Question 1

Progress in psychology often depends on
A)the majority opinion of experts in that particular psychological specialty.
B)the development of suitable research methods.
C)the use of commonsense approaches to the solution of human problems.
D)all of these.

Accepted Answer

Progress in psychology, like in other scientific fields, is heavily dependent on the development and refinement of research methods. These methods allow for systematic investigation, experimentation, and validation of theories and hypotheses, which in turn drive the field forward.

Question 2

Psychologists study which of the following TOPIC (B-HEAD)s?
A)love and sexuality
B)memory, learning, and creativity
C)aging and death
D)all of these

Accepted Answer

Psychologists study a wide range of topics that encompass aspects of human experience and behavior, including love and sexuality, memory, learning, creativity, as well as aging and death.

Question 3

In order to study the mind, the early psychologists examined their own thoughts, feelings, and sensations and then reported what they had observed. This technique is called
A)meta-analysis.
B)transduction.
C)introspection.
D)depersonalization.

Accepted Answer

Introspection is the technique where individuals examine their own thoughts, feelings, and sensations to gain insights into the workings of their own minds. This method was commonly used by early psychologists to study the mind.

Question 4

The part of the mind of which we are subjectively unaware and therefore not open to introspection is called the
A)alter ego.
B)preconscious mind.
C)cognitive unconscious.
D)dissociative state.

Accepted Answer

The cognitive unconscious refers to the mental processes that influence thoughts, feelings, and actions without an individual's awareness, fitting the description of being beyond introspection.

Question 5

Margot believes that people from New York City are rude. Her belief is based on
A)empirical evidence.
B)intersubjective data.
C)limited casual observations or hearsay.
D)objective data gained through scientific observations.

Accepted Answer

Margot's belief is likely based on limited casual observations or hearsay rather than systematic or scientific methods, which characterizes stereotypes or generalizations.

Question 6

Regarding commonsense theories of behavior, which of the following statements is FALSE?
A)Commonsense theories tend to work best after the fact or in hindsight.
B)Commonsense theories tend to be vague and inconsistent.
C)Commonsense theories are most often based on scientific observation.
D)Commonsense statements often depend on limited personal observations.

Accepted Answer

Commonsense theories are typically not based on scientific observation but rather on personal experiences, societal norms, or anecdotal evidence.

Question 7

In Wilson and Nesbitt's experiment, shoppers were asked to examine four pairs of silk stockings hanging on a rack, choose the highest quality pair, and explain their choice. Although the serial position of the stockings on the rack strongly influenced the shopper's choices, no shopper gave serial position as a subjective reason for his or her choice. Thus, the results of this experiment indicated that much of our thinking, like the shoppers, actually takes place in the part of the mind of which we are subjectively unaware and therefore not open to our introspection. This part of the mind is referred to as the
A)autokinetic level.
B)fluid intelligence.
C)cognitive unconscious.
D)dissociative state.

Accepted Answer

The correct term for the part of the mind that operates beyond our subjective awareness, influencing our decisions and thoughts without our conscious introspection, is the "cognitive unconscious." This concept explains how people can make decisions or have preferences influenced by factors they are not consciously aware of, as demonstrated in Wilson and Nesbitt's experiment with the silk stockings.

Question 8

Which of the following is the best description of the field of psychology?
A)the study of human origins, evolution, and cultures
B)the scientific study of overt behavior and mental processes
C)a natural science integrating physiology and neurology
D)the deductive study of forms and functions of human groups

Accepted Answer

Psychology is defined as the scientific study of the mind and behavior, encompassing both observable actions (overt behavior) and internal processes such as thoughts and emotions. This makes option B the most accurate description of the field.

Question 9

The word psychology is thousands of years old and comes from the ancient Greek roots psyche and logos , which mean respectively
A)behavior and science .
B)brain and science .
C)mind and knowledge or study .
D)personality and knowledge or study .

Accepted Answer

The word "psychology" is derived from the ancient Greek roots "psyche," meaning "mind," and "logos," meaning "knowledge or study." Thus, psychology is the study of the mind.

Question 10

At one time, psychologists had to rely on the subjective reports of people who said that they never dream. When the EEG was invented, it was found that everyone dreams every night. Thus, until the invention of the EEG, sleep and dreaming were not objectively studied because
A)it was unethical to watch people sleep.
B)it was not considered a suitable TOPIC (B-HEAD)for psychological research.
C)there was not a suitable research method available to study the TOPIC (B-HEAD).
D)there was a lack of interest in understanding sleep and dreaming.

Accepted Answer

Before the invention of the EEG, there was no suitable research method available to objectively study sleep and dreaming, making it difficult to gather empirical data on these phenomena.

Question 11

Psychology is currently defined as the
A)empirical study of the human personality.
B)study of individual differences in the group behavior of humans and animals.
C)scientific study of overt behavior and mental processes.
D)scientific study of the relationship between mind and body.

Accepted Answer

Psychology is defined as the scientific study of overt behavior and mental processes, encompassing both observable actions and internal experiences such as thoughts and feelings.

Question 12

A psychologist might know more about what's going on in your mind than you do because objective scientific methods are more accurate than the subjective technique of
A)introspection.
B)behaviorism.
C)correlation.
D)meta-analysis.

Accepted Answer

Introspection, which involves examining one's own conscious thoughts and feelings, is subjective and can be less accurate than objective scientific methods used by psychologists to understand mental processes. Behaviorism, correlation, and meta-analysis are all objective methods that do not rely on the individual's subjective experience.

Question 13

A commonsense approach to psychology
A)is the most reliable.
B)is often contradicted by scientific observation.
C)is the basis for most psychological theories.
D)provides information that is specific and consistent.

Accepted Answer

Commonsense approaches to psychology, while intuitive and widely held, are frequently contradicted by empirical evidence and scientific observation. What seems obvious in human behavior often does not hold up under scientific scrutiny, leading to findings that can be counterintuitive.

Question 14

Regarding the study of psychology, which of the following statements is FALSE?
A)Psychology is defined as the scientific study of overt behavior and mental processes.
B)The field of psychology studies such TOPIC (B-HEAD)s as love, stress, persuasion, aging, happiness, and wisdom.
C)The field of psychology can help us to better understand ourselves and others.
D)Most psychologists believe that the mind can be fully understood from a subjective viewpoint.

Accepted Answer

Most psychologists agree that understanding the mind requires objective, scientific methods rather than purely subjective viewpoints. This is because subjective experiences can vary greatly between individuals, making it difficult to draw broad conclusions about mental processes and behaviors without empirical evidence.

Question 15

The research conducted by psychologists involves
A)the validation of commonsense beliefs in predicting everyday experiences.
B)the systematic use of commonsense beliefs in solving new problems.
C)gathering information through direct observation.
D)a reliance on subjective opinions and rationalizations.

Accepted Answer

Psychological research often involves gathering information through direct observation as a means to collect empirical evidence, which is a fundamental aspect of the scientific method used in psychology.

Question 16

The cognitive unconscious is the part of the mind
A)that stores long-term memories and utilizes crystallized intelligence.
B)that holds memories in short-term memory and utilizes fluid intelligence.
C)of which we are objectively aware and that is open to introspection.
D)of which we are subjectively unaware and therefore not open to introspection.

Accepted Answer

The cognitive unconscious refers to the aspects of our mental processes that operate outside of our conscious awareness, meaning we are subjectively unaware of them and they are not open to introspection.

Question 17

Regarding psychologists and the field of psychology, which of the following statements is\are TRUE?
A)Today, psychology is both a science and a profession.
B)The word psychology is thousands of years old and comes from ancient Greek roots for mind and study .
C)Psychologists apply psychological principles to solve problems in fields, such as business, sports, law, and the design of machines.
D)All of these statements are true.

Accepted Answer

All the statements provided are true. Psychology is indeed recognized as both a scientific discipline and a professional practice. The term "psychology" does originate from ancient Greek, combining the words for "mind" or "soul" (psyche) and "study" (logia). Psychologists apply their knowledge to various fields beyond traditional mental health, including business, sports, law, and ergonomics, among others.

Question 18

Since you are the only person who can directly observe the inner workings of your own mind, early psychologists would have studied your mind by relying upon your subjective ability to "look inward" at your own thoughts and feelings and reported what you had observed. This technique is called
A)introspection.
B)meta-analysis.
C)transduction.
D)dissociation.

Accepted Answer

Introspection is the method early psychologists used to study the mind, involving individuals' examination and reporting of their own thoughts and feelings.

Question 19

Psychology is distinguished from other fields, such as history, law, art, and business, because of its reliance on
A)commonsense to understand and solve human problems.
B)subjective analysis to answer questions about the mind and behavior.
C)objective scientific observation to systematically answer questions about behavior.
D)introspection to understand the cognitive unconscious.

Accepted Answer

Psychology is distinguished by its reliance on objective scientific observation to systematically answer questions about behavior, setting it apart from fields that may rely more on subjective analysis, historical context, or personal introspection.

Question 20

Which of the following descriptions of commonsense is FALSE?
A)"Strike while the iron is hot" and "Haste makes waste" would both be considered commonsense statements.
B)Commonsense statements tend to work best after the fact.
C)Commonsense requires planned and systematic observations.
D)Commonsense often provides vague and inconsistent pieces of information.

Accepted Answer

Commonsense typically involves intuitive understanding or judgments that do not necessarily require planned and systematic observations. It's more about the general knowledge and experiences shared among people rather than formal, structured investigation.

Quiz 1: Psychology, Critical Thinking, and Science

Progress in psychology often depends on

Psychologists study which of the following TOPIC (B-HEAD) s?

In order to study the mind, the early psychologists examined their own thoughts, feelings, and sensations and then reported what they had observed. This technique is called

The part of the mind of which we are subjectively unaware and therefore not open to introspection is called the

Margot believes that people from New York City are rude. Her belief is based on

Regarding commonsense theories of behavior, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Which of the following is the best description of the field of psychology?

The word psychology is thousands of years old and comes from the ancient Greek roots psyche and logos , which mean respectively

At one time, psychologists had to rely on the subjective reports of people who said that they never dream. When the EEG was invented, it was found that everyone dreams every night. Thus, until the invention of the EEG, sleep and dreaming were not objectively studied because

Psychology is currently defined as the

A psychologist might know more about what's going on in your mind than you do because objective scientific methods are more accurate than the subjective technique of

A commonsense approach to psychology

Regarding the study of psychology, which of the following statements is FALSE?

The research conducted by psychologists involves

The cognitive unconscious is the part of the mind

Regarding psychologists and the field of psychology, which of the following statements is\are TRUE?

Since you are the only person who can directly observe the inner workings of your own mind, early psychologists would have studied your mind by relying upon your subjective ability to "look inward" at your own thoughts and feelings and reported what you had observed. This technique is called

Psychology is distinguished from other fields, such as history, law, art, and business, because of its reliance on

Which of the following descriptions of commonsense is FALSE?