Question 1

Mary is majoring in drama. Mary's parents want her to study advanced mathematics as a way of strengthening her mind, and argue that, when she is in a play, she will be able to learn her lines more easily. Based on their reasoning, which one of the following theories of transfer do Mary's parents believe?
A) Formal discipline
B) Behaviorism
C) Information processing theory
D) Situated learning

Accepted Answer

Mary's parents are advocating for the theory of formal discipline, which suggests that mastering one subject area can improve performance in other unrelated areas by strengthening general mental abilities. In this case, they believe that studying advanced mathematics will improve Mary's cognitive abilities, making it easier for her to learn lines for her drama classes.

Question 2

Which one of the following is the best example of inert knowledge?
A) Kate is surprised to learn that Winston Churchill, Great Britain's prime minister during World War II, lost his battle for reelection in 1945.
B) Wally knows how to multiply and divide fractions but doesn't realize he can use this knowledge when he needs to adjust measurements in a cake recipe.
C) In his everyday speech, Quincy correctly uses irregular verbs
D) After breaking her leg, Paisley is unable to play basketball for several months.
E)g., go, went, have gone), but he can't explain the difference between regular and irregular verbs.

Accepted Answer

Inert knowledge refers to knowledge that one possesses but fails to apply or transfer it to different contexts. Wally knows how to multiply and divide fractions but does not realize he can apply this knowledge to adjust measurements in a cake recipe, which is an example of inert knowledge. The other options do not demonstrate inert knowledge.

Question 3

Which one of the following most clearly illustrates general as opposed to specific) transfer?
A) The skill Arnold has developed as a marathon runner helps him later in life when he jogs for exercise.
B) Brian has learned study skills in his history class that he also finds useful in his English literature class.
C) Conway's knowledge of addition and subtraction helps him learn accounting procedures.
D) David's knowledge of the human digestive system helps him understand the digestive system of an earthworm.

Accepted Answer

General transfer refers to the application of skills or knowledge from one context to a broad range of other contexts. Brian's ability to use study skills learned in history class across different subjects, like English literature, exemplifies this concept of general transfer, as these skills are applicable in a wide variety of learning situations.

Question 4

Which one of the following pieces of advice is most consistent with current beliefs about transfer?
A) "Take calculus to help you develop your critical thinking skills."
B) "Study German so that you'll have an easier time learning Japanese next year."
C) "Taking an advanced history class will help you think more abstractly about the various subjects you will study in college."
D) "Use your knowledge of algebra to simplify this chemistry equation."

Accepted Answer

The concept of transfer involves applying knowledge and skills learned in one context to new contexts. The advice to use algebra knowledge to simplify a chemistry equation is a direct application of mathematical skills to solve problems in another domain (chemistry), which aligns with current understandings of how transfer works.

Question 5

Which one of the following teachers is clearly keeping the notion of situated learning in mind as he or she helps students transfer what they are learning in school?
A) Ms. Sporer asks her students to speculate about what might have happened if the Europeans had not "discovered" the New World until the 1800s.
B) Mr. Mendoza makes sure that each one of the students in his instrumental music class knows the difference between the treble and bass clefs.
C) Ms. Sabih gives each of her elementary art students a hunk of clay and then says, "I'd like you to mold your clay into a mythical creature of some kind-into an animal that no one has ever seen before."
D) Mr. Gerberg takes his middle school math students to the grocery store so that they can use their math skills to do some comparison shopping.

Accepted Answer

Mr. Gerberg is applying situated learning by engaging students in a real-world context (the grocery store) where they can directly apply the math skills they are learning in a practical, everyday situation. This helps students see the relevance of their learning and facilitates the transfer of knowledge to new contexts.

Question 6

Considering factors that affect transfer, identify the group of students most likely to transfer what they are learning.
A) Students in Mr. Allen's geography class are studying several countries this week, memorizing the locations of their rivers and major cities.
B) Students in Ms. Elbert's music class are practicing major chords in different keys this semester, practicing each one in a variety of songs.
C) Students in Mr. Ivy's science class are studying the characteristics of mammals and reptiles this week.
D) Students in Ms. Martin's social studies class are studying major events in the history of Mexico this month, beginning with the Aztec empire and continuing until the present time.

