Question 1

Much research suggests that perception is
A) An illusion.
B) Always untrustworthy.
C) Destructive.
D) Constructive.

Accepted Answer

Perception is considered constructive because it involves the brain interpreting sensory information to construct a representation of the world, rather than merely receiving data passively. This process allows individuals to make sense of and navigate their environment effectively.

Question 2

Research on expectancy and perception shows that
A) We never perceive what we expect to perceive.
B) We often perceive exactly what we expect to perceive.
C) Expectancy plays no role in our experience.
D) We can never trust our perceptions.

Accepted Answer

Expectancy can significantly influence perception, leading us to often perceive what we expect to perceive. This is because our brain uses prior knowledge and expectations to interpret sensory information.

Question 3

The "face on Mars" is best explained as
A) A case of pareidolia.
B) An example of extraterrestrial archeology.
C) An instance of trick photography.
D) A reflection of objects in outer space.

Accepted Answer

The "face on Mars" is best explained as a case of pareidolia, which is the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern. The "face" is actually a natural rock formation viewed from a certain angle.

Question 4

A significant problem with the claim that Bigfoot exists is that
A) There are no pictures of Bigfoot.
B) The claim is widely reported in the media.
C) Bigfoot is not logically possible.
D) The claim conflicts with expert opinion.

Accepted Answer

The claim that Bigfoot exists conflicts with expert opinion, as there is a lack of credible scientific evidence supporting its existence.

Question 5

The Blondlot case of is a classic example of
A) Research fraud.
B) A coordinated attempt to deceive the public.
C) Perceptual construction.
D) Accurate observations.

Accepted Answer

The Blondlot case is a classic example of perceptual construction, where Blondlot and others believed they observed N-rays, a phenomenon that did not actually exist, due to their expectations and interpretations rather than intentional deceit or accurate observations.

Question 6

Which one of the following isNOT an Anthropomorphic Bias?
A) Perception of another's thoughts
B) Projecting human features onto objects
C) Assuming that things are like us
D) Attributing human feeling to objects

Accepted Answer

Anthropomorphic bias refers to attributing human characteristics, emotions, or behaviors to non-human entities or objects. Perception of another's thoughts is not an anthropomorphic bias because it involves understanding or assuming the mental states of other humans, not non-human entities or objects.

Question 7

The availability error
A) can help to explain the persistence of superstition.
B) often leads us to commit the fallacy of hasty generalization.
C) is exhibited when we choose to follow a friend's recommendation rather than statistically accurate surveys.
D) all of the above.
E) none of the above.

Accepted Answer

The availability error, a cognitive bias that occurs when people overestimate the importance of information that is available to them, can indeed explain the persistence of superstition (A), lead to hasty generalizations (B), and result in decisions based on anecdotal evidence like a friend's recommendation over statistical data (C).

Question 8

Seeing faces in the clouds is an example of
A) pareidolia.
B) subjective validation.
C) confirmation bias.
D) availability error.
E) the representativeness heuristic.

Accepted Answer

Pareidolia is the psychological phenomenon where people see recognizable patterns, such as faces, in unrelated or random stimuli, like clouds.

Question 9

The assumption that like causes like is known as
A) representativeness heuristic.
B) availability error.
C) confirmation bias.
D) subjective validation.

Accepted Answer

The representativeness heuristic is a mental shortcut that involves making a probability judgment by comparing an object or event to a prototype of the object or event. It often leads to the assumption that like causes like, as individuals assume that if two things are similar in one or more aspects, they are likely similar in other aspects as well.

Question 10

Perception is
A) always accurate.
B) always inaccurate.
C) constructive.
D) destructive.

Accepted Answer

Perception is constructive because it involves interpreting and making sense of sensory information from the environment, rather than merely recording it accurately or inaccurately. This process is influenced by an individual's past experiences, expectations, and the context in which the information is received, leading to a constructed perception of reality.

Question 11

_________ occurs when we look for and recognize only evidence that confirms our theories.
A) Representativeness heuristic
B) Availability error
C) Subjective validation
D) Confirmation bias

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses, while giving disproportionately less consideration to alternative possibilities.

Question 12

"The first thing that comes to mind is the one I think is most important" is an example of
A) representativeness heuristic.
B) availability error.
C) subjective validation.
D) confirmation bias.

Accepted Answer

The statement exemplifies the availability heuristic, a mental shortcut that relies on immediate examples that come to a person's mind when evaluating a specific topic, concept, decision, or question. The ease of recall makes the person believe that because it is the first thing that comes to mind, it is the most important, which may not always be accurate.

Question 13

"I only listen to information that supports my existing belief" is an example of
A) representativeness heuristic.
B) availability error.
C) subjective validation.
D) confirmation bias.

Accepted Answer

This statement is a classic example of confirmation bias, which is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.

Question 14

"Ulcers feel like nervous stomachs, so they must be caused by the same thing" is an example of
A) representativeness heuristic.
B) availability error.
C) subjective validation.
D) confirmation bias.

Accepted Answer

This statement is an example of the representativeness heuristic because it assumes that because two things appear similar (ulcers and nervous stomachs), they must be caused by the same thing, which is a cognitive shortcut that involves judging the probability of an event by how much it resembles other situations.

Question 15

How might the constructive nature of your perceptions play a role in what you experience while you're walking at night through a graveyard said to be visited by spirits of the dead?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How might the constructive nature of your...

Question 16

What are some of the factors that could influence the accuracy of your memory of an event that happened three years ago?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are some of the factors that...

Question 17

Let's say that an incredible coincidence occurs in your life, and your friend argues that the odds against the occurrence are so astronomical that the only explanation must be a paranormal one. What is wrong with this argument?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Let's say that an incredible coincidence occurs...

Question 18

How is it possible for the prophecies of Nostradamus to appear to be highly accurate and yet not be?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How is it possible for the prophecies...

Question 19

What is the principle that explains how much trust we should put in personal experience as reliable evidence?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the principle that explains how...

Question 20

What is the availability error? How does it affect our thinking?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the availability error? How does...

Quiz 4: Looking for Truth in Personal Experience

Much research suggests that perception is

Research on expectancy and perception shows that

The "face on Mars" is best explained as

A significant problem with the claim that Bigfoot exists is that

The Blondlot case of is a classic example of

Which one of the following isNOT an Anthropomorphic Bias?

The availability error

Seeing faces in the clouds is an example of

The assumption that like causes like is known as

Perception is

_________ occurs when we look for and recognize only evidence that confirms our theories.

"The first thing that comes to mind is the one I think is most important" is an example of

"I only listen to information that supports my existing belief" is an example of

"Ulcers feel like nervous stomachs, so they must be caused by the same thing" is an example of