Psychology Qualifying Practice Exam

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• Which statistical measure reflects the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables?
• Which of the following is NOT typically associated with Functionalism?
• According to the encoding specificity principle, memory retrieval is most effective when retrieval cues match encoding conditions.
• Which aspect of psychology can be observed objectively?
• If a neuron is at rest, which statement is true about the flow of ions?
• Which statement best distinguishes intrinsic motivation from extrinsic motivation?
• Which process involves reversal of electrical charge along the axon during neural signaling?
• What are Type I and Type II errors in hypothesis testing?
• Which term refers to the electrical difference across the neuron's membrane when it is at rest?
• Which brain region is primarily associated with language production?
• Logos means?
• What is attachment theory and how is it assessed with the Strange Situation?
• Which Piaget stage is characterized by the emergence of abstract, hypothetical reasoning?
• Which factor would most likely increase a study's statistical power?
• At rest, where are positively charged ions mainly located?
• What term describes the extent to which findings from a sample generalize to the population?
• The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is administered using which format?
• The bystander effect describes which of the following?
• Which statement best reflects the all-or-none principle?
• Which statement accurately contrasts random sampling and random assignment?
• What is the primary function of the occipital lobe?
• Which brain region is most closely linked to working memory and executive function?
• Which neurotransmitter system is implicated in anxiety and is a target of many anti-anxiety medications?
• Which term refers to the study of behavior inside the laboratory under controlled conditions?
• In operant conditioning, what is the term for increasing the likelihood of a behavior by presenting a desired stimulus after the behavior?
• What are bundles of axons in the body that travel together called?
• Which ethical principle emphasizes respecting participants' rights to withdraw from research at any time?
• Classical conditioning is learning via association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus. Which classic experiment demonstrated this principle?
• Differentiate exploratory vs. confirmatory research designs.
• Which psychologist conducted memory experiments that built upon Fechner's ideas about sensation?
• How does intrinsic motivation differ from extrinsic motivation?
• What is neuroplasticity?
• Which brain region integrates sensory information and relays it to the cortex, often considered the sensory gateway?
• Which statement about knowledge is a fundamental characteristic?
• Which ethical principle is described as maximizing benefits and minimizing harms for participants?
• Which instrument is a widely used true/false personality assessment for detecting psychopathology?
• What is the sunk cost fallacy in decision making?
• In Erikson's psychosocial stages, which stage is associated with the development of trust vs mistrust in infancy?
• Which Eriksonian stage corresponds to adolescence?
• Which philosopher is known for the reflex action concept linking physiology and psychology?
• What is a placebo effect?
• In memory research, what is the encoding specificity principle?
• Why is random assignment essential in experiments?
• What is the cell body of the neuron called?
• Contrast within-subjects and between-subjects experimental designs.
• Which structure carries neural messages away from the neuron?
• Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in muscle contraction at the neuromuscular junction?
• Name the theory of cognitive development that emphasizes how social interaction and cultural tools shape learning, introducing the Zone of Proximal Development.
• What is the process called that stabilizes memories from short-term to long-term, involving the hippocampus and cortex?
• What are branch-like structures that receive messages from other neurons?
• Cognitive psychology emphasizes understanding behavior in terms of which processes?
• Psyhology is a word from which language?
• Who formalized the science of psychophysics by measuring the relationship between physical stimuli and perceptual experience?
• Which of the following is not a Big Five personality trait?
• Which Freudian stage is associated with the Oedipus complex?
• What is cross-cultural psychology?
• In Piaget's stages, which stage is characterized by egocentrism and centration and typically occurs in children aged 2-7?
• Which term best describes the change in ion distribution during an action potential?
• What is reliability in measurement?
• What is a confounding variable?
• Which brain region is memory formation within the limbic system?
• Which scientist localized faculties in the brain (phrenology)?
• Which term refers to the physical network of nerves and cells that carries information in the body?
• What term describes the rapid, temporary reversal of membrane potential during neural signaling?
• Which method uses data obtained from respondents through written questionnaires or interviews?
• In the working memory model, what is the function of the central executive?
• Which approach to psychology emphasizes that behavior can be explained by physiological mechanisms?
• Which type of learning is demonstrated by a neutral stimulus acquiring the power to evoke a response after being paired with a stimulus that already elicits that response?
• Which term describes the outer membrane around Schwann cells?
• What is the concept of the availability heuristic?
• Who is traditionally regarded as the earliest writer to devote attention to psychology?
• Which component of working memory is primarily responsible for holding verbal information through rehearsal?
• Which phenomenon describes the tendency for individuals to exert less effort in a group than when working alone?
• Which brain region is primarily associated with forming new episodic memories and is damaged in anterograde amnesia?
• Operant conditioning is learning through consequences (reinforcement and punishment) to shape behavior; who is a central figure in its development?
• Name the four levels of measurement and give an example of each.
• What does the p-value in a statistical test indicate?
• What term describes the neuron when not firing?
• Which scientist discovered that a threshold for perception changes gradually with the stimulus, measuring judgments as stimulus changes?
