Understanding Psychological Approaches and Research Methods, Exams of Psychology

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Psychology

Paper 2 Updated Version 2024

EXAM GUIDE

QNS & ANS

1. Multiple Choice: Which approach in psychology emphasizes unconscious processes and conflicts within the mind? a) Behavioral b) Cognitive c) Psychodynamic d) Humanistic Correct Answer: c) Psychodynamic Rationale: The psychodynamic approach focuses on the role of the unconscious mind, as well as childhood experiences, which is not a focus of the other listed approaches.
2. Short Answer: Explain the term 'operant conditioning' and give an example. Correct Answer: Operant conditioning is a learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment. For example, a student studies harder after being praised for their good grades.
3. Multiple Choice: What is the main focus of cognitive psychology? a) Observing external behaviors b) Studying mental processes c) Analyzing the structure of the mind d) Understanding the role of genetics Correct Answer: b) Studying mental processes

Rationale: Cognitive psychology is concerned with internal mental processes such as problem solving, memory, and language, which are not directly observable.

4. Short Answer: Describe the concept of 'reliability' in psychological research. Correct Answer: Reliability refers to the consistency of a research study or measuring test. For example, if a test is reliable, it should give the same results under consistent conditions.
5. Multiple Choice: Which research method involves an in-depth investigation of an individual subject? a) Case study b) Naturalistic observation c) Survey d) Experiment Correct Answer: a) Case study Rationale: A case study is a detailed examination of an individual or group, providing rich qualitative data, unlike the other methods which can involve larger groups and are more quantitative.
6. Short Answer: What is meant by 'standard deviation' in the context of psychological research? Correct Answer: Standard deviation is a measure of the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values. A low standard deviation means that the values tend to be close to the mean, while a high standard deviation means that the values are spread out over a wider range.
7. Multiple Choice: Which approach in psychology is most likely to address how a person's genes and environment influence their behavior? a) Evolutionary b) Biological c) Sociocultural d) Psychodynamic Correct Answer: b) Biological Rationale: The biological approach examines physiological and genetic influences on behavior, whereas the other approaches focus on different factors.

Multiple Choice: What is the primary focus of the biological approach in psychology? A) Emotions and behaviors B) Cognitive processes C) Genetic and physiological factors D) Environmental influences Correct Answer: C) Genetic and physiological factors Rationale: The biological approach emphasizes the role of genetics and physiological processes in influencing behavior and mental processes. Short Answer: Define psychopathology and provide an example of a psychological disorder. Correct Answer: Psychopathology is the study of mental disorders. An example of a psychological disorder is major depressive disorder, characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities. Multiple Choice: Which research method involves observing and recording behavior in natural settings without intervention? A) Experimental research B) Case study C) Observational research D) Correlational research Correct Answer: C) Observational research Rationale: Observational research allows for the study of behavior in natural settings without manipulating variables. Short Answer: Explain the difference between a case study and an experiment in psychological research. Correct Answer: A case study involves an in-depth analysis of an individual or group, while an experiment involves manipulating variables to test causal relationships. Multiple Choice: Which psychological perspective emphasizes the role of unconscious conflicts in shaping behavior?

A) Cognitive perspective B) Psychodynamic perspective C) Humanistic perspective D) Behavioral perspective Correct Answer: B) Psychodynamic perspective Rationale: The psychodynamic perspective, founded by Sigmund Freud, focuses on the unconscious mind and its influence on behavior. Short Answer: Describe the placebo effect and its implications for psychological research. Correct Answer: The placebo effect refers to improvements in a person's condition resulting from expectations rather than the treatment itself. It highlights the importance of controlling for expectations in research studies. Multiple Choice: Which research design allows for establishing cause-and- effect relationships between variables? A) Longitudinal study B) Cross-sectional study C) Correlational study D) Experimental study Correct Answer: D) Experimental study Rationale: Experimental studies involve manipulating variables to determine causal relationships between them. Short Answer: Discuss the ethical considerations that researchers must adhere to when conducting experiments with human participants. Correct Answer: Researchers must obtain informed consent, ensure confidentiality, avoid deception, and minimize harm to participants in accordance with ethical guidelines. Multiple Choice: Which psychological perspective focuses on how individuals perceive, process, and remember information? A) Behavioral perspective B) Cognitive perspective C) Humanistic perspective

between two variables without introducing changes to them. Short Answer: Explain the concept of validity in psychological research. Correct Answer: Validity refers to the accuracy and appropriateness of a research study's conclusions, ensuring that the study measures what it intends to measure. Multiple Choice: Which psychological perspective emphasizes the influence of social and cultural factors on behavior? A) Biological perspective B) Sociocultural perspective C) Humanistic perspective D) Evolutionary perspective Correct Answer: B) Sociocultural perspective Rationale: The sociocultural perspective examines how social and cultural influences shape behavior and mental processes. Short Answer: Discuss the difference between positive and negative reinforcement in operant conditioning. Correct Answer: Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves removing an aversive stimulus to reinforce a behavior. Multiple Choice: Which research design involves following the same group of individuals over an extended period? A) Cross-sectional study B) Longitudinal study C) Experimental study D) Observational study Correct Answer: B) Longitudinal study Rationale: Longitudinal studies track the same individuals over time to observe changes and development. Short Answer: Define the concept of generalization in classical conditioning. Correct Answer: Generalization in classical conditioning

