Question 1

When a young scientist went hiking in the Swiss Alps, he found that the thorny burrs on some plants stuck to his pants and shirt. Rather than dismissing this trivial annoyance, the scientist took the burrs to his lab and analyzed their properties. His work eventually led to the invention of Velcro. This illustrates one aspect of creativity called:

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question is an example of problem finding, which involves recognizing opportunities for solving problems in unexpected situations or by looking at them in a different way. The scientist in the story saw the potential of the burrs and used his analytical skills to turn it into a solution for a problem he encountered in his daily life. This is a key element of creative thinking. The other options (algorithmic thinking, trial-and-error approaches, heuristic thinking) are not relevant to this particular example.

Question 2

When reminded of the stereotype of the "elderly as forgetful," older adults scored lower on a memory test than a matched group not given that reminder. This example illustrates:

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates stereotype threat, which is the phenomenon where individuals perform worse on a task when reminded of negative stereotypes about their social group. In this case, the stereotype of elderly people being forgetful led to lower performance on a memory test.

Question 3

_____ refers to a group of cognitive processes used to generate useful, original, and novel ideas or solutions.

Accepted Answer

Creativity refers to the ability to generate new ideas or solutions. It involves divergent thinking, breaking away from traditional or established ways of thinking, and exploring different possibilities. Intuition refers to making decisions based on unconscious or instinctive feelings, while insight is a sudden realization or discovery. Functional fixedness refers to a cognitive bias where individuals perceive an object only in terms of its common use or function, limiting their ability to think creatively about it.

Question 4

Cross-cultural research has found that members of stigmatized groups in many societies tend to _____ on intelligence tests as/than members of dominant social groups, even if the stigmatized group members are of the same race as the dominant group.

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently found that members of stigmatized groups tend to score lower on intelligence tests than members of dominant social groups, even if they are of the same race or ethnic group. The difference in scores can be as much as 10 to 15 points lower.

Question 5

Which of the following is the best example of the phenomenon called stereotype threat?

Accepted Answer

Stereotype threat refers to the phenomenon where individuals belonging to a group that is negatively stereotyped in a particular area (in this case, females and their ability to succeed in math) perform worse on tasks related to that area if they are made aware of the stereotype prior to or during the task. In this example, Hannah's poor performance on the calculus final can be attributed to her awareness of the negative stereotype about females and math, which could have affected her confidence and performance. The other options are not examples of stereotype threat.

Question 6

Factors such as motivation, expectations, attitudes toward test-taking, previous experience with tests, and use of different strategies in problem solving may affect performance and test scores. The textbook notes that these factors:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that cultural differences in test-taking behavior can be attributed to factors such as motivation, attitudes, and previous experience with tests. However, these factors do not "explain all aspects of individual, racial, and ethnic differences in IQ scores" (A), nor do they have "little or no influence on differences in IQ scores" (C). It is also incorrect to suggest that these factors are "less likely than genetics to influence IQ scores" (D), as both genetics and environmental factors play a role in determining IQ.

Question 7

In a driving simulator, women who were reminded of the stereotype that females are bad drivers were more than twice as likely to run over pedestrians as women who were not reminded of the stereotype. This example illustrates:

Accepted Answer

This example demonstrates the phenomenon of stereotype threat, where individuals who are reminded of negative stereotypes about their group's abilities may experience increased anxiety and perform worse on tasks related to that stereotype. In this case, reminding women of the stereotype that they are bad drivers led to increased anxiety and poorer performance in a driving simulator task.

Question 8

The Buraku people of Japan, who other Japanese look down upon and whose IQ scores are 10 to 15 points below mainstream Japanese, illustrate the fact that:

Accepted Answer

The Buraku people's lower IQ scores can be attributed to social discrimination, as opposed to genetic or fixed factors. This illustrates that environmental factors, such as discrimination and access to resources and education, can affect IQ scores.

Question 9

The act of creativity is typically:

Accepted Answer

Creativity often involves identifying new solutions to problems or challenges, whether it is in the arts, sciences, business, or any other area. Creative individuals are often able to approach problems from unique perspectives and find innovative solutions that others may not have considered.

Answer: B is incorrect because creativity can extend beyond artistic expression and can be found in other domains such as scientific research, technology, business, and so on. 
Answer: C is incorrect because creativity can also be motivated by extrinsic rewards, such as financial incentives, recognition, or competitive advantage.
Answer: D is incorrect because creativity is a common human attribute, seen in a variety of forms, and displayed by people of all ages and backgrounds.