• In Erikson's theory, which stage follows Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt and focuses on initiating actions?
• Which memory system is primarily responsible for rapid, detailed representations of sensory information that decay quickly?
• Which group of figures is associated with the Cognitive psychology movement?
• Name two core ethical principles in psychology research.
• Which is one of the six fundamental characteristics of psychology?
• In left-handed individuals, language lateralization can be right-hemisphere dominant or bilateral. Which statement best reflects this?
• What phenomenon states that increased exposure to a stimulus leads to greater liking?
• Which of the following is a core component of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
• Psychoanalysis is most closely associated with which psychologist?
• Which hemisphere is typically more involved in language processing in most right-handed individuals?
• Which type of validity concerns whether a test measures the theoretical construct it intends to measure?
• Define construct validity.
• Exposure techniques are most commonly used within which therapeutic approach?
• In cross-cultural psychology, which statement best describes its aim?
• In psychology research, which concept is most closely tied to external validity?
• What is the primary function of the limbic system?
• According to Aristotle, the mind is a Tabula Rasa/Blank Sheet. Which option best matches that meaning?
• Who formulated Weber's Law, stating that the difference threshold is a constant ratio to the size of the standard stimulus?
• Which is the plural of nerve fibers that travel together through the body?
• Which type of reliability assesses the stability of a test over time?
• Structuralism in psychology is primarily associated with which figures who proposed that the mind is made of building blocks?
• What is the major difference between random assignment and random sampling in experimental psychology?
• Outline Piaget's main cognitive development stages.
• Generalized anxiety disorder requires excessive worry lasting at least six months. How many months is the minimum duration specified by diagnostic criteria?
• Which statement about deception in psychology research is true?
• What is meta-analysis?
• Which memory concept refers to brief, sensory-register storage of information?
• What term refers to the outer membrane surrounding a myelinated axon?
• Which approach explains human and animal behavior in terms of bodily structure and biochemical processes?
• Which brain structure is most closely linked to fear conditioning and emotional responses, particularly to perceived threats?
• What is the purpose of random assignment in research methods?
• Which brain region coordinates voluntary motor activity and balance, and is often affected in ataxia when damaged?
• In social psychology, the fundamental attribution error involves attributing others' behavior to internal traits while underestimating what?
• In Freud's psychosexual theory, which stage is associated with the Oedipus complex and occurs in early childhood?
• Explain alpha level and p-value in hypothesis testing.
• What distinguishes reliability from validity in psychological measurement?
• What are charged particles involved in neural signaling?
• One fundamental assumption is that natural phenomena have natural causes. Which option represents this?
• What is the basic unit of the nervous system?
• Which figure is associated with establishing an early lab focusing on human measurement in London?
• Which type of memory holds a brief trace of sensory information after a stimulus is removed?
• The Functionalist school of psychology emphasized which focus?
• What is the primary function of the frontal lobes in the cortex?
• Which ethical principle is primarily concerned with ensuring informed consent and protecting confidentiality?
• Which term describes uncontrolled or informal observation?
• Who established the anthropometric laboratory in London in 1884?
• Which term describes the electrical signal generated in neurons?
• What ethical principle requires informed consent and respects participants' autonomy to withdraw at any time?
• According to encoding specificity, memory recall is best when
• In Erikson's psychosocial development theory, which crisis is resolved during adolescence?
• Which statement about deception in research has the correct ethical standing?
• In operant conditioning, what is the difference between positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement?
• Which effect describes the tendency to perform better on simple tasks for which one is well-practiced in the presence of others?
• What is the term for the phenomenon where the more often a person is exposed to a stimulus, the more they come to like it?
• How is knowledge described as being acquired in the fundamental characteristics?
• Which term is used for the long projection that transmits messages away from the neuron?
• Which statement is listed as a fundamental characteristic that cautions against assuming things are self-evident?
• What is statistical power and how can researchers increase it?
• Which symptom is commonly associated with generalized anxiety disorder?
• The hippocampus is central to the consolidation of which memory types?
• Which term focuses on collecting and analyzing numerical data to draw inferences about populations?
• Which school of psychology emphasizes freedom of choice and personal growth?
• Gestalt psychology emerged around 1912 with which group of researchers?
• What statement best describes internal validity?
• Where are negatively charged ions primarily located in a neuron at rest?
• An extensive network of specialized cells that carry information to and from all parts of the body is called what?
• Which statement about independent and dependent variables is true?
• What are the Big Five personality traits?
• What distinguishes a true experiment from a correlational study in terms of internal validity?
• Three basic forms: daybook method, clinical method or biographical method.
• Which statement is NOT listed as something psychology is not?
• Which level of measurement is characterized by equal intervals but no true zero?
• Which of the following is a component of the limbic system?
• What is the method of mental self-analysis in which a psychologist studies his or her own feelings and experiences?
• Fechner's measurement of sensation influenced the memory studies of which psychologist?
• Which of the following is NOT one of the Big Five personality traits?
