1. Which of the following is an evidence-based method that draws on observation and experimentation?
a. critical thinking
b. structuralism
c. empirical approach
d. humanistic psychology
ANSWER: c
2. Professor Thomas uses scientific procedures to test whether watching violent movies increases the frequency
of emotionally upsetting dreams among participants. This best illustrates
a. functionalism.
b. Freudian psychology.
c. an empirical approach.
d. positive psychology.
ANSWER: c
3. In a research study that asked 40,000 teens to identify math concepts they knew, males from advantaged
backgrounds
a. claimed to know nonexistent concepts.
b. recalled fewer terms than females from advantaged backgrounds.
c. recalled more terms than females from advantaged backgrounds.
d. could not remember anything.
ANSWER: a
4. One of psychology's early mottos was "The rat is always right." Which aspect of the scientific attitude did
this represent?
a. humility
b. respect for animals
c. curiosity
d. skepticism
ANSWER: a
5. Stephanie suffers from severe depression and is undergoing a treatment in which electric shocks are
delivered to her brain. What type of therapy is she receiving?
a. psychodynamic therapy
b. electroconvulsive therapy
c. behavioral therapy
d. cognitive therapy
ANSWER: b
6. Less helpfulness and lower academic confidence have been associated with
a. enhanced critical thinking.
b. a lack of curiosity.
, c. increased skepticism.
d. a lack of humility.
ANSWER: d
7. Three key attitudes of scientific inquiry are
a. pride, enthusiasm, and ingenuity.
b. ingenuity, practicality, and certainty.
c. certainty, creativity, and curiosity.
d. curiosity, skepticism, and humility.
ANSWER: d
8. A desire to be able to confirm predictions is related to
a. overconfidence.
b. curiosity.
c. humility.
d. skepticism.
ANSWER: b
9. In conducting research, Douglas demonstrates a scientific attitude. Which of the following characteristics is
part of that attitude?
a. curiosity
b. indifference
c. certainty
d. sureness
ANSWER: a
10. Virginia insists that Dr. Chewning's theory regarding violent behavior be checked against observable
evidence. She is demonstrating the scientific attitude of
a. pride.
b. skepticism.
c. practicality.
d. enthusiasm.
ANSWER: b
11. The scientific attitude requires an open-minded humility because it involves a willingness to
a. perceive order in random events.
b. reject any ideas that can't be scientifically tested.
c. recognize the errors in our own ideas.
d. respect political beliefs that contradict our own.
ANSWER: c
,12. The statement that "the rat is always right" refers to which aspect of the scientific attitude?
a. humility
b. respect for animals
c. curiosity
d. skepticism
ANSWER: a
13. Critical thinking involves all of the following EXCEPT
a. appraising the source of information.
b. automatic acceptance of information.
c. evaluating provided evidence.
d. assessing conclusions.
ANSWER: b
14. Patricia recently read an online article about the meaning of horoscopes, which explained how the locations
of the stars at one's birth determines one's personality and life course. Patricia is not convinced that this
information is accurate and so she is quite skeptical. She has concluded that the assumptions and conclusions of
this article are faulty, that the writer is biased and lacks credibility, and that the evidence to support this claim
does not justify a cause-effect conclusion. Patricia has engaged in
a. critical thinking.
b. introspection.
c. speculation.
d. emergent thinking.
ANSWER: a
15. Reasoning that does not blindly accept available arguments and conclusions illustrates
a. introspection.
b. critical thinking.
c. the psychodynamic perspective.
d. an empirical approach.
ANSWER: b
16. Critical thinking most clearly involves
a. a biopsychosocial approach.
b. introspection.
c. evaluating evidence.
d. the psychodynamic perspective.
ANSWER: c
17. A questioning attitude regarding psychologists' assumptions and hidden values best illustrates
a. behaviorism.
b. critical thinking.
, c. introspection.
d. Freudian psychology.
ANSWER: b
18. Jennifer was worried that the wording of the questions in a diet and exercise survey may have encouraged
respondents to express unusually positive levels of health. Jennifer's concern best illustrates
a. behavior genetics.
b. skepticism.
c. critical thinking.
d. the neuroscience perspective.
ANSWER: c
19. Questioning whether conclusions are warranted by the existing evidence best illustrates
a. critical thinking.
b. functionalism.
c. a biopsychosocial approach.
d. introspection.
ANSWER: a
20. When you question whether anecdotal evidence can be generalized to all people, you are most clearly
demonstrating
a. functionalism.
b. behaviorism.
c. an empirical approach.
d. critical thinking.
ANSWER: d
21. Shane is discussing climate change with Brandon. Shane does not believe that climate change is real and
is trying to convince Brandon that climate change is not real. Brandon believes that climate change is real but
is open to the possibility that he could be wrong. Who would be most likely to engage in critical thinking?
a. Shane
b. Brandon
c. both Shane and Brandon
d. neither Shane nor Brandon
ANSWER: b
22. Which of the following is NOT associated with critical thinking?
a. debunking popular presumptions
b. following hidden biases
c. leading to surprising findings
d. identifying effective policies
a. critical thinking
b. structuralism
c. empirical approach
d. humanistic psychology
ANSWER: c
2. Professor Thomas uses scientific procedures to test whether watching violent movies increases the frequency
of emotionally upsetting dreams among participants. This best illustrates
a. functionalism.
b. Freudian psychology.
c. an empirical approach.
d. positive psychology.
ANSWER: c
3. In a research study that asked 40,000 teens to identify math concepts they knew, males from advantaged
backgrounds
a. claimed to know nonexistent concepts.
b. recalled fewer terms than females from advantaged backgrounds.
c. recalled more terms than females from advantaged backgrounds.
d. could not remember anything.
ANSWER: a
4. One of psychology's early mottos was "The rat is always right." Which aspect of the scientific attitude did
this represent?
a. humility
b. respect for animals
c. curiosity
d. skepticism
ANSWER: a
5. Stephanie suffers from severe depression and is undergoing a treatment in which electric shocks are
delivered to her brain. What type of therapy is she receiving?
a. psychodynamic therapy
b. electroconvulsive therapy
c. behavioral therapy
d. cognitive therapy
ANSWER: b
6. Less helpfulness and lower academic confidence have been associated with
a. enhanced critical thinking.
b. a lack of curiosity.
, c. increased skepticism.
d. a lack of humility.
ANSWER: d
7. Three key attitudes of scientific inquiry are
a. pride, enthusiasm, and ingenuity.
b. ingenuity, practicality, and certainty.
c. certainty, creativity, and curiosity.
d. curiosity, skepticism, and humility.
ANSWER: d
8. A desire to be able to confirm predictions is related to
a. overconfidence.
b. curiosity.
c. humility.
d. skepticism.
ANSWER: b
9. In conducting research, Douglas demonstrates a scientific attitude. Which of the following characteristics is
part of that attitude?
a. curiosity
b. indifference
c. certainty
d. sureness
ANSWER: a
10. Virginia insists that Dr. Chewning's theory regarding violent behavior be checked against observable
evidence. She is demonstrating the scientific attitude of
a. pride.
b. skepticism.
c. practicality.
d. enthusiasm.
ANSWER: b
11. The scientific attitude requires an open-minded humility because it involves a willingness to
a. perceive order in random events.
b. reject any ideas that can't be scientifically tested.
c. recognize the errors in our own ideas.
d. respect political beliefs that contradict our own.
ANSWER: c
,12. The statement that "the rat is always right" refers to which aspect of the scientific attitude?
a. humility
b. respect for animals
c. curiosity
d. skepticism
ANSWER: a
13. Critical thinking involves all of the following EXCEPT
a. appraising the source of information.
b. automatic acceptance of information.
c. evaluating provided evidence.
d. assessing conclusions.
ANSWER: b
14. Patricia recently read an online article about the meaning of horoscopes, which explained how the locations
of the stars at one's birth determines one's personality and life course. Patricia is not convinced that this
information is accurate and so she is quite skeptical. She has concluded that the assumptions and conclusions of
this article are faulty, that the writer is biased and lacks credibility, and that the evidence to support this claim
does not justify a cause-effect conclusion. Patricia has engaged in
a. critical thinking.
b. introspection.
c. speculation.
d. emergent thinking.
ANSWER: a
15. Reasoning that does not blindly accept available arguments and conclusions illustrates
a. introspection.
b. critical thinking.
c. the psychodynamic perspective.
d. an empirical approach.
ANSWER: b
16. Critical thinking most clearly involves
a. a biopsychosocial approach.
b. introspection.
c. evaluating evidence.
d. the psychodynamic perspective.
ANSWER: c
17. A questioning attitude regarding psychologists' assumptions and hidden values best illustrates
a. behaviorism.
b. critical thinking.
, c. introspection.
d. Freudian psychology.
ANSWER: b
18. Jennifer was worried that the wording of the questions in a diet and exercise survey may have encouraged
respondents to express unusually positive levels of health. Jennifer's concern best illustrates
a. behavior genetics.
b. skepticism.
c. critical thinking.
d. the neuroscience perspective.
ANSWER: c
19. Questioning whether conclusions are warranted by the existing evidence best illustrates
a. critical thinking.
b. functionalism.
c. a biopsychosocial approach.
d. introspection.
ANSWER: a
20. When you question whether anecdotal evidence can be generalized to all people, you are most clearly
demonstrating
a. functionalism.
b. behaviorism.
c. an empirical approach.
d. critical thinking.
ANSWER: d
21. Shane is discussing climate change with Brandon. Shane does not believe that climate change is real and
is trying to convince Brandon that climate change is not real. Brandon believes that climate change is real but
is open to the possibility that he could be wrong. Who would be most likely to engage in critical thinking?
a. Shane
b. Brandon
c. both Shane and Brandon
d. neither Shane nor Brandon
ANSWER: b
22. Which of the following is NOT associated with critical thinking?
a. debunking popular presumptions
b. following hidden biases
c. leading to surprising findings
d. identifying effective policies
