PSYCHOLOGY MIDTERM 1 Exam
2026 Questions and Answers Latest A+
What is psychology? - Correct answer-the scientific study of mind and behavior
What is hindsight bias? - Correct answer-Overestimation of the ability to have
predicted an outcome
What is the scientific method? - Correct answer-1. Formulate research question 2.
Formulate the hypothesis 3. Design the study to test the hypothesis 4. Perform the
study (test hypothesis) 5. Interpret the data 6. Communicate the findings
What is a hypothesis? - Correct answer-Testable prediction
What is an operational definition? - Correct answer-Statement about the procedures
the researcher used to measure a variable
What is a case study? - Correct answer-In-depth analysis of one subject or more
What are wording effects? - Correct answer-Variations in responses to questions
due to slights changes in wording
©COPYRIGHT 2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,What is response bias? - Correct answer-Pattern of responses to questions that does
not accurately reflect the content of the question
What is random sampling (random selection)? - Correct answer-Everyone in the
population has an equal chance of being in the sample
What are positive and negative correlations? - Correct answer-POSITIVE: variable
changes in the same direction. NEGATIVE: variables change in opposite directions
How are correlation coefficients (rs) interpreted? - Correct answer-Indicator of the
strength of the relationship between two variables (ranges from -1 to +1)
What are third variables? - Correct answer-Variables that the researcher failed to
control or eliminate, damaging the validity of an experiment and can lead to false
conclusions
What is experimentation? - Correct answer-Researcher changes (manipulates) one
variable and measures the effects of that change on another variable
What are IVs and DVs? - Correct answer-IV: manipulated by experimenter
DV: outcome variable
What are experimental (treatment) and control conditions? - Correct answer-
Experimental condition: receives treatment/stimulus
Control condition: does not receive treatment/stimulus
©COPYRIGHT 2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, What is a confounding variable? - Correct answer-Variable that is potentially
responsible for the results but is not the variable of interest (the IV)
What is random assignment? - Correct answer-Method used to place participants
into experimental condition in which participants have an equal chance of being in
every condition
What is experimental control? - Correct answer-Researcher makes sure that no
factors other than the IV are changing and thus could affect the DV
What is the placebo effect? - Correct answer-observed improvement following an
inert treatment
What is a placebo control group? - Correct answer-participants who receive
placebo rather than actual treatment or nothing
What is the expectancy effect? - Correct answer-results when the experimenter's
hypothesis (expectation) leads unintentionally to behavior toward the participants
that then increases the likelihood that the participants' behavior will confirm the
hypothesis
(ig you tell participants what your expected outcome is so they behave to support
that outcome)
©COPYRIGHT 2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
2026 Questions and Answers Latest A+
What is psychology? - Correct answer-the scientific study of mind and behavior
What is hindsight bias? - Correct answer-Overestimation of the ability to have
predicted an outcome
What is the scientific method? - Correct answer-1. Formulate research question 2.
Formulate the hypothesis 3. Design the study to test the hypothesis 4. Perform the
study (test hypothesis) 5. Interpret the data 6. Communicate the findings
What is a hypothesis? - Correct answer-Testable prediction
What is an operational definition? - Correct answer-Statement about the procedures
the researcher used to measure a variable
What is a case study? - Correct answer-In-depth analysis of one subject or more
What are wording effects? - Correct answer-Variations in responses to questions
due to slights changes in wording
©COPYRIGHT 2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,What is response bias? - Correct answer-Pattern of responses to questions that does
not accurately reflect the content of the question
What is random sampling (random selection)? - Correct answer-Everyone in the
population has an equal chance of being in the sample
What are positive and negative correlations? - Correct answer-POSITIVE: variable
changes in the same direction. NEGATIVE: variables change in opposite directions
How are correlation coefficients (rs) interpreted? - Correct answer-Indicator of the
strength of the relationship between two variables (ranges from -1 to +1)
What are third variables? - Correct answer-Variables that the researcher failed to
control or eliminate, damaging the validity of an experiment and can lead to false
conclusions
What is experimentation? - Correct answer-Researcher changes (manipulates) one
variable and measures the effects of that change on another variable
What are IVs and DVs? - Correct answer-IV: manipulated by experimenter
DV: outcome variable
What are experimental (treatment) and control conditions? - Correct answer-
Experimental condition: receives treatment/stimulus
Control condition: does not receive treatment/stimulus
©COPYRIGHT 2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, What is a confounding variable? - Correct answer-Variable that is potentially
responsible for the results but is not the variable of interest (the IV)
What is random assignment? - Correct answer-Method used to place participants
into experimental condition in which participants have an equal chance of being in
every condition
What is experimental control? - Correct answer-Researcher makes sure that no
factors other than the IV are changing and thus could affect the DV
What is the placebo effect? - Correct answer-observed improvement following an
inert treatment
What is a placebo control group? - Correct answer-participants who receive
placebo rather than actual treatment or nothing
What is the expectancy effect? - Correct answer-results when the experimenter's
hypothesis (expectation) leads unintentionally to behavior toward the participants
that then increases the likelihood that the participants' behavior will confirm the
hypothesis
(ig you tell participants what your expected outcome is so they behave to support
that outcome)
©COPYRIGHT 2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
