1|Page
WGU C180 PSYCHOLOGY: EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES | LATEST UPDATE
2026/2027 | EXPERT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | GRADED
A+.
What do psychologists study? - ANSWER: • Biological Foundations
• Mental Life
• Change
• Self and Others
• Potential and Dysfuction
What is the scientific method and how is it applied to psychological research? -
ANSWER: The scientific method is the set of assumptions, rules, and procedures
scientists use to conduct research. In addition to requiring that science is verifiable,
the scientific method demands that procedures are free of personal bias.
What is the definition of a hypothesis? - ANSWER: A specific and falsifiable
prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.
What is the definition of a theory? - ANSWER: is based on principles that are
general and can be applied to many situations.
,2|Page
What is the relationship of a hypothesis and theory? - ANSWER: A research
questions must be stated in a research hypothesis which is a precise statement of
the presumed relationship among specific parts of a theory.
What is an operational definition? Provide an example. - ANSWER: An
operational definition refers to a precise statement of how a conceptual variable (
abstract idea that form the basis of research hypotheses ) which is turned into a
measured variable ( varialbes consisting of numbers that represent the conceptual
variables )
(Conceptual Variable) Depression - (operational definition) Number of negative
words used in a creative story; number of appointments made with a
psychotherapist
What is Descriptive Research - ANSWER: research designed to provide a
snapshot of the current state of affairs.
What is Correlational Research - ANSWER: research designed to discover
relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future events from
present knowledge.
What is Experimental Research - ANSWER: research in which there is a random
assignment of research participants into two groups. This is followed by a
manipulation of a given experience for one group while the other is not
manipulated. One group is the experimental group that receives the manipulation.
The other group is the control group that does not. The two groups are then
compared to determine the influence of the manipulation.
What are some requirements of ethical research? - ANSWER: 1. before the
research begins the participant is given all information relevant to his or her
decision to participate
, 3|Page
2. the participant is given a chance to have questions about the procedure answered
thus giving free choice in participating.
What is the relationship between a population and a sample? - ANSWER: The
people chosen to participate in the research, called a sample, are selected to be
representative of all the people that the researcher wishes to know about, called the
population.
Why are ethical guidelines needed within psychological research? - ANSWER:
These are needed with psychological research is the prevent physical and/or
emotional harm to the participants.
What are the various research methods in the field of psychology? - ANSWER:
Descriptive Research
Correlational Research
Experimental Research
Psychologist Study Potential and Dysfunction - What does that mean? -
ANSWER: Psychologists study variations in perception, cognition, and emotions,
to define what is normal and what is exceptional, and what is dysfunctional
WGU C180 PSYCHOLOGY: EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES | LATEST UPDATE
2026/2027 | EXPERT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | GRADED
A+.
What do psychologists study? - ANSWER: • Biological Foundations
• Mental Life
• Change
• Self and Others
• Potential and Dysfuction
What is the scientific method and how is it applied to psychological research? -
ANSWER: The scientific method is the set of assumptions, rules, and procedures
scientists use to conduct research. In addition to requiring that science is verifiable,
the scientific method demands that procedures are free of personal bias.
What is the definition of a hypothesis? - ANSWER: A specific and falsifiable
prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.
What is the definition of a theory? - ANSWER: is based on principles that are
general and can be applied to many situations.
,2|Page
What is the relationship of a hypothesis and theory? - ANSWER: A research
questions must be stated in a research hypothesis which is a precise statement of
the presumed relationship among specific parts of a theory.
What is an operational definition? Provide an example. - ANSWER: An
operational definition refers to a precise statement of how a conceptual variable (
abstract idea that form the basis of research hypotheses ) which is turned into a
measured variable ( varialbes consisting of numbers that represent the conceptual
variables )
(Conceptual Variable) Depression - (operational definition) Number of negative
words used in a creative story; number of appointments made with a
psychotherapist
What is Descriptive Research - ANSWER: research designed to provide a
snapshot of the current state of affairs.
What is Correlational Research - ANSWER: research designed to discover
relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future events from
present knowledge.
What is Experimental Research - ANSWER: research in which there is a random
assignment of research participants into two groups. This is followed by a
manipulation of a given experience for one group while the other is not
manipulated. One group is the experimental group that receives the manipulation.
The other group is the control group that does not. The two groups are then
compared to determine the influence of the manipulation.
What are some requirements of ethical research? - ANSWER: 1. before the
research begins the participant is given all information relevant to his or her
decision to participate
, 3|Page
2. the participant is given a chance to have questions about the procedure answered
thus giving free choice in participating.
What is the relationship between a population and a sample? - ANSWER: The
people chosen to participate in the research, called a sample, are selected to be
representative of all the people that the researcher wishes to know about, called the
population.
Why are ethical guidelines needed within psychological research? - ANSWER:
These are needed with psychological research is the prevent physical and/or
emotional harm to the participants.
What are the various research methods in the field of psychology? - ANSWER:
Descriptive Research
Correlational Research
Experimental Research
Psychologist Study Potential and Dysfunction - What does that mean? -
ANSWER: Psychologists study variations in perception, cognition, and emotions,
to define what is normal and what is exceptional, and what is dysfunctional