refers to the tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus that elicited the conditioned response. Multiple Choice: Which perspective in psychology emphasizes the importance of individual growth, self-actualization, and personal fulfillment? A) Psychodynamic perspective B) Behavioral perspective C) Humanistic perspective D) Evolutionary perspective Correct Answer: C) Humanistic perspective Rationale: The humanistic perspective focuses on positive aspects of human experience and the realization of individual potential. Short Answer: Discuss the role of random assignment in experimental research. Correct Answer: Random assignment involves assigning participants to different experimental conditions by chance, helping to control for confounding variables and ensure the validity of experimental results.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the cognitive approach in psychology? a) Focus on observable behaviors only b) Emphasis on unconscious processes and childhood experiences c) Study of mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving d) Examination of the genetic basis of behavior Answer: c Rationale: The cognitive approach emphasizes the importance of internal mental processes and how they influence behavior.
2. Which psychologist is most closely associated with operant conditioning? a) Sigmund Freud

d) Personality traits are a product of genetic inheritance Answer: c Rationale: Bandura's Social Learning Theory emphasizes observational learning, imitation, and modeling.

6. A researcher finds a correlation of +0.85 between two variables. What can be inferred from this result? a) A weak positive relationship b) A strong positive relationship c) A strong negative relationship d) No relationship Answer: b Rationale: A correlation of +0.85 indicates a strong positive relationship, meaning as one variable increases, so does the other.
7. What is a limitation of using self-report measures in psychological research? a) They provide only quantitative data b) They require expensive equipment c) They are subject to social desirability bias d) They cannot be standardized Answer: c Rationale: Participants might respond in ways they believe are socially acceptable rather than being completely truthful.
8. Which of the following is a defense mechanism according to Freud's psychoanalytic theory? a) Self-actualization b) Operant conditioning c) Repression d) Classical conditioning Answer: c Rationale: Repression is a defense mechanism where unpleasant thoughts are excluded from conscious awareness.
9. What is the primary focus of the humanistic approach in psychology? a) Unconscious mind and childhood experiences b) Observable behaviors

c) Free will, self-actualization, and personal growth d) Genetic and biological factors Answer: c Rationale: The humanistic approach emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and the belief in free will.

10. Which research method involves the in-depth study of an individual or small group over an extended period? a) Survey b) Experiment c) Case study d) Longitudinal study Answer: c Rationale: Case studies involve detailed investigations of a single person or small group, often over a long period.

Short Answer Questions

11. Explain the concept of validity in psychological research. Answer: Validity refers to how well a test or experiment measures what it is intended to measure. Valid results accurately reflect the concept or phenomenon being studied. Rationale: This ensures researchers obtain true, meaningful, and applicable data.
12. Describe one strength and one limitation of the biological approach in psychology. Answer: Strength: It provides clear, measurable evidence linking biology to behavior, useful in developing medical treatments. Limitation: It can be reductionist, simplifying complex behaviors to mere biological responses, ignoring environmental factors. Rationale: Strength illustrates usefulness in practical applications, while limitation acknowledges that behavior is influenced by multiple factors.

18. What is researcher bias and how can it be minimized? Answer: Researcher bias occurs when the researcher's expectations or preferences influence the study outcome. It can be minimized using double-blind procedures and standardized instructions. Rationale: Controlling for bias enhances the validity and reliability of research findings.
19. Explain the significance of the placebo effect in experimental research. Answer: The placebo effect occurs when participants experience improvements due to their belief in the treatment's efficacy, not the treatment itself. It highlights the need for control groups to validate results. Rationale: It underscores the psychological factors influencing participant responses, crucial for experimental integrity.
20. What is an operational definition and why is it important in research? Answer: An operational definition specifies how a concept will be measured or manipulated in a study. It's important to ensure clarity and replicability of research. Rationale: Clear definitions are essential for consistent and precise measurement across studies.
21. Outline the main characteristics of schizophrenia. Answer: Schizophrenia is marked by symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and impaired function. It involves both positive symptoms (addition of abnormal behaviors) and negative symptoms (lack of normal behaviors). Rationale: Providing a concise overview helps in understanding the disorder's complexity.
22. **What is the significance of peer review in psychological

research?** Answer: Peer review involves evaluation by other experts in the field to ensure the research's validity, reliability, and significance, helping maintain scientific standards. Rationale: Peer review acts as a quality control mechanism in academic publishing.

23. Give an example of a negative reinforcement and explain its effect on behavior. Answer: Negative reinforcement involves removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior. For example, taking painkillers to remove pain reinforces taking them again in the future. Rationale: It emphasizes the way behavior is strengthened by removing negative conditions.
24. How do twin studies contribute to our understanding of genetic influences on behavior? Answer: Twin studies compare the behaviors of monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (fraternal) twins to separate genetic influences from environmental ones, concluding the heritability of traits. Rationale: Twin studies help disentangle the relative contributions of genes and environment.
25. Describe the difference between qualitative and quantitative data in psychological research. Answer: Qualitative data involves non-numerical, descriptive information, while quantitative data involves numerical measurements. Qualitative data provides detailed insights, whereas quantitative data allows for statistical analysis. Rationale: Distinguishing these data types is fundamental to research methodology.
26. What role does the amygdala play in emotion regulation? Answer: The amygdala is involved in processing emotions such as fear and pleasure and is crucial for emotional learning