Psychology as a Science

Question 1

What is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour called?

Answer 1

Psychology

Question 2

What do the Greek words psyche and logos mean?

Answer 2

Psyche means life, and logos means explanation.

Question 3

Name two places psychologists commonly work outside of therapy and forensic fields.

Answer 3

Research laboratories and hospitals

Question 4

What are some topics psychologists study in research?

Answer 4

Anxiety, memory, dreams, drug addiction, emotion, aggression, culture, love, etc.

Question 5

What is the main method all psychologists rely on?

Answer 5

The scientific method

Question 6

What distinguishes research psychologists from psychologist-practitioners?

Answer 6

Research psychologists create new knowledge; practitioners apply it to help others.

Question 7

What is hindsight bias?

Answer 7

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that we could have predicted it.

Question 8

What are empirical methods?

Answer 8

Methods of collecting, organizing, and analyzing data objectively.

Question 9

What is the difference between facts and values in psychology?

Answer 9

Facts can be objectively proven; values are personal beliefs that cannot be empirically tested.

Question 10

Give an example of a value and a related fact.

Answer 10

Value: “It is important to quit smoking.”
Fact: “The Canadian government increased cigarette prices by $4 per carton in 2014.”

Question 11

What are the three levels of explanation in psychology?

Answer 11

Biological (lower), Interpersonal (middle), Cultural/Social (higher)

Question 12

What is meant by ‘psychological disorders are multiply determined’?

Answer 12

They are caused by multiple factors across different levels of explanation.

Question 13

What are individual differences in psychology?

Answer 13

Variations among people in physical or psychological traits.

Question 14

Why is it difficult to predict human behaviour accurately?

Answer 14

Because behaviour is influenced by many interrelated and often unconscious factors.

Question 15

What did Sigmund Freud believe influenced psychological disorders?

Answer 15

Unconscious processes and repressed memories.

Question 16

Which psychological concept explains why Anna thinks she predicted the outcome?

Answer 16

Hindsight bias

Question 17

What level of explanation is a psychologist studying the effects of sleep deprivation on memory?

Answer 17

Biological (lower-level)

Question 18

What level of explanation relates to people from collectivist cultures valuing group harmony?

Answer 18

Cultural and social (higher-level)

Question 19

How do Dr. Rivera and Dr. Li’s roles differ?

Answer 19

Dr. Rivera is a psychologist-practitioner; Dr. Li is a research psychologist.

Question 20

Why should a company consider multiple levels of explanation to reduce aggressive behavior?

Answer 20

Because aggression may be caused by biological, interpersonal, and social factors—it’s multiply determined.

Question 21

Is Lucas using values or facts in his argument against a scientific finding?

Answer 21

Values

Question 22

Why is a friend’s conclusion about sugar causing hyperactivity not scientifically valid?

Answer 22

Because it’s not based on empirical methods or objective data.

Question 23

Why might two people respond differently to the same stressful event?

Answer 23

Due to individual differences in personality, coping styles, or biology.

Question 24

Which level of explanation would you focus on to study how group pressure affects decision-making?

Answer 24

Interpersonal (middle-level)

Question 25

Why is it important for psychologists to understand both facts and values?

Answer 25

Because while facts guide scientific understanding, values influence decisions and interpretations in real-life contexts.

Question 26

What is the limitation of the view that depression is caused only by a chemical imbalance in the brain?

Answer 26

It ignores psychological and social influences; psychological phenomena are multiply determined.

Question 27

What concept explains the behavioral differences between Miguel, who takes charge, and Jordan, who prefers to listen?

Answer 27

Individual differences

Question 28

What level of explanation reflects the observation that students with strong peer relationships tend to perform better academically?

Answer 28

Interpersonal or middle-level explanation

Question 29

What kind of psychologist is likely studying how stress affects the immune system by measuring cortisol levels?

Answer 29

Research psychologist (likely a biological or health psychologist)

Question 30

Which level of analysis best explains a child's achievement orientation in a highly competitive society?

Answer 30

Cultural/social (higher-level)

Question 31

Why is the portrayal of therapists as mind readers problematic from a scientific standpoint?

Answer 31

It misrepresents psychology by promoting pseudoscience rather than evidence-based practice.

Question 32

Why should a psychologist be skeptical of the headline 'Video games cause violence'?

Answer 32

Because correlation does not imply causation, and the headline lacks empirical support.

Question 33

What branch of psychology is involved when Tasha’s therapist helps her recognize distorted thinking patterns?

Answer 33

Clinical psychology

Question 34

What does it suggest about psychological research if two researchers observe different behaviors in the same classroom?

Answer 34

It highlights the importance of objectivity and replicability in research to reduce bias.

Question 35

How would a psychologist respond to the statement, 'Science can’t tell us how to live our lives—it’s all about personal values'?

Answer 35

Psychology uses facts to inform understanding, but acknowledges that values also shape behavior and decisions.