Psychology 101 - ASU Exam 1 questions and
answers 2026\2027 A+ Grade
A complete definition of psychology would include the scientific study of behavior and...?
- correct answer mental processes
What's the difference between an "action potential" and a "resting potential?"
- correct answer Action Potential --> rapid change in the electrical potential of the neuron
Resting Potential --> electrical potential that is maintained until the neuron is stimulated
p. 80 of textbook
What does it mean to have a "representative sample?"
- correct answer has all the relevant characteristics of the population of interest, represented in the
same proportions
p. 43 of textbook
What does it mean to be a "cultural" animal?
- correct answer information based
praxis --> means to an end
progressive
What is "diffusion of responsibility" and how has it been studied?
- correct answer The more people there are in a location anyone person will take on responsibility. ex: if
there was a large crowd people will be less likely to call the police since they assume someone else will
do it. Studied by Major case studies
, What is psychology and what are its' goals?
- correct answer 4 goals of psychology:
description --> how many times a behavior occurs for how long, where, or with whom
explanation --> why a behavior occurs and attempts to identify its cause
prediction --> attempt to anticipate what behavior comes next or at some point in the future
modification --> change of behavior in order to improve the individual or society
Know all of the properties of a research correlation.
- correct answer
What does it mean to be randomly assigned
- correct answer Group of people in study don't have same demographics, backgrounds, and are
randomly assigned
What does it mean to be debriefed?
- correct answer a discussion of procedures, hypotheses, and subject reactions at the completion of a
study
Explain what a correlation is and its mathematical representation.
- correct answer
Be very clear about the difference between correlation and causation.
- correct answer Correlation: event influences another, perceived
ex: people who eat more ice cream on Mondays will kill more people when they are older
Causation: cause and effect
ex: if you study for a test you are more likely to get a better grade
What is an independent and dependent variable?
- correct answer IV: variable manipulated or controlled by the experimenter
DV: Variable that is measured; the outcome
answers 2026\2027 A+ Grade
A complete definition of psychology would include the scientific study of behavior and...?
- correct answer mental processes
What's the difference between an "action potential" and a "resting potential?"
- correct answer Action Potential --> rapid change in the electrical potential of the neuron
Resting Potential --> electrical potential that is maintained until the neuron is stimulated
p. 80 of textbook
What does it mean to have a "representative sample?"
- correct answer has all the relevant characteristics of the population of interest, represented in the
same proportions
p. 43 of textbook
What does it mean to be a "cultural" animal?
- correct answer information based
praxis --> means to an end
progressive
What is "diffusion of responsibility" and how has it been studied?
- correct answer The more people there are in a location anyone person will take on responsibility. ex: if
there was a large crowd people will be less likely to call the police since they assume someone else will
do it. Studied by Major case studies
, What is psychology and what are its' goals?
- correct answer 4 goals of psychology:
description --> how many times a behavior occurs for how long, where, or with whom
explanation --> why a behavior occurs and attempts to identify its cause
prediction --> attempt to anticipate what behavior comes next or at some point in the future
modification --> change of behavior in order to improve the individual or society
Know all of the properties of a research correlation.
- correct answer
What does it mean to be randomly assigned
- correct answer Group of people in study don't have same demographics, backgrounds, and are
randomly assigned
What does it mean to be debriefed?
- correct answer a discussion of procedures, hypotheses, and subject reactions at the completion of a
study
Explain what a correlation is and its mathematical representation.
- correct answer
Be very clear about the difference between correlation and causation.
- correct answer Correlation: event influences another, perceived
ex: people who eat more ice cream on Mondays will kill more people when they are older
Causation: cause and effect
ex: if you study for a test you are more likely to get a better grade
What is an independent and dependent variable?
- correct answer IV: variable manipulated or controlled by the experimenter
DV: Variable that is measured; the outcome
