Question 1

Heightened awareness has eliminated all forms of discrimination.

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, discrimination is not a thing of the past. Class-action discrimination lawsuits are still being settled every day to the tune of millions of dollars.

Question 2

Perception is the process by which individuals select, organize, and interpret the input from their senses to give meaning and order to the world around them.

Accepted Answer

This is a commonly accepted definition of perception in psychology.

Question 3

Attracting and retaining a global workforce requires management to accurately perceive the contributions, accomplishments, and capabilities of employees.

Accepted Answer

Accurately perceiving the contributions, accomplishments, and capabilities of employees is essential for attracting and retaining a global workforce as it helps to ensure that employees feel valued and recognized, which in turn promotes job satisfaction and loyalty.

Question 4

Perception is equivalent to objective reality.

Accepted Answer

Perception is the understanding of objective reality.

Question 5

Schemas are resistant to change.

Accepted Answer

Schemas are mental frameworks or structures that organize our knowledge and guide our interpretation of new information. They are resistant to change because they are deeply ingrained in our minds and can be difficult to alter even in the face of contradictory evidence. However, new experiences and information can gradually modify existing schemas or lead to the development of new ones.

Question 6

Perception is influenced by schemas, moods, and motivational states.

Accepted Answer

Perception is not just influenced by sensory information, but also by pre-existing schemas or mental frameworks, current moods or emotional states, and motivational goals. These factors can shape what information we attend to, how we interpret it, and the meanings we assign to it.

Question 7

The three components of perception are the perceiver, the target of perception, and the situation.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. Perception involves the perceiver, the target of perception, and the situation in which the perception occurs.

Question 8

The perceptual process does not always yield accurate perceptions.

Accepted Answer

The perceptual process is influenced by individual biases, past experiences, and cultural backgrounds, which can lead to inaccurate perceptions. Additionally, external factors such as lighting conditions, visual distractions, and other environmental stimuli can also affect perception. Therefore, it is not always accurate.

Question 9

Accurate perceptions are as close as possible to the true or objective nature of the target.

Accepted Answer

Accurate perceptions aim to reflect the true nature of the target they are focused on.

Question 10

Perception does not influence ethical action in the workplace.

Accepted Answer

To reward employees, avoid illegal discrimination, and act in an ethical manner, a manager's perceptions must be accurate.

Question 11

The more accurately managers can perceive subordinates, the better they can motivate them.

Accepted Answer

Accurate perception of subordinates allows managers to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and motivation triggers. Based on this understanding, managers can tailor their motivational strategies to align with their subordinates' needs, resulting in higher levels of engagement, job satisfaction, and performance.

Question 12

Accurate perceptions are the prerequisite for good decisions.

Accepted Answer

Accurate perceptions provide us with the correct understanding of a situation or problem, which is necessary for making informed decisions. Without accurate perceptions, our decisions could be flawed or ineffective.

Question 13

Stereotyping can be minimized if organizational members are encouraged to think about characteristics that really affect job performance, rather than irrelevant characteristics such as age, race, or gender.

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping can be minimized if individuals focus on job-related factors and skills rather than irrelevant and biased stereotypes based on factors such as age, race, or gender. Encouraging employees to consider job performance rather than irrelevant factors helps to create a fair and unbiased work environment.

Question 14

Schemas are always functional for perceivers.

Accepted Answer

Schemas can be dysfunctional if they result in inaccurate perceptions.

Question 15

Through intuition, people try to make sense of their environment and the objects, events, and other people in it.

Accepted Answer

Through perception, people try to make sense of their environment and the objects, events, and other people in it.

Question 16

The processing of information by perceivers is a passive activity.

Accepted Answer

Perceivers do not passively process information. Their experience or knowledge, their needs and desires, and their feelings filter information into their perceptions of reality.

Question 17

Our experiences are organized into targets of perception.

Accepted Answer

Our experiences are organized into schemas, abstract knowledge structures that are stored in memory and allow people to organize and interpret information about a given target of perception.

Question 18

The target of perception is the context in which perception takes place.

Accepted Answer

The target of perception is whatever the perceiver is trying to make sense of.

Question 19

Stereotypes are dysfunctional schemas because they are often based on inaccurate information about the interests, beliefs, capabilities, or behaviors of individuals.

Accepted Answer

Stereotypes are often based on generalizations and assumptions about groups of people rather than accurate information about individuals. This can lead to unfair treatment and discrimination.

Question 20

When managers become aware of potential discrimination, they need to act proactively to address the potential problem and review the organization's policies and practices to determine if changes are needed.

Accepted Answer

It is true that managers need to act proactively and review policies and practices when they become aware of potential discrimination in the workplace. This is important in order to create a fair and inclusive work environment and prevent any form of discrimination or bias.

Quiz 4: Perception Attribution and the Management of Diversity