Question 1

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

Psychologists use the term confirmation bias to describe our tendency to search for evidence that supports our belief and to ignore evidence that might disprove it.

Question 2

The ability to produce solutions to problems by combining ideas or behavior in new ways is called ____________.
A)creativity
B)insight
C)heuristics
D)latent learning

Accepted Answer

Creativity involves the ability to produce novel and useful ideas or solutions by combining existing ideas or behaviors in new ways. Insight refers to the sudden understanding or solution to a problem that was previously not apparent, and may be a component of creativity. Heuristics refer to problem-solving strategies that are typically efficient but do not guarantee a correct solution. Latent learning refers to learning that occurs without obvious reinforcement or motivation.

Question 3

___________ thinking works well for routine problem solving but may be of little use when a more creative solution is needed.
A)Heuristic
B)Divergent
C)Insightful
D)Convergent

Accepted Answer

Convergent thinking involves narrowing down multiple solutions to a single, correct answer. While it can be effective for routine problem solving, it doesn't allow for much creativity or innovation. On the other hand, divergent thinking generates multiple unique solutions to a problem, while insightful thinking includes sudden breakthroughs or "eureka moments." Therefore, D is the best choice for this scenario.

Question 4

Agatha Harkness-Smythe is determined to ban guns in the United States.This is a controversial topic and social scientists have debated whether the ownership of guns by citizens increases or decreases crime.Agatha could go to the library and look up studies on the linkage between guns and crime rates.Instead,Agatha just reads the local newspaper and only cuts out articles about robberies in which the "bad guy" used a firearm.Agatha is demonstrating ___________.
A)mental set
B)confirmation bias
C)stereotype threat
D)mindlessness

Accepted Answer

Agatha is demonstrating confirmation bias by only seeking out information that confirms her preexisting belief that guns should be banned. She is ignoring other studies and information that may provide a more balanced view of the issue.

Question 5

Which type of thinking is most closely related to creativity?
A)heuristic
B)divergent
C)insightful
D)convergent

Accepted Answer

Divergent thinking is most closely related to creativity, as it involves generating multiple solutions or ideas to a problem or situation. This is in contrast to convergent thinking, which focuses on finding the single correct or optimal solution. Heuristic thinking involves using shortcuts or rules of thumb to solve problems, while insightful thinking involves sudden realizations or understanding of a problem.

Question 6

The divergent thinking technique of starting with a central idea and drawing a "map" with lines from the center to other related ideas and then forming a mental image of the concepts and their connections is known as __________.
A)brainstorming
B)keeping a journal
C)free writing
D)mind or concept mapping

Accepted Answer

The description provided in the question matches the technique of mind mapping or concept mapping, where a central idea is visualized with branches extending to related concepts. Brainstorming, keeping a journal, and free writing are other divergent thinking techniques, but they do not involve the visualization of concepts in the same way as mind mapping.

Question 7

A loose screw on the visor causes it to drop down while Ben drives; however,he keeps forgetting to take a screwdriver out to the car to fix it.When he notices the visor drop again,he reaches into his pocket for a dime he uses to tighten the screw holding the visor.What problem-solving difficulty did Ben overcome?
A)relative comparison
B)functional fixedness
C)poor problem representation
D)the representative heuristic

Accepted Answer

Ben overcame functional fixedness by using a dime instead of a screwdriver to tighten the screw holding the visor.

Question 8

The tendency to perceive and approach problems in the same ways that have worked in the past is called __________.
A)mental set
B)means-end analysis
C)noncompensatory modeling
D)prototypical idealization

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of mental set, which is a cognitive bias that can limit problem solving abilities as it encourages relying on a familiar solution rather than exploring alternative options.

Question 9

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 10

What type of thinking could be described as taking different directions in search of a variety of answers to a question?
A)decisive
B)convergent
C)heuristic
D)divergent

Accepted Answer

Divergent thinking involves generating a variety of possible solutions to a problem or question. It contrasts with convergent thinking, which involves narrowing down possibilities to find the best solution. Heuristic thinking involves using shortcuts or rules of thumb to solve problems quickly, and decisive thinking involves making quick and confident decisions.

Question 11

The system of rules governing the structure and use of a language is known as __________.
A)morphemic rules
B)phonemic rules
C)grammar
D)linguistic relativity

Accepted Answer

Grammar is the term used to describe the system of rules that govern the structure and use of a language. Morphemic rules and phonemic rules are subsets of grammar that deal with specific aspects of language (morphology and phonology, respectively). Linguistic relativity refers to the idea that language influences thought and perception.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

The confirmation bias refers to our tendency to only accept and believe information that confirms our existing beliefs and values, while dismissing or ignoring information that challenges them. Therefore, we are most likely to believe information that agrees with our thinking, rather than information that refutes it.

