1. Modules 1-2: Thinking Critically with Psychological Science
Clicker Questions
Exploring Psychology, 10th Edition by David G. Myers & C. Nathan DeWall
Slides by Laura Beavin Haider, Ph.D.
Modules 1-2: Thinking Critically with Psychological Science

2. The History and Scope of Psychology
Module 1

3. 1. Which of the following is NOT a component of critical thinking?
A. Evaluating evidence
B. Following intuition
C. Appraising the source
D. Detecting hidden biases

4. 1. Which of the following is NOT a component of critical thinking
1. Which of the following is NOT a component of critical thinking? ANSWER
A. Evaluating evidence
B. Following intuition
C. Appraising the source
D. Detecting hidden biases

5. 2. What are psychology’s three main levels of analysis?
A. Biological, psychological, and social
B. Evolutionary, psychodynamic, social-cultural
C. Experimental, naturalistic observation, correlational
D. Behaviorism, structuralism, functionalism

6. 2. What are psychology’s three main levels of analysis? ANSWER
A. Biological, psychological, and social
B. Evolutionary, psychodynamic, social-cultural
C. Experimental, naturalistic observation, correlational
D. Behaviorism, structuralism, functionalism

7. 3. Which of the following represents the modern definition of psychology?
A. A perspective that emphasizes human growth potential
B. The science of behavior and mental processes
C. The study of unconscious thought processes and emotional responses
D. The science of mental life

8. 3. Which of the following represents the modern definition of psychology? ANSWER
A. A perspective that emphasizes human growth potential
B. The science of behavior and mental processes
C. The study of unconscious thought processes and emotional responses
D. The science of mental life

9. Research Strategies: How Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions
Module 2

10. 4. When we have the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it, it is called:
A. intuition.
B. hindsight bias.
C. overconfidence.
D. perceiving order in random events.

11. 4. When we have the tendency to believe , after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it, it is called: ANSWER
A. intuition.
B. hindsight bias.
C. overconfidence.
D. perceiving order in random events.

12. 5. A testable prediction is called (a/an):
A. operational definition.
B. theory.
C. replication.
D. hypothesis.

13. 5. A testable prediction is called (a/an): ANSWER
A. operational definition.
B. theory.
C. replication.
D. hypothesis.

14. 6. Which of the following does NOT explain the utility of a theory?
A. It organizes a range of self-reports and observations.
B. It explains causation.
C. It implies predictions to derive practical applications.
D. It stimulates further research that may lead to a revised theory.

15. 6. Which of the following does NOT explain the utility of a theory
6. Which of the following does NOT explain the utility of a theory? ANSWER
A. It organizes a range of self-reports and observations.
B. It explains causation.
C. It implies predictions to derive practical applications.
D. It stimulates further research that may lead to a revised theory.

16. 7. Which method involves manipulating factors to discover their effects?
A. Replication
B. Descriptive
C. Experimental
D. Correlational

17. 7. Which method involves manipulating factors to discover their effects? ANSWER
A. Replication
B. Descriptive
C. Experimental
D. Correlational

18. 8. Random sampling: A. represents a given population.
B. allows each person an equal chance of participating.
C. allows greater generalizability.
D. all of the above.

19. 8. Random sampling: ANSWER
A. represents a given population.
B. allows each person an equal chance of participating.
C. allows greater generalizability.
D. all of the above.

20. 9. Which of the following is the defining component of a double-blind procedure?
A. Respondents are randomly sampled.
B. Respondents are exposed to either a treatment or placebo.
C. The experimenter is unaware of both the independent and dependent variable.
D. Neither experimenter nor participants know who received treatment.

21. 9. Which of the following is the defining component of a double-blind procedure? ANSWER
A. Respondents are randomly sampled.
B. Respondents are exposed to either a treatment or placebo.
C. The experimenter is unaware of both the independent and dependent variable.
D. Neither experimenter nor participants know who received treatment.

22. 10. Which of the following statements about correlation is true?
A. A negative correlation indicates a direct relationship.
B. A correlation indicates how one thing causes another.
C. With a positive correlation, as one variable increases, the other also increases.
D. Correlation does not allow for predictions.

23. 10. Which of the following statements about correlation is true? ANSWER
A. A negative correlation indicates a direct relationship.
B. A correlation signifies that one thing causes another thing.
C. With a positive correlation, as one variable increases, the other also increases.
D. Correlation does not allow for predictions.

24. 11. Mary watches several different species of birds to discover how they feed their young in their habitat, without being intrusive. This would be an example of what type of study?
A. Case study
B. Naturalistic observation
C. Survey
D. Experiment

25. 11. Mary watches several different species of birds to discover how they feed their young in their habitat, without being intrusive. This would be an example of what type of study? ANSWER
A. Case study
B. Naturalistic observation
C. Survey
D. Experiment

26. 12. Which of the following would be considered a strong, negative correlation?

27. 12. Which of the following would be considered a strong, negative correlation? ANSWER

28. 13. In an experiment that looks at the effects of sugar consumption on hyperactivity in children, the independent variable would be:
A. hyperactivity.
B. cookies.
C. the age of the experimenter.
D. sugar.

29. 13. In an experiment that looks at the effects of sugar consumption on hyperactivity in children, the independent variable would be: ANSWER
A. hyperactivity.
B. cookies.
C. the age of the experimenter.
D. sugar.

30. 14. In an experiment that looks at the effects of caffeine on alertness in class, one group of students gets caffeinated coffee, another group of students gets water, and a final group of students gets decaffeinated coffee (but thinks it’s caffeinated). This last (decaf) group would be the:
A. control group.
B. placebo group.
C. experimental group.
D. confound.

31. 14. In an experiment that looks at the effects of caffeine on alertness in class, one group of students gets caffeinated coffee, another group of students gets water, and a final group of students gets decaffeinated coffee (but thinks it’s caffeinated). This last (decaf) group would be the: ANSWER
A. control group.
B. placebo group.
C. experimental group.
D. confound.

32. 15. Shandra is designing her research study
15. Shandra is designing her research study. As part of her methodology, she is being sure to include informed consent, keep all records confidential, and she plans to debrief participants at the conclusion of the study. What piece of ethics is Shandra missing?
A. Controlling all confounds.
B. Informing participants of her hypothesis.
C. Protecting participants from harm.
D. Informing participants whether they are in the control or experimental group.

33. 15. Shandra is designing her research study
15. Shandra is designing her research study. As part of her methodology, she is being sure to include informed consent, keep all records confidential, and she plans to debrief participants at the conclusion of the study. What piece of ethics is Shandra missing? ANSWER
A. Controlling all confounds.
B. Informing participants of her hypothesis.
C. Protecting participants from harm.
D. Informing participants whether they are in the control or experimental group.