As part of his homework assignment, Kenny memorized the names of all the planets in the solar system, learned the distance between the Earth and the Sun, decided what items he still needed to research in the library, and spent some time daydreaming about space travel. In the most general sense, Kenny was engaged in:
A) thinking.
B) functional fixedness.
C) constructing an algorithm.
D) developing a heuristic.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Kenny was engaged in thinking, which refers to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses. The other options do not accurately describe what Kenny was doing. Functional fixedness refers to a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. Constructing an algorithm refers to creating a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem. Developing a heuristic refers to using a mental shortcut or rule of thumb to make decisions or solve problems. None of these options accurately describe what Kenny was doing.

As Part of His Homework Assignment, Kenny Memorized the Names