Question 1

Lauren is baking a cake but realizes that she is missing ingredients.She has to make a cake,so she finds a new recipe that will work with the ingredients she has.Lauren is engaging in

Accepted Answer

Lauren is faced with a problem - missing ingredients for her original recipe - and is finding a solution by searching for a new recipe that uses the ingredients she has. This process of finding a solution to a problem is known as problem solving.

Question 2

Last week,Alana saw a television show about a rare,but fatal,virus.Now,she has a runny nose and a fever and thinks she has contracted the virus.Alana's thinking is most likely based on

Accepted Answer

Alana is likely using the availability heuristic, which is the tendency to judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples or instances come to mind. In this case, the recent television show may have easily come to mind when Alana started experiencing symptoms, leading her to believe she has contracted the rare virus.

Question 3

James is trying to break into a safe,but he does not know the four-digit code.To find the right code,he uses a procedure that will obtain the right result if he uses it correctly.Specifically,he tries every possible set of four-digit numbers until he finds the correct one.James is using a(n)__________ to find the correct code.

Accepted Answer

James is using a systematic, step-by-step procedure (trying every possible combination) to arrive at the correct answer. This is the definition of an algorithm. The other options do not fit this description. A mental set is a tendency to approach a problem in a certain way based on past experiences. An analogy is a comparison between two things to highlight their similarities. A heuristic is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb used to solve a problem, but it may not always lead to the correct answer.

Question 4

The type of thinking that uses shortcuts to allow you to make a decision quickly,without considering all of the evidence,is called

Accepted Answer

A heuristic is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb that allows individuals to make quick decisions without considering all the available evidence. This type of thinking can be helpful in some situations but may lead to errors in judgment in others. Insights are a sudden realization or understanding about a problem or situation. Algorithms are step-by-step procedures for solving problems, and framing refers to how a problem or issue is presented or framed, which can influence decision-making.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes problem solving?

Accepted Answer

Problem solving involves identifying obstacles and finding ways to overcome them in order to achieve a desired goal state. Option A best describes this process. Option B refers more to decision making than problem solving, while option C describes deductive reasoning and option D describes critical thinking.

Question 6

Using algorithms to think has the advantage of __________ and the disadvantage of __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using algorithms to think has the advantage...

Question 7

Which of the following best describes reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Reasoning involves evaluating a conclusion to see if it is valid, which is what option D describes. Option A involves problem-solving, option B involves decision-making, and option C involves deduction.

Question 8

Your rent is due,but you are short $100.You find a way around this obstacle to meet the goal of paying the rent by offering to clean your friend's house for $100.You now have enough money to pay your rent.To reach your goal,you have just used the thinking strategy of

Accepted Answer

The situation presented in the scenario required the individual to find a way to overcome the problem of being short on rent money. By offering to clean their friend's house for $100, they were able to come up with a solution to pay their rent. This process of finding a solution to a problem is known as problem-solving.

Question 9

Isaac is baking a cake by following the instructions in the recipe exactly.Isaac is using __________ to make the cake,which means that his cake will turn out correctly.

Accepted Answer

The use of an algorithm involves following a set of well-defined instructions or steps to achieve a desired outcome. In this case, Isaac is following a recipe, which can be thought of as an algorithm for making a cake.

Question 10

Gillian bought one set of tools because that brand offered a $10 rebate.The tool company influenced her decision by presenting the information about the rebates.This is a strategy known as

Accepted Answer

Framing refers to the idea that how information is presented can influence our decisions or judgments. In this case, the tool company framed their brand as offering a $10 rebate, which likely influenced Gillian's decision to purchase that brand. Restructuring, the availability heuristic, and the representativeness heuristic are not relevant to this scenario.

Question 11

Kevin wants to be a doctor but right now he is an English major.Kevin is trying to find out how to change majors to one that will allow him to reach his goal.Kevin is engaging in

Accepted Answer

Kevin is actively trying to find a solution to his problem of being in the wrong major in order to reach his goal of becoming a doctor. This process involves problem solving, as he is seeking out information and potential solutions to achieve his desired outcome. Formal reasoning and decision making may come into play later in the process, but right now Kevin is primarily engaged in problem solving.

