Mathematics Test - Psychology


A Project to Address Mathematics Prerequisites in Introductory Courses

Produced by the Center for Support of Teaching and Learning, Syracuse University under a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education (8/98).     No previous knowledge of psychology is necessary for this test

Directions:
For each multiple choice test question, select the correct answer by clicking on the button to the left of your answer choice. After you have finished the entire examination, click on the CHECK button at the bottom of the page to receive your score.

Use the graph to answer questions 1 and 2.

The closer the genetic links between two people, the greater the
likelihood that if one experiences schizophrenia, so will the other.

Gottesman, I.I. (1991). Schizophrenia genesis: The origins of madness. New York: Freeman.

  1. Given one person develops schizophrenia, what is the approximate percent possibility that a first cousin will also develop schizophrenia?
    3% 7% 10% 30%

  2. Given that a person develops schizophrenia, a monozygotic twin is how much more likely than a dizygotic twin to develop schizophrenia?
    no relationship less than twice as likely
    twice as likely more than twice as likely

Use the graph to answer questions 3 - 6.

The relationship between women's psychological response to breast cancer
three months after surgery and their survival ten years after the operation.

Pettingale, K.W., Morris, T., Greer, S., & Haybittle, J. L. (1985).
Mental attitudes to cancer: An additional prognostic factor. Lancet, 750.

  1. Patients experiencing which psychological reaction have the highest percentage of living ten years after surgery?
    stoic acceptance hopelessness
    fighting spirit denial

  2. Patients experiencing which psychological reaction have a 50 percent death rate ten years after surgery?
    stoic acceptance hopelessness
    fighting spirit denial

  3. Choose the most appropriate reaction to the following statement:

      Does the graph show a relationship between a woman's attitude after breast cancer surgery
      and her chances of living at least 10 years after surgery.

    yes no not enough information

  4. If 200 women experienced stoic acceptance three months after breast cancer surgery, approximately how many are dead within 10 years after the surgery?
    75 100 150 175

Use the line graphs to answer questions 7 and 8.

Cigarette Sales in the United States and Overseas from 1960 to 1993.

The US Tobacco Institute; US Department of Agriculture.

  1. Which statement best describes cigarette sales in the U.S. from 1960 to 1993?
    The amount of cigarettes sold in the U.S. has remained the same from 1960 to 1993.
    The amount of cigarettes sold generally rose from 1960 to about 1980, then the amount sold fell from 1980 to 1993.
    The amount of cigarettes sold generally fell from 1960 to about 1980, then the amount sold rose from 1980 to 1993.
    none of the above

  2. How have cigarette sales in the U.S. compared to cigarette sales Overseas from approximately 1980 to 1993?
    Sales in both the U.S. and Overseas have risen.
    Sales in both the U.S. and Overseas have fallen.
    Sales in the U.S. have risen while sales Overseas have fallen.
    Sales in the U.S. have fallen while sales Overseas have risen.

Use the pie graph to answer questions 9 - 11.

Settings in Which Psychologists Work

  1. The majority of psychologists work in which setting?
    Industrial Academic Private practice Clinical

  2. Approximately _____ of all psychologists work in an academic setting.
    1/2 1/10 1/3 1/4

  3. Approximately _____ of all psychologists work in clinical settings or private practices.
    1/2 1/10 1/3 1/4

  4. In a study on memory, 69 percent of college students could recall the names of all of Walt Disney's Seven Dwarfs. This means:
    69 college students could recall the names
    69 out of 100 college students could recall the names
    1/69 of all college students could recall the names.
    both b and c
    all of the above

  5. A psychological study compares age and number of aggressive thoughts. Age and number of aggressive thoughts have a correlation coefficient of +.8. Based on the correlation coefficient, which statement best describes the relationship?
    As age decreases the number of aggressive thoughts decrease.
    As age increases the number of aggressive thoughts increase.
    As age increases the number of aggressive thoughts decrease.
    Both a and b
    all of the above

  6. A correlation coefficient is obtained by comparing the number of hours of sunlight per day in Chicago and the number of clinically depressed people in the city. Which coefficient represents the weakest relationship?
    -1.3 -0.9 -0.5 2

Use the following information to answer questions 15 - 17.

The following IQ scores were received by a group of students:

55,   115,   115,   115,   120,   125,   125

  1. Which choice best describes the mean score?
    55 because it is the lowest number
    110 because it is the average
    115 because it is the middle number
    115 because it appears the greatest number of times in the list

  2. Which choice best describes the mode?
    125 because it is the highest number
    110 because it is the average
    115 because it is the middle number
    115 because it appears the greatest number of times in the list

  3. Which choice best describes the median number?
    55 because it is the lowest
    110 because it is the average
    115 because it is the middle number
    115 because it appears the greatest number of times in the list

  4. Given a data set of 20 test scores with 19 scores between 90 and 100 and 1 score below 50, which measure of central tendency best represents the data set?
    The average because it is always the best way to analyze a list of scores.
    The number that occurs the most because the other scores in the list do not reflect characteristics of the group.
    The number in the middle of the list because there is one score that is much lower than the rest of the scores.
    none of the above

  5. Assuming a data set with normal distribution, which is the best definition of standard deviation?
    the difference between the highest and the lowest score
    a measure of the spread of data in relation to the mean
    the average of the highest and lowest scores
    none of the above

  6. On an anxiety rating scale with normal distribution, a student scored one standard deviation above the mean. Which choice is relevant to this situation?
    The student scored the highest possible score on the rating scale.
    The student is at the 1st percentile
    The student's score is 1 point higher than the mean score.
    84% of all other students scored below this student.

    7. Go to the Review Materials