Question 1

Mary is majoring in drama.Mary's parents want her to study advanced mathematics as a way of strengthening her mind; with a stronger mind, they argue, she will be able to learn her lines more easily when she is rehearsing for a play.Based on their reasoning, which one of the following perspectives of transfer do Mary's parents hold?
A)Information processing
B)Situated cognition
C)Formal discipline
D)Specific transfer

Accepted Answer

Mary's parents hold a perspective of formal discipline, which suggests that training in one area (such as advanced math) can strengthen cognitive abilities that transfer to other areas (such as learning lines in drama).

Question 2

Imagine you are a high school principal who wants students to develop effective study strategies before they graduate.With research about effective study skills programs in mind, which one of the following approaches would be the best one to take?
A)Purchase textbooks that are about two years below students' present reading levels.
B)Have a one-semester study skills course that all students take in ninth grade.
C)Have a one-semester study skills course that all students take in twelfth grade.
D)Have teachers incorporate study skills training into the specific academic courses they teach.

Accepted Answer

While a one-semester study skills course may be helpful, incorporating study skills training into all academic courses throughout a student's high school career is more comprehensive and practical. Students may struggle with different subjects and topics, so it is important for all teachers to provide guidance on effective study techniques. This approach also allows for more immediate application and reinforcement of study skills in the context of specific coursework.

Question 3

Three of the following are accurate statements about epistemic beliefs.Which statement is not accurate?
A)Students who view learning as an active, constructive process are more likely to undergo conceptual change when it is warranted.
B)Students who believe that learning is a slow, gradual process are more likely to persist in their efforts to understand classroom material.
C)Young children are apt to believe that conflicting points of view on a topic may be equally valid; as they get older, they become increasingly convinced that one perspective is almost invariably more valid than others.
D)As students move through the high school years, some of them increasingly begin to realize that mastering academic subject matter involves understanding concepts and their interrelationships rather than memorizing discrete facts.

Accepted Answer

The statement that young children are apt to believe that conflicting points of view on a topic may be equally valid; as they get older, they become increasingly convinced that one perspective is almost invariably more valid than others is not accurate. In fact, research has suggested that children tend to believe in a single correct answer in their early years and may gradually become more open to multiple perspectives as they develop.

Question 4

Which one of the following is the best example of negative transfer? A)Nellie sees five squared 5²)in her math book and reads it as "fifty-two." B)Fred knows he can get Bs in his classes without having to study at all. C)José is trying to remember when World War II began, so he recalls all he can about European history and correctly concludes that the war must have begun in the late 1930s. D)Eleanor wants to tie a string securely to her pencil so that she can hang it from her notebook, but she has forgotten how to tie a square knot.

Accepted Answer

Negative transfer occurs when prior knowledge interferes with the acquisition of new knowledge or skills. In this case, Nellie's prior knowledge of the pronunciation of numbers in English (reading "52" as "five squared") interferes with her ability to correctly read a number in a math context.

Question 5

Weston is working on a science project and wants to make his papier-mâché volcano "erupt." He remembers that when his mother combined vinegar and baking soda while following a recipe, the batter foamed up as she added the vinegar.So he tries mixing vinegar and baking soda in his volcano, and the mixture bubbles.Weston is showing:
A)General transfer
B)Intuitive transfer
C)Negative transfer
D)Specific transfer

Accepted Answer

Specific transfer occurs when knowledge or skills learned in one situation are applied to a similar situation. Weston's experience with the vinegar and baking soda reaction in the recipe is directly applied to the reaction inside the papier-mâché volcano, which is a similar situation. Therefore, this is an example of specific transfer.

Question 6

Which one of the following is the best example of general transfer?
A)Iris is trying to learn how to ride a bicycle, and she uses the pedaling motion she learned while riding a tricycle.
B)Melinda is trying to learn the 27 amendments to the U.S.Constitution, so she makes up a memory trick similar to one she used when she had to learn the 12 cranial nerves in biology.
C)Polly is trying to learn division facts and suddenly realizes that these facts are simply the reverse of facts she learned when she studied multiplication.
D)Thomas is learning how to play a new computer game in his homeroom class and uses the same "jump and shoot" strategy he learned while playing video games at home.

Accepted Answer

General transfer refers to applying a learning strategy or concept from one context to a completely different context. Melinda's use of a memory trick from biology to memorize constitutional amendments is an example of applying a general learning strategy across different subjects, which is why it's the best example of general transfer.

Question 7

Which one of the following is the best example of positive transfer?
A)Robert is trying to learn the spelling of the word shepherd; he remembers how he learned to spell lighthouse by putting two words together and so writes "sheepherd."
B)Vince notices that rules of grammar are not always the same in English and Japanese.
C)Zelda uses the formula for calculating the area of circles when she wants to figure out how much bigger a 10-inch pizza is than a 7-inch pizza.
D)David is trying to learn to program a computer.He reads his programming manual but is confused by some of its instructions.

Accepted Answer

Positive transfer occurs when a skill or knowledge learned in one situation enhances performance in another situation. In this case, Zelda is showcasing positive transfer by using her knowledge of a formula for calculating areas of circles to figure out how much bigger one pizza is than another. This is an example of using a previously learned skill or knowledge to solve a new problem or challenge.

Question 8

Research indicates that instruction about learning and study strategies is most likely to be effective when:
A)Students focus on learning one specific study strategy
B)Students understand why certain study techniques are helpful
C)Students practice strategies independently rather than in collaboration with peers
D)Students focus on learning facts rather than on developing higher-level cognitive processes

Accepted Answer

When students understand why certain study techniques are helpful, it helps them to internalize the strategies and apply them in various situations. Understanding the rationale behind a strategy enhances metacognitive awareness, which is essential for successful learning.

Question 9

Adolescents who learn a second language often apply patterns of speech production used in their native tongue and thereby speak the second language with an accent.This phenomenon can best be described as an example of:
A)General transfer
B)Situated cognition
C)Positive transfer
D)Negative transfer

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon described in the question refers to negative transfer, which occurs when knowledge or skills from a person's first language impede their ability to learn or use a second language. Students may, for example, apply grammar or pronunciation rules from their native tongue to the second language, resulting in errors, confusion, or an accent. Positive transfer, on the other hand, occurs when knowledge or skills from the first language facilitate the learning or use of the second language. General transfer refers to the application of knowledge or skills across different domains or contexts, while situated cognition refers to the idea that learning and knowledge are situated in specific contexts or social environments.

Question 10

Leo has recently studied the principle of reinforcement in his psychology class.He is now trying to teach his daughter good table manners.From the perspective of cognitive psychology, is Leo likely to use the principle of reinforcement in helping his daughter learn manners?
A)Definitely yes
B)Definitely no
C)Only if he has previously learned the principle of reinforcement to a level of automaticity
D)Only if he retrieves the principle of reinforcement at the time he is teaching his daughter

Accepted Answer

Cognitive psychology emphasizes the role of mental processes in learning, so Leo would use reinforcement if he actively retrieves and applies the principle while teaching.

Question 11

Which one of the following alternatives most clearly illustrates general transfer rather than specific transfer?
A)The skills Arnold has developed as a marathon runner help him later in life when he jogs for exercise.
B)Brian has learned study skills in his sociology class that he also finds useful in his nutrition class.
C)Conway's knowledge of addition and subtraction helps him balance his checkbook.
D)David's knowledge of the human digestive system helps him understand the digestive system of an earthworm.

Accepted Answer

General transfer refers to the application of skills or knowledge from one context to a broadly different context, rather than a closely related one. Brian's ability to use study skills learned in sociology across a different subject (nutrition) exemplifies this broad applicability, indicating a general transfer of learning skills.

Question 12

Considering factors that affect transfer, identify the group of students most likely to transfer what their class is studying.
A)Students in Mr.Allen's geography class are studying several countries this week, memorizing the locations of each one's major rivers and cities.
B)Students in Ms.Elbert's music class are studying major chords in different keys this semester, practicing each one over and over again in different songs.
C)Students in Mr.Ivy's science class are studying the characteristics of mammals and reptiles this week.
D)Students in Ms.Martin's social studies class are studying major events in the history of Mexico this month, beginning with the Aztec empire and continuing until the present time.

Accepted Answer

Students in Ms.Elbert's music class are practicing major chords in different keys across various songs, which involves applying the concept in multiple contexts. This variety in application enhances the likelihood of transfer, as it helps students understand the underlying principle (major chords) and how it can be applied in different situations, thus solidifying their learning and making it more transferable to new contexts.

Question 13

Considering what research has revealed about transfer, in which of the following situations is transfer least likely to happen?
A)Students who have studied rules of formal logic are now studying chemistry.
B)Students who know the basic addition facts are now studying the basic subtraction facts.
C)Students who have learned to play softball are now learning baseball.
D)Students who know Spanish are now learning French.

Accepted Answer

Transfer is least likely to happen when the two tasks do not share any underlying concepts or skills. Studying formal logic and studying chemistry are very dissimilar, and there is little overlap in the knowledge or skills required for these tasks. It is therefore unlikely that knowledge of formal logic will transfer to the study of chemistry. In contrast, the other three options all involve tasks that share some underlying concepts or skills, making transfer more likely to occur.

Question 14

Only one of the following statements about children with special needs is true.Which one is false?
A)Because they learn so quickly, children who are gifted rarely use effective study strategies.
B)Some students with social or behavioral problems have few effective strategies to help them learn academic subject matter.
C)Students who show significant delays in general cognitive development also show delays in metacognitive development.
D)Students with learning disabilities often benefit from explicit instruction about effective learning strategies.

Accepted Answer

The statement that children who are gifted rarely use effective study strategies is false. In fact, many gifted children are highly motivated to learn and may develop their own effective study strategies. However, they may still benefit from explicit instruction on additional strategies.

Question 15

Three of the following are true statements about cultural differences in metacognition and learning strategies.Which statement is false?
A)In comparison with Western schools, Asian schools are more likely to communicate to students that successful learning involves hard work and persistence.
B)School children in mainstream Western societies are expected to memorize things word for word more frequently than is true for children in other cultures.
C)For some people in China, school learning is a moral as well as academic enterprise: It enables a person to contribute to his or her society.
D)In cultures that value committing certain sacred texts to memory, rehearsal is frequently encouraged as a study strategy.

Accepted Answer

The statement that school children in mainstream Western societies are expected to memorize things word for word more frequently than is true for children in other cultures is false. Research has shown that there are cultural differences in learning strategies, but there is no evidence to suggest that Western societies prioritize rote memorization more than other cultures. In fact, many cultures around the world value active learning and problem-solving over memorization.

Question 16

Considering the textbook's views on general transfer, which one of the following is most likely to transfer across very different situations?
A)The ability to be creative
B)The ability to memorize a poem
C)The ability to take good notes on a lecture
D)The ability to remember complex ideas

Accepted Answer

The answer of Considering the textbook's views on general transfer,...

Question 17

Three of the following are accurate statements about factors that affect transfer.Which statement is inaccurate?
A)Students are more likely to transfer what they have learned when they have learned it in a meaningful, rather than rote, fashion.
B)Students are more likely to transfer what they have learned when they have studied it for a lengthy period of time.
C)Students are more likely to transfer what they have learned when they see it as "belonging" to a particular academic subject area.
D)Students are more likely to transfer what they have learned when they have learned general principles rather than specific facts.

Accepted Answer

Statement C is inaccurate because transfer of learning is more likely when students can see the relevance and application of what they have learned across different contexts and subject areas, rather than seeing it as confined to a specific academic subject.

