Exam Preparation

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Preparing for the exam.
Format of exam:
Forty multiple choice questions.
Define ten terms.
Answer an essay question.

40%
30%
30%

Multiple Choice Questions
You will have to answer forty multiple choice questions. There is no penalty for an
incorrect answer. It would be a good strategy to attempt all questions. If you revise the
handouts carefully you should be able to answer all the questions.
An example question:
Blood group is an example of
a)
b)
c)
d)

A qualitative polymorphism
A quantitative variation
A Gaussian distribution
A norm of reaction

Which of the following would you associated with Baron Cohen’s modular approach
to theory of mind?
a)
b)
c)
d)

EDD
ID
SAM
All of the above

Defining Terms
You should be able to define the following words in the context of psychology. You
will be asked to ask a range of these terms in the examination. You will have about
four lines to explain each term.
Phylogeny
Ontogeny
Reductionism
Mechanism
Determinism
Cognitivism
Behaviorism
Positivism
Ultimate and proximate causation
Mind behaviour dualism
Empiricism
Nativism
Phenotype
Genotype
Realism

The Essay
You will have five questions to choose from. The questions are quite general in nature
and are designed to reveal your understanding of the basics of the scientific approach
to psychology. So think about how aspects of the standard scientific approach are used
in particular psychological theories. The standard scientific psychological theories are
mechanistic, reductionist and determinist. If I were to ask a question about whether
you agreed with the central idea of Evolutionary Psychology i.e. that our psychology
is determined by our evolutionary inheritance, you would need to make clear to me
that you understood the key ideas within Evolutionary Psychology. Only by
illustrating the key ideas can you criticise the approach (NOTE – criticism is not
always negative). I would expect you to explain the mechanisms that are thought to
control behaviour from an evolutionary perspective; and it is very important that you
give examples. Students never use enough examples. If you want to say that human
behaviour is best understood as a set of adaptations that evolved during phylogeny,
give me some examples of behaviours and explain their adaptive significance. You
should also explain that Evolutionary Psychology is reductionist. It is reductionist
because the gene is thought to control behaviour. Go through the various theories I
have discussed (e.g. behaviourism, cognitivism, the brain behaviour approach,
evolutionary psychology) and be clear how each one is mechanistic, reductionist and
determinist. Be prepared to give examples to illustrate the nature of the mechanisms
etc. Think about ways in which the standard scientific approach may be problematic
for psychology, for example organisms have goals and intentions. I am genuinely
curious about your views on the standard scientific approaches. However, remember
that you must not make unsupported assertion. Always back up your arguments with
evidence or a logical argument. My last point is that many students ask where they
should express their view in an essay. The entire essay is your view. Your view is
reflected in how you use the evidence you select and in how you construct the essay.
You do not write an essay and then say ‘ and I think that……..’. The essay is your
view.
Best of luck
Paul

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