Question 1

Pigeons can reliably discriminate pictures of cars from pictures of chairs. This best illustrates their capacity to develop

Accepted Answer

Discriminating pictures of cars from pictures of chairs requires a concept of what a car or chair looks like, indicating that pigeons have the capacity to develop concepts. Mental sets refer to a tendency to approach a problem in a specific way that may or may not be helpful in solving it, which is not applicable in this scenario. Heuristics and algorithms are problem-solving strategies used by humans rather than pigeons.

Question 2

Mental set is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

Mental set refers to a tendency to approach a problem in a particular way based on previous experiences or a previously successful strategy. This rigid approach can impede problem-solving by limiting the individual's ability to consider alternative solutions. Mental set is a type of fixation, which is a barrier to problem-solving. Algorithms are step-by-step procedures for solving a problem, while heuristics are shortcuts or rules of thumb used to solve problems quickly but with a higher risk of error. Insight refers to the sudden realization of a solution to a problem in a moment of clarity.

Question 3

A mental grouping of similar things, events, or people is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A concept is a mental grouping of similar things, events, or people. A prototype is a representation of the best or most typical example of a category, rather than the concept itself. Algorithms and heuristics are problem-solving strategies.

Question 4

Prompt feedback regarding your performance on psychology practice tests is most likely to inhibit

Accepted Answer

Prompt feedback regarding performance on practice tests can help to reduce overconfidence by providing a more accurate representation of one's abilities and highlighting areas that may need improvement. The other options (framing effect, process simulation, and confirmation bias) are not directly related to the effects of feedback on performance.

Question 5

When forming a concept, people often develop a best example, or ________, of a category.

Accepted Answer

The best example of a category is called a prototype. This is a common cognitive process in which people form abstract ideas and then give preference to the best example, or prototype, of that idea. Heuristics are general problem-solving strategies, denoters are linguistic symbols that indicate the existence of something, and algorithms are systematic procedures that ensure a solution to a problem.

Question 6

We more quickly recognize that a blue jay is a bird than that a penguin is a bird because a blue jay more closely resembles our ________ of a bird.

Accepted Answer

A prototype is a mental image or best example that incorporates the features we associate with a category. In this case, a blue jay is more similar to our prototype or mental image of what a bird looks like compared to a penguin. Therefore, we more quickly recognize a blue jay as a bird.

Question 7

Prototypes are especially important in the process of

Accepted Answer

Prototypes are mental representations of the most typical example of a category, which help in classifying objects by comparing them to the prototype.

Question 8

Because he erroneously believes that older workers are not as motivated as younger workers to work hard, a factory foreman is especially vigilant for any signs of laziness among his senior workers. His supervision strategy best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The factory foreman's belief that older workers are not as motivated as younger workers is a preconceived notion that reflects confirmation bias. This bias leads the foreman to pay more attention to any signs of laziness among senior workers, reinforcing his belief while ignoring evidence that proves otherwise. Confirmation bias occurs when people seek out information that confirms their preconceptions and ignore information that contradicts them.

Question 9

The easier it is for people to remember an instance in which they were betrayed by a friend, the more they expect such an event to recur. This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

The described scenario is an example of the availability heuristic, which refers to people's tendency to judge the likelihood or frequency of an event based on the ease with which it can be retrieved from memory. If someone can easily recall a betrayal by a friend, they may overestimate the likelihood of it happening again in the future.

Question 10

College students are more likely to use a condom when told that it has a 95 percent success rate than when told it has a 5 percent failure rate. This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of framing, as the way information is presented (95% success rate vs. 5% failure rate) influences decision-making. The positive framing of the 95% success rate is more persuasive than the negative framing of the 5% failure rate. Confirmation bias is a tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms preexisting beliefs, which is not relevant in this scenario. A fixation and the availability heuristic are also not applicable here, as there is no indication of being stuck on one particular idea or relying on easily available information.

