PSYCH 100 (Exam 1) UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Psychology The scientific study of mind, brain and behavior
Behavior (that psychologists study) Thinking, emotions, neural activity in the brain, perceiving: seeing, smelling,
hearing, Ex: Acting voluntarily (picking up a cup that falls), Physiological events
(heartbeat, salivation).
Dualism seeing mind and brain as two different things
Who do psychologists study? Typically people(not animals) and typically individuals (not groups)
What are the sub-fields of psychology? Biological psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology, developmental
psychology, personality psychology, cognitive psychology
Biological Psychology Brain and Body
study of how biological processes in brain and body are related to behavior
Ex: Neuroscience, behavioral genetics
Clinical Psychology Disorders and Treatments
study of causes of mental disorders and their treatment
Ex: Counseling psychology
Social Psychology How people Influence each other
ex: industrial-organazational psychology
Developmental Psychology changes over the lifespan
Ex: Educational psychology
Personality Psychology how we differ as individuals
Cognitive Psychology thinking and perceiving... Study of mental abilities including sensation,
perception, learning and memory, thinking, consciousness, intelligence, and
creativity
Ex: Perception, language
, intuitive psychologists using intuition/common sense to make decisions
confirmation bias the tendency to seek out information that supports your beliefs and deny,
distort or dismiss evidence that contradicts them
What is Science - to understand the natural world
- based on empirical objective observations
- involves systematic studies
- involves testing hypotheses
- is self-correcting
Empirical based on observation or experiment
objective not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and
representing facts, vast majority of people will agree with the data
subjective only available to one personal, based on one person's experience
systematic study Empirical data gathered through systematic research(getting rid of other
possible explanations)
Theory an explanation that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events
Hypothesis A testable prediction, often derived from a theory
self correction when science says you are wrong, you admit it and change your ideas
Critical thinking purposeful, reasoned, goal-directed thinking that explores a situation or
problem
Characteristics of pseudoscience 1. Making excuses for lack of evidence
2. Exaggerated claims(3 steps to change your life)
3. over-reliance on anecdotes
4. Absence of connectivity to other research
5. Lack of peer review
6. Unnecessary Jargon (using words to prevent someone from understanding
your claim)
7. Using the word prove (instead of suggests)
Characteristics of reputable science 1. In text-citations
2. Includes reference lists
3. Peer-reviewed
code of ethics to conduct research 1. Informed consent.
2. Confidentiality
3. Privacy: not making observations of someone somewhere private
4. Benefits: benefit must outweigh the risk, the risk must be know to the person
being studied
5. Deception: if you deceive the true nature of the tests for research you must
latter tell the person being studied what the true nature of the test was
CORRECT Answers
Psychology The scientific study of mind, brain and behavior
Behavior (that psychologists study) Thinking, emotions, neural activity in the brain, perceiving: seeing, smelling,
hearing, Ex: Acting voluntarily (picking up a cup that falls), Physiological events
(heartbeat, salivation).
Dualism seeing mind and brain as two different things
Who do psychologists study? Typically people(not animals) and typically individuals (not groups)
What are the sub-fields of psychology? Biological psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology, developmental
psychology, personality psychology, cognitive psychology
Biological Psychology Brain and Body
study of how biological processes in brain and body are related to behavior
Ex: Neuroscience, behavioral genetics
Clinical Psychology Disorders and Treatments
study of causes of mental disorders and their treatment
Ex: Counseling psychology
Social Psychology How people Influence each other
ex: industrial-organazational psychology
Developmental Psychology changes over the lifespan
Ex: Educational psychology
Personality Psychology how we differ as individuals
Cognitive Psychology thinking and perceiving... Study of mental abilities including sensation,
perception, learning and memory, thinking, consciousness, intelligence, and
creativity
Ex: Perception, language
, intuitive psychologists using intuition/common sense to make decisions
confirmation bias the tendency to seek out information that supports your beliefs and deny,
distort or dismiss evidence that contradicts them
What is Science - to understand the natural world
- based on empirical objective observations
- involves systematic studies
- involves testing hypotheses
- is self-correcting
Empirical based on observation or experiment
objective not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and
representing facts, vast majority of people will agree with the data
subjective only available to one personal, based on one person's experience
systematic study Empirical data gathered through systematic research(getting rid of other
possible explanations)
Theory an explanation that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events
Hypothesis A testable prediction, often derived from a theory
self correction when science says you are wrong, you admit it and change your ideas
Critical thinking purposeful, reasoned, goal-directed thinking that explores a situation or
problem
Characteristics of pseudoscience 1. Making excuses for lack of evidence
2. Exaggerated claims(3 steps to change your life)
3. over-reliance on anecdotes
4. Absence of connectivity to other research
5. Lack of peer review
6. Unnecessary Jargon (using words to prevent someone from understanding
your claim)
7. Using the word prove (instead of suggests)
Characteristics of reputable science 1. In text-citations
2. Includes reference lists
3. Peer-reviewed
code of ethics to conduct research 1. Informed consent.
2. Confidentiality
3. Privacy: not making observations of someone somewhere private
4. Benefits: benefit must outweigh the risk, the risk must be know to the person
being studied
5. Deception: if you deceive the true nature of the tests for research you must
latter tell the person being studied what the true nature of the test was
