Psychology Degree Psychology 101 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which statistical measure describes the spread of scores around the mean by averaging the squared deviations?
- Standard deviation
- Variance (Correct answer)
- Range
- Median absolute deviation
Correct answer: Variance
Variance is the average of squared deviations from the mean; standard deviation is its square root.
Question 2: The concept of 'learned helplessness,' developed by Martin Seligman, describes:
- A reinforcement schedule that produces the highest response rate
- Passive acceptance of negative outcomes after repeated uncontrollable failures (Correct answer)
- A child's inability to understand another person's perspective
- Reduced motivation when extrinsic rewards replace intrinsic interest
Correct answer: Passive acceptance of negative outcomes after repeated uncontrollable failures
Seligman found that animals (and humans) exposed to unavoidable aversive events stop trying to escape even when escape becomes possible.
Question 3: Which part of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the 'fight-or-flight' response?
- Somatic nervous system
- Parasympathetic division
- Sympathetic division (Correct answer)
- Enteric nervous system
Correct answer: Sympathetic division
The sympathetic division accelerates heart rate, dilates pupils, and prepares the body for emergency action.
Question 4: According to social learning theory, Albert Bandura's Bobo doll experiments showed that children learn aggressive behavior primarily through:
- Classical conditioning of fear responses
- Direct reinforcement for hitting
- Observation and imitation of a model (Correct answer)
- Innate aggressive drives
Correct answer: Observation and imitation of a model
Children who watched an adult model act aggressively toward the Bobo doll were significantly more likely to replicate that behavior.
Question 5: Which measure of central tendency is most resistant to the influence of extreme outliers?
- Mean
- Mode
- Median (Correct answer)
- Variance
Correct answer: Median
The median is determined by rank order, so a single extreme value cannot dramatically shift it the way it would the mean.
Question 6: The DSM-5 is primarily used in psychology and psychiatry to:
- Prescribe standardized treatment protocols for mental disorders
- Classify and diagnose mental disorders based on symptom criteria (Correct answer)
- Rank the prevalence of mental disorders in the US population
- Certify psychologists for independent practice
Correct answer: Classify and diagnose mental disorders based on symptom criteria
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, provides standardized diagnostic criteria for mental health conditions.
Question 7: Which ethical principle requires that research participants understand the nature of a study and voluntarily agree to participate before the study begins?
- Debriefing
- Confidentiality
- Informed consent (Correct answer)
- Deception justification
Correct answer: Informed consent
Informed consent ensures participants know what they are agreeing to, protecting their autonomy before any research procedures begin.
