Question 1

Riley has figured out how to unlock his bedroom door with a paper clip. What has he most likely overcome in his new use of the paper clip?
A)functional fixedness
B)the representational problem
C)the representative heuristic
D)the confirmation bias

Accepted Answer

Functional fixedness refers to getting mentally stuck in the idea that a particular object can only be used in a singular way.

Question 2

The rules that determine how sounds and words can be combined and used to communicate meaning within a language are collectively known as _____
A)morphemic rules.
B)phonemic rules.
C)syntax.
D)linguistic relativity.

Accepted Answer

Syntax refers to the set of rules, principles, and processes that govern the structure of sentences in a given language, specifically the order of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.

Question 3

The danger of making decisions based on _____ is that our _____ will be too strong an influence.
A)means-ends analysis; confidence
B)algorithms; trust
C)anchoring; focus on many choices
D)intuition; emotion

Accepted Answer

Intuition (gut feeling, instincts)is powerfully influenced by our emotions, and relying on it, we may miss important information.

Question 4

Computer programs called _____ systems are designed to carry out specialized tasks in a limited domain, such as helping physicians diagnose blood diseases.
A)expert
B)knowledge
C)helper
D)artificial

Accepted Answer

Expert systems are designed to carry out specialized tasks in a limited domain, using knowledge and rules specific to that domain. They mimic the decision-making ability of a human expert in that domain.

Question 5

Wanda is sitting in her bedroom studying for finals. She has her psychology, statistics, sociology, and biology textbooks all lying on her bed as she is reading and taking notes from her history textbook. It is a hot and sunny but windy day, and Wanda's window is open. She is becoming frustrated that the wind keeps slamming her bedroom door shut. Eventually, Wanda keeps her window shut because she is so irritated. Of course, now her bedroom is getting much too warm, which is adding to her frustration. This problem could be easily solved by propping the door open if Wanda were not experiencing _____
A)functional fixedness.
B)a customary viewpoint.
C)cross-modal perception.
D)divergent thinking.

Accepted Answer

Wanda could have used her textbooks as a doorstopper if she didn't just see them as textbooks.

Question 6

Cacee knows she needs to stop procrastinating and start thinking about the research paper that is due in her Abnormal Psychology class in two weeks. Though it was assigned almost two months ago, she hasn't worked on it or thought about it at all. She decides that she'll first select a topic and then start collecting the published research on her topic. After that, she'll read the research and start to summarize it in the form of a paper. Once she gets that paper written, she'll revise it and make sure her APA referencing is correct. When she is done with all of those steps, she'll finally turn in the paper. _____ is the strategy that Cacee is using to get her paper done.
A)The analogy heuristic
B)The representativeness heuristic
C)Framing
D)Means-end analysis

Accepted Answer

Cacee is using a heuristic strategy in which the current position is compared with the desired goal and a series of steps are formulated and taken to close the gap between them.

Question 7

An advantage of using a computer to generate all possible solutions is that they are not limited by ____ like we are.
A)short-term memory
B)long-term memory
C)working memory
D)implicit memory

Accepted Answer

The limits of human working memory make carrying out such algorithms difficult or impossible.

Question 8

A system for combining symbols so that an infinite number of meaningful statements can be made is called _____
A)pragmatics.
B)language.
C)semantics.
D)grammar.

Accepted Answer

Language is the system that allows for the combination of symbols (such as words) in a way that enables the creation of an infinite number of meaningful statements or expressions.

Question 9

_____ occurs when a person sees only the original use of an object, which can ultimately interfere with problem solving.
A)Functional fixedness
B)A customary viewpoint
C)Cross-modal perception
D)Divergent thinking

Accepted Answer

This is an alternate explanation of functional fixedness.

Question 10

_____ is a heuristic strategy in which the current position is compared with the desired goal and a series of steps are formulated and taken to close the gap between them.
A)The analogy heuristic
B)The representativeness heuristic
C)Means-end analysis
D)Anchoring

Accepted Answer

The description matches the definition of means-end analysis, which is a problem-solving heuristic that involves comparing the current state with the desired goal state, identifying the differences between them, and formulating a series of steps or actions that will bring the two closer together. Choices A and B are not accurate descriptions of this strategy, while anchoring is a cognitive bias rather than a heuristic for problem-solving.

Question 11

Computer systems that are intended to mimic the human brain are called _____
A)expert systems.
B)artificial neural networks.
C)robots.
D)cyborgs.

Accepted Answer

Computer systems that are intended to mimic the human brain are called artificial neural networks. Expert systems are computer programs designed to simulate the problem-solving capabilities of a human expert. Robots are machines designed to carry out a complex series of actions automatically. Cyborgs are a hypothetical or fictional being with both human and artificial components.

Question 12

What term do psychologists use to describe our tendency to search for evidence that supports our belief and to ignore evidence that might disprove it?
A)confirmation bias
B)convergent thinking
C)availability heuristic
D)representativeness heuristic

Accepted Answer

This behavior is referred to as confirmation bias, which is the tendency to seek out information that confirms our beliefs or preconceptions and ignore evidence that contradicts them.

