Question 1

The trial-and-error method of solving problems is also known as ______________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The trial-and-error method of solving problems is...

Question 2

PET scans have demonstrated that when you are creating a visual image ____________.

Accepted Answer

PET scans have shown that when creating a visual image, the brain areas associated with stored knowledge send information to the visual cortex, allowing the creation of a mental representation of the image.

Question 3

In Kosslyn's "imaginary island" study,researchers found that it does take longer to view a mental image that _____________.

Accepted Answer

In Kosslyn's study, researchers found that it takes longer to view a mental image that is larger or covers more distance than one that is smaller and more compact. The other options were not tested in this particular study.

Question 4

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 ___________.

Accepted Answer

Algorithms are step-by-step procedures for solving problems, which is what Sally is doing each time she uses a formula to calculate an aspect of a geometric figure. Heuristics are general problem-solving strategies, and logarithms and convergence are not relevant to the scenario described.

Question 5

You ask a student to describe the path to his dorm room.The most likely way in which he will do this is to _________.

Accepted Answer

It is most likely that the student will walk through a mental image of the path and describe it as he does it because this method is more intuitive and relies on the person's spatial memory and navigation skills, rather than memorization or technology. However, it is possible that the student may also use other methods such as giving GPS coordinates or reciting a list of directions, but these are less likely scenarios.

Question 6

Which example would most people take longest to identify as a fruit (even though it technically is a fruit)?

Accepted Answer

Olives are often thought of as a vegetable, due to their culinary usage as a savory food, rather than a sweet and dessert-like fruit.

Question 7

Seventy percent of the students in a classroom are women and 30 percent are men.One student is described as ambitious,athletic,and assertive.Why are most people likely to think this description refers to a male student?

Accepted Answer

People are using the representativeness heuristic, which is a mental shortcut that relies on generalizations or stereotypes to make judgments. The perception that men are more likely to possess the qualities of ambition, athleticism, and assertiveness is a stereotype, and so people use this stereotype to make their judgment.

Question 8

Which is the most likely prototype for the concept "vehicle"?

Accepted Answer

A car is the most commonly thought of type of vehicle and it includes various types such as sedans, SUVs, trucks, and sports cars. It has the most features and capabilities compared to the other given options such as speed, capacity, power, and convenience.

Question 9

In problem solving,the term rule of thumb refers to ______________.

Accepted Answer

The term "rule of thumb" typically refers to a general principle or heuristic that is used as a rough guide for solving a problem or making a decision, rather than a specific step-by-step algorithm or mnemonic device. Therefore, the best choice would be A) heuristics, which are defined as problem-solving strategies that involve using shortcuts and practical experience to generate solutions that may not be guaranteed to be optimal.

Question 10

Concepts are ideas that represent ___________.

Accepted Answer

Concepts are mental representations of a class or category of objects, events, or activities. They help us organize information efficiently and make predictions about what we might encounter in the world.

Question 11

Kosslyn asked subjects if frogs have lips and a stubby tail.What did the subjects report?

Accepted Answer

This option suggests that the subjects mentally generated an image of a frog and then rotated it to search for the tail while considering the lack of lips. This approach is consistent with the mental rotation hypothesis proposed by Kosslyn.

Question 12

Don tells Ray he wants to get a new sports car.Ray immediately understands why,because he is familiar with the common characteristics of sports cars and knows what makes them different from family cars.Ray is using mental categories called ________.

Accepted Answer

Ray is using mental categories called concepts, which are mental representations of objects, events, or ideas that share common characteristics.

Question 13

Before enrolling in an abnormal psychology course,Gary's idea of psychological disorders had been influenced primarily by talk shows.He expected to hear the same kinds of stories he had heard on talk shows.What an eye-opening experience the course turned out to be! How would a cognitive psychologist describe the influence the course had on Gary's idea of psychological disorders?

Accepted Answer

A cognitive psychologist would describe the influence the course had on Gary's idea of psychological disorders as altering his concept of psychological disorders. This suggests a change in his cognitive schema or mental representation of psychological disorders.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

An algorithmic method is a systematic method that guarantees a solution, provided that one exists. Algorithmic methods consist of a set of steps and rules that lead to a solution, such as a mathematical formula or computer program. Heuristic methods, mnemonic devices, and cognitive shortcuts are not guaranteed to provide a solution, as they rely on assumptions and shortcuts rather than strictly defined steps.

Question 15

Compared to formal concepts learned in science and math,natural concepts tend to be ____________.

Accepted Answer

Natural concepts are often based on our experiences and perceptions of the world, making them subjective and variable in their boundaries. They may also be influenced by culture and context, further contributing to their fuzziness. In contrast, formal concepts learned in science and math are typically well-defined and have clear boundaries. Therefore, option C is the best choice.

Question 16

What problem-solving strategies don't guarantee solutions but make efficient use of time?

Accepted Answer

Heuristics are problem-solving strategies that don't guarantee a solution, but they make efficient use of time by providing a mental shortcut for quickly coming up with a possible solution or decision. Unlike algorithms, heuristics don't follow a set of predefined steps, but instead rely on experience, intuition, or common sense to guide thinking. Mnemonic devices and cognitive shortcuts are also useful for remembering information or making decisions quickly but are not necessarily problem-solving strategies.

Question 17

When people are asked to say how many windows they have in their dwelling,the amount of time people take to come up with the answer ______________.

Accepted Answer

The time it takes for people to answer how many windows they have in their dwelling generally depends on the number of windows. This is because people typically need to mentally count or recall the number of windows, and more windows would likely require more time to count or recall accurately.

Question 18

Narcolepsy occurs when ______________.

Accepted Answer

Narcolepsy occurs when there is an intrusion of REM sleep into wakefulness, leading to excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden episodes of falling asleep.

Question 19

Which of the following conditions would you least like the pilot flying your airplane to have?

Accepted Answer

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by sudden bouts of sleepiness or falling asleep uncontrollably. This could be extremely dangerous for a pilot during a flight, as they may fall asleep at the controls or have difficulty staying awake during critical phases of the flight. The other conditions listed (enuresis, sleep terror, daytime insomnia) may also impact a pilot's performance but are not as immediately dangerous as narcolepsy.

Question 20

What are mental categories representing activities,objects,qualities,or situations that share some common characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Mental categories that represent activities, objects, qualities, or situations that share some common characteristics are known as concepts. Classes, attributes, and classifications are related terms but do not specifically refer to these mental categories.

Quiz 6: A: Consciousness and Cognition