Accepted Answer

Students in Ms. Elbert's music class are practicing a specific skill (major chords in different keys) in a variety of contexts (different songs). This allows for the skill to be applied and transferred to new songs and situations. The other classes are focused on rote memorization (geography, science) or specific historical events (social studies), which may not lend themselves as easily to transfer.

Question 7

In English, the word llama is pronounced "LA-MA." In Spanish, llama is more typically pronounced as "YA-MA" or "JA-MA," depending on the dialect. Analyzing this situation in terms of the similarity of stimuli and responses, we can predict that a person who first learns to read the word in English and then learns to read it in Spanish will:
A) Benefit from positive transfer
B) Suffer from negative transfer
C) Have little or no transfer from one language to the other
D) Benefit from positive transfer only if the two languages are learned close together in time

Accepted Answer

The difference in pronunciation of the word llama between English and Spanish is significant enough that it can cause interference, or negative transfer, in the second language. This is because the stimuli (the written word) is the same but the response (the pronunciation) is different. Therefore, a person who first learns to read the word in English and then learns to read it in Spanish may struggle with the different pronunciation and experience negative transfer.

Question 8

Nathan has been playing golf with his parents for many years. When he goes out for the school baseball team, he has trouble hitting the ball because he keeps confusing the swing of the bat with how he swings a golf club. Nathan's difficulty is the result of:
A) Vertical transfer
B) Mental set in problem solving
C) Rote learning
D) Negative transfer

Accepted Answer

Nathan is experiencing negative transfer, where the previously learned skill of golf is interfering with his ability to learn a new skill of baseball.

Question 9

Francis learns that the Spanish word malo means "bad." He later learns that the French word mal also means "bad." Analyzing this situation in terms of the similarity of stimuli and responses, we can predict that Francis will:
A) Probably have positive transfer from one language to the other
B) Probably have negative transfer from one language to the other
C) Have positive transfer from Spanish to French, but negative transfer from French to Spanish
D) Have positive transfer from French to Spanish, but negative transfer from Spanish to French

Accepted Answer

The stimuli (the words malo and mal) are very similar and have the same meaning, so Francis is likely to have positive transfer from one language to the other. This means that his knowledge of one language will facilitate his learning of the other language.

Question 10

Considering contemporary theorists' views on general transfer, which one of the following skills is most likely to transfer across very different situations?
A) The ability to take good notes on a lecture
B) The ability to remember complex ideas
C) The ability to memorize a poem
D) The ability to solve challenging problems

Accepted Answer

The answer of Considering contemporary theorists' views on general transfer,...

Question 11

Which one of the following illustrates positive transfer?
A) Robert is trying to learn the spelling of the word shepherd. He remembers that he learned to spell tomcat by putting two words together and so writes "sheepherd."
B) Vince notices that rules of grammar are not always the same in English and Japanese.
C) Zelda uses the formula for calculating the area of a circle when she wants to know how much bigger a 10-inch pizza is than a 7-inch pizza.
D) David is trying to learn to program a computer. He reads his programming manual but is confused by some of its instructions.

Accepted Answer

Positive transfer occurs when previously learned knowledge or skills help in learning something new. In this case, Zelda is using the formula for calculating the area of a circle to solve a problem related to the size of pizzas, which is an example of positive transfer. Choice A is an example of negative transfer, as Robert's previous learning led to an incorrect answer. Choice B is an example of neutral transfer, as Vince is simply noting a difference between two languages. Choice D does not provide enough information to determine if it is an example of positive, negative, or neutral transfer.

Question 12

Which one of the following is the best example of negative transfer?
A) Nell thinks that 5.75 is bigger than 5.9, because the former has more digits.
B) Fred knows he can get Bs in his classes without having to study at all.
C) José can't remember when the American Civil War started, so he recalls all he can about American history and concludes that the war must have taken place in the 1860s.
D) Edie wants to tie a string securely to her pencil so that she can hang it from her notebook, but she has forgotten how to tie a square knot.

Accepted Answer

Negative transfer occurs when learning in one context or with one set of materials adversely affects performance in another context or with another set of materials. Nell's misunderstanding of numerical value due to the number of digits is an example of negative transfer from understanding of whole numbers to understanding of decimal numbers.

Question 13

According to Thorndike's theory of identical elements, in which one of the following situations are we most likely to find positive transfer?
A) Alice learns how to plant corn and then learns how to prune a hedge.
B) Brianne learns how to add 2-digit numbers and then learns how to add 3-digit numbers.
C) Cathy learns early British history and then learns early Japanese history.
D) Devlin learns how to play softball and then learns how to play poker.

Accepted Answer

According to Thorndike's theory of identical elements, positive transfer occurs when two tasks share similar elements, such as principles or strategies. In option B, Brianne is learning to add numbers of increasing digits, which requires the same basic principles of addition. Therefore, the positive transfer is most likely to occur between these two tasks. In the other options, the tasks do not share enough identical elements to produce positive transfer.

Question 14

Imagine that you learn a formula for calculating the volume of a cylinder. You practice using the formula by working on problems such as this one: How much water could you hold in a glass that is 10 cm. in diameter and 15 cm. tall? Later, on a quiz, you are given the following four problems that can be solved using the same formula. Which one of them most obviously requires far rather than near) transfer?
A) A frozen food company wants to know how much frozen orange juice it can put in a can that is 7 cm. in diameter and 12 cm. long.
B) A dairy farmer wants to know how much milk he can store in a metal drum that is 1 meter in diameter and 3 meters in height.
C) A manufacturer of office supplies wants to know how many thumbtacks it can put in a round plastic container that is four inches across and one inch high. It estimates that one cubic inch can hold about 10 tacks.
D) A maple syrup distributor in Vermont wants to know how much syrup it can put in a bottle that is 20 cm. tall and 6 cm. in diameter.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer requires far transfer because it involves converting units (inches to cubic inches and then to the number of thumbtacks), which adds an extra step not present in the original problem or the other options, which directly ask for volume in consistent units.

Question 15

Ms. Kaehler is hoping that the students in her mathematics class will transfer the things they learn in class to real-world situations. Which one of the following things should she not do?
A) Help students understand the logic behind mathematical procedures.
B) Make sure that students master each topic before moving to the next one.
C) Have students practice basic arithmetic operations on just one or two vivid examples.
D) Teach students general principles more than specific facts.

Accepted Answer

Having students practice on just one or two vivid examples may not allow them to transfer their learning to different, real-world situations. It is important for students to be exposed to a variety of examples and contexts in order to generalize their understanding and apply it to new situations.

Question 16

Which one of the following examples best illustrates the notion of situated learning as it relates to transfer?
A) When Rachel learns the concept inertia, she immediately recalls a variety of real-world phenomena that the concept can account for.
B) Lucinda doesn't enjoy her history class because her teacher expects students to memorize a lot of names, dates, and places.
C) Eleanor enjoys physical education class because she always feels more energized afterward.
D) It doesn't occur to Jennie that she can use algebra to solve a problem in her chemistry class.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which one of the following examples best...

Question 17

Mary's parents want her to study advanced mathematics as a way of helping her remember her lines in theater productions. Considering research on transfer, are Mary's parents correct? Will studying advanced mathematics help Mary learn her lines more readily?
A) Probably
B) Only if Mary studies mathematics for an extended period of time
C) Only if Mary studies abstract concepts
D) Probably not

Accepted Answer

Research on transfer suggests that skills and knowledge are often specific to the context in which they are learned or acquired. Therefore, studying advanced mathematics may not necessarily help Mary with remembering her lines in theater productions.

