PSY 550 FINAL EXAM ANSWERS EXAM SCRIPT
2026 FULL RESPONSES ALREADY PASSED
◉ nature vs nurture. Answer: longstanding controversy over the
relative contributions that genes and experience make to the
development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science
sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of the two
◉ evolutionary perspective. Answer: believes an organism's
evolutionary history contributes to the development of behavioural
patterns
◉ naturalistic observation. Answer: to study the behaviors of people
or animals as they act in their everyday environments
◉ case study. Answer: a descriptive technique in which one
individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing
universal principles
◉ correlation coefficient. Answer: a measure of the linear
correlation between two variables X and Y, giving a value between
+1 and −1. The closer the number comes to 1 without going over, the
stronger the relationship, no matter the + or -.
,◉ double-blind procedure. Answer: neither the subject nor the
researcher knows who is receiving the "treatment"
◉ single-blind procedure. Answer: the researcher knows who is
receiving the "treatment"
◉ dependent variable. Answer: the variable that changes or stays
the same based on the independent variable
◉ independent variable. Answer: the variable that is manipulated in
an experiment
◉ axon. Answer: part of the neuron that sends an electrical impulse
from the cell body through the neuron; the longest part of the
neuron
◉ medulla. Answer: a section of the brain located in the brainstem
which is responsible for automatic functions like breathing, blood
pressure, circulation and heart functions, and digestion
◉ parasympathetic nervous system. Answer: part of the autonomic
nervous system that serves to slow the heart rate, increase intestinal
and glandular activity; restores natural function after a stressful
event
, ◉ sympathetic nervous system. Answer: part of the autonomic
nervous system that serves to accelerate the heart rate, constrict
blood vessels, and raise blood pressure; readies the body for a
stressful event
◉ pituitary. Answer: master gland of the endocrine system
◉ Broca's area. Answer: part of the brain that controls the ability to
produce language
◉ Wernicke's area. Answer: part of the brain that controls the ability
to recognize and understand spoken language
◉ NREM sleep. Answer: decreases as the night goes on
◉ delta waves. Answer: long, slow waves that indicate the deepest
stage of sleep
◉ REM sleep. Answer: increases as the night goes on, dreams always
occur in this stage; a person awakened during REM would report
having a dream
◉ sleep apnea. Answer: sleep disorder in which the person's
muscles become so relaxed that the airways become blocked and the
2026 FULL RESPONSES ALREADY PASSED
◉ nature vs nurture. Answer: longstanding controversy over the
relative contributions that genes and experience make to the
development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science
sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of the two
◉ evolutionary perspective. Answer: believes an organism's
evolutionary history contributes to the development of behavioural
patterns
◉ naturalistic observation. Answer: to study the behaviors of people
or animals as they act in their everyday environments
◉ case study. Answer: a descriptive technique in which one
individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing
universal principles
◉ correlation coefficient. Answer: a measure of the linear
correlation between two variables X and Y, giving a value between
+1 and −1. The closer the number comes to 1 without going over, the
stronger the relationship, no matter the + or -.
,◉ double-blind procedure. Answer: neither the subject nor the
researcher knows who is receiving the "treatment"
◉ single-blind procedure. Answer: the researcher knows who is
receiving the "treatment"
◉ dependent variable. Answer: the variable that changes or stays
the same based on the independent variable
◉ independent variable. Answer: the variable that is manipulated in
an experiment
◉ axon. Answer: part of the neuron that sends an electrical impulse
from the cell body through the neuron; the longest part of the
neuron
◉ medulla. Answer: a section of the brain located in the brainstem
which is responsible for automatic functions like breathing, blood
pressure, circulation and heart functions, and digestion
◉ parasympathetic nervous system. Answer: part of the autonomic
nervous system that serves to slow the heart rate, increase intestinal
and glandular activity; restores natural function after a stressful
event
, ◉ sympathetic nervous system. Answer: part of the autonomic
nervous system that serves to accelerate the heart rate, constrict
blood vessels, and raise blood pressure; readies the body for a
stressful event
◉ pituitary. Answer: master gland of the endocrine system
◉ Broca's area. Answer: part of the brain that controls the ability to
produce language
◉ Wernicke's area. Answer: part of the brain that controls the ability
to recognize and understand spoken language
◉ NREM sleep. Answer: decreases as the night goes on
◉ delta waves. Answer: long, slow waves that indicate the deepest
stage of sleep
◉ REM sleep. Answer: increases as the night goes on, dreams always
occur in this stage; a person awakened during REM would report
having a dream
◉ sleep apnea. Answer: sleep disorder in which the person's
muscles become so relaxed that the airways become blocked and the
