Question 1

To avoid the possibility that confirmation bias may lead us to perceive an illusory correlation, we need to focus on which of the following?&#10;A) disconfirming events only&#10;B) confirming events only&#10;C) both disconfirming and confirming events&#10;D) adherence to the conjunction rule

Accepted Answer

To avoid the possibility of confirmation bias, we need to focus on both disconfirming and confirming events. Focusing only on confirming events may lead to illusory correlations, while focusing only on disconfirming events may lead us to overlook actual correlations. Therefore, we need to consider both types of events to make an objective evaluation of correlations.

Question 2

The average correlation between intelligence scores is greater for identical twins than fraternal twins, supporting the _____ explanation of intelligence. The average correlation between intelligence scores for identical twins decreases when the twins are adopted and raised apart in different environments, supporting the _____ explanation of intelligence.

A) nurture; nurture
B) nurture; nature
C) nature; nurture
D) nature; nature

nature; nurture

Accepted Answer

The first statement indicates that the higher correlation between intelligence scores for identical twins suggests that genetics (nature) plays a stronger role in intelligence than environmental factors (nurture). The second statement shows that when identical twins are raised apart in different environments, their correlation in intelligence scores decreases, supporting the idea that environmental factors can also impact intelligence (nurture).

Question 3

How does a deviation IQ score differ from Stern's IQ formula?&#10;A) A deviation IQ reveals how a child performed relative to all children of the same age.&#10;B) Calculating a deviation IQ score involves dividing a child's mental age by the child's chronological age.&#10;C) Calculating Stern's IQ formula involves expressing scores in standard deviation units.&#10;D) Wechsler's standardization procedure for the deviation IQ ignored individuals' ages.

Accepted Answer

A deviation IQ score is calculated by comparing an individual's performance to the average performance of others in the same age group, rather than using the ratio of mental age to chronological age as in Stern's formula.

Question 4

After reading the description of Linda in your text, most people indicate it is more likely that Linda is both a bank teller and active in the feminist movement than that Linda is just a bank teller. That example illustrates that the _____ heuristic leads people to _____.

A) availability; create an illusory correlation
B) representativeness; create an illusory correlation
C) availability; commit the conjunction fallacy
D) representativeness; commit the conjunction fallacy

Accepted Answer

The description of Linda fits with the stereotype of a feminist, so people rely on the representativeness heuristic and assume that Linda is more likely to fit that stereotype than just being a bank teller. This leads to the conjunction fallacy, where people judge a conjunction of events to be more probable than one of the events alone, even though the former cannot be more probable than the latter.

Question 5

How are Sternberg's and Gardner's theories of intelligence different from other theories of intelligence?&#10;A) Neither includes a measure of analytical ability.&#10;B) Both propose types of intelligence that are not measured by the WAIS or Stanford-Binet.&#10;C) Both include at least three abilities that are not considered mental abilities.&#10;D) All the answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

Both Sternberg's and Gardner's theories propose types of intelligence that go beyond what is measured by traditional intelligence tests, such as the WAIS or Stanford-Binet. They suggest there are multiple intelligences or abilities that are not solely based on analytical skills.

Question 6

Use of the representativeness heuristic can lead to the conjunction fallacy by causing us to do which of the following?&#10;A) ignore the conjunction rule&#10;B) make judgments based on similarity&#10;C) disregard objective probabilities&#10;D) All the answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

The representativeness heuristic can lead to the conjunction fallacy because it causes individuals to ignore the conjunction rule (the probability of two events occurring together is always less than or equal to the probability of either one occurring alone), make judgments based on similarity (assuming that because something is more representative, it is also more likely), and disregard objective probabilities in favor of subjective similarity.

Question 7

The availability heuristic leads us to make incorrect estimates regarding the risk of different causes of death because we _____ the risk of more publicized causes and _____ the risk of less publicized causes.

A) overestimate; overestimate
B) overestimate; underestimate
C) underestimate; overestimate
D) underestimate; underestimate

Accepted Answer

The availability heuristic can cause us to overestimate the risk of more publicized (or easily remembered) causes of death, such as terrorist attacks or shark attacks, and underestimate the risk of less publicized causes, such as heart disease or car accidents. Therefore, we overestimate the risk of some causes and underestimate the risk of others.

Question 8

Why is standardization of a test necessary?&#10;A) to be sure a test is reliable&#10;B) to be sure a test is valid&#10;C) to provide an index of heritability&#10;D) to provide a way to interpret performance

Accepted Answer

Standardization provides a way to interpret performance by establishing norms and consistent procedures for administering and scoring the test.

Question 9

Why might the anchoring and adjustment heuristic lead us to make errors in estimation?&#10;A) We have difficulty finding an anchor.&#10;B) We tend to use an incorrect anchor, even though our adjustment is typically accurate.&#10;C) We fail to adjust our initial anchor properly.&#10;D) After focusing on an anchor, we completely forget to adjust it.

Accepted Answer

The anchoring and adjustment heuristic involves using an initial anchor, such as a number, to make an estimate and then adjusting that estimate based on additional information. However, if we fail to adjust our initial anchor properly, we may end up with an estimate that is biased and inaccurate. This is why choice C is the best answer. Choices A and D are not accurate because finding an anchor and remembering to adjust it are not typically the main sources of error in the anchoring and adjustment heuristic. Choice B is also incorrect because while we may use an incorrect anchor, the adjustment itself is not typically the source of error - rather, it is the failure to adjust the anchor properly.

Question 10

Imagine a base rate of 2 percent for a disease, a false positive rate of 10 percent, and a sensitivity rate of 90 percent for the screening test for the disease. Which is the BEST estimate of the conditional probability that a person given a positive test result actually has the disease?

A) 5 percent
B) 10 percent
C) 15 percent
D) 20 percent

Accepted Answer

We can use Bayes' theorem to calculate the conditional probability. Let's assume we have a population of 10,000 people. 
- 2% of the population actually has the disease, which means that 200 people have it. 
- 10% of the population (1,000 people) will get a false positive result. 
- 90% of the 200 people who have the disease will test positive, which means that 180 people will get a true positive result.

So out of the 1,180 positive results (180 true positives plus 1,000 false positives), only 180 of them actually have the disease.

Thus, the conditional probability that a person given a positive test result actually has the disease is 180/1180 = 15.25% (rounded to the nearest percent). Therefore, the best estimate would be 15 percent or choice C.

Deck 6: Section 1: Thinking and Intelligence