Question 1

A statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related test items that seem to tap a common ability is called

Accepted Answer

Factor analysis is a statistical procedure that helps identify clusters of related test items that seem to tap a common ability or trait. It is a useful tool in the development of psychological tests and the assessment of construct validity. Standardization and reliability assessment are important aspects of test development, but they do not involve identifying clusters of related items. Validation is a broader term that refers to the overall process of demonstrating the accuracy and usefulness of a test, which may involve factor analysis as one component.

Question 2

The ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations is known as

Accepted Answer

The ability described is commonly known as intelligence.

Question 3

Leland's language does not distinguish between "family love" and "romantic love," so he has difficulty realizing that he deeply loves his sister. Which of the following is most relevant to Leland's difficulty?

Accepted Answer

Linguistic determinism suggests that the language we use shapes the way we think and perceive the world. In Leland's case, the lack of distinct vocabulary to differentiate between family love and romantic love may lead him to view both types of love as the same thing. This linguistic constraint may be influencing his ability to recognize and articulate his feelings towards his sister.

Question 4

When English-speaking Canadian children were taught only in French during their early school years, researchers found that they experienced a(n)

Accepted Answer

Researchers found that the children who were taught only in French during their early school years experienced an improvement in intellectual aptitude, indicating that being bilingual may have cognitive benefits.

Question 5

Imagining a physical experience activates some of the same ________ that is (are) also active during the actual experience.

Accepted Answer

Imagining a physical experience activates parts of the brain that are also active during the actual experience. These parts of the brain make up neural networks, which are collections of neurons that work together to carry out specific tasks or functions.

Question 6

Spearman referred to the general capacity that may underlie all of a person's specific mental abilities as

Accepted Answer

Spearman proposed the existence of a general capacity factor that underlies all specific mental abilities, which he called the g factor.

Question 7

Chimpanzees are capable of learning to

Accepted Answer

The passage states that chimpanzees are capable of learning to understand spoken words, communicate with gestures, and string signs together into a meaningful sequence. Therefore, the correct choice is D, which includes all of these options.

Question 8

Bilingual people have a somewhat ________ vocabulary in each language than do people who speak a single language, and bilingual people are ________ able to inhibit their attention to irrelevant information than are monolingual people.

Accepted Answer

Bilingual individuals often have a slightly smaller vocabulary in each language compared to monolingual speakers, but they are better at inhibiting their attention to irrelevant information. This is due to the constant practice of managing two languages, which enhances cognitive control abilities.

Question 9

The women's basketball team at the University of Tennessee improved in free-throw shooting after practicing

Accepted Answer

Mental imagery, also known as visualization or mental rehearsal, is a technique used in sports psychology where athletes mentally rehearse a desired outcome or skill. Visualizing oneself successfully performing a free throw can improve actual performance in the skill, which could explain the team's improvement in free-throw shooting.

Question 10

Perceived differences between various shades of color are greater if people assign a different name to each hue. This best illustrates the influence of

Accepted Answer

The example given in the question suggests that language (the names assigned to colors) has an influence on thinking (the perception of differences between shades of the same color). This aligns with research in the field of linguistic relativity, which suggests that language influences how we think and perceive the world around us.

Question 11

The sort of problem solving that demonstrates "school smarts" is what researchers have historically assessed in their tests of

Accepted Answer

The question is asking about the type of problem solving associated with "school smarts," which is traditionally measured by intelligence tests. Therefore, the best answer is B) intelligence.

Question 12

If our capacity to form concepts depends on our verbal memory, this would best illustrate

Accepted Answer

Linguistic determinism proposes that language determines the way we think and perceive the world around us. If our capacity to form concepts depends on our verbal memory, this suggests that language plays a significant role in shaping our thoughts and mental representations, supporting the idea of linguistic determinism.

Question 13

Those who emphasize the importance of the g factor would be most likely to encourage

Accepted Answer

The g factor theory emphasizes the existence of a general intelligence factor that underlies all specific cognitive abilities. Therefore, those who emphasize the importance of the g factor would be most likely to encourage quantifying intelligence with a single numerical score, as this reflects the idea of a general intelligence that can be measured and compared across individuals. It would not make sense for them to encourage discontinuing special programs for intellectually advantaged children, using a small standardization sample in intelligence test construction, or deriving adult intelligence test scores from the ratio of mental age to chronological age, as these approaches do not align with the focus on a general intelligence factor.

Question 14

Those who score above average on tests of mathematical aptitude are also likely to score above average on tests of verbal aptitude. According to Spearman, this best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

The reference to mathematical and verbal aptitude suggests a correlation between different types of intelligence, which can be explained by Spearman's concept of the g factor, which refers to a general intelligence that underlies specific mental abilities.

Question 15

People can simultaneously process many aspects of sensory information such as color, depth, movement, and form. This best illustrates the function of multiple

Accepted Answer

Neural networks refer to interconnected groups of neurons that work together to process sensory information. This is the best choice because it directly relates to the processing of multiple aspects of sensory information. Algorithms refer to a series of steps taken to solve a specific problem, critical periods relate to specific developmental stages, and fixations refer to a temporary pause in eye movements.

Question 16

Which of the following was cited by Whorf as evidence in support of the linguistic determinism hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

Whorf used the example of the Hopi language, which lacks a past tense for verbs, as evidence for linguistic determinism. He argued that this structure of the language shaped the way Hopi speakers perceive and think about time, making it difficult for them to conceive of the past as a distinct entity.

Question 17

Gestures are especially likely to be associated with speech that has ________ content.

Accepted Answer

Gestures tend to accompany speech that involves spatial content, such as directions, descriptions of movement, or indicating the location of objects. Bilingual content may also involve gestures, but not all bilingual speech is accompanied by gestures. Heuristic content refers to problem-solving or exploratory speech, which may or may not involve gestures. Familiar content does not provide enough information to determine if gestures are likely to be present.

Question 18

Research on the language capabilities of apes indicates that they cannot

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that apes can learn a vocabulary of hundreds of signs and use them to communicate not only with humans but also with other apes. However, they have not demonstrated the ability to grammatically order language symbols as well as most 3-year-old children.

Question 19

Damage to different cortical areas results in different forms of aphasia. This best illustrates that language processing involves multiple

Accepted Answer

Damage to different cortical areas resulting in different forms of aphasia suggests that language processing involves multiple neural networks. This is because different regions of the brain are responsible for different aspects of language processing, such as comprehension or production, and they work together to allow us to communicate effectively.

Question 20

Introductory psychology students were more likely to achieve a good midterm exam grade if prior to the exam they repeatedly practiced visual imagery that involved

Accepted Answer

Practice with a process simulation, or mentally rehearsing the steps involved in taking the exam, can help improve performance on the exam. This involves visualizing oneself going through the motions of studying, recalling information, and answering questions. This type of practice can improve cognitive processing and reduce anxiety, leading to a better exam performance.

Quiz 9: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence