Question 1

In testing thousands of different materials for use as light bulb filaments,Thomas Edison best illustrated a problem-solving approach known as

Accepted Answer

Thomas Edison's method of testing various materials for use as light bulb filaments is an example of trial and error problem solving approach. Edison systematically tried out thousands of different materials until he found a suitable one that met the requirements of being affordable, durable, and efficient.

Question 2

Once we have categorized an object,our memory of the object increasingly resembles the category

Accepted Answer

According to the prototype theory, once we categorize an object, our memory of the object becomes based on the prototype, or the best example of that category. Therefore, our memory of the object increasingly resembles the category prototype.

Question 3

A sudden realization of the solution to a problem is called

Accepted Answer

The sudden realization of the solution to a problem is known as insight, where the solution seems to come quickly and effortlessly without conscious thought or reasoning. Choices A, C, and D are not accurate descriptions of this phenomenon.

Question 4

Most people take less time to identify a cow as a mammal than a mouse as a mammal because a cow more closely resembles their mammal

Accepted Answer

A prototype is the best answer because it refers to a typical or ideal example of a concept. In this case, a cow is a more typical or ideal example of a mammal than a mouse, so people are able to identify it more quickly as a mammal. The other answer options (hierarchy, heuristic, and algorithm) do not accurately describe why people would be able to identify a cow as a mammal more quickly than a mouse.

Question 5

Suddenly understanding the double meaning of a joke best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Understanding the double meaning of a joke requires a sudden flash of insight, a moment of realization where the listener understands the true intent or meaning of the joke. This is different from other cognitive biases such as belief perseverance, the availability heuristic, or the framing effect.

Question 6

People are quicker to recognize that sharp chest pain is a symptom of a heart attack than that shortness of breath is a symptom of a heart attack.This is because sharp pain more closely matches their heart attack

Accepted Answer

The prototype is the most representative example of a category, and most people tend to associate chest pain with heart attacks as the prototype for this condition. Sharp pain is more closely associated with this prototype than shortness of breath. Heuristics are mental shortcuts that provide quick and easy judgments, but they may not always be accurate. Algorithms are systematic problem-solving strategies that are guaranteed to produce a solution. Fixation refers to the inability to see a problem from a new perspective, which is not relevant to this scenario.

Question 7

Cognition refers to all the mental activities associated with thinking,remembering,knowing,and

Accepted Answer

The given options include several specific cognitive processes such as spatial rotation (A), confirmation bias (B), and fixation (C), which are only a small subset of all mental activities associated with cognition. Communicating (D) is a broad and inclusive term that encompasses many different cognitive processes such as language production, comprehension, and social cognition. Therefore, D is the best choice as it covers a larger domain of mental activities associated with cognition.

Question 8

Cognitive psychologists are most directly concerned with the study of

Accepted Answer

Cognitive psychologists are primarily focused on studying various aspects of human thinking, including perception, attention, memory, language, and problem-solving. While emotions, genetics, and brain chemistry may all factor into cognitive processes, they are not the primary focus of cognitive psychology research.

Question 9

A best example of a category of objects,events,ideas,or people is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A prototype is the best example of a category. It is a representative example that is used to define and illustrate a category or concept. An algorithm is a step-by-step process for solving a problem or completing a task. A concept is a general idea or understanding that helps to organize our thinking and knowledge. A heuristic is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb that helps us quickly make decisions or solve problems.

Question 10

People more easily detect male discrimination against women than female discrimination against men because the former more closely resembles their discrimination

Accepted Answer

The idea being conveyed is that people have a mental image or prototype of what discrimination against women looks like based on their own experiences and cultural/social norms. Therefore, acts of male discrimination against women (which are more similar to the prototype) are more easily recognized and detected than acts of female discrimination against men (which may not fit the prototype as well). This relates to the concept of prototypes in cognitive psychology. The other answer options do not accurately describe this phenomenon.

Question 11

Christmas is to holiday as ________ is to ________.

Accepted Answer

Christmas is an example of a holiday, similar to how a prototype is a typical example of a category.

Question 12

Heuristics are

Accepted Answer

Heuristics are simple thinking strategies used to solve problems quickly and efficiently, but they do not guarantee a correct solution. Examples include using a rule of thumb or a mental shortcut. Options A, B, and C describe other cognitive processes, but not heuristics.

Question 13

Anika resisted changing her answer to a test question after reminding herself that "it's always best to stick with your first answer." Anika's decision best illustrates the use of

Accepted Answer

Anika's decision to stick with her first answer is an example of the heuristic of "gut feeling" or intuition. This is a mental shortcut that involves relying on one's initial instinct or feeling about a situation.

Question 14

When someone mentions hamburgers,Trisha immediately thinks of McDonald's.In this instance,McDonald's is a(n)

Accepted Answer

McDonald's is a prototype, because it is the most typical or representative example of a hamburger for Trisha. Prototypes are mental representations of a category that best encapsulate the most typical features of that category.

Question 15

Professor Thompson's research focuses on how prototypes affect the speed at which we recognize and identify objects.Which specialty area does this research best represent?

Accepted Answer

The research on how prototypes affect object recognition and identification falls under the specialty area of cognitive psychology, which focuses on mental processes such as perception, attention, and memory.

Question 16

Jamilla systematically tried each successive key on her dad's key ring until she found the one that unlocked his office door.This best illustrates problem solving by means of

Accepted Answer

Jamilla's systematic method of trying each key one by one until finding the correct one demonstrates the use of an algorithm, which is a step-by-step procedure for problem-solving. Belief perseverance, the availability heuristic, and framing do not accurately describe Jamilla's problem-solving approach in this scenario.

Question 17

A concept is a

Accepted Answer

A concept is a mental grouping or category of similar objects, events, ideas, or people. It is a way for our brains to organize and make sense of the world around us. The other options, trial and error, best example, and simple thinking strategy, are not accurate descriptions of a concept.

Question 18

In trying to solve a potentially complicated problem quickly,we are most likely to rely on

Accepted Answer

When trying to solve a problem quickly, we tend to rely on heuristics, which are mental shortcuts or "rules of thumb" that allow us to quickly come to a solution without spending too much time on analysis. Heuristics can be useful in certain situations, but they can also lead to biases and errors in our thinking. Algorithms, on the other hand, are step-by-step procedures that guarantee a correct solution, but they can be time-consuming and may not be practical in all situations. Prototypes and insight may also be helpful in problem-solving, but they are less likely to be relied on when speed is a priority.

Question 19

Logical,methodical step-by-step procedures for solving problems are called

Accepted Answer

Logical, methodical step-by-step procedures for solving problems are known as algorithms. Heuristics are mental shortcuts used to solve problems, fixations are becoming stuck on one aspect of a problem, and prototypes are typical examples of a concept or category.

Question 20

When we use the term Hispanic to refer to a category of people,we are using this word as a(n)

Accepted Answer

The term Hispanic refers to a concept, as it encompasses a group of people who share a language and cultural heritage originating from Spanish-speaking countries. A heuristic refers to a mental shortcut or strategy for problem-solving, an algorithm is a specific set of instructions or rules for solving a problem, and a prototype refers to a typical or ideal example of a category or concept.

Quiz 26: Storage: Retaining Information