Question 11

Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias is the tendency to selectively seek out information that confirms one's preexisting beliefs and ignore information that is inconsistent with them. This can lead to distorted thinking and the reinforcement of incorrect beliefs.

Question 12

Thoughts and feelings that are automatic, effortless, immediate, and unreasoned are examples of

Accepted Answer

Thoughts and feelings that are automatic, effortless, immediate, and unreasoned are examples of intuition. Intuition is a type of fast thinking that relies on previous experiences and knowledge to make quick and efficient decisions without conscious reasoning. Mental set refers to the tendency to approach a problem in a specific way, confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that supports one's preexisting beliefs, and heuristics are mental shortcuts used to make judgments and solve problems quickly but not always accurately.

Question 13

Max is so used to thinking that a tough competitive style of behavior is the best way to impress others that he fails to recognize that the most effective way to impress his girlfriend is with cooperative tenderness. Max's oversight best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Max's tendency to stick to a single way of thinking and behaving, despite it not being effective in certain situations, suggests a fixation.

Question 14

To find Tabasco sauce in a large grocery store, you could systematically search every shelf in every store aisle. This best illustrates problem solving by means of

Accepted Answer

Searching every shelf in every store aisle is a systematic process that follows a set of rules or steps, making it an algorithm. The other options do not accurately describe this type of problem-solving approach. The availability heuristic involves making judgments based on the ease with which examples or instances come to mind. Belief perseverance refers to the tendency to cling to one's initial beliefs even in the face of contradictory evidence. Framing refers to the way in which information is presented or framed, which can influence our perceptions and decisions.

Question 15

When her professor failed to recognize that Judy had her hand raised for a question, Judy began to think her professor was unfriendly. Although she subsequently learned that the professor's limited vision kept him from seeing her raised hand, she continued thinking the professor was unfriendly. Judy's reaction best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Judy's continued belief that the professor was unfriendly despite receiving new information that contradicted that belief illustrates belief perseverance, which is the tendency to cling to one's initial beliefs even after receiving new information that should contradict them.

Question 16

In her research, Professor Kyoto seeks to identify circumstances in which confirmation bias is especially likely to impede effective problem solving. Which specialty area does her research best represent?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias is a cognitive bias that affects problem-solving and decision-making processes. Cognitive psychology is the specialty area that focuses on mental processes such as thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. Therefore, Professor Kyoto's research best represents cognitive psychology.

Question 17

In attempting to find and purchase high-quality cosmetics, Megan reminds herself that the most expensive brands are the best. Megan's self-reminder illustrates the use of

Accepted Answer

Megan's self-reminder demonstrates the use of a heuristic, which is a mental shortcut that helps people make quick and efficient judgments. In this case, Megan is using the heuristic "expensive = good quality" to simplify her decision-making process when purchasing cosmetics. However, this heuristic may not always be accurate, as some high-quality cosmetics may not necessarily come from the most expensive brands.

Question 18

The text defines cognition as

Accepted Answer

The text defines cognition as "the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating information." Therefore, option C is the correct choice. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because while they may be related to cognition in some way, they do not accurately capture the full definition provided in the text.

Question 19

Unlike the use of algorithms or heuristics, insight does not involve

Accepted Answer

The answer of Unlike the use of algorithms or heuristics,...

Question 20

Professor Chadwick evaluated a graduate student's research proposal negatively simply because he had heard a rumor about the student's incompetence. When later informed that the rumor had been patently false, the professor's assessment of the student's research proposal remained almost as negative as it was originally. This best illustrates

Accepted Answer

This scenario exemplifies belief perseverance, which is the tendency to maintain one's beliefs even after they have been discredited. The professor had a preconceived negative belief about the student's abilities based on a false rumor, and even when presented with evidence to the contrary, he persisted in his negative evaluation. This suggests that his initial belief was influencing his judgment, rather than the actual quality of the research proposal.

Quiz 27: Thinking