GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY FINAL 2026
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
psychology - correct answer-the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
four goals of psychology - correct answer-describe, explain, predict and control the behavior and mental
processes of others.
hypothesis - correct answer-a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more
variables, a testable prediction or question.
theory - correct answer-a tentative explanation that tries to integrate and account for the relationship of
various findings and observations.
independent variable - correct answer-the purposely manipulated factor thought to produce change in
an experiment; also called the treatment variable.
dependent variable - correct answer-the factor that is observed and measured for change in an
experiment; thought to be influenced by the independent variable; also called the outcome variable.
extraneous variable - correct answer-a factor or variable other than the ones being studied that, if not
controlled, could affect the outcome of an experiment; also called a confounding variable.
placebo - correct answer-a fake substance, treatment, or procedure that has no known direct effects.
experimental group - correct answer-in an experiment, the group of participants who are exposed to all
experimental conditions, including the independent variable.
control group - correct answer-in an experiment, the group of participants who are exposed to all
experimental conditions, except the independent variable; the group against which changes in the
experimental group are compared.
,correlation coefficient - correct answer-a numerical indication of the magnitude and direction of the
relationship (correlation) between two variables.
descriptive research methods - correct answer-scientific procedures that involve systematically observing
behavior in order to describe the relationship among behaviors and events.
biological psychology - correct answer-specialized branch of psychology that studies the relationship
between behavior and bodily processes and systems; also called biopsychology or psychobiology.
neuroscience - correct answer-the study of the nervous system; especially the brain.
neuron - correct answer-highly specialized cell that communicates information in electrical and chemical
form; a nerve cell.
sensory neuron - correct answer-type of neuron that conveys information to the brain from specialized
receptor cells in sense organs and internal organs.
motor neuron - correct answer-type of neuron that signals muscles to relax or contract.
interneuron - correct answer-type of neuron that communicates information from one neuron to the
next.
components of a neuron - correct answer-cell body, dendrites, axon
cell body - correct answer-processes nutrients and provides energy for the neurons to function; contains
the cell's nucleus; also called the soma.
dendrites - correct answer-multiple short fibers that extend from the neuron's cell body and receive
information from other neurons or from sensory receptor cells.
axon - correct answer-the long, fluid-filled tube that carries a neuron's messages to other body areas.
, myelin sheath - correct answer-a white, fatty covering wrapped around the axons of some neurons that
increases their communication speed.
central nervous system - correct answer-division of the nervous system that consists of the brain and
spinal cord.
function of the spinal cord - correct answer-handles incoming and outgoing messages.
function of the brain - correct answer-behavior control
peripheral nervous system - correct answer-division of the nervous system that includes all the nerves
lying outside the central nervous system.
somatic nervous system - correct answer-subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that
communicates sensory information to the central nervous system and carries motor messages from the
central nervous system to the muscles.
autonomic nervous system - correct answer-subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates
involuntary functions.
sympathetic nervous system - correct answer-branch of the autonomic nervous system that produces
rapid physical arousal in response to perceived emergencies or threats.
parasympathetic nervous system - correct answer-branch of the autonomic nervous system that
maintains normal bodily functions and conserves the body's physical resources.
pons - correct answer-a hindbrain structure that connects the medulla to the two sides of the
cerebellum, helps coordinate and integrate movements on each side of the body.
cerebellum - correct answer-a large, two-sided hindbrain structure at the back of the brain; responsible
for muscle coordination and maintaining posture and equilibrium.
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
psychology - correct answer-the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
four goals of psychology - correct answer-describe, explain, predict and control the behavior and mental
processes of others.
hypothesis - correct answer-a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more
variables, a testable prediction or question.
theory - correct answer-a tentative explanation that tries to integrate and account for the relationship of
various findings and observations.
independent variable - correct answer-the purposely manipulated factor thought to produce change in
an experiment; also called the treatment variable.
dependent variable - correct answer-the factor that is observed and measured for change in an
experiment; thought to be influenced by the independent variable; also called the outcome variable.
extraneous variable - correct answer-a factor or variable other than the ones being studied that, if not
controlled, could affect the outcome of an experiment; also called a confounding variable.
placebo - correct answer-a fake substance, treatment, or procedure that has no known direct effects.
experimental group - correct answer-in an experiment, the group of participants who are exposed to all
experimental conditions, including the independent variable.
control group - correct answer-in an experiment, the group of participants who are exposed to all
experimental conditions, except the independent variable; the group against which changes in the
experimental group are compared.
,correlation coefficient - correct answer-a numerical indication of the magnitude and direction of the
relationship (correlation) between two variables.
descriptive research methods - correct answer-scientific procedures that involve systematically observing
behavior in order to describe the relationship among behaviors and events.
biological psychology - correct answer-specialized branch of psychology that studies the relationship
between behavior and bodily processes and systems; also called biopsychology or psychobiology.
neuroscience - correct answer-the study of the nervous system; especially the brain.
neuron - correct answer-highly specialized cell that communicates information in electrical and chemical
form; a nerve cell.
sensory neuron - correct answer-type of neuron that conveys information to the brain from specialized
receptor cells in sense organs and internal organs.
motor neuron - correct answer-type of neuron that signals muscles to relax or contract.
interneuron - correct answer-type of neuron that communicates information from one neuron to the
next.
components of a neuron - correct answer-cell body, dendrites, axon
cell body - correct answer-processes nutrients and provides energy for the neurons to function; contains
the cell's nucleus; also called the soma.
dendrites - correct answer-multiple short fibers that extend from the neuron's cell body and receive
information from other neurons or from sensory receptor cells.
axon - correct answer-the long, fluid-filled tube that carries a neuron's messages to other body areas.
, myelin sheath - correct answer-a white, fatty covering wrapped around the axons of some neurons that
increases their communication speed.
central nervous system - correct answer-division of the nervous system that consists of the brain and
spinal cord.
function of the spinal cord - correct answer-handles incoming and outgoing messages.
function of the brain - correct answer-behavior control
peripheral nervous system - correct answer-division of the nervous system that includes all the nerves
lying outside the central nervous system.
somatic nervous system - correct answer-subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that
communicates sensory information to the central nervous system and carries motor messages from the
central nervous system to the muscles.
autonomic nervous system - correct answer-subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates
involuntary functions.
sympathetic nervous system - correct answer-branch of the autonomic nervous system that produces
rapid physical arousal in response to perceived emergencies or threats.
parasympathetic nervous system - correct answer-branch of the autonomic nervous system that
maintains normal bodily functions and conserves the body's physical resources.
pons - correct answer-a hindbrain structure that connects the medulla to the two sides of the
cerebellum, helps coordinate and integrate movements on each side of the body.
cerebellum - correct answer-a large, two-sided hindbrain structure at the back of the brain; responsible
for muscle coordination and maintaining posture and equilibrium.
