PSYC 101 | PSYC101 Exam 1: General Psychology
Updated and Latest Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationale - Portage Learning
1. Which psychological school of thought focuses strictly on observable actions and the
environment’s role in shaping them?
A. Behaviorism
B. Cognitive psychology
C. Psychodynamic theory
D. Humanistic psychology
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Behaviorism emphasizes that psychology should be an objective science
focusing on observable behavior rather than mental processes. This perspective was
championed by Watson and Skinner who argued that learning occurs through conditioning
and reinforcement. Cognitive psychology is incorrect because it focuses on internal thought
processes like memory and perception. Psychodynamic theory is incorrect as it prioritizes
unconscious drives and childhood experiences over external behavior. Humanistic
psychology is incorrect because it focuses on individual growth and self-actualization
rather than environmental stimuli.
2. Sigmund Freud is most closely associated with which psychological perspective?
A. Behavioral
B. Biological
C. Psychodynamic
D. Cognitive
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The psychodynamic perspective focuses on the role of the unconscious mind
and early childhood experiences in shaping personality. Freud believed that repressed
desires and conflicts drive much of human behavior and emotional distress. The behavioral
perspective is incorrect because it focuses only on what can be externally observed. The
biological perspective is incorrect as it looks at brain structure and chemistry rather than
the unconscious. Cognitive psychology is incorrect because it deals with how we encode
and process information consciously.
3. Which approach to psychology emphasizes the importance of free will and the human
potential for personal growth?
A. Humanistic
,B. Evolutionary
C. Structuralism
D. Functionalism
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Humanistic psychology, led by Rogers and Maslow, focuses on the inherent
goodness of people and their drive toward self-actualization. This perspective emphasizes
subjective experience and the power of individuals to make choices. Evolutionary
psychology is incorrect because it focuses on how natural selection influences behavior
traits. Structuralism is incorrect as it attempted to break down mental processes into basic
components. Functionalism is incorrect because it focused on how mental processes help
us adapt to our environment.
4. A researcher studying how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information is likely
working within which perspective?
A. Behaviorism
B. Cognitive
C. Social-cultural
D. Biological
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Cognitive psychology focuses on mental activities such as thinking, knowing,
remembering, and communicating. It treats the human mind like a computer that processes
information from the environment. Behaviorism is incorrect because it ignores internal
mental states in favor of observable actions. Social-cultural psychology is incorrect as it
examines how behavior varies across different cultures and contexts. The biological
perspective is incorrect because it focuses on the physiological basis of behavior rather
than information processing.
5. In an experiment testing the effect of a new drug on depression, the group receiving the
actual medication is the:
A. Control group
B. Experimental group
C. Independent variable
D. Dependent variable
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The experimental group is the group of participants who are exposed to the
treatment or the independent variable. Researchers compare this group’s results against a
, control group to determine the treatment’s efficacy. The control group is incorrect because
it receives a placebo or no treatment for comparison. The independent variable is the drug
itself, not the group of people. The dependent variable is the change in depression levels
that researchers measure at the end.
6. A researcher wants to study the relationship between hours of sleep and test scores. What
is the dependent variable?
A. The hours of sleep
B. The time of the test
C. The intelligence of the students
D. The test scores
E. none of the above
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The dependent variable is the outcome being measured which is expected to
change based on the manipulation of the independent variable. In this study, the test score
is what changes in response to the amount of sleep. Hours of sleep is the independent
variable because it is the factor being manipulated or categorized. Intelligence and time of
test are potential confounding variables that should be controlled. Identifying the correct
dependent variable is crucial for maintaining the internal validity of the experiment.
7. What is the primary purpose of random assignment in an experimental design?
A. To ensure the sample represents the population
B. To make the study easier to conduct
C. To eliminate the need for a control group
D. To minimize pre-existing differences between groups
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Random assignment ensures that each participant has an equal chance of
being placed in any of the groups. This process helps equalize the groups by distributing
participant characteristics like age or personality across conditions. Random sampling is
different as it refers to how participants are selected from the general population.
Eliminating the control group is incorrect because a control group is necessary for
comparison. Random assignment is a fundamental requirement for establishing cause-and-
effect relationships in psychology.
8. Which of the following correlation coefficients indicates the strongest relationship
between two variables?
