Science of
Psychology
Key: Answer, Page, Type, Learning Objective, Level
Type
A=Applied
C=Concept
ual
F=Factual
Level
(1)=Easy; (2)=Moderate; (3)=Difficult
LO=Learning
Objective SG=Used
in Study Guide
p=page
MULTIPLE CHOICE
What Is Psychology?
Learning Objective 1.1 - What defines psychology as a field of study, and what are psychology’s four
primary goals?
1. Which of these is the most accurate definition of the discipline of psychology?
a) the science of behavior
b) the science of mental processes
c) the science of behavior and mental processes
Correct. The definition of psychology includes both behavior and mental processes
and doesn’t exclude animals.
d) the science of human behavior and mental processes
Incorrect. The definition of psychology includes also animal behavior and
mental processes.
ANS: c, p. 4, F, LO=1.1, (1) SG
% correct 66 a= 2 b=1 c= 66 d= 32 r = .37
APA: LO 1.1; LO 1.2
2. In the definition of psychology, the term mental processes refers to
.
a) internal, covert activities
Correct. Mental activities are internal.
, b) outward behavior
c) overt actions and reactions
Incorrect. Overt means outward, not internal.
d) only animal behavior
ANS: a, p. 4, F, LO=1.1, (1)
% correct 85 a= 85 b= 1 c= 13 d= 1 r = .39
APA: LO 1.1; LO 1.2
,3. Which topic would NOT be investigated by a psychologist if the definition of psychology were limited to
“the science of behavior”?
a) relation between grade-point average and salary
b) thought processes students used while trying to answer this
question Correct. This conforms to the definition of the internal, covert
activity of our minds.
c) how changes in the rate of television violence influence real-life violence
d) effectiveness of several treatments for people who suffer from depression
Incorrect. Investigation of treatments is not a mental process.
ANS: b, p. 4, C, LO=1.1, (3)
APA: LO 1.1; LO 1.2
4. You are at a basketball game and the arena is packed; the crowd is evenly split between fans of the two
teams. At one point, the referee makes a call. Half of the fans yell insults; the other half of the fans shout
their approval. The event reminds you of the topic of today’s lecture in psychology class. What was the likely
topic of the lecture?
a) bias
Correct. The fans are showing bias and this is an important issue.
b) experiments
Incorrect. The fans are really not part of any treatment groups.
c) psychoanalysis
d) extraneous
variables ANS: a, p. 4, A,
LO=1.1, (2) APA : LO 1.2 ;
LO 4.4
5. Steve is a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team. With little provocation, he will engage you in a
debate about whether it is the greatest team in basketball. Steve may be demonstrating .
a) bias
Correct. Steve’s loyalty to his team will influence his debate.
b) critical thinking
Incorrect. Critical thinking requires an open mind.
c) an eclectic approach
d) unconscious
behavior ANS: a, p. 4, A,
LO=1.1, (2) APA : LO 1.2 ;
LO 4.4
6. The goals of psychology are to .
a) explore the conscious and unconscious functions of the human mind
b) understand, compare, and analyze human behavior
Incorrect. Human behavior is only one part of psychology.
c) improve psychological well-being in all individuals from birth
until death
d) describe, explain, predict, and control behavior
Correct. These adequately help uncover the mysteries of
behavior. ANS: d, p. 4-5, F, LO=1.1, (1)
% correct 40 a= 17 b=39 c= 3 d= 40 r = .35
% correct 96 a= 4 b= 0 c= 0 d= 96 r = .54
APA: LO 1.1; LO 1.2
7. Mei was sent to the school psychologist to be tested. Based on her IQ scores it was decided that she would
do well in the gifted child program. This is an example of which goal of psychology?
a) describing behavior
, b) explaining behavior
Incorrect. Explaining focuses on why it is happening.
c) predicting behavior
Correct. Mei’s score served as a predictor (“would do well”) of performance.
d) controlling behavior
ANS: c, p. 5, A, LO=1.1, (2)
Psychology
Key: Answer, Page, Type, Learning Objective, Level
Type
A=Applied
C=Concept
ual
F=Factual
Level
(1)=Easy; (2)=Moderate; (3)=Difficult
LO=Learning
Objective SG=Used
in Study Guide
p=page
MULTIPLE CHOICE
What Is Psychology?
