Quiz: Psychological Science Fundamentals — 22 questions

1. A person experiences a rapid threat and shows increased arousal and energy expenditure; which division is most active?

A. The central nervous system

B. The sympathetic nervous system

C. The parasympathetic nervous system

D. The somatic sensory system

Answer: (B)

Explanation

The sympathetic nervous system arouses the body and expends energy during fight-or-flight responses. The parasympathetic system has the contrasting role of calming the body and conserving energy during rest and digestion.

2. Which statement best distinguishes a theory from a hypothesis in psychological research?

A. A theory describes a measurement tool, whereas a hypothesis reports statistical significance

B. A theory offers broad principles, whereas a hypothesis predicts a specific outcome

C. A theory predicts one result, whereas a hypothesis organizes an entire research area

D. A theory summarizes collected data, whereas a hypothesis determines participant eligibility

Answer: (B)

Explanation

A theory explains a broad area through general principles, while a hypothesis is a specific prediction derived from that theory. The other choices reverse or misrepresent the roles of theories and hypotheses.

3. Which set lists the three core ethical principles identified by the Belmont Report?

A. Privacy, deception, and statistical significance

B. Random assignment, representative sampling, and replication

C. Informed consent, confidentiality, and debriefing

D. Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice

Answer: (D)

Explanation

The Belmont Report identifies respect for persons, beneficence, and justice as its three core principles. Informed consent and confidentiality are important research requirements, but they are not the Belmont principles as a set.

4. A person fails to notice a large object because attention is directed toward another task; what phenomenon does this illustrate?

A. Sleep deprivation

B. Change blindness

C. Blindsight

D. Inattentional blindness

Answer: (D)

Explanation

Inattentional blindness is failing to see an object when attention is focused elsewhere. Change blindness concerns missing a change, while blindsight involves unconscious visual processing after visual awareness is lost.

5. What is the key difference between descriptive and inferential statistics?

A. Descriptive statistics establish ethical protections, whereas inferential statistics obtain consent

B. Descriptive statistics select samples, whereas inferential statistics define the study population

C. Descriptive statistics test causal effects, whereas inferential statistics assign participants to conditions

D. Descriptive statistics summarize data, whereas inferential statistics draw conclusions about populations

Answer: (D)

Explanation

Descriptive statistics organize and summarize the observed dataset, while inferential statistics use sample data to draw conclusions about population characteristics. Causal testing, assignment, sampling, and consent are different research concepts.

6. What is the relationship between a sample and a population in research?

A. A sample is a statistical conclusion, whereas a population is a measured outcome

B. A sample is a research procedure, whereas a population is an ethical principle

C. A sample is the selected group, whereas a population is the larger group of interest

D. A sample is the larger group of interest, whereas a population is the selected group

Answer: (C)

Explanation

A sample is the group selected for study, while the population is the broader group to which findings may apply. The other choices confuse groups of people with statistical results, procedures, or ethical concepts.

7. How does selective attention differ from dual processing?

A. Selective attention focuses processing on some information, whereas dual processing uses separate processing tracks

B. Selective attention detects physical changes, whereas dual processing produces visual awareness after injury

C. Selective attention uses separate processing tracks, whereas dual processing focuses on attended information

D. Selective attention occurs without awareness, whereas dual processing requires conscious recognition

Answer: (A)

Explanation

Selective attention prioritizes some information for processing, while dual processing refers to information being handled on separate tracks. Non-conscious processing is a related but distinct process that occurs without awareness.

8. When should participants receive debriefing in a study that used deception?

A. During recruitment, before eligibility for the study is assessed

B. Before participation, so the study’s full purpose is understood

C. Before data collection, in place of obtaining informed consent

D. After participation, once the deceptive procedures have been explained

Answer: (D)

Explanation

Debriefing occurs after participation in research involving deception and explains the procedures or concealed purpose. Informed consent is obtained before participation and does not replace post-study debriefing.

9. In an experiment testing whether background music affects reading comprehension, what is the independent variable?

A. The number of questions answered correctly

B. The amount of time spent completing the reading task

C. The presence or absence of background music

D. The participants’ reading comprehension scores

Answer: (C)

Explanation

The independent variable is the factor manipulated by the researcher, which here is whether background music is present. Comprehension scores and related performance measures are outcomes that would be measured as dependent variables.

10. Which sleep stage sequence represents a typical progression through one sleep cycle?

A. N1 light sleep, N2 sleep with bursts of brain activity, N3 deep slow-wave sleep, and REM sleep

B. REM sleep, N2 sleep with bursts of brain activity, N1 light sleep, and N3 deep slow-wave sleep

C. N3 deep slow-wave sleep, N1 light sleep, REM sleep, and N2 sleep with bursts of brain activity

D. N2 sleep with bursts of brain activity, REM sleep, N3 deep slow-wave sleep, and N1 light sleep

Answer: (A)

Explanation

A typical cycle progresses from N1 to N2, then N3, followed by REM sleep. N3 is characterized by deep slow-wave sleep, whereas REM brain waves resemble those seen near waking.

11. A researcher records students’ naturally occurring sleep habits and exam scores without changing either variable; which method is being used?

