PSYC101 / PSYC 101 Module 1 – General
Psychology (2026/2027 Latest Update) |
Verified Questions & Correct Answers |
Grade A | Portage Learning
2026
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/ 2027 Academic Year
Q: According to memory research, studying is most effective if study sessions are:
a. short and across several days
b. long and all on a single day
c. short but all on a single day
Answer
a. short and across several days
Q: When your instructor finishes reviewing a new topic in lecture, she often gives a clicker
quiz. Clicker quizzes can serve the purpose of:
a. transfer appropriate learning
b. incidental learning
c. increasing working memory capacity
d. retrieval practice
Answer
d. retrieval practice
Q: Memory performance is enhanced if the type of task at encoding matches the type of
task at retrieval. This is called:
Answers:
a. metacognition
b. elaborate rehearsal
c. transfer-appropriate processing
d. spacing effect
Answer
c. transfer-appropriate processing
Q: Working memory capacity is related to:
Selected Answer:
a. better attentional control
b. all are correct
c. better reasoning skills
d. better reading comprehension
Answer
b. all are correct
Q: The individual plays an important role in memory acquisition. Which of the following
is LEAST likely to have an effect on memory?
a. the amount of money that you are reimbursed for learning the materials.
b. the situation in which you learn the material
c. prior knowledge
d. the learning strategy that was used
Answer
the amount of money that you are reimbursed for learning the materials.
Q: Transfer-appropriate processing is likely to occur if:
Selected Answer:
a. the student generates his own retrieval cues
b. the type of encoding matches the type of retrieval task
c. there is elaborate processing during encoding of the material
Answer
b. the type of encoding matches the type of retrieval task
Q: Which of the following examples, which is the most important factor in encoding
information to be remembered later?
a. trying to learn
b. having the instructor explain which materials you should review, rather than reviewing
the most difficult information
c. actively processing the meaning of the material
d. your level of motivation
Answer
c. actively processing the meaning of the material
Q: Of the following examples, which is the best way to encode material that you want to
learn?
Answers:
a. highlighting text, so that you will be able to reread it later when you study
b. reading a word and determining how many vowels it has
c. reading a word and thinking about how it relates to you
d. reading a word multiple times
Answer
c. reading a word and thinking about how it relates to you
Q: Which of the following is NOT helpful in learning new materials?
Selected Answer:
Anxiety
Forgetting
Chunking
Self-testing
Expertise
Answer
Anxiety
Q: Having more knowledge about a subject
Answer:
a. helps your ability to learn new related information
b. can inhibit you from learning other information
c. increases your working memory in other subjects
Answer
a. helps your ability to learn new related information
Q: Remembering information about a stimulus in addition to what you intended to
remember (such as position on a page) is called:
Answers:
a. transfer-appropriate learning
b. repetitive learning
c. incidental learning
d. intentional learning
Answer
c. incidental learning
Q: The study on master chess players showed that master chess players are better than
average players in recalling the location of pieces on a chess board because:
Answers:
a. they have superior memories
b. they have had more practice guessing where the pieces belong
c. they can chunk the pieces better into familiar groups
d. they are better able to talk through the problems than average players
Answer
b. they have had more practice guessing where the pieces belong
Q: Which of the following is NOT related to working-memory capacity?
Answers:
a. reading ability
b. implicit learning
c. reasoning skills
d. following directions
Answer
a. reading ability
Q: Which of the following is a good example of a working memory task?
Answers:
a. calculating a multiplication problem in your head
b. reading an interesting story
c. completing an addition problem on paper
d. playing a game of chess
Answer
a. calculating a multiplication problem in your head
Q: How does forgetting facilitate learning?
Answers:
a. Material that is partly forgotten and then re-learned is retained longer than material that
is learned quickly and easily.
b. Forgetting and remembering are both important exercises for our brains.
c. Forgetting does NOT facilitate learning.
d. Forgetting helps maintain information in long-term memory.
Answer
a. Material that is partly forgotten and then re-learned is retained longer than material that
is learned quickly and easily.
The term metacognition refers to:
Answer
a. our thoughts and knowledge about how our learning and memory work
Which of the following strategies will produce the most learning? Determining if:
Answers:
a.
a word rhymes with "nevermore."
b.
the word is printed in capital letters. .
c.
a word is a noun or a verb.
d.
a word has more than two syllables.
b.
the word is printed in capital letters.
