Biological Basis of Behavior/Research
List all of the research methods that could be a possible answer to part (A) of the AAQ. As a reminder, part A of the AAQ asks about the research method used in the study.
Case study
Correlational study
Experiment
Naturalistic observation
Meta-analysis
Annie recalls information better when taking a test in the same classroom where she studied. What type of memory is this?
Context-dependent memory
A child talks aloud while solving a problem, guided by adult support that gradually fades over time. What concept explains this support?
Scaffolding
Marta consistently scores high in traits like organization, responsibility, and reliability. Which Big Five trait is this?
Conscientiousness
A child has difficulty with social communication and shows repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. What disorder is this?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
A drug increases the activity of a neurotransmitter by mimicking its effects at receptor sites. What type of drug interaction is this?
Agonist
Veronica cannot remember new information after a brain injury but can recall past memories. What condition is this?
Anterograde amnesia
A child who was previously toilet trained begins having accidents again after a stressful event. What defense mechanism is this?
Regression
Max changes his behavior to match a group because he wants to be liked and accepted. What type of influence is this?
Normative social influence
Two students experience the same workload: one is overwhelmed by daily annoyances like traffic and homework, while the other is more affected by a major family loss. What concept compares these different stress sources?
Trauma vs. Daily Hassles
Blake no longer notices the feeling of his watch on his wrist after wearing it for a while. What process explains this?
Sensory adaptation
Mae insists on solving a problem the same way it worked before, even when a new strategy would be more effective. What is this limitation called?
Mental set
A child becomes extremely distressed when a caregiver leaves and is not easily comforted upon return. What attachment style is this?
Anxious attachment
(insecure attachment)
After receiving a good grade, Nadia credits her intelligence, but after a bad grade, she blames the teacher. What bias is this?
Self-serving bias
A patient suddenly stops moving and remains unresponsive for long periods despite being awake. What condition is this?
Catatonia
A patient survives a stroke but now has difficulty producing speech, even though they can understand others. Which brain area is damaged?
Broca's area
Will tells Julian that people named Julian typically do poorly on their AP Psychology exams. On his next AP Psychology exam, Julian gets the worst grade he has ever received. What concept explains this?
Stereotype threat
Ms. Gelfand gives pop quizzes at unpredictable times throughout the semester, so students stay consistently prepared. What reinforcement schedule is this?
Variable interval
Elena's heart begins racing, and then she interprets this arousal as fear based on the situation. Which theory of emotion explains this?
Two-factor theory (Schachter-Singer)
A therapist helps a client rank fears from least to most anxiety-provoking before treatment begins. What tool is this?
Fear hierarchies
SSRIs work by increasing the availability of serotonin in the synaptic cleft, which helps improve mood and regulate emotional responses. What mechanism do SSRIs rely on?
Reuptake
After studying over several days instead of cramming the night before, Jasmin performs better on a test. What effect explains this?
Spacing effect
A child learns aggressive behavior by watching a sibling get rewarded for acting aggressively. What type of learning is this?
Vicarious conditioning
A company introduces a new workplace policy encouraging employees to volunteer for extra projects. At first, participation is low. Managers then publicly praise employees who volunteer, and participation increases. Over time, employees begin to genuinely believe that volunteering is important and align their attitudes with their behavior.
What psychological concept best explains the change in employees’ attitudes to match their behavior?
Cognitive dissonance
A procedure intentionally destroys small areas of brain tissue to treat severe disorders. What is this called?
Lesioning