Question 10

When tests were described as measuring intelligence, Hispanic students performed more poorly than white students; children from a low socioeconomic background performed more poorly than students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds; and social science majors scored lower than natural science majors. These examples all illustrate:

Accepted Answer

These examples illustrate stereotype threat, which refers to the phenomenon where individuals perform worse on a task because of the fear of confirming a negative stereotype about their group. In the described scenarios, the negative stereotypes were about the intelligence of Hispanic students, the lower socioeconomic status of certain students, and the perceived inferiority of social science majors compared to natural science majors. The fear of confirming these stereotypes may have contributed to the lower performance of these groups on the tests described.

Question 11

Being motivated by a challenge and a personal sense of satisfaction is to _____ as being motivated by rewards such as money, grades, or fame is to _____.

Accepted Answer

The first blank describes intrinsic motivation, which comes from within and is driven by personal satisfaction or enjoyment. The second blank describes extrinsic motivation, which comes from external rewards or incentives. Therefore, the correct choice is C, intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation, respectively.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about creativity is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Research shows that everyone has the potential for creativity and that creativity can be developed through practice and effort. It is not limited to a select few individuals.

Question 13

Your textbook discussed research on the effects of stereotype threat involving all of the following stereotypes EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Research on stereotype threat has primarily focused on race, age, and gender, rather than physical appearance.

Question 14

Which of the following does the Enhancing Well-Being with Psychology feature in your text NOT suggest as a way to enhance creativity?

Accepted Answer

The Enhancing Well-Being with Psychology feature suggests that to enhance creativity, one should acquire relevant knowledge, try different approaches, and engage in problem finding. However, they do not suggest using the additive model as a way to enhance creativity.

Question 15

When Dr. Cera, an expert on intelligence testing, is asked if it is possible to design an intelligence test that is culture-free, she is most likely to suggest that it is:

Accepted Answer

Intelligence tests are not culture-free because they are based on the norms, values, and communication strategies of the culture from which they originate. It is difficult to design an intelligence test that is free of cultural bias, as every culture has its own unique set of values, norms, and ways of communicating. Therefore, Dr. Cera is most likely to suggest that it is not possible to design a culture-free intelligence test.

Question 16

When a test was described as measuring "problem-solving skills," African American students did just as well as white students. But when told that the same test measured "intellectual ability," African American students scored lower than white students. This example illustrates:

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates stereotype threat, which is the phenomenon where awareness of negative stereotypes about a group can lead individuals in that group to underperform on tasks related to the stereotype. In this case, the stereotype that African Americans are intellectually inferior to whites had a negative impact on their performance when the test was framed as measuring intellectual ability.

Question 17

One way to creatively generate new ideas is to consider a problem from different angles or from a variety of perspectives, a technique that is called:

Accepted Answer

Divergent thinking involves exploring multiple possible solutions or perspectives for a problem, which can lead to novel and creative ideas. The other options (A, B, and C) do not involve the same level of exploration and brainstorming.

Question 18

When reminded of the "elderly as wise" stereotype, senior adults scored higher on a memory test than those who were not reminded of that positive stereotype. This example illustrates:

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates the phenomenon of stereotype lift, where being reminded of a positive stereotype about one's social group can improve performance on a task related to that stereotype. In this case, the positive stereotype of elderly people being wise led to improved performance on a memory test for senior adults. It is not neurotypical threat or stereotype threat as there is no indication of any negative stereotype or anxiety associated with the task.

Question 19

In many societies, the average IQ scores of minority groups are lower than the average IQ scores of the dominant or majority groups. Why can't heritability estimates be used to explain group differences in intelligence?

Accepted Answer

Heritability estimates are based on comparisons of individual genetic variations within a specific population. It is impossible to compare group differences in intelligence solely on the basis of genetic differences because such comparisons must control for environmental factors. Unless the environmental conditions of two racial groups are virtually identical, it is impossible to estimate the overall genetic differences between the two groups. Therefore, heritability estimates cannot be used to explain group differences in intelligence.

Question 20

When Louis Pasteur said, "Chance favors the prepared mind," he was talking about one particular ingredient that is central to creative thinking. What is that ingredient?

Accepted Answer

The ingredient that Pasteur was referring to is acquiring relevant knowledge. This means that in order to be able to come up with creative solutions or ideas, one must have a solid foundation of knowledge on the subject matter. This allows one to make connections between seemingly unrelated information, and to see patterns or possibilities that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Without knowledge, one may not even be aware of the problem or the need for a creative solution in the first place.

Quiz 7: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence