Question 1

Which term refers to the ability to begin with specifics, such as accumulated facts, and then make general conclusions?

Accepted Answer

Inductive reasoning refers to the ability to start with specific observations and use them to make generalizations or conclusions. It involves looking for patterns and using that information to form hypotheses or theories.

Question 2

In Inhelder and Piaget's balance experiment, a child who systematically tests the idea that the relationship between weight and distance is reciprocal is probably age _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In Inhelder and Piaget's balance experiment, a...

Question 3

Using _____ thinking, a person might think, "If it barks like a dog and wags its tail like a dog, it must be a dog."

Accepted Answer

The statement "If it barks like a dog and wags its tail like a dog, it must be a dog" is an example of inductive reasoning, where a general conclusion is drawn based on specific observations or examples. The reasoning in this statement is based on past experiences and observations of dogs, and the assumption that this specific creature exhibits the same characteristics as dogs.

Question 4

An adolescent is told that a person riding the bus is reading the New York Times. The adolescent is asked if the person is more likely to have no college degree or if the person is more likely to have a Ph.D. The adolescent responds that the person is more likely to have a Ph.D. The correct answer, however, is that the person is more likely to have no college degree. The adolescent has experienced _____.

Accepted Answer

The adolescent is neglecting the base rate, which is the statistical likelihood of an event based on prior knowledge or general information. In this case, the base rate is that a random person riding the bus is more likely to have no college degree than to have a Ph.D. The adolescent is focusing on the specific information given (reading the New York Times) and ignoring the base rate. This is an example of base rate neglect.

Question 5

Deductive reasoning is also referred to as _____ reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning is called top-down reasoning because it starts with a general rule or premise and uses it to reason about specific situations or cases. It's called "top-down" because the general rule or premise is at the top and the specific situation or case is at the bottom.

Question 6

Three different girls tell Brian that Titanic is their all-time favorite movie. He concludes that all girls love that movie. Brian has just used _____.

Accepted Answer

Brian has used inductive reasoning by observing a pattern in a small group and generalizing it to a larger group. However, his conclusion may not necessarily be true for all girls, as his sample size is too small to make a definitive conclusion.

Question 7

Reasoning that includes propositions and possibilities that may not reflect reality defines _____.

Accepted Answer

The definition given in the question best fits hypothetical thought, which involves considering possibilities and hypothetical scenarios that may not reflect reality. Inductive reasoning is a type of reasoning in which general principles are inferred from specific observations, and deductive reasoning involves drawing conclusions from established principles. Perceptual thought refers to the way we process information through our senses.

Question 8

One of the most prominent aspects of formal operational thought is the ability to _____.

Accepted Answer

One of the key features of formal operational thought, according to Piaget's theory, is the ability to think in terms of possibilities rather than just concrete realities. This includes the ability to consider hypothetical scenarios and engage in abstract reasoning. The other options listed are not specific to formal operational thought.

Question 9

Which statement is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Hypothetical thought involves considering possible scenarios or situations that do not currently exist in reality. It involves imagining and exploring different outcomes or possibilities. This type of thought is not necessarily tied to the everyday world or emotionally based, and it is actually a key aspect of formal operational thinking, not concrete operational thinking.

Question 10

What is an example of the sunk cost fallacy?

Accepted Answer

The sunk cost fallacy is the tendency to continue investing in something because of the resources already invested, even when it no longer makes sense to do so. Reading a book to the end despite being bored is a classic example of the sunk cost fallacy. The reader may feel that they have already invested too much time in the book and do not want to "waste" it, even if they are not enjoying the experience. Walking out of a movie or stopping painting a room because of personal preferences are not examples of the sunk cost fallacy. Sleeping in on the weekend is not related to the sunk cost fallacy at all.

Question 11

Richie just spent $1,000 fixing his car even though the mechanic told him the car will continue to need expensive repairs that may total more than the vehicle is worth. Richie is likely experiencing the _____.

