UBC PSYC 217 MIDterm 1 UPDATED
ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Intuition - CORRECT ANSWER Knowledge based on feelings or a "gut sense". Benefits include
being quick and sometimes helpful for initial judgments. Drawbacks include being prone to biases and
errors (e.g., illusory correlation).
Authority - CORRECT ANSWER Relying on someone else's expertise or knowledge. Benefits
include efficiency and effectiveness when the authority is reliable. Drawbacks include blind trust leading
to accepting false or biased information.
Scientific Method - CORRECT ANSWER Systematic, empirical investigation to build knowledge.
Benefits include being structured and evidence-based, minimizing bias. Drawbacks include requiring time
and resources, and not being applicable to all questions.
Systematic empiricism - CORRECT ANSWER Observations are structured to reveal important
information.
Production of public knowledge - CORRECT ANSWER Transparent reporting and replication.
Search for solvable problems - CORRECT ANSWER Focuses on empirical, testable problems.
Universalism - CORRECT ANSWER Observations are evaluated objectively.
Communality - CORRECT ANSWER Sharing methods and results openly.
Disinterestedness - CORRECT ANSWER Pursuit of truth without self-interest.
, Organized skepticism - CORRECT ANSWER Rigorous evaluation of evidence.
Peer-review - CORRECT ANSWER Studies submitted for publication are reviewed by experts to
ensure research quality and credibility. Results can be rejected, revised, or accepted.
Critical thinking - CORRECT ANSWER Encourages skepticism and evaluation of evidence,
requiring evidence before accepting conclusions.
Pseudoscience - CORRECT ANSWER Uses vague anecdotal claims without empirical backing,
unlike science which is falsifiable, empirical, and systematically tested.
Signs of pseudoscience - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Exaggerated claims without strong evidence
2. Reliance on anecdotal evidence
3. Use of psychobabble or scientific-sounding language
4. Lack of peer review
5. Unfalsifiable claims
Goals of scientific research in psychology - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Describing Behavior:
identifying what the behavior is
2. Predicting behavior: identifying when behavior will occur
3. Determining the causes of behavior: establishing what causes the behavior
4. Explaining behavior: understanding why behavior occurs
Basic research - CORRECT ANSWER Understands fundamental principles, answers "how",
"why", or "what" questions, and expands general knowledge without a specific practical use.
Applied research - CORRECT ANSWER Directly addresses real-world problems, finds practical
solutions, and directly impacts everyday life.
ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Intuition - CORRECT ANSWER Knowledge based on feelings or a "gut sense". Benefits include
being quick and sometimes helpful for initial judgments. Drawbacks include being prone to biases and
errors (e.g., illusory correlation).
Authority - CORRECT ANSWER Relying on someone else's expertise or knowledge. Benefits
include efficiency and effectiveness when the authority is reliable. Drawbacks include blind trust leading
to accepting false or biased information.
Scientific Method - CORRECT ANSWER Systematic, empirical investigation to build knowledge.
Benefits include being structured and evidence-based, minimizing bias. Drawbacks include requiring time
and resources, and not being applicable to all questions.
Systematic empiricism - CORRECT ANSWER Observations are structured to reveal important
information.
Production of public knowledge - CORRECT ANSWER Transparent reporting and replication.
Search for solvable problems - CORRECT ANSWER Focuses on empirical, testable problems.
Universalism - CORRECT ANSWER Observations are evaluated objectively.
Communality - CORRECT ANSWER Sharing methods and results openly.
Disinterestedness - CORRECT ANSWER Pursuit of truth without self-interest.
, Organized skepticism - CORRECT ANSWER Rigorous evaluation of evidence.
Peer-review - CORRECT ANSWER Studies submitted for publication are reviewed by experts to
ensure research quality and credibility. Results can be rejected, revised, or accepted.
Critical thinking - CORRECT ANSWER Encourages skepticism and evaluation of evidence,
requiring evidence before accepting conclusions.
Pseudoscience - CORRECT ANSWER Uses vague anecdotal claims without empirical backing,
unlike science which is falsifiable, empirical, and systematically tested.
Signs of pseudoscience - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Exaggerated claims without strong evidence
2. Reliance on anecdotal evidence
3. Use of psychobabble or scientific-sounding language
4. Lack of peer review
5. Unfalsifiable claims
Goals of scientific research in psychology - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Describing Behavior:
identifying what the behavior is
2. Predicting behavior: identifying when behavior will occur
3. Determining the causes of behavior: establishing what causes the behavior
4. Explaining behavior: understanding why behavior occurs
Basic research - CORRECT ANSWER Understands fundamental principles, answers "how",
"why", or "what" questions, and expands general knowledge without a specific practical use.
Applied research - CORRECT ANSWER Directly addresses real-world problems, finds practical
solutions, and directly impacts everyday life.
