PSYC 140 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - LATEST AND
COMPLETE UPDATE WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS – ASSURED PASS WITH INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
1. Which goal best distinguishes psychology as a scientific discipline from
philosophy?
A. Understanding moral behavior
B. Exploring subjective meaning
C. Explaining behavior through systematic observation and empirical
testing
D. Interpreting personal narratives
Rationale: Psychology relies on empirical methods and systematic data
collection to explain and predict behavior, distinguishing it from
philosophical inquiry.
2. A researcher studies how childhood adversity influences adult stress
responses. This best illustrates which primary goal of psychology?
A. Description
B. Explanation
C. Prediction
D. Control
Rationale: Explanation involves identifying causes or mechanisms
underlying behavior.
3. Which perspective emphasizes unconscious processes and early childhood
experiences?
A. Psychodynamic
, B. Behavioral
C. Cognitive
D. Humanistic
Rationale: The psychodynamic perspective, rooted in Freud’s work, focuses
on unconscious motives and early development.
4. A psychologist believes behavior is shaped primarily by reinforcement and
punishment. This aligns with which theoretical orientation?
A. Cognitive
B. Behavioral
C. Biological
D. Humanistic
Rationale: Behavioral theories emphasize observable behavior and learning
through conditioning.
5. Which school of thought focuses on self-actualization and personal growth?
A. Behavioral
B. Psychodynamic
C. Humanistic
D. Evolutionary
Rationale: Humanistic psychology emphasizes free will, personal meaning,
and self-actualization.
6. The belief that mental processes can be studied scientifically is central to
which approach?
A. Structuralism
B. Functionalism
C. Cognitive psychology
D. Behaviorism
, Rationale: Cognitive psychology focuses on internal mental processes such
as memory, attention, and problem-solving.
7. Which early psychologist is most closely associated with functionalism?
A. Wilhelm Wundt
B. William James
C. B.F. Skinner
D. Carl Rogers
Rationale: William James emphasized the functions of consciousness and
behavior.
8. A psychologist studying how natural selection influences behavior is using
which perspective?
A. Sociocultural
B. Humanistic
C. Evolutionary
D. Cognitive
Rationale: Evolutionary psychology applies principles of natural selection
to behavior.
9. Which specialty area focuses on diagnosing and treating psychological
disorders?
A. Counseling psychology
B. Clinical psychology
C. School psychology
D. Industrial-organizational psychology
Rationale: Clinical psychologists specialize in assessment and treatment of
mental disorders.
10.Informed consent primarily ensures that participants:
A. Are compensated fairly
, B. Understand the nature and risks of the research
C. Receive treatment
D. Remain anonymous
Rationale: Informed consent requires participants to understand
procedures, risks, and benefits.
11.Deception in research is ethically permissible only when:
A. Participants are unaware of any risk
B. The study is low-cost
C. It is justified by significant scientific value and followed by debriefing
D. Participants are paid
Rationale: Ethical guidelines allow deception only when necessary and
when participants are fully debriefed.
12.Which research method allows the strongest conclusions about cause and
effect?
A. Case study
B. Correlational study
C. Experiment
D. Naturalistic observation
Rationale: Experiments manipulate variables and control conditions,
allowing causal inference.
13.The variable manipulated by the researcher is called the:
A. Independent variable
B. Dependent variable
C. Confounding variable
D. Operational variable
Rationale: The independent variable is deliberately manipulated to observe
its effect.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - LATEST AND
COMPLETE UPDATE WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS – ASSURED PASS WITH INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
1. Which goal best distinguishes psychology as a scientific discipline from
philosophy?
A. Understanding moral behavior
B. Exploring subjective meaning
C. Explaining behavior through systematic observation and empirical
testing
D. Interpreting personal narratives
Rationale: Psychology relies on empirical methods and systematic data
collection to explain and predict behavior, distinguishing it from
philosophical inquiry.
2. A researcher studies how childhood adversity influences adult stress
responses. This best illustrates which primary goal of psychology?
A. Description
B. Explanation
C. Prediction
D. Control
Rationale: Explanation involves identifying causes or mechanisms
underlying behavior.
3. Which perspective emphasizes unconscious processes and early childhood
experiences?
A. Psychodynamic
, B. Behavioral
C. Cognitive
D. Humanistic
Rationale: The psychodynamic perspective, rooted in Freud’s work, focuses
on unconscious motives and early development.
4. A psychologist believes behavior is shaped primarily by reinforcement and
punishment. This aligns with which theoretical orientation?
A. Cognitive
B. Behavioral
C. Biological
D. Humanistic
Rationale: Behavioral theories emphasize observable behavior and learning
through conditioning.
5. Which school of thought focuses on self-actualization and personal growth?
A. Behavioral
B. Psychodynamic
C. Humanistic
D. Evolutionary
Rationale: Humanistic psychology emphasizes free will, personal meaning,
and self-actualization.
6. The belief that mental processes can be studied scientifically is central to
which approach?
A. Structuralism
B. Functionalism
C. Cognitive psychology
D. Behaviorism
, Rationale: Cognitive psychology focuses on internal mental processes such
as memory, attention, and problem-solving.
7. Which early psychologist is most closely associated with functionalism?
A. Wilhelm Wundt
B. William James
C. B.F. Skinner
D. Carl Rogers
Rationale: William James emphasized the functions of consciousness and
behavior.
8. A psychologist studying how natural selection influences behavior is using
which perspective?
A. Sociocultural
B. Humanistic
C. Evolutionary
D. Cognitive
Rationale: Evolutionary psychology applies principles of natural selection
to behavior.
9. Which specialty area focuses on diagnosing and treating psychological
disorders?
A. Counseling psychology
B. Clinical psychology
C. School psychology
D. Industrial-organizational psychology
Rationale: Clinical psychologists specialize in assessment and treatment of
mental disorders.
10.Informed consent primarily ensures that participants:
A. Are compensated fairly
, B. Understand the nature and risks of the research
C. Receive treatment
D. Remain anonymous
Rationale: Informed consent requires participants to understand
procedures, risks, and benefits.
11.Deception in research is ethically permissible only when:
A. Participants are unaware of any risk
B. The study is low-cost
C. It is justified by significant scientific value and followed by debriefing
D. Participants are paid
Rationale: Ethical guidelines allow deception only when necessary and
when participants are fully debriefed.
12.Which research method allows the strongest conclusions about cause and
effect?
A. Case study
B. Correlational study
C. Experiment
D. Naturalistic observation
Rationale: Experiments manipulate variables and control conditions,
allowing causal inference.
13.The variable manipulated by the researcher is called the:
A. Independent variable
B. Dependent variable
C. Confounding variable
D. Operational variable
Rationale: The independent variable is deliberately manipulated to observe
its effect.