Accepted Answer

The sunk cost fallacy is the tendency to continue investing in a decision or course of action because of the resources (time, money, effort) already invested, even if it may not be rational to do so. In this case, Richie has already invested $1,000 into fixing the car and may feel compelled to continue investing money into the car even if it is not worth it in the long run.

Question 12

In a study of adolescent agreement and disagreement with policies to remedy racial discrimination (Hughes & Bigler, 2011), most adolescents believed that racism was the cause of disparities between African and European Americans, but adolescents' ages influenced their ideas about solutions to the inequality. Those who were most likely to support systemic solutions (e.g., affirmative action and desegregation) were between the ages of _____.

Accepted Answer

According to the study, adolescents between the ages of 16 and 17 were most likely to support systemic solutions to remedy racial discrimination, such as affirmative action and desegregation.

Question 13

"If-then" propositions require _____.

Accepted Answer

"If-then" propositions involve making hypothetical statements and considering alternative possibilities, which requires the use of hypothetical thought. Option A (concrete thought) and B (operational thought) do not necessarily involve considering hypothetical scenarios, while option C (postformal thought) is a broader concept that encompasses various modes of thinking, including hypothetical thought.

Question 14

Which term refers to reasoning from a general statement, premise, or principle, through logical steps, to figure out specifics?

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning refers to the process of starting with a general statement, premise, or principle and reasoning logically to figure out specifics. It involves moving from the general to the specific, and relies on the premise that if the general statement is true, then the specific conclusions must also be true.

Question 15

Bottom-up reasoning is also referred to as _____ reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Bottom-up reasoning is a type of reasoning where specific observations or examples are used to develop a general theory or conclusion. This type of reasoning is also called inductive reasoning. Top-down reasoning, on the other hand, is when a general theory is used to develop specific hypotheses or predictions. Theoretical reasoning is a type of reasoning that uses abstract or hypothetical principles or ideas to understand a situation. Concrete reasoning is a type of reasoning that focuses on specific, tangible examples.

Question 16

When a person ignores the overall frequency of some behavior or characteristic when making a decision, it is called _____.

Accepted Answer

Base rate neglect is the tendency to ignore statistical information in favor of individual cases when making decisions. It means that a person is not taking into account the overall frequency of a behavior or characteristic when making a decision. Hypothetical thinking refers to considering possibilities and imaginary situations. Sunk cost fallacy refers to the tendency to continue investing in a project even when it no longer makes sense to do so. Concrete operational thinking is a stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development where children can think logically about concrete objects and events.

Question 17

All Christians believe in the Bible, and Josiah is a Christian; therefore Josiah believes in the Bible. This is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of deductive reasoning because it uses a general premise (all Christians believe in the Bible) to draw a specific conclusion (Josiah believes in the Bible).

Question 18

Justine is 14 years old. Her parents are frequently annoyed because Justine tends to ask critical questions such as, "Why can't I have wine with dinner? You do," or "I don't understand why I'll be able to vote when I'm 18, but I have to wait until I'm 21 to buy alcohol!" This demonstrates Justine's _____.

Accepted Answer

Justine's questions reflect hypothetical thinking, as she is considering situations and questioning societal rules and norms that do not directly apply to her current state but could in the future. This type of thinking is characteristic of the formal operational stage of cognitive development, which typically begins around the age of 12.

Question 19

Elle, an adolescent, believes that government should pay for all citizens' health care. From this premise, she reasons about the particulars of how and why government-funded health care would work. This is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

Elle is using deductive reasoning, which starts with a general premise and then reasons down to specific instances or conclusions based on that general premise. In this case, the general premise is that government should pay for all citizens' health care, and she reasons from there to the particulars of how and why it would work.

Question 20

The mistaken belief that if money, time, or effort that cannot be recovered has already been invested in some endeavor, more should be invested in an effort to reach the goal is called _____.

Accepted Answer

The mistaken belief that if money, time, or effort that cannot be recovered has already been invested in some endeavor, more should be invested in an effort to reach the goal is called the sunk cost fallacy. This fallacy can lead to irrational decision-making and can cause individuals to act against their best interests.

Quiz 15: Seciton 3: Adolescence: Cognitive Development