Mcat Psychology Questions

C) Primacy effect

Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

See examples from each of the four sections of the MCAT® Exam. The passage in each example provides the context for the questions. The correct answer is provided as well as an explanation that refers to the Foundational Concepts and skills tested.

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Passage

The illness experience shapes the way that people use health information. For patients with a rare health disorder, which is defined as a medical condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals living in the United States, online sources of information tend to be particularly important.

An example of a rare disorder is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease.” ALS results from the progressive loss of motor nerves and affects about 1 out of 100,000 people. About 10% of people with ALS have a familial form of the condition, which is caused by an inherited genetic mutation. Aside from the familial form, the cause of ALS is largely unknown, though it is believed that the disorder results from both genetic and environmental factors.

Having a rare medical condition, such as ALS, can make it difficult to meet and interact with others who have the same rare disorder. Despite great distances, online communication provides a form of social interaction for those facing an uncommon health problem. Virtual peer networks provide vital social support for those who are affected by a rare disorder.

Research has found that women with rare disorders are more likely to access online support networks than men with rare disorders. Relationships formed through online support networks often become a meaningful part of a person’s identity. Individuals with rare disorders report that relating to others who have the same condition is often easier than trying to relate to friends or family members who do not share their condition.

Questions:

1. Which statement best represents a threat to social identity? A young woman with a rare disorder:

A) believes that others treat her as less capable, and then she starts to see herself as deficient.

B) becomes discouraged when she hears that others with rare disorders are treated as less capable.

C) hides her disorder from others in order to project more confidence in social situations.

D) reveals her disorder to friends, who mistakenly assume that it is a social limitation.

Answer

Correct Answer is B) becomes discouraged when she hears that others with rare disorders are treated as less capable.

Rationale: This Psychology question assesses the “Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and Principles” skill with a concept that is part of the content category of “Self-identity.” Social identity addresses the feelings that individuals derive from, or that are associated with, their membership in a group. Self-esteem can be undermined by threats to social identity, which is represented in the correct answer, Option B. The incorrect options do not clearly identify the connection between an individual’s sense of self and their perceived membership in a group.

2. Over the course of ten years, a rare disorder increases in prevalence such that it eventually affects more than 200,000 people in the United States. Based on the passage and this scenario, which prediction is most consistent with the sociological paradigm of symbolic interactionism?

A) As the number of affected individuals increases, government research funding increases.

B) Affected individuals are less likely to conceal their condition as it becomes less stigmatized.

C) As more people with the condition are treated, it receives less attention as a health concern.

D) Insurance coverage for the condition becomes more likely as more people require treatment.

Answer

Correct Answer is B) Affected individuals are less likely to conceal their condition as it becomes less stigmatized.

Rationale: This is a Sociology question that evaluates the skill of “Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving” with a theoretical paradigm that is listed under the content category of “Understanding Social Structure.” Symbolic interactionism focuses on how meaning is constructed through small-scale social interactions. As a concept that is relevant to social interactions and the illness experience, social stigma is also closely associated with symbolic interactionism. Thus, the correct answer is option B, which rests in reasoning from the perspective of symbolic interactionism to make a prediction about social interaction and stigmatization. The incorrect options make predictions about large-scale social changes or about the disease itself, which are not consistent with the paradigm of social interactionism.

3. Which research project best represents a macrosociological approach to studying the social support networks mentioned in the passage?

A) A researcher follows the conversation of participants who post messages in an online support forum.

B) A researcher interviews patients who participate in a local hospital’s support group for rare disorders.

C) A researcher surveys patients for reasons that they joined an online support group for their disorder.

D) A researcher tracks how the number of websites dedicated to rare disorders has changed over time.

Answer

Correct Answer is D) A researcher tracks how the number of websites dedicated to rare disorders has changed over time.

Rationale: This Sociology question tests on “Reasoning about the Design and Execution of Research” with material that is covered by “Understanding Social Structure.” Option D is the correct answer because tracking changes in websites would provide data on the availability (growth or decline) of information about rare disorders. This type of project is aligned with a macrosociological approach because it would allow a researcher to determine how the organization of health information in a society changes over time. The other options are incorrect because they are more similar to a microsociological approach, as each would result in data that is based on small-scale interactions or individual decisions.

MCAT Psychology Practice Questions

Prepare for MCAT Psychology questions with practice problems

Introduction

MCAT Psychology Practice Passage #1

MCAT Psychology Practice Passage #2

MCAT Psychology Practice Passage #3

MCAT Psychology Practice Questions (Standalone)

Introduction

Psychology makes up 65% of the MCAT psychology/sociology section. Many premeds don’t realize that psychology makes up over 16% of their overall MCAT score. That 16% might be the difference between an application that receives “We are pleased to inform you” versus “We regret to inform you” given the importance of the MCAT in medical school admissions.

The MCAT is a long exam, and the psychology/sociology section is the last section you’ll take on the MCAT. As a result, by the time psych/soc rolls around, many premeds begin to tire, their eyelids become heavy, and the words on the computer screen seem to blend together. A solid MCAT study schedule will help you slate in enough practice so that you can endure the exam come test day.

Many students think that they can ace MCAT psychology questions by memorizing the definition of every vocabulary word in every content book. While it is true that this will increase your score, you’ll need a mastery of each word to ace MCAT psychology questions. In addition to the definition of each word, you should know an example of the term and be able to recognize and apply the vocab word in new contexts.

So, how do you improve your performance on the MCAT psychology/sociology section? In addition to vocab and content knowledge, the simple answer is practice! Here, we’ll test your psychology knowledge using MCAT-style passages. Use the following three psychology passages and five standalone questions to test your knowledge. Each explanation for the passage-based questions will have suggestions for what you should review if you miss a question. Good luck!

MCAT Psychology Practice Passage #1

Recent studies have shown that television can adversely impact cognitive processes in both children and young adults. In previous studies, researchers found that in individuals ages 6-23, higher than average amounts of television watching lead to an 8-14% decrease in the ability of participants to quickly and correctly solve math problems. In addition, participants were less likely to recall list items or accurately identify emotions on a confederate during an in-person experiment.

A group of researchers is specifically interested in studying the effect of television on memory. The researchers recruit at least fifty participants in each of the following age groups: 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17. Each of the participants watches 15 hours of TV per week as confirmed by the participants themselves and a guardian. The participants watch a range of television programming throughout the week.

To conduct the experiment, the researchers split up the participants in each age group into Group 1 or Group 2. The Group 1 participants watch 15 hours of TV a week for three consecutive weeks (weeks 1-3). At the end of the third week, the participants are brought into a testing center and given a list of 20 names. Ten minutes later, they are asked to recall as many names as possible. The Group 1 participants then watch 15 hours of TV a week for the next three consecutive weeks (weeks 4-6) and repeat the memory assessment. Group 2 participants follow an identical plan as Group 1 participants for weeks 1 through 3. However, during weeks 4 through 6, Group 2 participants are not allowed to watch any TV during the week. Group 2 participants complete the same memory test as group one students at the end of week 3 and the end of week 6. The results from the experiment are shown in Figure 1 for the 9 to 11-year-old age group.

Note: The information in this passage was created for the sole purpose of presenting an MCAT-style passage and should not be construed to be factually true.

1. In a follow-up study, researchers found that participants are best able to recall names at the end of the list better than names at the beginning of the list. This is known as:

A) Recency effect

B) Proactive interference

C) Primacy effect

D) Retroactive interference

2. Which of the following do the researchers NOT account for in the study?

A) Intergroup variability

B) Amount of TV watched

C) Genre of TV watched

3. Which of the following conclusions is NOT supported by the results shown in Figure 1?

A) Group 1 and 2 participants recall a similar number of names when they watch 15 hours of TV a week.

B) Retroactive interference prevents Group 1 participants from performing as well as Group 2 participants on the week 6 test.

C) The ability of Group 2 participants to recall names improved on the week 6 test.

D) The number of names recalled by participants is associated with time spent watching TV.

4. Which of the following best describes the type of study described in the passage?

A) Observational study

B) Experimental study

MCAT psychology practice passage #1 answers and explanations

1. Answer choice A is correct. The recency effect causes participants to recall names at the end of the list (choice A is correct). Proactive interference describes past memories interfering with new memories (choice B is incorrect). The primacy effect would cause participants to remember words earlier in the list (choice C is incorrect). Retroactive interference describes new memories interfering with the recall of past memories (choice D is incorrect).

2. Answer choice C is correct. The passage indicates that “the participants watch a range of television programming throughout the week,” meaning the researchers do not control for TV genre (choice C is correct). Intergroup variability is controlled by Group 2 watching TV for weeks 1-3 as the researchers can verify that recall between Groups 1 and 2 is the same after those three weeks (choice A is incorrect). The amount of TV watched is controlled for as participants in the TV-watching condition must watch 15 hours of TV (choice B is incorrect). Age is controlled for as the participants are split into smaller age bins (choice D is incorrect).

Review the text, experimental goals, and experimental setup.

3. Answer choice B is correct. While it is true that Group 1 participants do not perform as well as Group 2 participants on the week 6 test, there is not enough information in Figure 1 to conclude that retroactive interference, which describes new memories interfering with the recall of past memories, led to the weaker performance (choice B is correct). The week 3 test results demonstrate that Group 1 and 2 participants do recall a similar number of names when they watch 15 hours of TV a week (choice A is incorrect). The week 6 test shows that Group 2 participants did improve when they stopped watching TV (choices C and D are incorrect).

4. Answer choice B is correct. Since the researchers are actively manipulating an independent variable (number of hours of TV watched) and measuring a dependent variable, this is an experimental study (choice B is correct). An observational study involves observation without manipulation or intervention (choice A is incorrect). A case study looks at only an individual or a very small number of participants (choice C is incorrect). A survey study involves the distribution of a survey and analysis of results (choice D is incorrect).

Review experimental methods in psychology.