Question 12

Bob believes that the Seahawks will win the Super Bowl this year.To see whether you agree with Bob,you read a variety of online reviews about the Seahawks and the Broncos and compare the statistics for the teams and players.To determine whether Bob's conclusion is valid,you are engaging in

Accepted Answer

Engaging in a process of comparing statistics and online reviews to determine the likelihood of a particular team winning the Super Bowl involves reasoning. Bob's conclusion is a claim that needs to be supported with evidence, which requires logical thought and analysis. Problem solving and decision making may also be involved, but they are not the primary focus of this scenario. Heuristics refer to mental shortcuts or rules of thumb, which are not necessarily being used in this situation.

Question 13

Some mental shortcuts can cause errors in thinking.For example,simply because a piece of information is remembered easily,it does not mean that the best decision is based on that information.This error in thinking reflects

Accepted Answer

The availability heuristic refers to our tendency to judge the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples of it come to mind. In this case, the mental shortcut of remembering information easily is causing errors in thinking by leading us to believe that the information is more important or relevant than it actually is.

Question 14

You read a description about a woman named Tyra,who happens to be extremely beautiful and almost 6-feet tall.When asked to predict whether Tyra is a model or a science teacher,if you think of your prototype of what a model is like and what a science teacher is like,you are more likely to say that Tyra is a model.Your reasoning in this case may be faulty due to

Accepted Answer

The reasoning in this case is based on the representativeness heuristic, which involves making judgments based on how well an individual matches a prototype or stereotypical image of a particular category or group. In this case, the prototype of a model is typically tall and beautiful, while a science teacher is not necessarily so. This leads to the faulty prediction that Tyra is more likely to be a model than a science teacher.

Question 15

Your friend loves the new restaurant in town.To see whether she is correct,you read a variety of online restaurant reviews.You are using __________ reasoning to determine whether this conclusion is valid.

Accepted Answer

Informal reasoning involves using personal experience, intuition or subjective judgment to make a decision. In this scenario, reading online restaurant reviews to determine whether or not the restaurant is good is an example of informal reasoning. The reviews are not based on a formal or systematic analysis, but rather on personal opinions and experiences shared by others.

Question 16

Jake is choosing his major from three different alternatives: biology,Spanish,or psychology.Jake is using

Accepted Answer

Jake is faced with a decision between three different options (biology, Spanish, psychology). This requires the process of decision making to choose the best option for him.

Question 17

Jethro believes that all elderly people have difficulty hearing and understanding.Whenever he interacts with an elderly person,Jethro automatically speaks loudly and slowly.Jethro is applying his __________ of the elderly in these interactions.

Accepted Answer

Jethro is applying his stereotype of the elderly in these interactions by assuming that all elderly people have difficulty hearing and understanding, and modifying his behavior accordingly without any individualized assessment or consideration of the person's abilities.

Question 18

Kareem always thought athletes were not very intelligent.He was surprised to find out that Quinn,the smartest,most dedicated student in the class,is on the football team.Kareem's initial beliefs about athletes are an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

Kareem's initial belief about athletes is a stereotype, which is a generalization about a group of people that is often oversimplified and inaccurate.

Question 19

According to the paradox of choice,having some choice is good,and having even more choice

Accepted Answer

The paradox of choice suggests that too many options can be overwhelming and lead to analysis paralysis, causing frustration and impairing decision-making. Therefore, having even more choice may not necessarily increase satisfaction with the decision, but rather hinder the decision-making process.

Question 20

Using heuristics to think has the advantage of __________ and the disadvantage of __________.

Accepted Answer

Heuristics require minimal thinking, making them quick and efficient, but they do not always work, leading to potential errors or biases.

Quiz 8: Thinking and Intelligence