Question 1

According to the authors of your textbook, the most important principle of critical thinking is that critical thinkers

Accepted Answer

Critical thinkers actively seek to challenge and test beliefs, including their own, to ensure they are valid and reliable. This approach is fundamental to critical thinking as it encourages skepticism and the rigorous evaluation of evidence.

Question 2

Critical thinking does NOT include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves questioning and evaluating information, including that provided by experts, rather than relying solely on conventional wisdom and common sense. It emphasizes independent thinking and the assessment of evidence.

Question 3

Critical thinking involves

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves actively reflecting on and evaluating ideas rather than simply accepting them at face value. It goes beyond conventional wisdom, common sense, or relying solely on expert opinions.

Question 4

Regarding the principles of critical thinking, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves evaluating information and arguments based on logic and evidence, rather than accepting them because they come from an authority figure.

Question 5

Because we are often tempted to accept commonsense beliefs, urban legends, and even outrageous claims about the powers of "healing" crystals and "miraculous" herbal remedies, it is important that we learn to think

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is critically because it involves analyzing and evaluating information to make reasoned judgments, which is essential when faced with commonsense beliefs, urban legends, and claims about "healing" crystals and "miraculous" herbal remedies.

Question 6

For most psychologists, control refers to

Accepted Answer

Control, in the context of psychology, primarily refers to altering conditions or the environment to influence behavior. This can involve modifying stimuli, setting up reinforcements, or changing schedules of reinforcement to encourage certain behaviors and discourage others. It does not necessarily imply punishment, legal limitations, or reducing personal freedom of choice, but rather focuses on understanding and guiding behavior through the manipulation of environmental factors.

Question 7

An environmental psychologist helps redesign a college dorm to reduce feelings of crowding. The psychologist's work reflects which of psychology's goals?

Accepted Answer

The goal of control in psychology involves applying findings to solve practical problems, such as reducing feelings of crowding in a college dorm, which is what the environmental psychologist is doing by redesigning the space.

Question 8

Karilynn's professor poses the following question to the psychology class: "When it comes to achieving our goals, is it better to focus on how far we still have to go before we reach a goal, or should we focus on what we have already accomplished?" Karilynn immediately asks herself whether there is any theory or empirical evidence to support stressing either a goal focus or an accomplishment focus. She also wonders what research method could be used to find out this information if no empirical evidence presently exists. Karilynn is exhibiting

Accepted Answer

Karilynn is exhibiting critical thinking by questioning the existence of theories or empirical evidence to support either focus and considering what research methods could be used to gather this information if it doesn't already exist. This approach involves analyzing and evaluating information to form a reasoned judgment, which is characteristic of critical thinking.

Question 9

When people use critical thinking, they

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves constantly questioning and revising one's understanding of the world based on new evidence or perspectives, rather than adhering rigidly to conventional wisdom, prioritizing the quantity of evidence over its credibility, or being unwilling to admit when one's beliefs are incorrect.

Question 10

Which question below relates most directly to the goal of controlling behavior?

Accepted Answer

The goal of controlling behavior is most directly related to preventing negative actions or outcomes, such as child abuse. Question B focuses on strategies or methods to prevent child abuse, which involves controlling or modifying behaviors to achieve a positive outcome.

Question 11

In making decisions about various issues, Dannon engages in a type of reflection that involves asking whether a particular idea or belief can be supported by scientific theory and observation. Dannon is utilizing a type of __________ thinking.

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves evaluating the validity of something by questioning and applying logical reasoning, which aligns with Dannon's approach of using scientific theory and observation to support ideas or beliefs.

Question 12

Two research studies are conducted on the effects of body piercing on self-esteem. One study found that body piercing increased self-esteem, while the other one found a decrease in self-esteem. If you are a critical thinker, you would

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating the structure and content of the argument or theory. Comparing how each study was conducted allows for an assessment of the methodologies, sample sizes, variables controlled for, and other factors that could influence the validity and reliability of the results. This approach helps in understanding why the studies might have reached different conclusions and which, if either, provides more robust evidence.

Question 13

A psychologist uses systematic desensitization to assist a student in overcoming test anxiety. This illustrates the goal of

Accepted Answer

Systematic desensitization is a therapeutic intervention aimed at reducing the client's anxiety responses through gradual exposure to the anxiety-provoking stimulus, in this case, tests. The goal is to control or alter the student's reaction to tests, thereby reducing their test anxiety. This aligns with the goal of control in psychology, which involves manipulating variables to bring about a desired change in behavior.

Question 14

Critical thinking includes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves the ability to question one's own ideas and assumptions, including the willingness to admit when one is wrong. This reflects an openness to new evidence and perspectives, which is a core aspect of critical thinking.

Question 15

As part of critical thinking, the deliberate attempt to uncover how a commonsense belief or scientific theory might be false is called

Accepted Answer

Falsification is a cornerstone of the scientific method and critical thinking, where the goal is to test hypotheses or theories with the intention of proving them false. This process helps in refining or discarding theories that do not hold up to scrutiny, thereby advancing knowledge.

Question 16

An industrial psychologist uses psychometric tests and interviews to select the best candidate for a specialized task. The psychologist's work directly illustrates which goal of psychology?

Accepted Answer

Prediction is the correct answer because the psychologist is using tools (psychometric tests and interviews) to predict which candidate will be the best fit for a specialized task, indicating an effort to forecast future behavior based on current assessments.

Question 17

Students who do well on an intelligence test tend to do well in their school grades. This ability of the IQ tests to forecast future school success illustrates which goal of psychology?

Accepted Answer

The ability of IQ tests to forecast future school success illustrates the goal of prediction in psychology, as it involves making educated guesses about future behavior or occurrences based on current or past data.

Question 18

Critical thinkers can be more confident in beliefs that have survived

Accepted Answer

Critical thinkers actively seek to challenge their beliefs to test their validity. When a belief survives attempts at falsification, where one actively looks for evidence that could prove it wrong but fails to find convincing evidence against it, the belief is strengthened. This process increases confidence in the belief because it has withstood rigorous scrutiny.

Question 19

An expert tells you that "you can catch a cold by not wearing a coat when it is cold." If you are a critical thinker, you would

Accepted Answer

Colds are caused by viruses, not by cold weather itself. Asking for empirical evidence encourages the examination of scientific data to support or refute the claim, aligning with critical thinking principles.

Question 20

In her psychology classes, Dr. Murphey uses problem-based learning cases in order to enhance her students' abilities to actively reflect, analyze, and evaluate information about real-life cases involving troubled marriages and caring for elderly parents. Dr. Murphey is attempting to increase her students'

Accepted Answer

Dr. Murphey's use of problem-based learning cases to encourage active reflection, analysis, and evaluation of real-life situations is aimed at enhancing students' critical thinking skills. This approach helps students to critically assess information and make informed decisions, which is a key aspect of critical thinking.

Quiz 1: Psychology, Critical Thinking, and Science