Go to Section 1-2: Answers to Quiz Questions

1. Which of the following is not a difference between everyday theories and scientific theories?

A. Everyday theories try to describe, whereas scientific theories try to explain.
B. Everyday theories tend to be simple, whereas scientific theories be complex.
C. Everyday theories tend not to be tested, whereas scientific theories must be tested.
D. Everyday theories tend to be based on superficial thinking, whereas scientific theories tend to be based on careful reasoning.

2. Which of the following does not represent a description of a psychological concept?

A. Memory is the set of mental processes that allow us to retain information for a period of time.
B. Schizophrenia is caused by abnormal development of the brain during early life, which results in abnormal brain activity in adulthood.
C. A cognitive process is any mental process involved in knowing the world, such as those involved in memory and perception.
D. A sensation involves the activity of sensory receptors and the parts of the nervous system stimulated by those receptors.

3. Alcoholism is associated with biological heredity (genes): children of alcoholics are more likely to develop alcoholism, even when they are brought up in adoptive families. Given this fact, would it be correct to conclude that alcoholism is caused solely by genes?

A. Yes: children of alcoholics are more likely to develop alcoholism.
B. Yes: these studies show that family environment is not important.
C. No: alcoholism is a mental disorder and must have mental causes.
D. No: alcoholism has many causes, one of which is biological heredity.

4. Personality consists of an integrated pattern of cognitions, emotions, and behaviors that have all the following characteristics except:

A. they are unique to the individual.
B. they are expressed across most situations.
C. they are caused by childhood experiences.
D. they are stable over long periods of time.

5. Which of the following words is the best synonym[∂] for the textbook's definition of theory?

A. explanation
B. opinion
C. speculation
D. hypothesis

6. Tammy believes that men are self-centered, arrogant, and insensitive. This belief is an example of a

A. cognitive bias.
B. cognitive motive.
C. social trait.
D. social stereotype.

7. Why were theories likened to maps in the textbook?

A. Because maps merely illustrate limited areas of an entire region, just as theories merely illustrate limited aspects of complex concepts.
B. Because maps focus only on the most important aspects of a region, just as theories focus only on the most important causes of a phenomenon.
C. Because maps tell us how to get from one location to another, just as theories tell us how to derive one general principle from another.
D. all the above

8. Karen was awakened this morning at 3:00 am by the ringing of the phone. It is very unusual for Karen to get phone calls in the middle of the night and, so, she immediately wondered if the call might be about her severely ill mother — a thought that made her very anxious. Should we conclude that Karen has an "anxious personality"?

A. No, because most people in this situation would be anxious.
B. No, because few people in this situation would be anxious.
C. Yes, because she usually is anxious in most situations.
D. Yes, because she usually is anxious in this situation.

9. Tourette's Disorder (TD) is characterized by tics — both motor (such as eye-blinking) and vocal (such as grunts or yelps). One theory of TD states that the tics are caused by high levels of a chemical called dopamine in a specific region of the brain. Which of the following would be the best way to test this theory?

A. Determine whether drugs that increase dopamine levels in this brain region also cause normal people to develop tics.
B. Determine whether drugs that increase dopamine levels in other brain regions also cause normal people to develop tics.
C. Determine whether drugs that decrease dopamine levels in this brain region also cause people with TD to develop tics.
D. Determine whether drugs that decrease dopamine levels in other brain regions also cause people with TD to develop tics.

10. Which of the following is an example of a motive?

A. I believe that teachers are caring and intelligent.
B. I want to write a psychology textbook.
C. I think that she is a kind person.
D. I tend to get nervous at parties.

11. The development of schemas is most dependent on

A. heredity.
B. experiences.
C. motives.
D. traits.

12. A social stereotype is a kind of

A. theory.
B. perspective.
C. schema.
D. principle.

13. In order to determine whether a particular theory is likely to be correct, we must do which of the following?

A. Find out what most experts say about the theory's accuracy.
B. Find out what most experts say about the theory's validity.
C. Derive a prediction from the theory and see if it's confirmed.
D. Derive a claim from some observations and see if it's confirmed.

14. Which of the following is an example of a general principle in a theory?

A. The human brain and spinal cord are both encased in bone.
B. When the brain becomes inactive, a person is said to be "brain dead."
C. A circadian rhythm is a biological rhythm that occurs every 24 hours.
D. Electrical activity in the brain is caused by chemical activity in its cells.

15. Given the analogy discussed in the textbook between criminal trials and scientific research, when would one conclude that a scientific theory is likely to be true?

A. When the evidence supports the theory beyond a reasonable doubt.
B. When the evidence supports the theory beyond any doubt.
C. We can't conclude that a theory is true because theories are only opinions.
D. We can't conclude that a theory is true because theories are only guesses.

16. Which of the following is an example of a theory rather than an observation (or set of observations)?

A. People tend to yawn when they see someone else yawning.
B. People tend to yawn even when they just read about yawning.
C. Yawning involves the activation of particular facial muscles.
D. Yawning involves the brain's attempt to increase its state of arousal.

17. Which of the following people would not be experiencing a problem in the integration of personality?

A. a person in the middle of a psychotic episode who can't think clearly
B. a person in the middle of a psychotic episode who is hearing voices
C. an even-tempered person who suddenly becomes enraged
D. a sadistic psychopath who suddenly becomes enraged

18. Which of the following is not one of the three functions of a scientific theory?

A. The theory allows us to organize our observations.
B. The theory allows us to explain our observations.
C. The theory allows us to predict future observations.
D. The theory allows us to make current and future observations.

19. In general, the main goal of scientific research is to

A. make observations.
B. develop theoretical approaches.
C. derive predictions.
D. test theories.

20. Why is it is important to have different theoretical approaches in psychology?

A. Each approach focuses on a different set of causes, and behavior has many causes.
B. One of the many approaches eventually will be found to be better than the rest.
C. What is true about the human mind depends on how we view the human mind.
D. none of the above

Go to Section 1-2: Answers to Quiz Questions