Psychology Degree Principles of Psychology 2

Question 1

Which reinforcement schedule produces the highest and most steady rate of responding and is most resistant to extinction?

Accepted Answer

Variable-ratio

Answer

Variable-ratio schedules reinforce after an unpredictable number of responses, producing high, steady rates and strong resistance to extinction (e.g., slot machines).

Question 2

A patient experiences sudden inability to recall personal identity and past experiences following a traumatic event. This best illustrates:

Accepted Answer

Dissociative amnesia

Answer

Dissociative amnesia involves sudden memory loss for personal information, typically triggered by psychological stress rather than neurological damage.

Question 3

In Piaget's theory, a child who insists that a tall, thin glass holds more water than a short, wide glass (with equal amounts) is demonstrating a lack of:

Accepted Answer

Conservation

Answer

Conservation is the understanding that quantity remains constant despite changes in shape or appearance, which children typically develop in the concrete operational stage.

Question 4

The peripheral nervous system's division responsible for controlling involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, and glandular activity is the:

Accepted Answer

Autonomic nervous system

Answer

The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary bodily functions and is subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic branches.

Question 5

Which research method allows researchers to determine cause-and-effect relationships between variables?

Accepted Answer

Controlled experiment

Answer

Only controlled experiments, which involve random assignment and manipulation of an independent variable, allow causal conclusions.

Psychology Degree Practice Test

Psychology Degree Practice Test

Psychology Degree Principles of Psychology 2