1.1-1. Psychology is best defined as the scientific study of
a. the mind and consciousness.
b. the mental processes of individuals.
c. mental disorders and abnormal behavior.
d. the behavior of individuals and their mental processes.
Difficulty: 1
Page Ref: 2
Topic: What Makes Psychology Unique?
Skill: Factual
Answer: d. the behavior of individuals and their mental processes.
1.1-2. Suppose you want to draw some psychological conclusions in a way that is consistent
with the scientific aspect of psychology. You should base your conclusions on
a. the beliefs held by most people.
b. the fundamental notion of common sense.
c. your personal feelings or intuitions, but only if they are reasonable.
Incorrect: Conclusions should be based on objectively gathered data that are consistent with the
rules of the scientific method.
d. evidence collected according to the principles of the scientific method.
Correct: The scientific method consists of steps that help us analyze and solve problems in
orderly ways, based on objectively collected information.
Difficulty: 2
Page Ref: 2
Topic: What Makes Psychology Unique?
Skill: Conceptual
Answer: d. evidence collected according to the principles of the scientific method.
1.1-3. The subject matter of psychology largely consists of
a. observable behavior of humans.
Incorrect: This answer is only half correct, as psychology also considers the behaviors of other
species beyond human beings.
b. unobservable behavior of humans.
c. observable behavior of other species of animals.
d. observable behavior of humans and other species of animals.
, Correct: Psychologists examine the behavior of humans in their environments and in their social
and cultural contexts. Psychologists also study other species in their natural habitats or in the
research laboratory.
Difficulty: 2
Page Ref: 2
Topic: What Makes Psychology Unique?
Skill: Conceptual
Answer: d. observable behavior of humans and other species of animals.
1.1-4. When drawing conclusions about behavior, psychologists rely on
a. their own personal beliefs.
Incorrect: One should, in fact, keep their personal beliefs out of their analysis of gathered data
and rely on the scientific method and objectively gathered data.
b. what is known as “common sense.”
c. objectively collected information.
Correct: Psychological conclusions are based on evidence that gives psychologists a factual
basis for drawing conclusions by using the scientific method.
d. their everyday observations of people.
Difficulty: 2
Page Ref: 2
Topic: What Makes Psychology Unique?
Skill: Conceptual
Answer: c. objectively collected information.
1.1-5. Which statement is MOST consistent with the perspective taken by psychologists?
a. Only human behavior is of interest.
Incorrect: Not only is the behavior of non-human animals of interest, so too are the mental
processes of human beings.
b. Mental processes are of little real importance.
c. Both observable behavior and mental processes are of interest.
Correct: Psychologists focus on the behavior of individuals in various settings, while
sociologists study social behavior of groups or institutions, and anthropologists study behavior in
the broader contexts of culture.
d. Behavior should only be studied in a controlled research laboratory.
Difficulty: 2
Page Ref: 2
Topic: What Makes Psychology Unique?
Skill: Applied
Answer: c. Both observable behavior and mental processes are of interest.
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