Hugh is studying for his geography exam. He is in a hurry, so he focuses on the main points
of the text by highlighting. He skips all the examples that the authors provide to illustrate
each main point. Hugh is using which type of strategy?
Answers:
a.
chunking, to create easier units to remember later.
b.
an efficient study strategy, because highlighting will help him remember the main points.
c.
an elaborate processing strategy which will produce a good durable memory for the
materials.
d.
an ineffective study strategy and will probably not retain many of the main ideas that he
reads.
d.
an ineffective study strategy and will probably not retain many of the main ideas that he
reads
Students who have problems with anxiety so that it affects their learning, can be helped if
they
Answers:
a. ask for a quiet room to take the test
b. study harder
c. write about their anxiety
c. write about their anxiety
Psychology
The systematic study of behaviors and mental processes
All psychologists agree that the first three goals of psychology are to
Describe what organisms do, to explain how organisms behave as they do and to predict
how they will respond in the future and in different situations. Some psychologist add a
forth goal which is to control behavior and thus curb or eliminate psychological and social
problems.
The approach that focuses on how a persons genetic makeup, hormones and nervous
system interact with the environment to influence a wide range of behaviors is called
The Biological approach.
The approach that studies how organisms learn new behaviors or change or modify existing
ones in response to influences from the environment is called the (a)_____. There are two
versions of this approach. One that primarily studies observable behaviors and excludes
mental events is called (b)_____ and is best expressed by the ideas of B. F. Skinner; the
other, which includes observable behaviors plus cognitive processes is called the (c)____
approach and is expressed by the ideas of Albert Bandura and his colleagues
(A) behavioral. (B) strict behaviorism. (C) social cognitive
An approach that examines how our unconscious fears, desires and motivations influence
behaviors, thoughts and personality and cause psychological problems is called the
(a)_____ approach. Sigmund Freud developed this approach as well as the technique of
dream interpretation to bring unconscious ideas to the surface.
(A) psychoanalytic
The approach that investigates how people attend to, store and process information and
how this information affects learning remembering and believing is called the ______
approach
Cognitive
The approach that emphasizes peoples capacity for personal growth, freedom in choosing
their future and potential for self fulfillment is called the _______ approach
Humanistic
The approach that studies the influence of social and cultural factors on psychological and
behavioral functioning is called the ______ approach
Sociocultural
The approach that studies how evolutionary ideas such as adaptation and natural selection
explain human behaviors and mental processes is called the_______ approach
Evolutionary
The approach that studies how biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors influence
human development is called the____ approach
biopsychosocial
Considered the father of Psychology Wilhelm Wundt developed an approach
called(a)____. This approach studied the elements of the conscious mind by using a self
report technique called (b)____ Wundts approach was the beginning of today's cognitive
approach
(A) structuralism. (B) introspection
Disagreeing with Wundts approach, William James said that it was important to study
functions rather than elements of the mind. Accordingly James studied the functions of
consciousness as well as how mental processes continuously flow and adapt to input from
the environment. This approach is called ________. James's ideas contributed to the
modern area of psychology and influenced educational psychology.
Functionalism
James also applied the principles of psychology to teaching, so his approach had a great
effect on the field of _____ psychology
Educational
Also disagreeing with Wundts approach was a group of psychologists led by Wertheimer,
Kohler and Koffka who stated that perceptions cannot be explained by breaking them down
into individual elements or sensations. Instead, they believed that perceptions are more
than the sum of individual sensations, an idea called the _______ approach
Gestalt
Another psychologist who disagreed with Wundts approach was John. B. Watson. He stated
that psychology should use scientific principles to study only observable behaviors and not
mental events, an approach called ____. Watsons approach gave rise to the modern
behavioral approach.
Behaviorism
During the first 75 years of its more than 100 years of its existence, the fields of psychology
discriminated against (a)____ and (b)___, as indicated by the very limited number of
these individuals who were granted PhDs or offered positions in major universities.