• Which concept asserts that behavior serves a purpose or goal?
• Which two psychologists are central to Humanistic psychology?
• Which cell type provides support for neurons to grow on and around?
• Which historical figure is associated with introspection and curiosity in psychology?
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs is best described as
• What is the term for a disorder marked by persistent, excessive worry about multiple domains, lasting at least six months?
• Which type of reliability assesses the stability of a measure over time?
• Give examples of projective and objective personality assessments.
• Which scientist is linked to phrenology, the localization of mental faculties in brain regions?
• Who proposed the theory of evolution?
• The definition emphasizes studying behavior of living organisms with special attention to which group?
• Who is associated with phrenology, the localization of faculties in the brain?
• What are the core criteria for major depressive disorder (DSM-5-TR)?
• Who is associated with hypnotism?
• Differentiate sensation from perception.
• Structuralism is often described as viewing the mind as which?
• In Erikson's psychosocial stages, successfully resolving the adolescent crisis leads to a sense of self-identity. Which option best represents this outcome?
• In classical conditioning, what term describes a previously neutral stimulus that, after pairing with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits a conditioned response?
• Which term is associated with the use of daily records, clinical notes, and biographical data in studying behavior?
• Which type of validity assesses whether the test covers the representative content of the domain it intends to measure?
• What is Schwann's membrane called?
• Which statement describes the inside becoming less negative during an action potential?
• In the Strange Situation, which attachment style is characterized by infants showing distress upon separation and seeking comfort upon reunion?
• What ethical principle requires researchers to minimize harm and maximize benefits to participants?
• Which statement about inter-rater reliability is true?
• Who founded psychoanalysis?
• Which feature is true of REM sleep?
• Name components and functions of the limbic system.
• Who is commonly known as the Dean of American Psychologists?
• Which term is defined as 'Generating the Message'?
• In Freud's defense mechanisms, displacement is best described as redirecting emotional impulses from a forbidden object to a safer substitute.
• Which statement correctly distinguishes resting potential from action potential?
• In learning theory, what is the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning?
• How do reliability and validity differ, and why is reliability a prerequisite for validity?
• Deals with the structure and function of neurons, nerves, and nervous tissue; relation to behavior and learning is studied in which field?
• Which of the following is an example of an objective personality assessment?
• Which pairing correctly matches an anxiety disorder with its hallmark feature?
• Which developmental theory proposes that language development is driven by social interaction and the use of cultural tools?
• Which research design tracks the same individuals across multiple time points?
• Psyche means?
• What is the central limit theorem and its relevance to psychology statistics?
• Which principle describes that a neuron either fires completely or not at all?
• What are two key functions associated with the frontal lobe?
• Which term describes the process of adjusting beliefs to align with group norms?
• Which memory type is primarily involved in recall of facts and events?
• What is the primary focus of psychology in the given definition?
• In personality psychology, which theory suggests five broad dimensions of personality?
• Why is deception used in psychology research and what ethical safeguards apply?
• Which statement best describes external validity?
• Which concept is emphasized in cross-cultural psychology to ensure fair cross-cultural comparisons?
• Which historical figure is associated with introspection and curiosity about psychological phenomena?
• Which concept posits that objects, movement, and behavior have a definite purpose?
• What term describes a mental shortcut that reduces cognitive load but can lead to errors?
• Gestalt psychology emphasizes studying which aspect of behavior?
• What is the amygdala primarily involved in?
• Which option correctly defines reliability and identifies two common types with brief descriptions?
• Who is the founder of modern experimental psychology?
• Which developmental perspective proposes universal stages determined by biology with a fixed sequence of development?
• Which brain region is most closely associated with visual processing?
• What is the fundamental attribution error in social psychology?
• What is the null hypothesis in hypothesis testing?
• Which description best captures resilience?
• Object permanence, the understanding that objects continue to exist when out of sight, emerges during which Piagetian stage?
• Which statement accurately describes cortisol's role in stress physiology?
• Which term names the potential difference across the membrane when the neuron is at rest?
• Which neurotransmitter is most closely linked to reward pathways and is implicated in many addictive behaviors?
• Wernicke's area is primarily involved in language comprehension. Where is it located?
• What is the Flynn effect?
• Which statement describes the relationship between the outside and inside of the neuron during rest?
• What does diffusion of responsibility mean in the bystander context?
• If the alpha level is set at .05, what does this imply in the long run?
• In social psychology, what is the term for altering behavior due to the real or imagined presence of others?
• Which structure is a long tube-like projection that carries neural messages to other cells?
• Which neurotransmitter is central to reward pathways?
• Which term is least consistent with neuronal signaling?
• Which psychologist is known for advocating the use of objective, verifiable methods in psychology?
• Psychology is the study of behavior of which?
• What is effect size and why is it important beyond p-values?
• Which statement best describes inter-rater reliability?
• Which disorder is characterized by alternating periods of extreme euphoria and depressive episodes?
• If two variables have a Pearson correlation coefficient of -0.72, what does this indicate?