Question 1

According to cognitive psychologists,what is problem solving

Accepted Answer

Cognitive psychologists define problem solving as active efforts to discover what must be done to achieve a goal that is not readily attainable. This definition encompasses the process of identifying obstacles and generating strategies to overcome them, making it clear that problem solving is not just about finding one correct solution. While some incorrect solutions may be attempted before reaching the correct one, problem solving is an ongoing and deliberate process of active engagement, not a sudden discovery. Making choices under uncertainty and evaluating alternatives are specific aspects of problem solving, but they do not encompass the entire process.

Question 2

If you are asked to come up with one word that is typically paired with taxi,screw,and cattle (the answer is "driver"),what sort of problem are you solving

Accepted Answer

This is a problem of inducing structure because it involves identifying a common relationship or pattern among different elements (in this case, the word "driver" that pairs with taxi, screw, and cattle).

Question 3

Which aspect of human language suggests that language is an innate human characteristic

Accepted Answer

The fact that language is universal in human societies suggests that it is an innate human characteristic. This means that all humans, regardless of culture or background, develop and use language in similar ways. This universality supports the idea that humans have a biological predisposition to language, rather than it being solely a culturally learned behavior.

Question 4

According to Steven Pinker,what is human language ability

Accepted Answer

According to Steven Pinker, human language ability is a species-specific trait that resulted from natural selection. This means that our ability to acquire language is inherent to being human and has evolved over time through the process of natural selection.

Question 5

Which statement provides support for nativist theories of language development

Accepted Answer

Nativist theories, such as those proposed by Noam Chomsky, argue that the ability to learn language is innate and that children are born with a language acquisition device (LAD) that allows them to rapidly absorb and understand language during certain critical periods of development. The fact that children learn language at an exceptionally fast rate during certain developmental stages supports this view, as it suggests an innate capacity for language learning.

Question 6

Research suggests that bilingual individuals tend to score higher than monolingual individuals on some psychological measures.Which pair tends to be higher for bilingual individuals

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that bilingual individuals tend to have better cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to switch between different tasks or mental frameworks, and analytical reasoning, which involves the ability to solve problems using logic and analytical thinking. These particular cognitive benefits may be due to the fact that bilingual individuals are constantly switching between two languages, which requires a high level of cognitive control and may lead to better overall cognitive abilities.

Question 7

Who suggested that children learn language through imitation,reinforcement,and shaping

Accepted Answer

B.F. Skinner is the psychologist who suggested that children learn language through imitation, reinforcement, and shaping.

Question 8

Chimpanzees are intelligent primates and can develop some rudimentary language skills,albeit mostly evidenced through sign language and not speech.What is the primary barrier that prevents chimpanzees from learning to speak

Accepted Answer

Chimpanzees do not have the same vocal apparatus as humans, which makes it difficult for them to produce the complex sounds and pronunciation required for speech. Their vocal cords and larynx are not positioned in the same way as humans, which limits their ability to speak.

Question 9

Which hypothesis is the most likely explanation for why some ideas or concepts are very easily "lost in translation" between two languages

Accepted Answer

The linguistic relativity hypothesis, also known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, suggests that language influences the way we think and perceive the world around us. According to this hypothesis, differences in language structures between two languages can result in differences in the way concepts are perceived and understood, leading to difficulties in translation. Therefore, the linguistic relativity hypothesis is the most likely explanation for why some ideas or concepts are easily lost in translation between two languages.

Question 10

Which hypothesis is supported if a culture that has no word for the colour pink cannot quickly perceive the difference between pink and another colour

Accepted Answer

The linguistic relativity hypothesis suggests that language has a strong influence on thought and perception. If a culture does not have a word for a specific color, such as pink, they may not have a distinct perception of that color or be able to easily differentiate it from other colors.

