Deck 6: Thinking and Intelligence

Question 1

A "feathered biped" is the artificial concept of a(n)

A) human.
B) bird.
C) penguin.
D) sea horse.
E) animal.

Answer 1

bird.

Question 2

Before enrolling in an abnormal psychology course, Gary's idea of psychological disorders had been influenced primarily by talk shows. He expected to hear the same kinds of stories he had heard on talk shows. What an eye-opening experience the course turned out to be! How would a cognitive psychologist describe the influence the course had on Gary's idea of psychological disorders?

A) Gary learned the value of algorithms.
B) Gary now uses heuristics.
C) The course increased Gary's ability to use visual imagery.
D) The course altered Gary's concept of psychological disorders.
E) Gary is using creativity.

Answer 2

The course altered Gary's concept of psychological disorders.

Question 3

Compared to artificial concepts learned in science and math, natural concepts tend to be

A) easier to learn.
B) very clear and well defined.
C) fuzzy with unclear boundaries.
D) good fits with a rigid classification system.
E) biologically innate.

Answer 3

fuzzy with unclear boundaries.

Question 4

The most representative or ideal example of a category is called a(n)

A) prototype.
B) schema.
C) availability heuristic.
D) algorithm.
E) mental set.

Question 5

Don tells Ray he wants to get a new sports car. Ray immediately understands why, because he is familiar with the common characteristics of sports cars and knows what makes them different from family cars. Ray is using mental categories called

A) classes.
B) concepts.
C) attributes.
D) classifications.
E) exemplars.

Question 6

Which is the most likely prototype for the concept "vehicle"?

A) glider
B) car
C) scooter
D) bicycle
E) skateboard

Question 7

The process involved in forming a new mental representation by manipulating available information is known as

A) thinking.
B) cognition.
C) intelligence.
D) schema formation.
E) conceptualizing.

Question 8

What are mental categories representing objects, ideas, or experiences that share some common characteristics?

A) classes
B) concepts
C) attributes
D) classifications
E) prototypes

Question 9

Cognitive scientists use computers

A) as a tool to study human thought.
B) to generate brain images.
C) as a model of human thought.
D) as a metaphor for human cognition.
E) All of the above are

Question 10

A(n) ________ is an imprecise mental classification that develops out of our everyday experiences in the world.

A) familiar concept
B) normative schema
C) mental prototype
D) natural concept
E) deja vu experience

Question 11

Which of the following is true of prototypes?

A) They are slowly accessed and recalled.
B) They are never used when the critical features approach applies.
C) They are formed on the basis of commonly experienced features.
D) The more often they are perceived, the weaker their overall memory strength.
E) They are often based on dictionary definitions.

Question 12

The prototype approach suggests that a concept is classified as a member of a category if

A) the super-ordinate critical feature is matched.
B) it matches your overall emotional evaluation of the concept.
C) it is similar to an ideal or most representative example of the category.
D) storing the concept as a member of the category minimizes the time and effort required to process information.
E) the concept exactly matches with the dictionary definition of the category.

Question 13

The first thing that comes to mind when asked to name an example from a category is called the

A) schema.
B) prototype.
C) concept marker.
D) category marker.
E) exemplar.

Question 14

Another name for a "fuzzy" concept is a(n)

A) prototype.
B) schema.
C) heuristic.
D) algorithm.
E) natural concept.

Question 15

Concepts are ideas that represent

A) a class or category of objects, ideas, or experiences.
B) patterns of behavior.
C) higher-order conditioning and secondary reinforcers.
D) rules for public displays of emotion.
E) none of these

Question 16

Concepts

A) can represent objects but not activities.
B) cannot be directly observed by researchers.
C) are basically the same from one person to the next.
D) interfere with our ability to organize new information.
E) come in exactly two types, visual and auditory.

Question 17

Which one of the following is NOT an artificial concept?

A) the dictionary definition of the word "truth"
B) Einstein's theory of relativity
C) your mental image of the Statue of Liberty
D) the lyrics to "New York, New York"
E) how to determine the radius of a circle

Question 18

Which example would most people take longest to identify as a fruit?

A) grape
B) apple
C) orange
D) olive
E) plum

Question 19

When a child understands that dogs and cats are quite different, the child has formed

A) deja vu.
B) an exemplar
C) a prototype.
D) functional fixedness.
E) concepts

Question 20

The odd feeling of recognition you get when you visit a new place is known as

A) a prototype.
B) a concept hierarchy.
C) deja vu.
D) a mental set.
E) an algorithm.

Question 21

A(n) ________ involves arranging concepts from general to specific.

