Question 1

Which of the following students has the most accurate information about the research on levels of categorization?

Accepted Answer

Scott's statement is accurate because brain imaging research has indeed shown that different areas of the brain are activated when processing different levels of categorization. The prefrontal cortex is more involved in abstract thinking and decision-making, which aligns with the processing of superordinate terms, whereas basic-level terms, being more concrete and specific, require less abstract processing.

Question 2

The term semantic memory can be defined as

Accepted Answer

Semantic memory refers to our structured record of facts, meanings, concepts, and knowledge about the external world that we have acquired. It contrasts with episodic memory, which involves personal experiences and events.

Question 3

"Marie received seven presents at her birthday party. The stuffed elephant was her favorite gift." If you believe that one of the seven presents that Marie received was, in fact, a stuffed elephant, you have made

Accepted Answer

The statement implies that among the seven presents, a stuffed elephant was included and favored by Marie. This understanding is an inference, a conclusion reached based on evidence and reasoning from the given information.

Question 4

Research on the idea of "family resemblance" has demonstrated that

Accepted Answer

Family resemblance categories are based on the idea that members of a category have overlapping features, where each example shares some but not necessarily all attributes with other examples, rather than having a single defining feature that all members possess.

Question 5

According to the discussion in Chapter 8, the best definition of the word concept is:

Accepted Answer

The best definition of a concept is your mental representation of a category. This encompasses the idea that a concept is how you mentally categorize and understand various objects, ideas, or phenomena, grouping them together based on shared characteristics or attributes.

Question 6

According to the discussion of categories, the basic level of reference has special status. This means that

Accepted Answer

Basic-level categories are used more frequently in language and are considered more informative than superordinate-level names because they provide a balance between specificity and generality, making them particularly useful for communication and cognitive processing.

Question 7

The category "animal" has a graded structure, which means that

Accepted Answer

The concept of a graded structure in categorization means that some members of a category are seen as more central or typical than others, indicating that not all members are equally representative of that category.

Question 8

Chapter 8 discusses the term "graded structure" in connection with the prototype theory of semantic memory. The best example of this term is

Accepted Answer

Graded structure refers to how items in a category can be arranged based on their representativeness or typicality, from the most prototypical (central examples) to the least prototypical (more peripheral examples).

Question 9

Which of the following students provides the best definition of the term "inference," in connection with the discussion of semantic memory in Chapter 8?

Accepted Answer

Don's definition accurately captures the essence of an inference as it relates to semantic memory, emphasizing the process of drawing conclusions or logical implications from information that was not explicitly stated.

Question 10

In Chapter 8, how is the term "situated cognition approach" related to the concept of "knowledge?"

Accepted Answer

The situated cognition approach emphasizes that knowledge is not just an abstract concept stored in the mind, but is deeply influenced by the context and environment in which it is used. This approach suggests that cues from our immediate environment play a crucial role in how we understand and categorize concepts, making knowledge situational and context-dependent.

Question 11

According to the chapter called "General Knowledge," an important point is that this knowledge

Accepted Answer

General knowledge allows us to make inferences based on logical interpretations because it encompasses a broad understanding of various subjects, enabling individuals to draw conclusions and make connections.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of a subordinate-level category?

Accepted Answer

Subordinate-level categories are specific instances within a more general category. An "Apple Macintosh computer" is a specific type of computer, making it a subordinate-level category compared to the more general categories of "Computer," "Electronic devices," or "Things you find in an office."

Question 13

The category "Bartlett pear" is a

Accepted Answer

"Bartlett pear" is a specific type of pear, making it a subordinate-level category, which is more specific than the basic-level category "pear."

Question 14

The category "furniture" is a

Accepted Answer

The category "furniture" is a superordinate-level category because it encompasses a broad range of items (e.g., chairs, tables, beds) without specifying the specific type. This level of categorization is more general than the basic or subordinate levels.

Question 15

The well-organized knowledge that you have about the world is called

Accepted Answer

Semantic memory refers to the well-organized knowledge about the world, including facts, concepts, and meanings.

Question 16

Suppose that you and a friend have been discussing cognitive psychology. You are more likely to respond quickly to the concept "semantic memory" than if you had been discussing basketball. This would be an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of the semantic priming effect, where exposure to one concept activates related concepts, making them easier and quicker to respond to. Discussing cognitive psychology primes the concept of "semantic memory," facilitating a quicker response.

Question 17

Which of the following students provides the best description of semantic memory?

Accepted Answer

Andy's description accurately captures the essence of semantic memory, which is our general knowledge about the world, including facts, concepts, and ideas, that is not tied to personal experiences.

Question 18

If you have just heard the word vegetable, you can quickly make judgments about the word carrot; in contrast, your judgments about the word mushroom take much longer. According to the prototype approach, this observation shows that

Accepted Answer

According to the prototype approach, prototypes are considered more representative of a category than nonprototypes. When primed with a category (like "vegetable"), responses to prototypes of that category (like "carrot") are faster than to nonprototypes (like "mushroom"), demonstrating that after priming, people respond faster to prototypes.

Question 19

Which of the following provides the best example of semantic memory?

Accepted Answer

Semantic memory refers to the memory of meanings, understandings, and other concept-based knowledge unrelated to specific experiences. Knowing the definition of the word "concept" is an example of semantic memory because it involves knowledge of facts and concepts that are not tied to a specific personal experience.

Question 20

According to the prototype approach to semantic memory,

Accepted Answer

The prototype approach to semantic memory suggests that we have a mental representation of the average or most typical member of a category (the prototype), and we use this prototype as a standard to judge whether other items belong to the category. This means we assess similarity to the prototype to categorize items, as stated in option C.

Quiz 8: General Knowledge