Question 13

What systematic problem-solving method guarantees a solution, provided that one exists?
A)heuristic method
B)algorithmic method
C)mnemonic device
D)cognitive shortcut

Accepted Answer

The algorithmic method guarantees a solution, provided that one exists, by following a step-by-step process or set of rules. This is different from heuristic methods, which may provide a solution but do not guarantee it, and cognitive shortcuts, which do not involve a systematic process. Mnemonic devices are memory aids and not problem-solving methods.

Question 14

Shay ran through her mind looking for any problem she had encountered that was at all like this one. She was hoping to use the _____ heuristic to help her find a strategy that would work.
A)availability
B)representative
C)means-end
D)analogy

Accepted Answer

Comparing a problem to those encountered before seeking a strategy that works on similar problems is called the analogy heuristic for problem solving.

Question 15

The failure to use familiar objects in novel ways to solve problems because of a tendency to view objects only in terms of their customary functions is called _____.
A)the impediment theory
B)functional fixedness
C)the formulaic heuristic
D)an algorithm

Accepted Answer

Functional fixedness refers to the cognitive bias or tendency to only see familiar objects in terms of their typical functions and not be able to envision unconventional uses for them. The other options are unrelated to this concept.

Question 16

The concept of confirmation bias specifically assumes that we are most likely to believe _____
A)the scientific method.
B)information that agrees with our thinking.
C)information that refutes our thinking.
D)logical thinking.

Accepted Answer

Our tendency to search for evidence that supports our belief and to ignore evidence that might disprove it is called confirmation bias.

Question 17

Agatha Plum is determined that having a gun is important for self-protection. Agatha could go to look up statistics about how many people save themselves from crime by using their gun, what the risk of being a victim of crime is in her area, and what the other side of the argument is all about. She notices only information that supports her position, though. She is demonstrating _____
A)mental set.
B)confirmation bias.
C)stereotype threat.
D)mindlessness.

Accepted Answer

Agatha is demonstrating confirmation bias by concerning herself only with information that backs up, or confirms, what she already believes.

Question 18

Maxwell is working on a challenging "mind bender" that is asking him to connect nine dots using only four lines without taking his pencil off the paper. The nine dots are placed in three groups of three in a square-like formation. Maxwell works on the problem for about fifteen minutes before he realizes that he has been employing the same ineffective strategy. He is forgetting to consider the special circumstances of that particular problem. As soon as he does consider the special circumstances of that particular problem, he'll increase his chances of solving the problem. Until then, Maxwell will continue to experience _____
A)functional fixedness.
B)the means-end analysis.
C)the affirming the consequent phenomenon.
D)a mental set.

Accepted Answer

Maxwell is demonstrating the tendency to apply a familiar strategy to a solution of a problem without carefully considering the special requirements of that problem.

Question 19

_____ refers to the way information is presented to emphasize either potential gain or potential loss as the outcome of our decision.
A)Algorithm
B)Heuristics
C)Framing
D)Prototyping

Accepted Answer

Framing refers to the way information is presented to emphasize either potential gain or potential loss as the outcome of our decision. Algorithms are step-by-step procedures for solving a problem, while heuristics are mental shortcuts that often result in quick but not necessarily accurate decision-making. Prototyping is the process of creating a preliminary model or design.

Question 20

Sally is enrolled in a high school geometry course, which she describes as "drawing figures and figuring drawings." In a typical class, students draw geometric figures and use a formula to calculate an aspect of the figure such as its area. Each time Sally uses a formula, she is making use of what psychologists call _____
A)heuristics.
B)logarithms.
C)algorithms.
D)convergence.

Accepted Answer

Sally is making use of algorithms because the rules will always produce a solution.

Quiz 7: Cognition, Language, and Intelligence

Riley has figured out how to unlock his bedroom door with a paper clip. What has he most likely overcome in his new use of the paper clip?

The rules that determine how sounds and words can be combined and used to communicate meaning within a language are collectively known as _____

The danger of making decisions based on _ is that our _ will be too strong an influence.

Computer programs called _____ systems are designed to carry out specialized tasks in a limited domain, such as helping physicians diagnose blood diseases.

An advantage of using a computer to generate all possible solutions is that they are not limited by ____ like we are.

A system for combining symbols so that an infinite number of meaningful statements can be made is called _____

_____ occurs when a person sees only the original use of an object, which can ultimately interfere with problem solving.

_____ is a heuristic strategy in which the current position is compared with the desired goal and a series of steps are formulated and taken to close the gap between them.

Computer systems that are intended to mimic the human brain are called _____

What term do psychologists use to describe our tendency to search for evidence that supports our belief and to ignore evidence that might disprove it?

What systematic problem-solving method guarantees a solution, provided that one exists?

Shay ran through her mind looking for any problem she had encountered that was at all like this one. She was hoping to use the _____ heuristic to help her find a strategy that would work.

The failure to use familiar objects in novel ways to solve problems because of a tendency to view objects only in terms of their customary functions is called _____.

The concept of confirmation bias specifically assumes that we are most likely to believe _____

_____ refers to the way information is presented to emphasize either potential gain or potential loss as the outcome of our decision.