A) concept formation
B) algorithm
C) prototype
D) concept hierarchy
E) mental set

Question 22

Brad is home when all of his lights suddenly go out. His thought that "this is what happens when a fuse is blown" would be said to be

A) demonstrating functional fixedness.
B) identifying the problem.
C) using an algorithm.
D) working backward.
E) evaluating a solution.

Question 23

On the first day of class you are likely to do all of the following: find a desk, sit down, listen to the teacher talk about her syllabus, take out a pen, start taking notes, and not speak very much. These activities are part of your ________ about the first day of class.

A) algorithm
B) mental set
C) script
D) episodic memory
E) heuristic

Question 24

"Good thinkers" possesses which of the following attributes?

A) They are capable of careful reasoning.
B) They make use of effective thinking strategies.
C) They avoid ineffective thinking strategies.
D) They avoid misleading thinking strategies.
E) All of the above are

Question 25

The brain region believed to be associated with "hunches," "intuition," and the emotional component of thinking is located in the

A) parietal lobes near the cerebellum.
B) temporal lobes directly above the hippocampus.
C) frontal lobes just behind the central fissure.
D) temporal lobes beside the lateral fissure.
E) frontal lobes just above the eyes.

Question 26

You ask a student to describe the path to his dorm room. The most likely way in which he will do this is to

A) recite a rote list of directions he memorized.
B) give you the GPS location of his dorm room.
C) walk through a mental image of the path and describe it to you as he does it.
D) draw a diagram on a piece of paper and then point out where you should go.
E) none of these

Question 27

When you give someone verbal directions on how to find a classroom in a building, you are using a

A) prototype.
B) mental set.
C) cognitive map.
D) hierarchy.
E) hindsight bias.

Question 28

A heuristic is BEST described as a

A) rule of thumb.
B) step-by-step procedure.
C) time-consuming process that guarantees success.
D) schema.
E) categorization process from general to specific.

Question 29

Deanna reads that horses are a type of animal, and that palominos are a type of horse. To understand this, Deanna will organize these concepts into a

A) script.
B) syllogism.
C) hierarchy.
D) mental set.
E) cognitive map.

Question 30

________ are clusters of knowledge that provide general conceptual frameworks regarding certain topics, events, and situations.

A) Prototypes
B) Schemas
C) Hierarchies
D) Algorithms
E) Cognitive maps

Question 31

A(n) ________ is a cognitive representation of a physical space.

A) chunk
B) spatial heuristic
C) algorithm
D) cognitive map
E) confirmation bias

Question 32

Talia is looking for her cat by methodically searching each room and then closing the door. She is using what type of problem solving strategy?

A) an algorithm
B) a heuristic
C) a means-end strategy
D) a hunch
E) a mental set

Question 33

What problem-solving strategies don't guarantee solutions but make efficient use of time?

A) heuristics
B) algorithms
C) mnemonic devices
D) cognitive shortcuts
E) availability biases

Question 34

Consider the following concept hierarchy-food, desserts, chocolates, ________. The last term should be

A) brownies.
B) vanilla ice cream.
C) main courses.
D) side dishes.
E) edible food.

Question 35

What systematic problem-solving method guarantees a solution, provided that it is applied properly?

A) heuristic method
B) algorithmic method
C) mnemonic device
D) cognitive shortcut
E) the confirmation bias

Question 36

A(n) ________ is a formula for solving a problem that is likely to be successful.

A) rule of thumb
B) schema
C) mental operant
D) algorithm
E) categorization process

Question 37

One of the reasons that people use algorithms is that these

A) are intuitive and obvious.
B) are flexible, because they are not too precise.
C) can solve only certain problems.
D) change over time as we become wiser.
E) will always work if used properly.

Question 38

Sally is enrolled in a high school geometry course, which she describes as "drawing figures and figuring drawings." In a typical class, students draw geometric figures and use a formula to calculate an aspect of the figure such as its area. Each time Sally uses a formula she is making use of what psychologists call

A) heuristics.
B) logarithms.
C) algorithms.
D) convergence.
E) divergence.

Question 39

A person whose frontal lobes are damaged (just above the eyes) will be expected to

A) show difficulty in comprehending speech.
B) experience hallucinations.
C) display little response to a particular stimulus.
D) have difficulty in forming a cognitive map.
E) be unable to shift information into long-term memory.

Question 40

Results from neuroimaging studies suggest that

A) a single "thinking center" mediates thought.
B) thought occurs in widely distributed areas of the brain.
C) a single brain region mediates thought.
D) the cerebellum is loosely divided into subsections which deal with different kinds of thought.
E) most types of mental processing occur throughout the brainstem.

Question 41

The tendency to perceive and approach problems in the same ways that have worked in the past is called

A) mental set.
B) means-end analysis.
C) noncompensatory modeling.
D) prototypical idealization.
E) functional fixedness.

Question 42

An advantage of algorithms over heuristic is that

A) algorithms are much faster.
B) algorithms guarantee a
C) algorithms are short-cuts.
D) algorithms use rules-of-thumb.
E) heuristics make solutions more difficult to find.

Question 43

An advantage of using a heuristic over an algorithm is that

A) the heuristic insures a
B) the heuristic takes longer and is more accurate.
C) the heuristic can be quicker.
D) the heuristic always works the same way.
E) the heuristic fosters greater creativity.

Question 44

Many of the "flaws" in our reasoning abilities caused by our use of heuristics are the by-product of

A) classical conditioning.
B) insanity.
C) an adaptive strategy.
D) fuzzy logic.
E) our changing brains.

Question 45

What term do psychologists use to describe our tendency to search for evidence that supports our belief and to ignore evidence that might disprove it?

A) confirmation bias
B) convergent thinking
C) availability bias
D) representativeness bias
E) mental set

Question 46

Riley has figured out how to unlock his bedroom door with a paper clip. What has he most likely overcome in his new use of the paper clip?

A) functional fixedness
B) the representational problem
C) the representative bias
D) the confirmation bias
E) the mental set

Question 47

A person who uses a drop of superglue to seal a paper cut on their finger has overcome the obstacle to effective problem solving called

A) working backward.
B) regression to the average.
C) functional fixedness.
D) the anchoring bias.
E) the representativeness heuristic.

Question 48

Jada keeps spanking her children when they misbehave, even though it is obvious that this is not an effective form of punishment for her children. Why does Jada keep spanking?

A) She has a mental set.
B) She is working backward.
C) She is demonstrating anchoring bias.
D) She is identifying the problem.
E) She is demonstrating divergent thinking.

Question 49

Which problem-solving strategy did the Wright brothers use to solve the challenge of powered human flight?

A) finding a relevant analogy
B) working backwards from small-order to large-order concerns
C) formal logic
D) breaking the problem into its component parts
E) functional fixedness

Question 50

Agatha Harkness-Smythe is determined to ban guns in the United States. This is a controversial topic and social scientists have debated whether the ownership of guns by citizens increases or decreases crime. Agatha could go to the library and look up studies on the linkage between guns and crime rates. Instead, Agatha just reads the local newspaper and only cuts out articles about robberies in which the "bad guy" used a firearm. Agatha is demonstrating

A) mental set.
B) confirmation bias.
C) stereotype threat.
D) mindlessness.
E) flow.

Question 51

In problem solving, the term rule of thumb refers to

A) heuristics.
B) algorithms.
C) mnemonic devices.
D) cognitive shortcuts.
E) representativeness biases.

Question 52

The use of ________ in problem solving guarantees success, but using a(n) ________ does not guarantee success.

A) a mental set; schema
B) an algorithm; heuristic
C) a mnemonic; script
D) a retrieval cue; cognitive map
E) a prototype; anchoring bias

Question 53

________ bias refers to a way of thinking that ignores or overlooks information that disagrees with people's beliefs.

A) Hindsight
B) Knowledge
C) Confirmation
D) Representativeness
E) Availability

Question 54

When solving a maze, some people start at the end. This strategy is known as

A) inversion.
B) working backward.
C) reversibility.
D) means-ends analysis.
E) anchoring bias.

Question 55

A person who persists in solving a problem in the same way every time would be said to show

A) anchoring bias.
B) algorithm.
C) representativeness heuristic.
D) a mental set.
E) cognitive bias

Question 56

Rob is preparing Chicken Baskini for Patty when he realizes that the chicken is supposed to be pounded out. So, he goes to the store to buy a cooking mallet. Rob never thought of using his rolling pin to flatten the chicken because of

A) the representativeness heuristic.
B) sampling bias.
C) the confirmation bias.
D) hindsight bias.
E) functional fixedness.

Question 57

Working backward, searching for analogies, and breaking a problem down into smaller parts are all examples of

A) heuristic strategies.
B) inductive strategies.
C) algorithms.
D) deductive strategies.
E) prototypes.

Question 58

A loose screw on the visor causes it to drop down while Ben drives; however, he keeps forgetting to take a screwdriver out to the car to fix it. When he notices the visor drop again, he reaches into his pocket for a dime he uses to tighten the screw holding the visor. What problem-solving difficulty did Ben overcome?

A) relative comparison
B) functional fixedness
C) poor problem representation
D) the representative bias
E) the availability bias

Question 59

The concept of the confirmation bias specifically assumes that we are most likely to believe

A) the scientific method as true.
B) information that agrees with our thinking.
C) information that refutes our thinking.
D) logical thinking.
E) mental sets.