Question 11

Which perspective on language acquisition can best explain a young child (whose parents speak grammatical English)saying,"Yesterday I goed to the zoo"

Accepted Answer

Nativist theory, proposed by Noam Chomsky, suggests that children have an innate ability to learn language, which includes an inherent understanding of grammar. The child's mistake ("goed" instead of "went") indicates they are applying general grammatical rules (adding "-ed" for past tense) to all verbs, which aligns with the idea of an innate grammatical framework that is refined through exposure to their native language, rather than learning language purely through imitation or reinforcement.

Question 12

According to B.F.Skinner,what allows children to learn how to construct grammatical sentences

Accepted Answer

Skinner believed that language learning is based on reinforcement and shaping, with children imitating adults and receiving feedback on the correctness of their responses. Therefore, imitation and shaping are the processes that allow children to construct grammatical sentences, rather than receiving specific instruction or relying on the LAD. Nonreinforced trial and error, although part of the learning process, is not the primary mechanism for constructing grammatical sentences according to Skinner's theory.

Question 13

Children produce various errors like overregularizations that they would not have heard from the adults or other models around them.Which theory of language acquisition is weakened by this evidence

Accepted Answer

The behaviorist theory suggests that children learn language solely through imitation and reinforcement from their environment. However, the production of errors like overregularizations suggests that children are not simply imitating what they hear, as these errors are not commonly made by adults in their language community. Therefore, the behaviorist theory is weakened by this evidence.

Question 14

According to interactionist theories of language development,what is necessary for adult language production

Accepted Answer

Interactionist theories suggest that language development is shaped by both innate predispositions and social interactions, particularly with caregivers. Adult language production is therefore the result of both an innate predisposition for language and social interaction, as well as the influence of social and environmental factors. Shaping and reinforcement during childhood (A) may play a role, but is not sufficient on its own. Intentional instruction by caregivers (B) may also be helpful, but is not necessary for language development.

Question 15

Toddlers are immersed in a language-learning environment at all times,whereas adults who are learning a second language often do so on a part-time basis.Which theory of language acquisition is weakened by this confounding variable

Accepted Answer

The nativist theory posits that humans are biologically predisposed to acquire language and have an innate capacity for language acquisition. However, this theory is weakened by the fact that adult learners may not have the same level of immersion in their second language environment as toddlers do in their first language environment, which can affect language acquisition.

Question 16

The vocabulary and style of communication used by Washoe,the chimp who was raised by researchers to use sign language,was sufficient for some basic communication with humans.Which of the following children would have a communication level that is similar to that of Washoe

Accepted Answer

A two-year-old child who produces telegraphic speech would have a communication level similar to that of Washoe. Both would be capable of basic communication, using short phrases or words to convey meaning.

Question 17

How would Chomsky most likely explain a young child saying,"I runned around the house"

Accepted Answer

Chomsky would most likely attribute the child's use of "runned" to the child learning the rule for forming past tense verbs from listening to other speakers. Chomsky's theory of language acquisition emphasizes that language ability is innate and that children are equipped with the ability to learn grammar rules from exposure to language input. The child likely heard other speakers use "-ed" to mark past tense verbs and applied this rule to the verb "run" to create "runned".

Question 18

Who suggested that children are equipped with a language acquisition device (LAD)that allows them to acquire language

Accepted Answer

Noam Chomsky proposed the concept of LAD in his theory of Universal Grammar, which suggests that children are born with innate knowledge of the rules of language that allow them to easily acquire language from their environment.

Question 19

Which statements does NOT accurately describe the ability of animals to acquire language

Accepted Answer

This statement is not accurate as some animals, such as birds and apes, have been shown to have a basic understanding of grammatical rules. Therefore, animals do show behavior that suggests understanding of grammatical rules, contrary to statement B.

Question 20

Which statement provides support for the linguistic relativity hypothesis

Accepted Answer

The statement "Cultural words for colours affect perceptual abilities to distinguish among colours" supports the linguistic relativity hypothesis, which suggests that language shapes the way people think and perceive the world. This statement implies that the use of specific colour terms in a particular culture may influence how people in that culture perceive and categorize colours.

Quiz 8: B: Language and Thought