Question 1

When 14-year-old Valerie discovers that she has gotten an A on the last assignment, she expresses pride to her teacher and explains that she worked very hard on it.On the way home from school, however, she tells her friends that she did not put much effort into the project at all and so is quite surprised about her high grade.From the perspective of attribution theory, how can we best explain Valerie's conflicting statements?

Accepted Answer

Valerie's conflicting statements can be explained by her understanding of the values held by different audiences. She tells her teacher she worked hard because she knows the teacher values hard work. Conversely, she downplays her effort to her friends, likely because she believes they do not value hard work in the same way, and she wants to align with their expectations or norms.

Question 2

The four boys below have all received As in Algebra I.From the perspective of attribution theory, which one is most likely to sign up for Algebra II?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The four boys below have all received...

Question 3

Which one of the following examples best describes the differences between students with a mastery orientation and students with learned helplessness?

Accepted Answer

Students with a mastery orientation are characterized by setting high goals and seeking challenges, showing resilience and a belief in their ability to improve through effort. In contrast, students with learned helplessness tend to underestimate their abilities, set low goals, and may avoid challenges due to a belief that they lack the capability to succeed, attributing failures to unchangeable, internal factors.

Question 4

John has just failed a test-in a sense, his test performance has been punished.From the perspective of attribution theory, is John likely to work harder to pass his next test?

Accepted Answer

The answer of John has just failed a test-in a...

Question 5

Which of the following is most accurate regarding developmental trends in differentiating between ability and effort?

Accepted Answer

As students get older, they tend to differentiate between ability and effort more clearly and often attribute successes and failures to inherent ability rather than effort.

Question 6

Three of the following are factors that influence the development of attributions.Which one is not?

Accepted Answer

Attributions, or the ways in which people explain the causes of behavior and events, are influenced by learned experiences such as reinforcement and punishment (A), messages from adults (B), and an individual's past history of success and failure (D). Innate cognitive abilities (C) do not directly influence the development of attributions; rather, they may affect the capacity to process and interpret experiences, but the attributions themselves are shaped by learning and experience.

Question 7

Which one of the following boys exhibits learned industriousness?

Accepted Answer

Keith's persistence in working hard on his computer program despite facing difficulties exemplifies learned industriousness, which is the psychological concept referring to the increased willingness to exert effort as a result of rewards being associated with previous effortful behavior.

Question 8

Canadian research on high-achieving women and their career choices revealed:

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that high-achieving women often prioritize personal values and interests more significantly in their career choices compared to men. This suggests that for these women, career decisions are deeply intertwined with their personal convictions and passions, rather than being solely based on external factors such as status or financial gain.

Question 9

Mr.Richardson does not expect much of his students from a poor, inner-city neighborhood.Given what we know about the effects of teacher expectations, which outcome is most likely?

Accepted Answer

Teacher expectations can significantly influence student performance. If a teacher has low expectations, students are likely to internalize these beliefs and perform at a lower level than they are capable of.

Question 10

Ms.Jantzen provides a great deal of academic support to help her students achieve classroom objectives.Why should this strategy help promote a mastery orientation in her students?

Accepted Answer

Providing sufficient resources and support helps students develop the belief that success is attainable through their own efforts, fostering a mastery orientation where the focus is on learning and improvement rather than external validation or comparison to others.

Question 11

Which pattern of reinforcement and punishment is most likely to lead children to attribute events to internal and controllable causes?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which pattern of reinforcement and punishment is...

Question 12

In which one of the following situations does a teacher's behaviour reflect low expectations for a student's classroom performance?

Accepted Answer

Ms. Irwin's behavior of rarely interacting with Joseph suggests low expectations, as it implies she does not anticipate or encourage his participation or improvement, reflecting a lack of engagement or belief in his potential.

Question 13

Mr.Maleska has high expectations for his students' classroom performance.With this in mind, we would expect him to:

Accepted Answer

Given Mr. Maleska's high expectations, it's likely he would engage students actively in learning, which includes giving them many opportunities to answer questions to ensure they understand the material and are meeting his standards.

Question 14

Helena has a mastery orientation regarding her ability to be a successful student.With this in mind, choose the statement that is probably least accurate about Helena.

Accepted Answer

Mastery orientation involves embracing challenges, learning from mistakes, and persisting in the face of difficulty. Therefore, seeking out easy assignments is least consistent with a mastery orientation, as individuals with this mindset typically seek challenges to grow their abilities.

Question 15

Three of the following strategies are consistent with the recommendations in the textbook regarding forming expectations and attributions for students' performance.Which one is not consistent with these recommendations?

Accepted Answer

Limiting assessments of student achievement to informal observations is not consistent with the recommendations in the textbook regarding forming expectations and attributions for students' performance. Effective assessment should be comprehensive, including both formal and informal methods, to accurately understand and support student learning and achievement.

Question 16

Eileen is reluctant to go out for the school soccer team.We want to enhance her self-confidence about becoming a successful soccer player.If we consider attribution theory, the best thing we can say to Eileen is:

Accepted Answer

Attribution theory suggests that people are more motivated and feel more confident when they believe that their success is due to factors they can control, such as effort and practice. Choice D emphasizes both Eileen's inherent ability and the importance of practice, suggesting that her success in soccer is within her control, which is likely to enhance her self-confidence.

Question 17

Considering research regarding when teacher expectation effects are most likely to occur, which teachers should be most careful to communicate high expectations for students' performance?

Accepted Answer

First and second grade teachers should be most careful to communicate high expectations for students' performance because research indicates that teacher expectations can have a significant impact on young students' academic development, particularly in the early years of schooling.

Question 18

Three of the following statements characterize students with learned helplessness.Which one does not?

Accepted Answer

Learned helplessness is a condition in which a person suffers from a sense of powerlessness, arising from a traumatic event or persistent failure to succeed. It is characterized by low motivation, low self-esteem, and a belief that one's efforts do not affect outcomes. Therefore, students with learned helplessness typically do not recognize their successes as being the result of their own efforts, which contradicts statement D.

Question 19

A student who has developed learned helplessness about his or her spelling ability is most likely to say which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A student who has developed learned helplessness about their spelling ability may feel overwhelmed and believe that no matter how much they try, they will not succeed. This is reflected in choice C where the student says that no matter how much they study words, they cannot remember how to spell them. Choice A suggests that the student is willing to work hard to improve their spelling, while choice B suggests that they believe it is easy to spell words correctly. Choice D suggests that the student believes they will eventually learn to spell, but do not see the value in putting in the time and effort to do so.

Question 20

Ms.Simmons believes that Jeremy has the ability to do better on math tests than he is currently doing.Given the discussion in the textbook regarding teacher attributions, how is Ms.Simmons most likely to act toward Jeremy?

Accepted Answer

When a teacher believes a student has the ability to do better but isn't performing to their potential, they are likely to feel annoyed when the student does not do well. This is because the teacher attributes the student's underperformance to a lack of effort rather than a lack of ability.

Quiz 9: Motivation, Affect, and Cognition