Question 18

Leo has recently studied the principle of reinforcement in his psychology class. He is now trying to teach his daughter good table manners. From an information processing perspective of transfer, is Leo likely to use the principle of reinforcement in helping his daughter learn manners?
A) Definitely yes
B) Definitely no
C) Only if he retrieves the principle of reinforcement at the time he is teaching his daughter
D) Only if he has previously learned the principle of reinforcement to a level of automaticity

Accepted Answer

According to the information processing perspective of transfer, transfer occurs when previously learned knowledge or skills are retrieved and applied to a new situation. Therefore, if Leo retrieves the principle of reinforcement at the time he is teaching his daughter, he is likely to use it to help her learn good table manners. However, if he has not previously learned the principle of reinforcement or has not learned it to a level of automaticity, he may not be able to retrieve it and apply it in the new situation. Therefore, it is not definite that he will use the principle of reinforcement, but it is possible if he retrieves it at the time of teaching his daughter.

Question 19

Which one of the following most clearly illustrates vertical as opposed to lateral) transfer?
A) The skill Arnold has developed as a marathon runner helps him later in life when he jogs for exercise.
B) Brian has learned study skills in his history class that he also finds useful in his English literature class.
C) Conway's knowledge of addition and subtraction helps him learn accounting procedures.
D) David's knowledge of the human digestive system helps him understand the digestive system of an earthworm.

Accepted Answer

Vertical transfer refers to the transfer of knowledge or skills from one domain to another, where one domain is more general and the other is more specific. In option C, Conway's knowledge of addition and subtraction (the general domain) helps him learn accounting procedures (the specific domain). This illustrates vertical transfer because the knowledge and skills are being applied in a more specific and specialized field than where they were originally learned.

Question 20

Weston is working on a science project and wants to make his papier-mâché volcano "erupt." He remembers that when his mother combined vinegar and baking soda while following a recipe, the batter foamed up as she added the vinegar. So he tries mixing vinegar and baking soda in his volcano, and the mixture bubbles. Weston is showing:
A) General transfer
B) Intuitive transfer
C) Negative transfer
D) Specific transfer

Accepted Answer

Specific transfer refers to the application of previously learned skills or knowledge to a new, similar task. In this case, Weston is applying his understanding of the reaction between vinegar and baking soda that he learned from his mother's recipe to his papier-mâché volcano project. This is an example of specific transfer because he is using his prior knowledge in a very specific and similar context.

Quiz 13: Transfer, Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking Chapter 13 Transfer, Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions

Which one of the following is the best example of inert knowledge?

Which one of the following most clearly illustrates general as opposed to specific) transfer?

Which one of the following pieces of advice is most consistent with current beliefs about transfer?

Which one of the following teachers is clearly keeping the notion of situated learning in mind as he or she helps students transfer what they are learning in school?

Considering factors that affect transfer, identify the group of students most likely to transfer what they are learning.

Nathan has been playing golf with his parents for many years. When he goes out for the school baseball team, he has trouble hitting the ball because he keeps confusing the swing of the bat with how he swings a golf club. Nathan's difficulty is the result of:

Francis learns that the Spanish word malo means "bad." He later learns that the French word mal also means "bad." Analyzing this situation in terms of the similarity of stimuli and responses, we can predict that Francis will:

Considering contemporary theorists' views on general transfer, which one of the following skills is most likely to transfer across very different situations?

Which one of the following illustrates positive transfer?

Which one of the following is the best example of negative transfer?

According to Thorndike's theory of identical elements, in which one of the following situations are we most likely to find positive transfer?

Ms. Kaehler is hoping that the students in her mathematics class will transfer the things they learn in class to real-world situations. Which one of the following things should she not do?

Which one of the following examples best illustrates the notion of situated learning as it relates to transfer?

Mary's parents want her to study advanced mathematics as a way of helping her remember her lines in theater productions. Considering research on transfer, are Mary's parents correct? Will studying advanced mathematics help Mary learn her lines more readily?

Leo has recently studied the principle of reinforcement in his psychology class. He is now trying to teach his daughter good table manners. From an information processing perspective of transfer, is Leo likely to use the principle of reinforcement in helping his daughter learn manners?

Which one of the following most clearly illustrates vertical as opposed to lateral) transfer?