Question 18

Nathan has been playing golf with his parents for many years.When he goes out for the school baseball team, he has trouble hitting the ball because he keeps confusing the swing of the bat with how he swings a golf club.Nathan's difficulty reflects:
A)Negative transfer
B)General transfer
C)Rote learning
D)Mental set in problem solving

Accepted Answer

Nathan's difficulties are an example of negative transfer, which occurs when skills learned in one context interfere with the performance of skills in a new, but similar, context. In this case, the similar context is the swinging motion required for both golf and baseball, but the specific ways in which the club and bat are held and swung are different. As a result, Nathan is having difficulty hitting the ball because he is trying to apply his golf swing to baseball, leading to negative transfer.

Question 19

Which one of the following recommendations is consistent with current beliefs about transfer?
A)"Take computer programming to help you develop your analytical thinking skills."
B)"Study German so you'll have an easier time learning Japanese next year."
C)"Studying calculus will help you think more abstractly about the various subjects you will study in college."
D)"Use your knowledge of algebra to solve this chemistry equation."

Accepted Answer

Transfer of learning occurs when skills or knowledge learned in one context or with one set of materials is applied to another context or set of materials. The recommendation to use knowledge of algebra to solve a chemistry equation is a direct application of mathematical skills to solve problems in another discipline, which is consistent with the principles of transfer.

Question 20

Which one of the following pairs of students best illustrates a difference in epistemic beliefs?
A)Irene likes going to school because that's where she sees her friends every day, but Isabelle likes going to school because of all the new things she learns there.
B)Julie thinks that doing well in high school is important for getting into a good college, but Janette thinks that she can get into college with mediocre grades as long as she has high SAT scores.
C)Loren is well aware of the criteria that his teacher is using to evaluate his classroom performance, but Luke is clueless about why he is doing poorly in the same teacher's class.
D)Keith thinks that learning geography means memorizing place names, but Kareem thinks that learning geography means understanding migration and settlement patterns.

Accepted Answer

Keith and Kareem have different views on what learning geography entails, with Keith attributing it to memorization while Kareem views it as a deeper understanding of concepts. This illustrates differences in epistemic beliefs. The other options do not necessarily involve differing beliefs about knowledge acquisition or understanding.

Quiz 8: Complex Cognitive Processes

Imagine you are a high school principal who wants students to develop effective study strategies before they graduate.With research about effective study skills programs in mind, which one of the following approaches would be the best one to take?

Three of the following are accurate statements about epistemic beliefs.Which statement is not accurate?

Which one of the following is the best example of negative transfer?

Which one of the following is the best example of general transfer?

Which one of the following is the best example of positive transfer?

Research indicates that instruction about learning and study strategies is most likely to be effective when:

Adolescents who learn a second language often apply patterns of speech production used in their native tongue and thereby speak the second language with an accent.This phenomenon can best be described as an example of:

Leo has recently studied the principle of reinforcement in his psychology class.He is now trying to teach his daughter good table manners.From the perspective of cognitive psychology, is Leo likely to use the principle of reinforcement in helping his daughter learn manners?

Which one of the following alternatives most clearly illustrates general transfer rather than specific transfer?

Considering factors that affect transfer, identify the group of students most likely to transfer what their class is studying.

Considering what research has revealed about transfer, in which of the following situations is transfer least likely to happen?

Only one of the following statements about children with special needs is true.Which one is false?

Three of the following are true statements about cultural differences in metacognition and learning strategies.Which statement is false?

Considering the textbook's views on general transfer, which one of the following is most likely to transfer across very different situations?

Three of the following are accurate statements about factors that affect transfer.Which statement is inaccurate?

Nathan has been playing golf with his parents for many years.When he goes out for the school baseball team, he has trouble hitting the ball because he keeps confusing the swing of the bat with how he swings a golf club.Nathan's difficulty reflects:

Which one of the following recommendations is consistent with current beliefs about transfer?

Which one of the following pairs of students best illustrates a difference in epistemic beliefs?