Question 13

A group of businessmen and women get together to try to solve the problem of decreased sales of their company's products.One of them suggests that they generate as many ideas as they can in a short period of time without being critical of any of them.This technique of stimulating divergent thinking is called ____________.
A)brainstorming
B)keeping a journal
C)free writing
D)mind or concept mapping

Accepted Answer

The technique described in the scenario is brainstorming, which involves generating a large number of ideas in a short period of time without criticism or evaluation. Keeping a journal and free writing are individual techniques for personal reflection and creativity, while mind or concept mapping involves organizing and connecting ideas.

Question 14

According to famed linguist Noam Chomsky,humans have an innate ability to understand and produce language through a device he called
A)Syntax Synthesizer (SS)
B)Grammar Grabber (GG)
C)Language Acquisition Device (LAD)
D)Language Learning System (LLS)

Accepted Answer

Chomsky argued that humans are born with an innate ability to understand and produce language, which he called the Language Acquisition Device (LAD). This device helps children learn language rapidly and without the need for explicit teaching. The LAD is thought to be a part of the brain that contains a set of rules or principles that underlie all human language.

Question 15

The sentences "The dog bit the boy" and "The boy was bitten by the dog" have the same meaning,but differ in ________.
A)syntax
B)pragmatics
C)semantics
D)morphology

Accepted Answer

The sentences have the same semantics, meaning that they convey the same message. However, they differ in their syntax, or the way the words are arranged in the sentence. In the first sentence, "dog" is the subject and "boy" is the object, while in the second sentence, "boy" is the subject and "dog" is the object.

Question 16

A person starts from one point and comes up with many different ideas or possibilities based on that point.The person is engaging in _________.
A)functional thinking
B)circular thinking
C)convergent thinking
D)divergent thinking

Accepted Answer

Divergent thinking involves generating many different possibilities or ideas starting from one central point.

Question 17

Coming up with as many different uses of a brick as possible,such as using it for a doorstop,is a type of _________ thinking.
A)disordered
B)divergent
C)associative
D)convergent

Accepted Answer

Divergent thinking involves generating many different ideas and possibilities, such as coming up with multiple uses for a brick.

Question 18

The divergent thinking technique of writing down everything that comes to mind about a topic without revising or proofreading until all of the information is recorded and then organizing it later is known as ___________.
A)brainstorming
B)keeping a journal
C)freewriting
D)mind or concept mapping

Accepted Answer

The described technique of writing without revising or proofreading and then organizing later is commonly known as freewriting. Brainstorming typically involves generating a large number of ideas through group discussion, while keeping a journal is a personal practice of reflecting on one's experiences and thoughts. Mind or concept mapping involves creating a visual representation of ideas and their connections.

Question 19

Which of the following questions would be more likely to produce divergent thinking?
A)"What is a stapler?"
B)"How do you spell stapler?"
C)"How many uses can you think of for a stapler?"
D)"What does a stapler look like?"

Accepted Answer

This question prompts brainstorming and encourages generating multiple ideas, which is a characteristic of divergent thinking.

Question 20

Riley has figured out how to unlock his bedroom door with a paper cli
A)functional fixedness
B)the representational problem
C)the representative heuristic
D)the confirmation bias

Accepted Answer

Functional fixedness occurs when one thinks about an object only in terms of its typical function and doesn't see other potential uses. In this case, Riley may have initially only thought of the paper clip as a tool for holding paper together but then realized it could be used to unlock his door.

Quiz 6: Consciousness and Cognition

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?

The ability to produce solutions to problems by combining ideas or behavior in new ways is called ____________.

___________ thinking works well for routine problem solving but may be of little use when a more creative solution is needed.

Which type of thinking is most closely related to creativity?

The divergent thinking technique of starting with a central idea and drawing a "map" with lines from the center to other related ideas and then forming a mental image of the concepts and their connections is known as __________.

The tendency to perceive and approach problems in the same ways that have worked in the past is called __________.

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

What type of thinking could be described as taking different directions in search of a variety of answers to a question?

The system of rules governing the structure and use of a language is known as __________.

The concept of the confirmation bias specifically assumes that we are most likely to believe___________.

According to famed linguist Noam Chomsky,humans have an innate ability to understand and produce language through a device he called

The sentences "The dog bit the boy" and "The boy was bitten by the dog" have the same meaning,but differ in ________.

A person starts from one point and comes up with many different ideas or possibilities based on that point.The person is engaging in _________.

Coming up with as many different uses of a brick as possible,such as using it for a doorstop,is a type of _________ thinking.

The divergent thinking technique of writing down everything that comes to mind about a topic without revising or proofreading until all of the information is recorded and then organizing it later is known as ___________.

Which of the following questions would be more likely to produce divergent thinking?

Riley has figured out how to unlock his bedroom door with a paper cli