The Midterm Exam questions will be based on a selection of these objectives.

50 multiple choice questions:

• 20 questions are based on the text
• 15 questions are based on the lectures
• 15 questions are based on Sites to Visit

Objectives 

History and Scope of Psychology

Define psychology.

Consider different perspectives on the beginnings of psychology.

Recognize how Descartes' dualism was important for defining psychology as a science.

Define materialism.

Compare/contrast empiricism and nativism.

Recognize how Darwin's theory helped shape functionalism.

Compare/contract functionalism and structuralism.

Recognize how Wundt has influenced the Department of Psychology.

Identify how MacEachran has fallen into disrespect.

Compare/Contrast behaviorism and ethology.

Identify ways in which Canada has shaped different areas in psychology.

Recognize academic backgrounds that are necessary for different professions in psychology in Canada.
 

Methods

Compare/contrast fact, theory, hypothesis.

Understand the function of the different components of the research process.

Recognize how different components of the research process are related

Identify which research design is used in specific examples.

Identify causal and correlational hypotheses.

Identify independent and dependent variables.

Identify which research setting is used in specific examples.

Identify which data collection method is used in specific examples.

Define correlation.

Recognize the correlation does not imply causation.

Define reliability, sensitivity, validity.

Identify different sources of bias.

Recognize different examples of observer expectancy.

Identify ways in which bias and error can be controlled.

Identify procedures used to ensure the safety and protection of the researcher and research participant.
 

Genetics and Evolution

Understand why behavior is more than simply genes + the environment.

Recognize ways in which genes, neural activity, behavior, and the environment interact.

Identify different scientific approaches that may be taken to understand genetic components of alcoholism.

Compare/contrast a dynamic systems versus genes versus the environment explanations for behaviour.

Recognize how understanding genetics can help develop environmental treatments for inherited disorders.

Identify examples of likely single gene and polygenetic inheritance.

Recognize different species-typical behaviors.

Identify ways in which we express emotion in communication on the Internet.

Identify emoticons that express the six basic human emotions.

Compare/contrast homology and analogy.

Identify questions addressed by sociobiologists.

Identify research methods used by sociobiologists.
 

Reading the Research

Distinguish the different parts of a report of empirical research. 

Recognize the functions of the different parts of a report of empirical research.

Identify the research questions posed by Kenrick, Keefe, Gabrielidis, and Cornelius (1996) and where they came from.

Rationalize the importance of Kenrick et al.'s (1996) study.

Evaluate the appropriateness of the participants used by Kenrick et al. (1996).

Consider ethical considerations that are relevant for the Kenrick et al. (1996) study.

Evaluate the appropriateness of the design used by Kenrick et al. (1996).

Describe the measures used by Kenrick et al. (1996). 

Identify which results answer which research questions posed by Kenrick et al. (1996). 

Recognize the conclusions drawn by Kenrick et al. (1996). 
 
 

Basic Processes of Learning

Define learning.

Recognize why Watson would claim he could make any infant into any type of adult.

Recognize components of the classical conditioning paradigm.

Define unconditioned stimulus, unconditioned response, conditioned stimulus, conditioned response, habituation, generalization, discrimination, extinction, and spontaneous recovery.

Identify examples of classical conditioning in the world around us.

Recognize components of the operant conditioning paradigm.

Compare/contrast classical and operant conditioning.

Define reinforcer.

Compare/contrast positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment.

Identify examples of negative reinforcement.

Identify examples of operant conditioning in the world around us.

Reinterpret classical conditioning effects in terms of the cognitive perspective.

Reinterpret operant conditioning effects in terms of the cognitive perspective.

Recognize ways in which species-typical behavior can influence learning.
 
 

Sample Questions

Sample questions, like the one shown below, are designed to give you an indication of the types of questions that will be on the midterm.  You can also practice on the questions at the Gray Website. 
 

Objective: Compare/contrast empiricism and nativism.

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it fall, does it make any noise?

Objective: Define correlation.

A correlation of -0.75 indicates 

Objective: Recognize examples of Mendelian inheritance.

Suppose you observe the same trait in two offspring of the same parents. Which of the following statements is not true?

Objective: Recognize the design used by Kenrick et al. (1996).

What research design did Kenrick et al. (1996) use? 

Objective: Recognize components of the operant conditioning paradigm.

Jimmy, in grade 6, gets a dollar from his parents ever time he brings home a 100% on a test. This is an example of a