(A) women (b) minorities
3 different strategies for note taking were studied: note taking plus review, which means
writing down almost everything the instructor says; note taking plus summary, which
means writing a summary of the lecture in your own words and note taking plus questions
which means asking and answering questions about the lecture material. The note taking
strategy that resulted in the highest exam grades involved(a)______ and the note taking
strategy that resulted in the lowest exam grades involved(b)_____
(A) answering questions (b) reviewing notes
There are 5 major settings in which psychologists work and establish careers. The largest
percentage of psychologists work in private practice or (a)____ settings, where they
diagnose and help clients with psychological problems. The second largest group work in
(b)____ settings, doing a combination of teaching. And research. The third largest group
work in a (c)___ of settings. The fourth largest group work in (d)______ settings, where
they are involved in selecting personnel, increasing job satisfaction and improving worker
management relations. The smallest group work in other settings, such as(e)_____ where
they do academic testing and counseling.
(A)therapy or clinical (b) academic (c) variety (d) industrial (e) school
Psychologists interested in the assessment and treatment of people with psychological
problems such as anxiety or stress specialize in ______ psychology
Clinical and counselling
Those who are interested in prejudice, attitudes, and group behaviors specialize in ______
psychology
Social
Those interested in social, emotional, and cognitive changes across the lifespan specialize in
______ psychology
Developmental
Those interested in studying sensation, perceptions, and learning, often under laboratory
conditions, specialize in ______ psychology
Experimental
Those interested in the interaction among genes, the nervous system, and the environment
choose ______ psychology
Biological or psychobiology
Those interested in how people process, store, and retrieve information choose _______
psychology
Cognitive
Those interested in the measurement and testing of skills, abilities, personality, and mental
problems specialize in______ psychology
Psychometrics
Those interested in the relationships of people and their work specialize in_______
psychology
Industrial/organizational
A better way to judge how prepared you are for an exam is to ask yourself specific _______
rather than to trust your judgement about what you think you know.
Questions
A good way to make your study time more efficient is to set specific_____ and keep track
of your progress.
Performance goals
Immediately after you reach a specific performance goal give yourself a _____ which will
both maintain and improve your motivation
Reward
To improve your lecture notes, try to associate new lecture material with what you already
know, and use your notes to ask and answer ____ in your own words
Questions
One of the most effective ways to overcome a strong tendency to delay starting a task,
known as _______ is to stop thinking about the final goal. Instead breakdown a large
assignment into a series of smaller goals and work on each goal separately
Procrastination
It's best to set a realistic ______ in order to accomplish each of the smaller goals
Schedule
John Watson disagreed with Wundts approach, which was called (a)_____ and disagreed
with Wundts technique of studying the mind, which was called (b)_____. Instead, Watson
emphasized the objective, scientific analysis of observable behaviors, which was known as
the (c) approach. Later this approach became a dominant force in psychology through the
work of behaviorist (d)
(A) structuralism. (B) introspection. (C) behavioral. (D) B. F. Skinner
Psychology
the study of behavior and mental processes
Father of modern psychology
Wilhelm Wundt is often considered to be the father of modern psychology, since he was
largely responsible for establishing psychology as its own field. Late 1800s
William Wundt focus
He was interested in conscious mental processes, or thoughts that a person is aware that he
or she is having
Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner
Behaviorists - interested in behaviors they they could learn about through direct
observation
Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung
Unconscious mental processes - thoughts that a person is unaware that he or she is having
Type of therapy administered by Freud and Jung
psychoanalysis
6 Psychology perspectives
Behavioral, developmental, clinical, biological, sociocultural, cognitive.
BBCCSD
Behavioral psychology
Primarily study human behavior, focusing on the process of learning and motivation.
Humanistic model of clinical psychology
Focuses on characteristics of humankind: free will and personal responsibility. Carl Rogers
Developmental psychology
Focuses on the physical, emotional, and social changes that people undertake throughout
their lives.
Clinical psychology
Focuses on mental health and mental illness. Includes psychodynamic psychology and
humanistic psychology (2 therapy models)
Famous developmental theorist
Jean Piaget - fit in the cognitive perspective to his developmental psychology approach
Psychodynamic model of clinical psychology
Describes powerful, unconscious forces at work in the human psyche ("soul"). - perspective
adhered to by Freud and Jung
Biological Psychology
Focus on how the body is linked to thought and behavior. (genetics, hormones, anatomy)
Sociocultural psychology
Examine the social and cultural contexts of human thought and behavior. View social and
environmental influences as being hugely important contributors to behavior.