Question 60

________ refers to a situation where a person cannot consider alternate uses for a familiar object.

A) The anchoring bias
B) The availability heuristic
C) An algorithm
D) Functional fixedness
E) Assimilation bias

Question 61

Creativity is a process that produces ________ responses that contribute to the solutions of problems.

A) novel
B) similar
C) odd
D) questionable
E) personal

Question 62

You believe that a test is going to turn out badly, but then you get an A on that test. If you then tell friends that you knew all along that you would do well on the test, you are showing

A) hindsight bias.
B) the anchoring bias.
C) student bias.
D) the availability bias.
E) convergent thinking.

Question 63

John learns about Michelle, a student at a state university in NY, who has blond hair, enjoys the summer, and likes the beach. John assumes she is from California (given the stereotypes about women from California) despite the fact that over 85% of students at this state university are from NY. This is best explained by

A) divergent thinking.
B) algorithms.
C) knowledge of the base rate.
D) the representativeness bias.
E) convergent thinking.

Question 64

Which of the following is true of creativity?

A) Creative people have unique personality flaws.
B) Creativity first involves becoming an expert in a specific field.
C) Low motivation can facilitate creativity.
D) A person can become an expert after a year of creative study.
E) Creative achievement requires great leap of imagination.

Question 65

Seventy percent of the students in a classroom are women and 30 percent are men. One student is described as ambitious, athletic, and assertive. Why are most people likely to think this description refers to a male student?

A) They are using the availability bias.
B) They are using the representativeness bias.
C) People seek only confirming information.
D) People tend to make relative comparisons.
E) People base their assumptions on what the media tells us is common.

Question 66

A hypothetical construct cannot be

A) defined.
B) changed.
C) described
D) observed.
E) discussed.

Question 67

Which of the following is NOT true of highly creative people?

A) They are very interested in the problem.
B) They prefer to work in large groups.
C) They prefer more complex problems.
D) They enjoy interacting with other creative thinkers.
E) They question how problems are presented.

Question 68

A person who is a fine guitar player would be said to have a(n) ________ for playing the guitar.

A) schema
B) prototype
C) aptitude
D) algorithm
E) divergence

Question 69

The purpose of the Binet-Simon approach was to

A) determine which children needed remedial help.
B) weed poor students out of the educational system.
C) match workers with the appropriate job.
D) test Galton's theories of intelligence.
E) improve the educational system of France.

Question 70

Highly creative people are more likely to

A) prefer independence.
B) be intensely motivated.
C) prefer complex problems.
D) be experts in their field.
E) All of the above are

Question 71

Which is NOT a characteristic of creative people?

A) They tend to be willing to restructure a given problem.
B) They are often conventional in their personal lifestyles and take few social risks.
C) They tend to have an intense interest in the problems they are attempting to solve.
D) They value their independence.
E) They have a preference for complexity in problems

Question 72

Alex and Barbara are asked to estimate the size of a crowd. Alex is asked whether the crowd is bigger or smaller than 10,000 whereas Barbara is asked whether the crowd is bigger or smaller than 2,000. The fact that Alex would give a larger estimate could best be explained by

A) the representativeness heuristic.
B) mental set.
C) the anchoring bias.
D) self-imposed limitations.
E) cognitive maps.

Question 73

Most people would guess that more women die of breast cancer than of heart disease, even though the opposite is true. People might be misled, because we hear about breast cancer quite a bit in the media. Thus, we fall victim to

A) confirmation bias.
B) the availability bias.
C) an anchoring bias.
D) divergent thinking.
E) a mental set.

Question 74

Frank mistakenly believes that there are more words that begin with the letter "k" than there are with the letter "k" in the third position due to the

A) representativeness bias.
B) availability bias.
C) planning fallacy.
D) confirmation bias.
E) mental set.

Question 75

Which of the following is true of intelligence?

A) It can be directly measured in a test.
B) Intelligence scores do not predict school performance.
C) It can be thought of as the ability to solve problems.
D) Intelligence is an absolute term.
E) B and D are

Question 76

Measuring intelligence by testing is a rather new concept in the history of the world. The idea of such testing came from

A) France.
B) United States.
C) United Kingdom.
D) Soviet Union.
E) Japan.

Question 77

People began measuring intelligence through tests roughly________ years ago.

A) 50
B) 100
C) 200
D) 500
E) 750

Question 78

After the outcome is known, people often have distorted thinking about their original expectations due to

A) confirmation bias.
B) hindsight bias.
C) representativeness heuristic.
D) availability heuristic.
E) their prototypes.

Question 79

Which of the following is NOT a hypothetical construct?

A) height
B) brilliance
C) happiness
D) intelligence
E) anger

Question 80

Researchers typically stress that a key aspect of intelligence is

A) the ability to speak different languages.
B) the Y chromosome.
C) the ability to reason and acquire knowledge.
D) only accurate for males.
E) creativity.