A. 0.00
B. +0.50
Updated and Latest Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationale - Portage Learning
1. Which psychological school of thought focuses strictly on observable actions and the
environment’s role in shaping them?
A. Behaviorism
B. Cognitive psychology
C. Psychodynamic theory
D. Humanistic psychology
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Behaviorism emphasizes that psychology should be an objective science
focusing on observable behavior rather than mental processes. This perspective was
championed by Watson and Skinner who argued that learning occurs through conditioning
and reinforcement. Cognitive psychology is incorrect because it focuses on internal thought
processes like memory and perception. Psychodynamic theory is incorrect as it prioritizes
unconscious drives and childhood experiences over external behavior. Humanistic
psychology is incorrect because it focuses on individual growth and self-actualization
rather than environmental stimuli.
2. Sigmund Freud is most closely associated with which psychological perspective?
A. Behavioral
B. Biological
C. Psychodynamic
D. Cognitive
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The psychodynamic perspective focuses on the role of the unconscious mind
and early childhood experiences in shaping personality. Freud believed that repressed
desires and conflicts drive much of human behavior and emotional distress. The behavioral
perspective is incorrect because it focuses only on what can be externally observed. The
biological perspective is incorrect as it looks at brain structure and chemistry rather than
the unconscious. Cognitive psychology is incorrect because it deals with how we encode
and process information consciously.
3. Which approach to psychology emphasizes the importance of free will and the human
potential for personal growth?
A. Humanistic
,B. Evolutionary
C. Structuralism
D. Functionalism
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Humanistic psychology, led by Rogers and Maslow, focuses on the inherent
goodness of people and their drive toward self-actualization. This perspective emphasizes
subjective experience and the power of individuals to make choices. Evolutionary
psychology is incorrect because it focuses on how natural selection influences behavior
traits. Structuralism is incorrect as it attempted to break down mental processes into basic
components. Functionalism is incorrect because it focused on how mental processes help
us adapt to our environment.
4. A researcher studying how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information is likely
working within which perspective?
A. Behaviorism
B. Cognitive
C. Social-cultural
D. Biological
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Cognitive psychology focuses on mental activities such as thinking, knowing,
remembering, and communicating. It treats the human mind like a computer that processes
information from the environment. Behaviorism is incorrect because it ignores internal
mental states in favor of observable actions. Social-cultural psychology is incorrect as it
examines how behavior varies across different cultures and contexts. The biological
perspective is incorrect because it focuses on the physiological basis of behavior rather
than information processing.
5. In an experiment testing the effect of a new drug on depression, the group receiving the
actual medication is the:
A. Control group
B. Experimental group
C. Independent variable
D. Dependent variable
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The experimental group is the group of participants who are exposed to the
treatment or the independent variable. Researchers compare this group’s results against a
, control group to determine the treatment’s efficacy. The control group is incorrect because
it receives a placebo or no treatment for comparison. The independent variable is the drug
itself, not the group of people. The dependent variable is the change in depression levels
that researchers measure at the end.
6. A researcher wants to study the relationship between hours of sleep and test scores. What
is the dependent variable?
A. The hours of sleep
B. The time of the test
C. The intelligence of the students
D. The test scores
E. none of the above
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The dependent variable is the outcome being measured which is expected to
change based on the manipulation of the independent variable. In this study, the test score
is what changes in response to the amount of sleep. Hours of sleep is the independent
variable because it is the factor being manipulated or categorized. Intelligence and time of
test are potential confounding variables that should be controlled. Identifying the correct
dependent variable is crucial for maintaining the internal validity of the experiment.
7. What is the primary purpose of random assignment in an experimental design?
A. To ensure the sample represents the population
B. To make the study easier to conduct
C. To eliminate the need for a control group
D. To minimize pre-existing differences between groups
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Random assignment ensures that each participant has an equal chance of
being placed in any of the groups. This process helps equalize the groups by distributing
participant characteristics like age or personality across conditions. Random sampling is
different as it refers to how participants are selected from the general population.
Eliminating the control group is incorrect because a control group is necessary for
comparison. Random assignment is a fundamental requirement for establishing cause-and-
effect relationships in psychology.
8. Which of the following correlation coefficients indicates the strongest relationship
between two variables?
A. 0.00
B. +0.50