Cognitive Psychology
Primarily study human thought. - intelligence and memory. Arose after behaviorism.
Who bridged the gap from behaviorism to cognitive psychology
Albert Bandura - examined some cognitive processes (such as intelligence and memory)
and how they govern behavior.
Bio-psycho-social model
The most common approach to combining different psych perspectives.
Holistic view of human functioning Biological - address biological factors that lead to a
behavior - i.e. the way our nervous system operates or our genetic inheritance.
Psychological - factors like learning, motivation, and personality are necessary to
understand human behavior.
Social - factors like relationships and culture affect behavior.
Replication
Repeating a research study - results need to be consistently reliable. Replication across
multiple sites and studies can establish scientific findings, showing their consistency and
increasing our confidence in results
Scientific Method
1. Develop a hypothesis
2. Design a test
3. Analyze data
4. Present and/or publish the findings
5. Replication (not officially a step but important)
Difference between behaviorists and psychoanalysts
The behaviorists were only interested in studying things that they could directly observe,
but the psychoanalysts focused on unconscious forces that could not be observed at all.
Do behaviorists believe in free will
No. Classical behaviorism posits that human and animal behavior is shaped by the
environment and is not freely chosen.
What do clinical psychologists do?
Key activities: conduct research, administer therapy, offer consultation and evaluation,
supervise and teach others.
What are variables?
Any measurable conditions, events, characteristics, or behaviors that are controlled or
observed in a study.
What things make an experiment a unique research method
Control, Control group, manipulation, independent and dependent variables, manipulation,
and IRB (institutional review boards)
What is the purpose of a control?
To control for external variables and serve as a comparison to the group being manipulated.
Placebo
any substance that has no true medicinal benefit but is administered, as a control, to a
participant who believes it has actual benefit.
Independent and dependent variables
Independent variable - the variable that the researchers manipulate.
Dependent variable - the change that occurred.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Guidelines that govern human subjects research. Focus on 3 areas:
1. Participation must be voluntary.
2. The benefits for being in a study must outweigh the costs.
3. Selection of participants should not be biased.
Correlation study
Researcher wants to see if two variables are related to one another. Participants come as
they are and details about participants are compared to one another.
correlation coefficient
a statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1)
Case studies
involves interviewing one person in great detail to intensely study one person at a time.
Naturalistic observation
Observation that occurs in a natural setting. It is opposite to an experiment because it
means the researcher embarks into the real world (not a controlled environment) and takes
notes on people as they engage in normal, everyday activities.
Cons: researchers are not privy to the inner thoughts of the participants; unable to test
participants in any way
Surveys
Most common research method in psych. Can be administered orally or in written form.
3 reasons why psychologists like using surveys
1. A survey is the easiest way to get a large participant sample.
2. Surveys are a very efficient research methodology.
3. Psychologists who are interested in having people report their own thoughts and feelings
are often best served by using a survey design.
measures of central tendency
mean, median, mode
Mean equation
∑X/N
Mode
most frequently occurring score
Standard Deviation
The average distance that every person's scores in a group deviate from the mean.
If class mean is 85 and SD is 5 we know that everyone scored between 80 and 90.
Variance
standard deviation squared. Useful for statistical formulas
Reliability
Consistency of a measurement. A test works the same way every time.
Validity
Refers to accuracy and truth - does the test measure what it is supposed to measure.
Content validity
If a test measures the content it claims to measure, it has high content validity.
Can tests be reliable without being valid?
Yes - scores can be consistent each time you take a test but the test may not be accurate
with what you're trying to measure.
A test can also be valid without being reliable - test may accurately measure what it claims
to measure but the way the questions are designed leads to different results each time you
take the test.
Operational definition
Involves defining a thing or idea in terms of how this item will be measured; very specific.
Population
All possible cases that meet a specific criterion. I.e., a population is all US citizens or all
female college students in the US.
Sample
A portion of the population that you can actually study and make inferences on the
population from.
Descriptive statistics
Used to summarize or describe data from samples. Analyzing measures of central tendency.
The purpose is to describe the sample.
Inferential statistics
Rely on sample data to make inferences about the population. Uses samples to generalize to
a population.
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