AU PSYC 304 FINAL EXAM 2026 FULL
SOLUTION SCRIPT TESTED RESULTS
◉ Two common misconceptions of psychology. Answer: 1. Many
people think it is easy or common sense
2. Many people think every psychologist is a clinical psychologist
◉ Structuralism. Answer: An early school of thought promoted by
Wundt and Titchener that used introspection to reveal the structure
of the human mind. Belief that structure is more important than
function
◉ Functionalism. Answer: An early school of thought promoted by
James and influenced by Darwin, explores how mental and
behavioral processes function- how they enable the organism to
adapt, survive, and flourish
◉ Natural Selection. Answer: The principle that, among the range of
inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and
survival will most likely be passed on succeeding generations
◉ Behaviorism. Answer: The view that psychology should...
1. be an objective science
2. study behavior without reference to mental processes
,Most psychologists today agree with 1, but not 2.
◉ Freudian Psychology. Answer: Emphasized the way our
unconscious thought processes and emotional responses to
childhood affect our behavior
◉ Five subfields of Psychology. Answer: 1. Biological & Neuroscience
2. Cognitive
3. Developmental
4. Social
5. Personality
◉ Biological & Neuroscience Subfield. Answer: Explores the link
between the brain and the mind
◉ Cognitive Subfield. Answer: Explores how we perceive, think, and
solve problems
◉ Developmental Subfield. Answer: Studies the changing abilities
from womb to tomb (Largest portion of the whole- 25%)
,◉ Social Subfield. Answer: Explores how we view and affect one
another
◉ Personality Subfield. Answer: Investigates traits related to stable
behaviors
◉ Step One of The Scientific Method. Answer: Identify the
problem/phenomenon
-applied research
◉ Step Two of The Scientific Method. Answer: Read/Develop a
theory
-What has the research community already found out about this
problem before?
-A theory is more general than a hypothesis
◉ A good scientific theory. Answer: A set of predictions, subject to
change as our ability/observations improve with time.
◉ Step Three of The Scientific Method. Answer: Formulate a
Hypothesis
-Measure the independent and dependent variable
-What you predict the outcome to be based on the theory
, ◉ Operationalize. Answer: Measure
◉ Independent variable. Answer: Influences change in the
dependent variable
◉ Dependent variable. Answer: Depends on the action of the
Independent variable
◉ Hypothesis. Answer: More specific than a theory, needs to include
"why", makes a precise statement
◉ Step Four of The Scientific Method. Answer: Test Hypothesis
Empirically (by experience)
-Balance control and generalize stability
◉ Control. Answer: Eliminate or reduce confounds
◉ Confound. Answer: A variable affecting the DV other than the IV
◉ Generalizability. Answer: The degree to which study results are
relevant to the population of interest- by using real-world
participants and conditions
SOLUTION SCRIPT TESTED RESULTS
◉ Two common misconceptions of psychology. Answer: 1. Many
people think it is easy or common sense
2. Many people think every psychologist is a clinical psychologist
◉ Structuralism. Answer: An early school of thought promoted by
Wundt and Titchener that used introspection to reveal the structure
of the human mind. Belief that structure is more important than
function
◉ Functionalism. Answer: An early school of thought promoted by
James and influenced by Darwin, explores how mental and
behavioral processes function- how they enable the organism to
adapt, survive, and flourish
◉ Natural Selection. Answer: The principle that, among the range of
inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and
survival will most likely be passed on succeeding generations
◉ Behaviorism. Answer: The view that psychology should...
1. be an objective science
2. study behavior without reference to mental processes
,Most psychologists today agree with 1, but not 2.
◉ Freudian Psychology. Answer: Emphasized the way our
unconscious thought processes and emotional responses to
childhood affect our behavior
◉ Five subfields of Psychology. Answer: 1. Biological & Neuroscience
2. Cognitive
3. Developmental
4. Social
5. Personality
◉ Biological & Neuroscience Subfield. Answer: Explores the link
between the brain and the mind
◉ Cognitive Subfield. Answer: Explores how we perceive, think, and
solve problems
◉ Developmental Subfield. Answer: Studies the changing abilities
from womb to tomb (Largest portion of the whole- 25%)
,◉ Social Subfield. Answer: Explores how we view and affect one
another
◉ Personality Subfield. Answer: Investigates traits related to stable
behaviors
◉ Step One of The Scientific Method. Answer: Identify the
problem/phenomenon
-applied research
◉ Step Two of The Scientific Method. Answer: Read/Develop a
theory
-What has the research community already found out about this
problem before?
-A theory is more general than a hypothesis
◉ A good scientific theory. Answer: A set of predictions, subject to
change as our ability/observations improve with time.
◉ Step Three of The Scientific Method. Answer: Formulate a
Hypothesis
-Measure the independent and dependent variable
-What you predict the outcome to be based on the theory
, ◉ Operationalize. Answer: Measure
◉ Independent variable. Answer: Influences change in the
dependent variable
◉ Dependent variable. Answer: Depends on the action of the
Independent variable
◉ Hypothesis. Answer: More specific than a theory, needs to include
"why", makes a precise statement
◉ Step Four of The Scientific Method. Answer: Test Hypothesis
Empirically (by experience)
-Balance control and generalize stability
◉ Control. Answer: Eliminate or reduce confounds
◉ Confound. Answer: A variable affecting the DV other than the IV
◉ Generalizability. Answer: The degree to which study results are
relevant to the population of interest- by using real-world
participants and conditions
