[SP357] 357 Social Psychology Exam Guide
**Question 1.** Which early experiment is considered the first systematic study of social
facilitation?
A) Asch’s line judgment task
B) Triplett’s cycling competition
C) Sherif’s autokinetic effect
D) Milgram’s obedience study
Answer: B
Explanation: Triplett (1898) observed that cyclists performed better when racing against others,
demonstrating social facilitation.
**Question 2.** In the context of research design, why does correlation not imply causation?
A) Correlation coefficients are always low.
B) Variables may be related through a third variable.
C) Experimental manipulation is required to compute a correlation.
D) Correlation only applies to qualitative data.
Answer: B
Explanation: Two variables can be correlated because a third, unmeasured variable influences
both, so causality cannot be inferred.
**Question 3.** Which ethical principle is primarily violated when participants are deceived
about the true purpose of a study and are not debriefed?
A) Confidentiality
B) Informed consent
C) Right to withdraw
D) Beneficence
Answer: B
, [SP357] 357 Social Psychology Exam Guide
Explanation: Deception undermines informed consent because participants cannot make an
educated decision about participation without full information.
**Question 4.** The availability heuristic leads people to overestimate the likelihood of events
that are:
A) Similar to a prototype.
B) Easily recalled from memory.
C) Presented first in a sequence.
D) Statistically rare.
Answer: B
Explanation: The availability heuristic bases judgments on how quickly examples come to mind,
inflating perceived frequency.
**Question 5.** Which bias occurs when individuals judge others’ behavior as stemming from
personality rather than situational factors?
A) Self‑serving bias
B) Fundamental attribution error
C) Confirmation bias
D) Actor‑observer bias
Answer: B
Explanation: The fundamental attribution error describes the tendency to overemphasize
dispositional causes for others’ actions.
**Question 6.** In schema theory, priming a “doctor” schema would most likely increase the
speed of recognizing:
A) A stethoscope.
B) A baseball bat.
C) A violin.
, [SP357] 357 Social Psychology Exam Guide
D) A garden hose.
Answer: A
Explanation: Priming activates related concepts, so a doctor schema makes medical objects like
a stethoscope more accessible.
**Question 7.** Which of the following best illustrates the anchoring and adjustment heuristic?
A) Estimating the number of countries in Africa after hearing “about 50”.
B) Choosing a restaurant based on the most recent review.
C) Deciding to buy a car after seeing the first price listed.
D) Assuming a quiet student is shy because of the “quiet” label.
Answer: C
Explanation: The initial price serves as an anchor; subsequent adjustments are made from that
starting point.
**Question 8.** Counterfactual thinking about a personal accident (“If only I had left earlier…”)
most directly influences which emotion?
A) Pride
B) Guilt
C) Surprise
D) Disgust
Answer: B
Explanation: Counterfactuals that focus on personal responsibility often generate guilt or regret.
**Question 9.** Which nonverbal cue is most universally recognized as a signal of happiness?
A **(Correct)**
B
C
, [SP357] 357 Social Psychology Exam Guide
D
Answer: A
Explanation: The Duchenne smile—raised cheeks and crow’s‑feet—conveys genuine happiness
across cultures.
**Question 10.** The “primacy effect” in impression formation refers to:
A) The tendency to remember the last trait listed.
B) The influence of the first piece of information on overall judgments.
C) The impact of physical attractiveness on trait inference.
D) The tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs.
Answer: B
Explanation: Early information creates a framework that heavily shapes subsequent
impressions.
**Question 11.** According to self‑serving bias, people are more likely to attribute their
successes to:
A) Situational factors.
B) Random chance.
C) Internal abilities.
D) Group effort.
Answer: C
Explanation: Self‑serving bias protects self‑esteem by crediting personal competence for
successes.
**Question 12.** A self‑schema that includes “I am a good singer” is an example of:
A) A central trait.
B) A peripheral trait.
**Question 1.** Which early experiment is considered the first systematic study of social
facilitation?
A) Asch’s line judgment task
B) Triplett’s cycling competition
C) Sherif’s autokinetic effect
D) Milgram’s obedience study
Answer: B
Explanation: Triplett (1898) observed that cyclists performed better when racing against others,
demonstrating social facilitation.
**Question 2.** In the context of research design, why does correlation not imply causation?
A) Correlation coefficients are always low.
B) Variables may be related through a third variable.
C) Experimental manipulation is required to compute a correlation.
D) Correlation only applies to qualitative data.
Answer: B
Explanation: Two variables can be correlated because a third, unmeasured variable influences
both, so causality cannot be inferred.
**Question 3.** Which ethical principle is primarily violated when participants are deceived
about the true purpose of a study and are not debriefed?
A) Confidentiality
B) Informed consent
C) Right to withdraw
D) Beneficence
Answer: B
, [SP357] 357 Social Psychology Exam Guide
Explanation: Deception undermines informed consent because participants cannot make an
educated decision about participation without full information.
**Question 4.** The availability heuristic leads people to overestimate the likelihood of events
that are:
A) Similar to a prototype.
B) Easily recalled from memory.
C) Presented first in a sequence.
D) Statistically rare.
Answer: B
Explanation: The availability heuristic bases judgments on how quickly examples come to mind,
inflating perceived frequency.
**Question 5.** Which bias occurs when individuals judge others’ behavior as stemming from
personality rather than situational factors?
A) Self‑serving bias
B) Fundamental attribution error
C) Confirmation bias
D) Actor‑observer bias
Answer: B
Explanation: The fundamental attribution error describes the tendency to overemphasize
dispositional causes for others’ actions.
**Question 6.** In schema theory, priming a “doctor” schema would most likely increase the
speed of recognizing:
A) A stethoscope.
B) A baseball bat.
C) A violin.
, [SP357] 357 Social Psychology Exam Guide
D) A garden hose.
Answer: A
Explanation: Priming activates related concepts, so a doctor schema makes medical objects like
a stethoscope more accessible.
**Question 7.** Which of the following best illustrates the anchoring and adjustment heuristic?
A) Estimating the number of countries in Africa after hearing “about 50”.
B) Choosing a restaurant based on the most recent review.
C) Deciding to buy a car after seeing the first price listed.
D) Assuming a quiet student is shy because of the “quiet” label.
Answer: C
Explanation: The initial price serves as an anchor; subsequent adjustments are made from that
starting point.
**Question 8.** Counterfactual thinking about a personal accident (“If only I had left earlier…”)
most directly influences which emotion?
A) Pride
B) Guilt
C) Surprise
D) Disgust
Answer: B
Explanation: Counterfactuals that focus on personal responsibility often generate guilt or regret.
**Question 9.** Which nonverbal cue is most universally recognized as a signal of happiness?
A **(Correct)**
B
C
, [SP357] 357 Social Psychology Exam Guide
D
Answer: A
Explanation: The Duchenne smile—raised cheeks and crow’s‑feet—conveys genuine happiness
across cultures.
**Question 10.** The “primacy effect” in impression formation refers to:
A) The tendency to remember the last trait listed.
B) The influence of the first piece of information on overall judgments.
C) The impact of physical attractiveness on trait inference.
D) The tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs.
Answer: B
Explanation: Early information creates a framework that heavily shapes subsequent
impressions.
**Question 11.** According to self‑serving bias, people are more likely to attribute their
successes to:
A) Situational factors.
B) Random chance.
C) Internal abilities.
D) Group effort.
Answer: C
Explanation: Self‑serving bias protects self‑esteem by crediting personal competence for
successes.
**Question 12.** A self‑schema that includes “I am a good singer” is an example of:
A) A central trait.
B) A peripheral trait.
