Question 1

Suddenly understanding the double meaning of a joke best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Suddenly understanding the double meaning of a joke is a classic example of insight, which is the sudden realization of a solution to a problem, often involving a change in one's perspective or understanding. A, B, and C do not accurately describe this phenomenon.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

The prototype theory suggests that we categorize objects based on their similarity to an idealized or typical representation, which is called a prototype. As we repeatedly categorize objects within a category, our memory of those objects increasingly resembles the category prototype. This is why we may have a hard time remembering specific examples that don't fit neatly into the category or remembering specific details about objects within the category.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

McDonald's fits the prototype of a fast food chain that serves hamburgers. A mental set is a habitual way of approaching a problem or task, a heuristic is a mental shortcut for problem-solving, and a fixation is an inability to see a problem from a fresh perspective.

Question 4

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 represents the use of a heuristic, a mental shortcut or rule of thumb that simplifies decision-making. The heuristic that it's best to stick with your first answer is often taught to students as a test-taking strategy.

Question 5

Christmas is to holiday as ________ is to ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Christmas is to holiday as ________ is...

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Heuristics are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that allow us to quickly solve problems and make judgments. They are often based on experience and are useful in situations where we need to make a quick decision or don't have all the information we need. It is also the most likely choice as the question specifically mentions the need to solve a problem quickly. Prototypes (A) are examples or models of a concept that we use to understand and categorize information, but they are not necessarily used to solve problems quickly. Phonemes (C) are the smallest units of sound in a language and are not related to problem-solving. Algorithms (D) are step-by-step procedures for solving a problem that guarantee a correct solution, but they are usually time-consuming and not well-suited for situations where speedy decisions are needed.

Question 7

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" or "most typical" example of a category. In this case, a cow is a more typical or prototypical mammal than a mouse, as it is larger and more commonly encountered by people. Therefore, it is easier to quickly identify a cow as a mammal than a mouse as a mammal.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

A prototype is a mental representation of a category, which influences how we perceive and recognize objects and events. People have a prototype of discrimination where male discrimination against women is perceived as the typical or most representative form of discrimination, while female discrimination against men is perceived as less typical or less expected. As a result, people are more likely to detect male discrimination against women because it matches their prototype and is more familiar to them.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

When we use the term Hispanic to refer to a category of people, we are using it as a concept, which is a general idea or understanding of something. It is not a heuristic (a problem-solving strategy), an algorithm (a step-by-step procedure), or a prototype (a preliminary model).

Question 10

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 approach of testing thousands of different materials for use as light bulb filaments exemplifies the trial and error problem-solving approach, in which multiple solutions are attempted and tested until the desired outcome is achieved.

Question 11

Cognitive psychologists are most directly concerned with the study of

Accepted Answer

Cognitive psychologists are concerned with the study of mental processes such as thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. They explore how people acquire and use knowledge and make sense of information from the environment. Therefore, the best choice is D) thinking.

Question 12

The tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions is called

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to search for and interpret information in a way that confirms one's preconceived beliefs and attitudes. It can lead to errors in decision-making and distortions in reasoning. The other options, availability heuristic, framing, and overconfidence, are related to cognitive biases but not specifically to the tendency to search for confirming information.

Question 13

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 is using a systematic process (trying each key in succession) to solve the problem of unlocking her dad's office door, which is characteristic of using an algorithm to problem solve.

Question 14

Heuristics are

Accepted Answer

Heuristics are simple thinking strategies that allow us to solve problems quickly and efficiently, often by reducing the amount of information we need to process. They are not methodical step-by-step procedures, mental groupings, or trial-and-error strategies.

Question 15

A sudden realization of the solution to a problem is called

Accepted Answer

A sudden realization of the solution to a problem is called insight. It is a moment of clarity when the solution to a problem suddenly becomes clear without any conscious effort.

Question 16

A concept is a

Accepted Answer

A concept refers to a mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, and people. Option B refers to a different method of hypothesis testing, while option C refers to a prototype, which is the most typical or familiar example of a particular category. Option D refers to a heuristic, which is a simple thinking strategy used to solve problems efficiently but does not necessarily involve concepts.

Question 17

Jahmal cites his cousin Luana's many car accidents as evidence that women are worse drivers than men. He overlooks the fact that his wife and three daughters have had far fewer car accidents than he and his two sons. Jahmal's prejudicial conclusion about women's driving skills best illustrates the effects of

Accepted Answer

Jahmal's confirmation bias is seen in the fact that he only cites his cousin's accidents as evidence and overlooks the experiences of his own family members. This bias is a cognitive phenomenon where individuals tend to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms their pre-existing beliefs or biases.

Question 18

Professor Thompson's research focuses on the impact of prototypes on the speed of object recognition and identification. Which specialty area does this research best represent?

Accepted Answer

The research focuses on cognitive processes related to recognition and identification, making cognitive psychology the best fit as a specialty area.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A prototype is the best example or representation of a category of objects, events, ideas, or people. It serves as a cognitive reference point for that category.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Algorithms are step-by-step procedures that provide a logical, methodical approach to problem-solving. Heuristics are rules of thumb or shortcuts that may not always lead to a correct solution. Semantics refers to the meaning of words and their relationships with each other. Prototypes are typical or representative examples of a category or concept.

Quiz 9: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence