Question 1

"When I go home for the holidays, the first day my parents will ask a lot of questions about the classes I'm taking and my grades. The second day they will focus on who I am dating and how I act on dates. By the third day, talk will turn to relatives and events in their lives. That's how it always goes on visits home." This description of a visit at home best represents a(n):
A) Prototype
B) Event schema
C) Stereotype
D) Self schema
E) Role schema

Accepted Answer

The description of a visit home follows a specific pattern or schema, where each day is focused on a different topic. This is an example of an event schema, which is a set of expectations about events and experiences. The other options (prototype, stereotype, self schema, and role schema) do not adequately explain this pattern of behavior.

Question 2

Jackie is a doctor, so she is socially conservative. This is an example of a(n):
A) Stereotype
B) Prototype
C) Event schema
D) Role schema
E) Social script

Accepted Answer

This statement assumes that all doctors are socially conservative, which is a stereotype. While some doctors may hold socially conservative values, it is not necessarily true for all doctors.

Question 3

Schema theory assumes all of the following, EXCEPT:
A) Most people feel comfortable when their attitudes, beliefs, and values fit together.
B) We are naïve scientists.
C) We seek explanations for our own and other people's behaviors.
D) We tend to surround ourselves with others who challenge what we think and how we think.
E) We organize information as efficiently as possible to make everyday life more manageable.

Accepted Answer

Schema theory assumes that people tend to surround themselves with others who reinforce their attitudes, beliefs, and values. It does not assume that people seek out others who challenge their thinking.

Question 4

When she attended her cousin's wedding, Micah was puzzled when she saw the groom wearing a white tuxedo, the bride wearing a black dress, and the couple exchanging their own vows without the assistance of a minister. What type of schema was Micah's cousin violating?
A) A self schema
B) An event schema
C) A social script
D) All of the above
E) Only B and C

Accepted Answer

Micah's cousin was violating an event schema and a social script, both of which involve expectations about how events typically unfold and the roles people play in social situations. Traditional weddings often feature the bride in white and the groom in a different color, with a minister officiating, so deviations from this pattern can be surprising.

Question 5

The fact that people who are highly homophobic are more likely than others to perceive affectionate behavior between men as sexual in nature illustrates which concept from schema theory?
A) A person schema
B) Assimilation
C) A perceptual set
D) A social script
E) A bookkeeping model

Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates the concept of a perceptual set, which refers to a mental predisposition to perceive things in a certain way based on expectations, beliefs, and prior experiences. Highly homophobic individuals have a preconceived notion that affectionate behavior between men is inherently sexual, which shapes their perception of such behavior. This phenomenon is an example of a perceptual set, where their beliefs and expectations influence how they perceive and interpret social situations.

Question 6

A football fan who has grown up watching the NFL his entire life might change his schema for "football" after watching his first season of arena football. This example best illustrates which of the following models of schema change?
A) The conversion model
B) The subtyping model
C) The bookkeeping model
D) The assimilation model
E) The expertise model

Accepted Answer

The answer of A football fan who has grown up...

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT an interpersonal construct?
A) Kind-unkind
B) Intelligent-unintelligent
C) Friendly-extroverted
D) Patient-impatient
E) Sane-insane

Accepted Answer

Friendly-extroverted is not an interpersonal construct because it describes a person's personality, not their interactions with others.

Question 8

Brock is attempting to persuade his mother to give him more money for this month's bills. As part of his persuasive strategy, he reminds his mother about how difficult it was for her to make ends meet on a minimum-wage job and how she sometimes had to ask her dad for money. Brock is attempting to use the __________ concept in constructivism.
A) Prototype
B) Stereotype
C) Social script
D) Person-centeredness
E) Personal construct

Accepted Answer

Brock is using the concept of person-centeredness in his persuasive strategy by tailoring his argument to his mother's personal experiences and emotions, aiming to make his appeal more effective by connecting on a personal level.

Question 9

According to constructivism theory, personal constructs that are highly developed are:
A) More differentiated
B) More organized
C) More abstract
D) All of the above
E) A and B only

Accepted Answer

According to constructivism theory, personal constructs that are highly developed are more differentiated, meaning they can distinguish nuances and fine distinctions in experiences or concepts; more organized, meaning they can be integrated into a coherent structure or system; and more abstract, meaning they can be applied across a range of situations or contexts. Therefore, the correct answer is D, as all of the options are true.

Question 10

All of the following statements about person-centered messages are true, EXCEPT:
A) Person-centered messages are tailored to conversational partners.
B) Person-centered messages are necessary for most everyday tasks.
C) Multiple message plans contribute to the use of person-centered messages.
D) Person-centered messages are attentive to conversational goals.
E) Competent communicators know how and when to use person-centered messages.

Accepted Answer

This statement is not true. While person-centered messages can be helpful in many everyday tasks, they are not always necessary for all tasks.

Question 11

Andrew is more motivated to attend class and participate in class discussions because he perceives that his instructor is kind, intelligent, caring, and humorous. According to constructivism theory, Andrew is using which of the following concepts to make sense of his instructor's behavior?
A) Interpersonal constructs
B) Cognitive complexity
C) Person-centeredness
D) Comforting communication
E) A prototype

Accepted Answer

Interpersonal constructs are the cognitive templates or categories individuals use to organize their perceptions of other people or events. Andrew is using his own interpersonal constructs, such as kindness, intelligence, and humor, to make sense of his instructor's behavior and respond to it in a positive way. This aligns with the constructivist idea that learning is an active, meaning-making process in which individuals construct knowledge based on their own experiences and interpretations.

Question 12

Constructivism theory advances all of the following claims, EXCEPT:
A) People who are cognitively complex are likely to produce person-centered messages.
B) The availability of message plans contributes to the use of highly person-centered messages.
C) Cognitively complex people are more skillful communicators.
D) Although important, cognitive complexity is not associated with a person's ability to generate multiple goals for social situations.
E) People who are skilled at social perception are likely to produce person-centered messages.

Accepted Answer

The constructivism theory asserts that cognitive complexity is associated with a person's ability to generate multiple goals for social situations. Therefore, the statement in option D is the exception as it contradicts the theory.

Question 13

People are more likely to use person-centered messages when they believe:
A) They really want to achieve a certain outcome.
B) They are incapable of achieving a certain outcome.
C) It is appropriate for them to use person-centered communication.
D) All of the above.
E) A and C only.

Accepted Answer

People are more likely to use person-centered messages when they believe that they really want to achieve a certain outcome and it is appropriate for them to use person-centered communication. They are not necessarily more likely to use person-centered messages when they feel incapable of achieving a certain outcome. Therefore, the best choice is E – A and C only.

Question 14

When communicators feel misunderstood, they tend to repeat themselves in a louder voice and with a slower rate of speech, even though the other person may have heard them the first time. According to Berger's planning theory, this tendency reflects which of the following concepts?
A) Cognitive complexity
B) Planning
C) The hierarchy principle
D) Plan complexity
E) Action fluidity

Accepted Answer

The hierarchy principle suggests that when initial attempts to influence others fail, communicators will try to appeal to higher order needs or values. Repeating oneself in a louder voice and with a slower rate of speech is a way of attempting to get the other person to recognize the importance and urgency of what is being said, and thus appeals to their higher order attention.

Question 15

One of the greatest challenges facing parents who decide to divorce is knowing when to tell their children, what to tell their children, and how best to tell them about the divorce. Which of the following theories is best suited to help parents with these decisions?
A) Schema theory
B) Planning theory
C) Constructivism
D) Dramatism
E) Symbolic interactionism

Accepted Answer

The answer of One of the greatest challenges facing parents...

Question 16

Charles Berger's planning theory emerged from which of the following paradigms?
A) The interpretive paradigm
B) The critical paradigm
C) The post-modern paradigm
D) The post-positivist paradigm
E) The social constructionist paradigm

Accepted Answer

Charles Berger's planning theory emerged from the post-positivist paradigm, which emphasizes the importance of scientific objectivity and the use of empirical evidence to understand and explain social phenomena. Berger's theory focuses on the role of communication in the planning process, and emphasizes the need for planners to engage in open and transparent dialogue with stakeholders in order to facilitate effective decision-making.

Question 17

Planning theory assumes all of the following, EXCEPT:
A) Accomplishing goals requires only the plans necessary for producing effective social action.
B) The knowledge structures we use to guide our actions comes from both mediated and unmediated experiences.
C) Our actions are based on our interpretations of behaviors, not on the behaviors themselves.
D) The process of interpreting our observations is largely subconscious.
E) Our knowledge of goals and plans enables us to understand the actions of others.

Accepted Answer

Planning theory does not assume that accomplishing goals requires only the plans necessary for producing effective social action. In fact, planning theory recognizes that there are often competing goals and multiple ways to achieve them, and that the process of planning and decision-making is inherently political and involves negotiation and compromise.

Question 18

Lindsey spent little time planning how to ask her parents for money before making her request. As a result, she stammered and paused when they asked her to move back home, which revealed her frustrations and reduced her chances of success. According to planning theory, Lindsey's unsuccessful attempt to get money from her parents was affected by:
A) The hierarchy principle
B) The plan complexity
C) Her action fluidity
D) Her goals
E) Her archetype

Accepted Answer

Lindsey's lack of planning led to a lack of action fluidity, meaning her actions were not smooth or well-executed, which directly impacted her success in asking for money.

Question 19

____ motivate social action, but _____ guide that action.
A) Actions; goals
B) Plans; goals
C) Plans; actions
D) Goals; plans
E) Behaviors; goals

Accepted Answer

Goals motivate social action, but plans guide that action. While goals provide the overall direction or purpose of the action, plans outline the specific steps and strategies to reach those goals. Therefore, both are necessary for effective social action.

Question 20

Planning theory makes all of the following claims, EXCEPT:
A) When plans are thwarted, we feel negative emotions such as frustration, anxiety, and stress.
B) As the motivation to reach a social goal increases, the complexity of plans tends to increase as well.
C) The more strategic and complex knowledge a person possesses on a particular topic, the more likely that person is to use complex plans.
D) Communicators who anticipate their partners' responses are more effective than those who do not.
E) When efficiency is more important than politeness, people tend to use more complex plans.

Accepted Answer

E) is incorrect because typically, when efficiency is prioritized over politeness, people tend to use simpler, more direct plans rather than more complex ones. Complexity in planning often takes into account nuances and contingencies that might not be as necessary when the goal is to achieve outcomes quickly and efficiently.

Quiz 5: Organizing and Sending Messages

Jackie is a doctor, so she is socially conservative. This is an example of a(n) :

Schema theory assumes all of the following, EXCEPT:

When she attended her cousin's wedding, Micah was puzzled when she saw the groom wearing a white tuxedo, the bride wearing a black dress, and the couple exchanging their own vows without the assistance of a minister. What type of schema was Micah's cousin violating?

The fact that people who are highly homophobic are more likely than others to perceive affectionate behavior between men as sexual in nature illustrates which concept from schema theory?

A football fan who has grown up watching the NFL his entire life might change his schema for "football" after watching his first season of arena football. This example best illustrates which of the following models of schema change?

Which of the following is NOT an interpersonal construct?

According to constructivism theory, personal constructs that are highly developed are:

All of the following statements about person-centered messages are true, EXCEPT:

Andrew is more motivated to attend class and participate in class discussions because he perceives that his instructor is kind, intelligent, caring, and humorous. According to constructivism theory, Andrew is using which of the following concepts to make sense of his instructor's behavior?

Constructivism theory advances all of the following claims, EXCEPT:

People are more likely to use person-centered messages when they believe:

When communicators feel misunderstood, they tend to repeat themselves in a louder voice and with a slower rate of speech, even though the other person may have heard them the first time. According to Berger's planning theory, this tendency reflects which of the following concepts?

One of the greatest challenges facing parents who decide to divorce is knowing when to tell their children, what to tell their children, and how best to tell them about the divorce. Which of the following theories is best suited to help parents with these decisions?

Charles Berger's planning theory emerged from which of the following paradigms?

Planning theory assumes all of the following, EXCEPT:

motivate social action, but _ guide that action.

Planning theory makes all of the following claims, EXCEPT: