WGU E010
Objective Assessment
Final Actual Exam and Practice Questions
With Answers & Solutions
Latest 2026 Edition
70 Practice Questions
Covering All E010 Content Areas:
• History and Approaches / Research Methods
• Biological Bases of Behavior
• Learning and Memory
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychological Disorders and Therapy
• Social Psychology and Personality
• Sensation, Perception, and Intelligence
Correct answers are highlighted in green with detailed solutions.
1
,SECTION 1: HISTORY AND APPROACHES / RESEARCH METHODS
Question 1: Which school of psychology focused on breaking down
mental processes into their most basic components?
A. Behaviorism
B. Structuralism ✓
C. Functionalism
D. Humanism
Solution:
Structuralism, founded by Wilhelm Wundt and advanced by Edward
Titchener, focused on analyzing the basic elements or structures of
conscious experience through introspection. The goal was to break down
mental processes into their simplest components, much like a chemist
analyzes chemical compounds. Behaviorism (A) focuses on observable
behavior rather than mental processes. Functionalism (C), led by William
James, focused on the purpose and function of mental processes. Humanism
(D) emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization.
Question 2: Which psychological perspective emphasizes the role of
unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences in shaping
behavior?
A. Behavioral perspective
B. Cognitive perspective
C. Psychodynamic perspective ✓
D. Sociocultural perspective
Solution:
The psychodynamic perspective, originated by Sigmund Freud, emphasizes
the influence of unconscious drives, conflicts, and early childhood
experiences on behavior and mental processes. Freud believed that much of
our behavior is motivated by unconscious desires and repressed memories.
The behavioral perspective (A) focuses only on observable behavior and
environmental stimuli. The cognitive perspective (B) focuses on mental
processes such as thinking and problem-solving. The sociocultural
perspective (D) examines how social and cultural factors influence behavior.
2
,Question 3: A researcher wants to determine whether a new teaching
method improves student performance. Which research method is most
appropriate?
A. Case study
B. Correlational study
C. Experiment ✓
D. Naturalistic observation
Solution:
An experiment is the most appropriate method because it allows the
researcher to establish cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating the
independent variable (teaching method) and measuring its effect on the
dependent variable (student performance) while controlling for confounding
variables. A case study (A) provides in-depth information about a single
individual, which cannot be generalized. A correlational study (B) identifies
relationships between variables but cannot establish causation. Naturalistic
observation (D) observes behavior in its natural setting without manipulation.
Question 4: In a research study, the group that does not receive the
experimental treatment is called the:
A. Control group ✓
3
, B. Experimental group
C. Random group
D. Confederate group
Solution:
The control group is the group in an experiment that does not receive the
experimental treatment or receives a placebo. It serves as a baseline for
comparison with the experimental group to determine the effect of the
independent variable. The experimental group (B) receives the treatment
being tested. A random group (C) refers to the method of participant
assignment, not a type of group. A confederate group (D) refers to individuals
who appear to be participants but are actually working with the researcher.
Question 5: Which of the following is a measure of central tendency that
identifies the most frequently occurring score in a distribution?
A. Mean
B. Median
C. Mode ✓
D. Standard deviation
Solution:
The mode is the score that occurs most frequently in a distribution. It is the
only measure of central tendency that can be used with nominal data. The
mean (A) is the arithmetic average of all scores. The median (B) is the middle
score when all scores are arranged in order. Standard deviation (D) is a
measure of variability, not central tendency, indicating how spread out the
scores are from the mean.
Question 6: A researcher finds that as ice cream sales increase, the rate
of drowning also increases. This is an example of:
A. A causal relationship
B. A positive correlation ✓
C. A negative correlation
D. An experimental finding
Solution:
This is an example of a positive correlation because both variables move in
4
Objective Assessment
Final Actual Exam and Practice Questions
With Answers & Solutions
Latest 2026 Edition
70 Practice Questions
Covering All E010 Content Areas:
• History and Approaches / Research Methods
• Biological Bases of Behavior
• Learning and Memory
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychological Disorders and Therapy
• Social Psychology and Personality
• Sensation, Perception, and Intelligence
Correct answers are highlighted in green with detailed solutions.
1
,SECTION 1: HISTORY AND APPROACHES / RESEARCH METHODS
Question 1: Which school of psychology focused on breaking down
mental processes into their most basic components?
A. Behaviorism
B. Structuralism ✓
C. Functionalism
D. Humanism
Solution:
Structuralism, founded by Wilhelm Wundt and advanced by Edward
Titchener, focused on analyzing the basic elements or structures of
conscious experience through introspection. The goal was to break down
mental processes into their simplest components, much like a chemist
analyzes chemical compounds. Behaviorism (A) focuses on observable
behavior rather than mental processes. Functionalism (C), led by William
James, focused on the purpose and function of mental processes. Humanism
(D) emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization.
Question 2: Which psychological perspective emphasizes the role of
unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences in shaping
behavior?
A. Behavioral perspective
B. Cognitive perspective
C. Psychodynamic perspective ✓
D. Sociocultural perspective
Solution:
The psychodynamic perspective, originated by Sigmund Freud, emphasizes
the influence of unconscious drives, conflicts, and early childhood
experiences on behavior and mental processes. Freud believed that much of
our behavior is motivated by unconscious desires and repressed memories.
The behavioral perspective (A) focuses only on observable behavior and
environmental stimuli. The cognitive perspective (B) focuses on mental
processes such as thinking and problem-solving. The sociocultural
perspective (D) examines how social and cultural factors influence behavior.
2
,Question 3: A researcher wants to determine whether a new teaching
method improves student performance. Which research method is most
appropriate?
A. Case study
B. Correlational study
C. Experiment ✓
D. Naturalistic observation
Solution:
An experiment is the most appropriate method because it allows the
researcher to establish cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating the
independent variable (teaching method) and measuring its effect on the
dependent variable (student performance) while controlling for confounding
variables. A case study (A) provides in-depth information about a single
individual, which cannot be generalized. A correlational study (B) identifies
relationships between variables but cannot establish causation. Naturalistic
observation (D) observes behavior in its natural setting without manipulation.
Question 4: In a research study, the group that does not receive the
experimental treatment is called the:
A. Control group ✓
3
, B. Experimental group
C. Random group
D. Confederate group
Solution:
The control group is the group in an experiment that does not receive the
experimental treatment or receives a placebo. It serves as a baseline for
comparison with the experimental group to determine the effect of the
independent variable. The experimental group (B) receives the treatment
being tested. A random group (C) refers to the method of participant
assignment, not a type of group. A confederate group (D) refers to individuals
who appear to be participants but are actually working with the researcher.
Question 5: Which of the following is a measure of central tendency that
identifies the most frequently occurring score in a distribution?
A. Mean
B. Median
C. Mode ✓
D. Standard deviation
Solution:
The mode is the score that occurs most frequently in a distribution. It is the
only measure of central tendency that can be used with nominal data. The
mean (A) is the arithmetic average of all scores. The median (B) is the middle
score when all scores are arranged in order. Standard deviation (D) is a
measure of variability, not central tendency, indicating how spread out the
scores are from the mean.
Question 6: A researcher finds that as ice cream sales increase, the rate
of drowning also increases. This is an example of:
A. A causal relationship
B. A positive correlation ✓
C. A negative correlation
D. An experimental finding
Solution:
This is an example of a positive correlation because both variables move in
4
