Question 1

You arrive at a mall you have never visited before, and you are not sure where your favorite store is located. You approach an information kiosk to ask for directions, because you have received directions at other information kiosks before. This illustrates what strategy used for interpretation?

Accepted Answer

The strategy used for interpretation in this scenario is based on experiences, as the person has previously received directions at other information kiosks and is using that past experience to guide their behavior in the present situation.

Question 2

What statement is correct about the process of perception?

Accepted Answer

Perception involves three important stages- selecting, organizing, and interpreting information. Therefore, option C - Perception involves selecting, organizing, and interpreting information - is correct. Option A is incorrect as perception is a complex process that involves multiple cognitive functions. Option B is incorrect as perception can vary from person to person based on individual differences. Option D is incorrect as the perception of a single communication event may not provide a complete picture as it may be influenced by various factors such as individual biases, environmental factors, etc.

Question 3

Our perceptions are based on __________.

Accepted Answer

Our perceptions are based on our personal experiences. Our experiences influence how we interpret and understand the world around us, shaping our perceptions. While culture and peer groups can also play a role, our personal experiences are the most significant factor in shaping our perceptions. Universal meaning is not applicable as perceptions vary widely across different cultures and individuals.

Question 4

Perception checking involves which communication strategy?

Accepted Answer

Perception checking involves verifying information to ensure that one's perceptions and interpretations of a situation are accurate. Trusting intuition, making assumptions, and jumping to conclusions can often lead to misunderstandings and miscommunications.

Question 5

Bob continually communicates with 28-year-old Lisa as if she were still a child. In Bob's eyes, Lisa will always be "his little girl." This illustrates the fact that __________ can interfere with effective communication.

Accepted Answer

A perceptual set is a tendency to perceive the world in a particular way based on one's past experiences and expectations. In this case, Bob's perceptual set of seeing Lisa as a child interferes with his ability to effectively communicate with her as an adult.

Question 6

According to the text, our social identity involves __________.

Accepted Answer

Social identity refers to how we see and evaluate ourselves in relation to social groups, such as our gender, nationality, religion, etc. It is not necessarily about what we aspire to become or what we hide from the world, although these factors may influence our social identity. It is also distinct from how others see us, which is more related to our perceived identity.

Question 7

Which behavior would be most helpful in improving your communication competence?

Accepted Answer

Seeking out as much information as possible is the most helpful behavior in improving communication competence because it allows you to have a more complete and accurate understanding of the situation, instead of relying solely on your perceptions or inferences. This can lead to better communication and more positive outcomes. The other choices (A, C, D) can all lead to misunderstandings or incorrect assumptions.

Question 8

What is identified as a critical component in the initial development of our self-concept?

Accepted Answer

Parental communication is identified as a critical component in the initial development of our self-concept. This includes the ways in which parents interact with and talk to their children, as well as the messages that they convey about the child's worth, abilities, and place in the world. Genetic inheritance, generational cohort, and media may have some influence on self-concept, but are not considered as critical as parental communication in the early stages of development.

Question 9

When Janet wakes up on Sunday, the rain outside makes her think to herself what a great day for getting organized. On Monday when she wakes up and it's rainy outside, she thinks to herself how gloomy and depressing the day ahead will be. The difference in Janet's perception can best be attributed to __________.

Accepted Answer

The difference in Janet's perception is due to her psychological state, which is influenced by her mood or mindset on different days.

Question 10

In his assertion that "Nothing is clear in and of itself but in some context for some person," communication scholar Robert L. Scott meant that __________.

Accepted Answer

Scott's assertion is emphasizing the subjective nature of communication and perception. Different people may interpret the same message or statement differently based on their own personal context and experiences. Therefore, one person's interpretation or perception is not necessarily more accurate or valid than another's.

Question 11

What are the three primary elements of the perception process?

Accepted Answer

The three primary elements of the perception process are selecting, organizing, and interpreting information. This means that our perception is influenced by what we choose to focus on, how we arrange that information in our minds, and the meaning we attach to it.

Question 12

The categorizing of events, objects or people without regard to unique qualities or characteristics is most reflective of __________.

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping involves placing individuals or groups into categories or classifications without considering unique qualities or characteristics.

Question 13

At work, Clarence is always pleasant and efficient and seems to get the job done with a minimum of fuss. At home, Clarence often seems to lose his temper over the least little thing. What do these two situations tell us about Clarence and his self-concept?

Accepted Answer

The fact that Clarence behaves differently in different situations suggests that he defines himself differently depending on the context. This highlights the role of situational factors in shaping our behavior and self-concept. Option A is not relevant to the question, option B is partly true but does not fully capture the variability in Clarence's behavior, and option C is false as our perceptions are often biased and fallible.

Question 14

A statement which is objective and is easily verified is a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

A fact is a statement that can be proven or verified through evidence and is not influenced by personal opinions or beliefs.

Question 15

Kate is putting together a puzzle. She places silver puzzle pieces in one pile, purple puzzle pieces in another pile, and pink puzzle pieces in a third pile. What organizational strategy helps Kate to understand this information?

Accepted Answer

The organizational strategy that helps Kate to understand the information is similarity, as she is grouping together pieces that share a common characteristic (color).

Question 16

The tendency to fill in missing pieces and to extend lines in order to finish or complete figures illustrates what organizational process?

Accepted Answer

Closure is the organizational process where the brain tends to fill in missing information to complete a pattern or figure. This process helps the brain make sense of incomplete information and is often used in visual perception.

Question 17

Which statement is the best example of an inference?

Accepted Answer

The statement about the Gettysburg Address being among the most influential presidential addresses in history is an inference because it is a conclusion reached based on evidence and reasoning, rather than a straightforward fact. Statements A, B, and D are factual statements that can be directly verified.

Question 18

Instead of accepting that external factors influence other people's behavior, George attributes the bank teller's rudeness this morning to being "that kind of person." George's belief reflects __________.

Accepted Answer

George's belief that the bank teller's rudeness was due to her being "that kind of person" is an example of a fundamental attribution error. This is because George is attributing the behavior to a dispositional factor, rather than external situational influences that may have affected the bank teller's behavior.

Question 19

When someone asks Maria to describe herself, she usually says she is a first-generation Latino-American. This description represents Maria's __________.

Accepted Answer

Maria's description of herself as a first-generation Latino-American represents her self-image, which includes how she views herself in terms of her cultural background and heritage. It is a reflection of her personal identity and not necessarily related to how others perceive her or her level of self-esteem.

Question 20

When we make deliberate choices to experience or to avoid experiencing particular stimuli, we engage in __________.

Accepted Answer

Selective exposure is the process of intentionally seeking out information or experiences that align with our preexisting attitudes and beliefs, while avoiding those that challenge them. This can include choosing to watch certain TV channels, read certain news sources, or engage in certain activities, while actively avoiding others. Selective attention, on the other hand, refers to our ability to focus on certain stimuli in our environment while filtering out others. Perceptual set refers to the tendency our past experiences and expectations have to influence how we perceive new information. Selective set is not a commonly used term in psychology.

Quiz 2: Connecting Perception, Self, and Communication