WGU C180 Final Exam Study guide
(Latest 2026/ 2027 Update) Introduction
to Psychology Guide | Verified Questions
& Answers |100% Correct
What do psychologists study?
sw sw sw
• Biological Foundations sw
• Mental Life sw
• Change
• Self and Others sw sw
• Potential and Dysfunction sw sw
What is the scientific method and how is it applied to psychological research?
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
The scientific method is the set of assumptions, rules, and procedures scientists use to con
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
duct research. In addition to requiring that science is verifiable, the scientific method dem
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ands that procedures are free of personal bias.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
What is the definition of a hypothesis?
sw sw sw sw sw sw
A specific and falsifiable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
What is an operational definition? Provide an example.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
An operational definition refers to a precise statement of how a conceptual variable ( abstrac
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t idea that form the basis of research hypotheses ) which is turned into a measured variable
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw s
w( varialbes consisting of numbers that represent the conceptual variables )
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
, WGU C180 Final Exam Study guide (Late
sw sw sw sw sw sw
st 2026/ 2027 Update) Introduction to Ps
sw sw sw sw sw sw
ychology Guide | Verified Questions & A sw sw sw sw sw sw
nswers |100% Correct sw sw
(Conceptual Variable) Depression -
sw sw sw
(operational definition) Number of negative words used in a creative story; number of appoi
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ntments made with a psychotherapist
sw sw sw sw
Why are ethical guidelines needed within psychological research?
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
These are needed with psychological research is the prevent physical and/or emotional harm t
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
o the participants.
sw sw
What are the various research methods in the field of psychology? Descri
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ptive Research
sw
Correlational Research sw
sw Experimental Researc sw
h
What is descriptive research?
sw sw sw
research designed to provide a snapshot of the current state of affairs.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
What is Correlational Research
sw sw sw
research designed to discover relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
events from present knowledge.
sw sw sw
, WGU C180 Final Exam Study guide (Late sw sw sw sw sw sw
st 2026/ 2027 Update) Introduction to Ps
sw sw sw sw sw sw
ychology Guide | Verified Questions & A sw sw sw sw sw sw
nswers |100% Correct sw sw
What is Experimental Research
sw sw sw
research in which there is a random assignment of research participants into two groups. This
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
is followed by a manipulation of a given experience for one group while the other is not m
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
anipulated. One group is the experimental group that receives the manipulation. The other gr
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
oup is the control group that does not. The two groups are then compared to determine the i
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
nfluence of the manipulation. sw sw sw
What is the relationship between a population and a sample?
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
The people chosen to participate in the research, called a sample, are selected to be represe
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ntative of all the people that the researcher wishes to know about, called the population. "S
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ampling is the process of selecting a representative group from the population under study.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
The target population is the total group of individuals from which the sample might be draw
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
n. A sample is the group of people who take part in the investigation. The people who take
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw s
wpart are referred to as "participants"."
sw sw sw sw sw
Independent Variable sw
The variable in an experiment that is manipulated or compared
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
Dependent Variable sw
The variable in an experiment that is measured; the outcome of an experiment
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
Control Group sw
, WGU C180 Final Exam Study guide (Late sw sw sw sw sw sw
st 2026/ 2027 Update) Introduction to Ps
sw sw sw sw sw sw
ychology Guide | Verified Questions & A sw sw sw sw sw sw
nswers |100% Correct sw sw
The group of subjects in an experiment that does not receive the independent variable
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
Experimental Group sw
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP is the group receiving the independent variable sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
What does a correlational research design examine? Provide an example.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
research designed to discover relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
events from present knowledge.
sw sw sw
Describe examples of a positive and a negative correlation.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
Correlational-
To assess the relationships between and among two or more variables. Postiive -
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
sw As children age they get better at math
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
Negative - sw
Age of a child and the number of diapers they use "Negative correlation, the variables move
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw s
win inverse, or opposite, directions. As one variable increases, the other variable decreases. Fo
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
r example, there is a negative correlation between self-
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
esteem and depression. Positive correlation is when there is an increase in one variable it is a
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ssociated with an increase in another variable. For example: with height and weight, taller pe
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ople tend to be heavier."
sw sw sw sw
What are the differences in interpretations of correlational and experimental designs?
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
In correlational studies a researcher looks for associations among naturally occurring variables,
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
whereas in experimental studies the researcher introduces a change and then monitors its effects.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
(Latest 2026/ 2027 Update) Introduction
to Psychology Guide | Verified Questions
& Answers |100% Correct
What do psychologists study?
sw sw sw
• Biological Foundations sw
• Mental Life sw
• Change
• Self and Others sw sw
• Potential and Dysfunction sw sw
What is the scientific method and how is it applied to psychological research?
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
The scientific method is the set of assumptions, rules, and procedures scientists use to con
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
duct research. In addition to requiring that science is verifiable, the scientific method dem
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ands that procedures are free of personal bias.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
What is the definition of a hypothesis?
sw sw sw sw sw sw
A specific and falsifiable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
What is an operational definition? Provide an example.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
An operational definition refers to a precise statement of how a conceptual variable ( abstrac
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
t idea that form the basis of research hypotheses ) which is turned into a measured variable
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw s
w( varialbes consisting of numbers that represent the conceptual variables )
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
, WGU C180 Final Exam Study guide (Late
sw sw sw sw sw sw
st 2026/ 2027 Update) Introduction to Ps
sw sw sw sw sw sw
ychology Guide | Verified Questions & A sw sw sw sw sw sw
nswers |100% Correct sw sw
(Conceptual Variable) Depression -
sw sw sw
(operational definition) Number of negative words used in a creative story; number of appoi
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ntments made with a psychotherapist
sw sw sw sw
Why are ethical guidelines needed within psychological research?
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
These are needed with psychological research is the prevent physical and/or emotional harm t
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
o the participants.
sw sw
What are the various research methods in the field of psychology? Descri
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ptive Research
sw
Correlational Research sw
sw Experimental Researc sw
h
What is descriptive research?
sw sw sw
research designed to provide a snapshot of the current state of affairs.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
What is Correlational Research
sw sw sw
research designed to discover relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
events from present knowledge.
sw sw sw
, WGU C180 Final Exam Study guide (Late sw sw sw sw sw sw
st 2026/ 2027 Update) Introduction to Ps
sw sw sw sw sw sw
ychology Guide | Verified Questions & A sw sw sw sw sw sw
nswers |100% Correct sw sw
What is Experimental Research
sw sw sw
research in which there is a random assignment of research participants into two groups. This
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
is followed by a manipulation of a given experience for one group while the other is not m
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
anipulated. One group is the experimental group that receives the manipulation. The other gr
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
oup is the control group that does not. The two groups are then compared to determine the i
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
nfluence of the manipulation. sw sw sw
What is the relationship between a population and a sample?
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
The people chosen to participate in the research, called a sample, are selected to be represe
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ntative of all the people that the researcher wishes to know about, called the population. "S
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ampling is the process of selecting a representative group from the population under study.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
The target population is the total group of individuals from which the sample might be draw
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
n. A sample is the group of people who take part in the investigation. The people who take
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw s
wpart are referred to as "participants"."
sw sw sw sw sw
Independent Variable sw
The variable in an experiment that is manipulated or compared
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
Dependent Variable sw
The variable in an experiment that is measured; the outcome of an experiment
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
Control Group sw
, WGU C180 Final Exam Study guide (Late sw sw sw sw sw sw
st 2026/ 2027 Update) Introduction to Ps
sw sw sw sw sw sw
ychology Guide | Verified Questions & A sw sw sw sw sw sw
nswers |100% Correct sw sw
The group of subjects in an experiment that does not receive the independent variable
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
Experimental Group sw
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP is the group receiving the independent variable sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
What does a correlational research design examine? Provide an example.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
research designed to discover relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
events from present knowledge.
sw sw sw
Describe examples of a positive and a negative correlation.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
Correlational-
To assess the relationships between and among two or more variables. Postiive -
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
sw As children age they get better at math
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
Negative - sw
Age of a child and the number of diapers they use "Negative correlation, the variables move
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw s
win inverse, or opposite, directions. As one variable increases, the other variable decreases. Fo
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
r example, there is a negative correlation between self-
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
esteem and depression. Positive correlation is when there is an increase in one variable it is a
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ssociated with an increase in another variable. For example: with height and weight, taller pe
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
ople tend to be heavier."
sw sw sw sw
What are the differences in interpretations of correlational and experimental designs?
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
In correlational studies a researcher looks for associations among naturally occurring variables,
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
whereas in experimental studies the researcher introduces a change and then monitors its effects.
sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw sw