A. An experiment manipulating sleep to measure its causal effect

B. A descriptive summary that excludes relationships between variables

C. Random assignment placing students into different sleep conditions

D. A correlational study examining a naturally occurring relationship

Answer: (D)

Explanation

Recording naturally occurring sleep habits and exam scores examines whether the variables are related, which defines a correlational study. An experiment would require manipulating a variable to investigate cause and effect.

12. Which pathway is used by sensory neurons?

A. From glands toward the body’s sensory receptors

B. From the body toward the spinal cord and brain

C. From the brain toward muscles and glands

D. Between muscles without entering the central nervous system

Answer: (B)

Explanation

Sensory neurons carry incoming information from the body to the spinal cord and brain. Motor neurons carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to muscles and glands.

13. What is the primary function of a neuron?

A. To circulate oxygen through blood vessels and body tissues

B. To produce hormones that regulate digestion and metabolism

C. To communicate information through electrical signals and chemical messages

D. To protect organs by forming layers of connective tissue

Answer: (C)

Explanation

Neurons communicate information using electrical signals within the cell and chemical messages between cells. Blood circulation, hormone production, and connective tissue formation are functions of other biological systems.

14. What does psychology primarily study?

A. How biological cells develop and maintain physical structures

B. How historical events shape political and economic systems

C. How people think, process information, and experience emotions

D. How societies organize institutions and distribute resources

Answer: (C)

Explanation

Psychology examines thinking, information processing, and emotional experience as central aspects of human behavior and mental life. The other choices describe topics more closely associated with sociology, biology, or history and political science.

15. Which neuron structure receives incoming signals from other neurons?

A. Axon terminals

B. Myelin sheath

C. Cell body

D. Dendrites

Answer: (D)

Explanation

Dendrites receive incoming signals and convey them toward the cell body. Axon terminals release neurotransmitters, the myelin sheath insulates the axon, and the cell body maintains the neuron.

16. Which condition involves repeated stopping of breathing during sleep?

A. Sleepwalking

B. Narcolepsy

C. Sleep apnea

D. Insomnia

Answer: (C)

Explanation

Sleep apnea involves repeated interruptions of breathing during sleep. Insomnia involves persistent difficulty sleeping, narcolepsy involves sudden sleep attacks, and sleepwalking involves waking-like activities during sleep.

17. Which statement correctly distinguishes an agonist, an antagonist, and a reuptake inhibitor?

A. An agonist inhibits a neurotransmitter’s action, an antagonist increases it, and a reuptake inhibitor removes it

B. An agonist prolongs neurotransmitter action, an antagonist removes it, and a reuptake inhibitor increases receptor activity

C. An agonist increases a neurotransmitter’s action, an antagonist inhibits it, and a reuptake inhibitor prolongs it

D. An agonist removes neurotransmitters, an antagonist activates their receptors, and a reuptake inhibitor blocks receptors

Answer: (C)

Explanation

An agonist enhances a neurotransmitter’s action, an antagonist blocks or inhibits an action without activating the receptor, and a reuptake inhibitor prevents removal so the action lasts longer. These roles are distinct from one another.

18. Which structures make up the central nervous system?

A. The brain and peripheral nerves

B. The sensory and motor neurons

C. The brain and spinal cord

D. The muscles and glands

Answer: (C)

Explanation

The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. Sensory and motor neurons belong to the peripheral nervous system, which connects the central system with the rest of the body.

19. Why does random assignment improve the design of an experiment?

A. It reduces preexisting differences between participants in the conditions

B. It ensures that the sample represents every member of the population

C. It measures the outcome variable with greater precision during testing

D. It identifies naturally occurring relationships without researcher manipulation

Answer: (A)

Explanation

Random assignment uses chance to place participants into conditions, helping reduce preexisting group differences. Representativeness concerns sampling, while measurement precision and natural relationships address different methodological issues.

20. Which brain region is most directly associated with coordinating movement and maintaining balance?

A. The amygdala

B. The hippocampus

C. The cerebellum

D. The hypothalamus

Answer: (C)

Explanation

The cerebellum coordinates movement and balance. The hippocampus supports memory, the amygdala processes emotion, and the hypothalamus regulates survival needs.

21. Which sequence best represents the scientific method in psychological research?

A. Research question, empirical study, data analysis, conclusions, and communication

B. Participant recruitment, publication, research question, analysis, and data collection

C. Research communication, hypothesis dismissal, measurement, recruitment, and interpretation

D. Data analysis, theory selection, participant assignment, conclusions, and replication

Answer: (A)

Explanation

The scientific method moves from a research question through empirical investigation and analysis to conclusions and communication in the research literature. The other sequences place major research stages in an unsupported order.

22. Which sequence accurately describes communication between two neurons?

A. Neurotransmitters travel along the axon, an action potential crosses the cleft, and receptors remove the signal

B. An action potential is removed by reuptake, receptors cross the cleft, and neurotransmitters reach the axon

C. An action potential travels along the axon, neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft, and receptors respond

D. Receptors travel through the axon, neurotransmitters generate the cleft, and an action potential responds

Answer: (C)

Explanation

The electrical action potential travels within the neuron along its axon, while neurotransmitters carry the chemical signal across the synaptic cleft to receptors. Reuptake then removes neurotransmitters from the cleft.