Learning Objective 1.1 - What defines psychology as a field of study, and what are psychology’s four
primary goals?
1. Which of these is the most accurate definition of the discipline of psychology?
a) the science of behavior
b) the science of mental processes
c) the science of behavior and mental processes
Correct. The definition of psychology includes both behavior and mental processes
and doesn’t exclude animals.
d) the science of human behavior and mental processes
Incorrect. The definition of psychology includes also animal behavior and
mental processes.
ANS: c, p. 4, F, LO=1.1, (1) SG
% correct 66 a= 2 b=1 c= 66 d= 32 r = .37
APA: LO 1.1; LO 1.2
2. In the definition of psychology, the term mental processes refers to
.
a) internal, covert activities
Correct. Mental activities are internal.
, b) outward behavior
c) overt actions and reactions
Incorrect. Overt means outward, not internal.
d) only animal behavior
ANS: a, p. 4, F, LO=1.1, (1)
% correct 85 a= 85 b= 1 c= 13 d= 1 r = .39
APA: LO 1.1; LO 1.2
,3. Which topic would NOT be investigated by a psychologist if the definition of psychology were limited to
“the science of behavior”?
a) relation between grade-point average and salary
b) thought processes students used while trying to answer this
question Correct. This conforms to the definition of the internal, covert
activity of our minds.
c) how changes in the rate of television violence influence real-life violence
d) effectiveness of several treatments for people who suffer from depression
Incorrect. Investigation of treatments is not a mental process.
ANS: b, p. 4, C, LO=1.1, (3)
APA: LO 1.1; LO 1.2
4. You are at a basketball game and the arena is packed; the crowd is evenly split between fans of the two
teams. At one point, the referee makes a call. Half of the fans yell insults; the other half of the fans shout
their approval. The event reminds you of the topic of today’s lecture in psychology class. What was the likely
topic of the lecture?
a) bias
Correct. The fans are showing bias and this is an important issue.
b) experiments
Incorrect. The fans are really not part of any treatment groups.
c) psychoanalysis
d) extraneous
variables ANS: a, p. 4, A,
LO=1.1, (2) APA : LO 1.2 ;
LO 4.4
5. Steve is a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team. With little provocation, he will engage you in a
debate about whether it is the greatest team in basketball. Steve may be demonstrating .
a) bias
Correct. Steve’s loyalty to his team will influence his debate.
b) critical thinking
Incorrect. Critical thinking requires an open mind.
c) an eclectic approach
d) unconscious
behavior ANS: a, p. 4, A,
LO=1.1, (2) APA : LO 1.2 ;
LO 4.4
6. The goals of psychology are to .
a) explore the conscious and unconscious functions of the human mind
b) understand, compare, and analyze human behavior
Incorrect. Human behavior is only one part of psychology.
c) improve psychological well-being in all individuals from birth
until death
d) describe, explain, predict, and control behavior
Correct. These adequately help uncover the mysteries of
behavior. ANS: d, p. 4-5, F, LO=1.1, (1)
% correct 40 a= 17 b=39 c= 3 d= 40 r = .35
% correct 96 a= 4 b= 0 c= 0 d= 96 r = .54
APA: LO 1.1; LO 1.2
7. Mei was sent to the school psychologist to be tested. Based on her IQ scores it was decided that she would
do well in the gifted child program. This is an example of which goal of psychology?
a) describing behavior
, b) explaining behavior
Incorrect. Explaining focuses on why it is happening.
c) predicting behavior
Correct. Mei’s score served as a predictor (“would do well”) of performance.
d) controlling behavior
ANS: c, p. 5, A, LO=1.1, (2)
