the attended message by repeating it out loud with a delay of a
few seconds between hearing a word and repeating the word.
Researchers conducted a replication of the pilot training study with bus drivers. How accurately
will the measure of a person's ability to redirect attention predict accident rates among drivers?
The error rates in:
A Phase 1 will be directly related to accident rates.
Bphase 1 will be inversely related to accident rates.
Cphase 2 will be directly related to accident rates.
Dphase 2 will be inversely related to accident rates. - CORRECT ANSWERS -C
The answer to this question is C because it describes a logical prediction/extension of the
findings reported in the passage. In fact, it was the primary finding of a follow-up study that
used bus drivers as participants. Thus, the selective listening task provides a robust measure of
a person's susceptibility to having a change in the orientation of attention cause a transient
disruption of attention on any task that demands the ability to redirect attention.
Passage states negative correlation between errors and completion of training SO directly
related to accident rates
Did the task used in the study fulfill the original need described in the first paragraph?
A
Yes, because cadets who completed training on more advanced equipment had performed
significantly better on the task than those who dropped out of the training earlier
B
No, because performance in Phase 2 of the task did not predict performance on other tests
used in pilot selection
C
,Yes, because cadets' ability to divide attention between simultaneous inputs was predicted by
their performance in Phase 1
D
No, because cadets' performance in Phase 1 did not predict their ability to redirect attention in
Phase 2 - CORRECT ANSWERS -A
This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Making sense of the
environment." The answer to this question is A because the main requirement was for a test of
how quickly a flight cadet can redirect attention, and because the selective listening task
fulfilled that requirement and allowed the "modern air force" to test this ability quickly and
inexpensively. It is a Data-based and Statistical Reasoning question because it requires you to
draw a valid conclusion from the results of the study.
Didnt read properly/ understand the answer choice
By limiting the initial sample to low-SES participants living in a large U.S. city, the researchers:
A
Eliminated all the variables that would have confounded interpretation of the results.
B
Set up an experiment to assess how cocaine might affect the human brain.
C
Reduced variability due to differences in the quality of public schools.
D
Were unable to draw any conclusions regarding prenatal cocaine exposure. - CORRECT
ANSWERS -C
This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Making sense of the
environment." The answer to this question is C because SES stability was mentioned in the
passage and the quality of public schools would vary if mothers from different geographic areas
or cities had participated in the study. It is a Reasoning about the Design and Execution of
Research question because it requires you to identify factors that might potentially confuse the
inferences that can be drawn from the results.
, I had chosen A but thats an extreme answer becuase says "all"
In mammals, which brain area is LEAST involved in the abilities mentioned in the first
paragraph?
A
Frontal lobe
B
Hippocampus
C
Hypothalamus
D
Thalamus - CORRECT ANSWERS -C
This is a Psychology question that falls under the content category "Individual influences on
behavior." The answer to this question is C because the hypothalamus is concerned largely with
the maintenance of homeostatic equilibrium. Damage restricted to the hypothalamus would be
unlikely to interfere with discrimination learning or attention skills. It is a Knowledge of
Scientific Concepts and Principles question because it requires you to demonstrate your
knowledge of relationships among brain areas and mental functions.
Researchers hypothesized that cocaine is pharmacologically active in the primate fetal brain
when pregnant primates are administered cocaine at doses typically used by human drug users.
Which experimental observation best supports their hypothesis?
A
Glucose metabolism in the fetal brain increased.
B
Imaging studies showed that cocaine entered the fetal circulation.
C
The fetus had an increase in tolerance to pain.
D
Imaging studies showed increased internalization of dopamine receptors. - CORRECT ANSWERS
-A
