Question 1

In problem solving, the term obstacles refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the situation at the beginning of problem solving. 
B)  the method by which people understand the problem. 
C)  restrictions that are encountered in problem solving. 
D)  the portion of a problem that you initially examine during problem solving. 
A)  the situation at the beginning of problem solving. 
B)  the method by which people understand the problem. 
C)  restrictions that are encountered in problem solving. 
D)  the portion of a problem that you initially examine during problem solving. C

Question 2

Which of the following students provides the best explanation for stereotype threat during problem solving?

Accepted Answer

A)  Alper: "Stereotype threat can usually be traced to overactive bottom-up processing." 
B)  Kristi: "Stereotype threat is basically caused by a growth mindset." 
C)  Kevin: "Stereotype threat typically occurs because people use parallel processing, rather problem-solving heuristics." 
D)  Nita: "Stereotype threat seems to cause a reduction in working memory, due to factors such as high arousal." 
A)  Alper: "Stereotype threat can usually be traced to overactive bottom-up processing." 
B)  Kristi: "Stereotype threat is basically caused by a growth mindset." 
C)  Kevin: "Stereotype threat typically occurs because people use parallel processing, rather problem-solving heuristics." 
D)  Nita: "Stereotype threat seems to cause a reduction in working memory, due to factors such as high arousal." D

Question 3

According to the introduction to the chapter on problem solving,

Accepted Answer

A)  the most useful problem-solving strategy is called the trial-and-error method. 
B)  people are likely to take a more passive approach when solving problems than when working on most other cognitive tasks. 
C)  people typically solve a problem by visualizing the goal state and ignoring the initial state. 
D)  people typically use problem-solving strategies that can produce a solution fairly quickly. 
A)  the most useful problem-solving strategy is called the trial-and-error method. 
B)  people are likely to take a more passive approach when solving problems than when working on most other cognitive tasks. 
C)  people typically solve a problem by visualizing the goal state and ignoring the initial state. 
D)  people typically use problem-solving strategies that can produce a solution fairly quickly. D

Question 4

If you solve a problem by using the solution strategy from an earlier problem, which of the following problem-solving strategies are you using?

Accepted Answer

A)  The General Problem Solver 
B)  Means-ends analysis 
C)  Analogy 
D)  Backward search 
A)  The General Problem Solver 
B)  Means-ends analysis 
C)  Analogy 
D)  Backward search

Question 5

According to the discussion of insight problems and noninsight problems,

Accepted Answer

A)  insight requires a sudden solution to a problem, without awareness that the problem has been successfully solved. 
B)  people solve insight problems more gradually than noninsight problems. 
C)  noninsight problems require more creativity than insight problems. 
D)  noninsight problems are typically solved in a systematic, one-step-at-a-time fashion. 
A)  insight requires a sudden solution to a problem, without awareness that the problem has been successfully solved. 
B)  people solve insight problems more gradually than noninsight problems. 
C)  noninsight problems require more creativity than insight problems. 
D)  noninsight problems are typically solved in a systematic, one-step-at-a-time fashion.

Question 6

In problem solving, a method that always produces a problem solution (though not necessarily very efficiently) is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  an algorithm. 
B)  a heuristic. 
C)  a matrix. 
D)  the hill-climbing heuristic. 
A)  an algorithm. 
B)  a heuristic. 
C)  a matrix. 
D)  the hill-climbing heuristic.

Question 7

One way that functional fixedness and mental set are similar to each other is that

Accepted Answer

A)  Both emphasize our reliance on bottom-up processing. 
B)  Both show that we rely too heavily on a strategy that is typically useful. 
C)  Both show that we tend to emphasize the positive, rather than the negative. 
D)  Both emphasize our inability to use situated learning effectively. 
A)  Both emphasize our reliance on bottom-up processing. 
B)  Both show that we rely too heavily on a strategy that is typically useful. 
C)  Both show that we tend to emphasize the positive, rather than the negative. 
D)  Both emphasize our inability to use situated learning effectively.

Question 8

Suppose your friend Ellen has lost the back to her earring. She looks around her room, picks up a pencil, removes the eraser, and uses the eraser as a substitute for the missing part. According to the chapter on problem solving, Ellen

Accepted Answer

A)  has solved an ill-defined problem. 
B)  is too heavily guided by mental set. 
C)  has focused on the initial state. 
D)  has overcome functional fixedness. 
A)  has solved an ill-defined problem. 
B)  is too heavily guided by mental set. 
C)  has focused on the initial state. 
D)  has overcome functional fixedness.

Question 9

Divergent production

Accepted Answer

A)  is one kind of means-end strategy. 
B)  involves making a number of different responses to a variety of test items. 
C)  is the most valid measure of creativity. 
D)  tends to be highly correlated with other measures of creativity. 
A)  is one kind of means-end strategy. 
B)  involves making a number of different responses to a variety of test items. 
C)  is the most valid measure of creativity. 
D)  tends to be highly correlated with other measures of creativity.

Question 10

According to the discussion of creativity,

Accepted Answer

A)  various measures of creativity are highly correlated with one another. 
B)  divergent production involves finding the one way in which many different items are related to one another. 
C)  creative solutions must be novel and useful. 
D)  psychologists agree upon a definition of creativity, but not on a way to measure it. 
A)  various measures of creativity are highly correlated with one another. 
B)  divergent production involves finding the one way in which many different items are related to one another. 
C)  creative solutions must be novel and useful. 
D)  psychologists agree upon a definition of creativity, but not on a way to measure it.

Question 11

According to your textbook, cognition is the acquisition, storage, transformation, and use of knowledge. Compared to more basic cognitive processes such as working memory, problem solving makes more use of which of those four processes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Acquisition of knowledge 
B)  Storage of knowledge 
C)  Transformation of knowledge 
D)  Use of knowledge 
A)  Acquisition of knowledge 
B)  Storage of knowledge 
C)  Transformation of knowledge 
D)  Use of knowledge

Question 12

Imagine that you are conducting a summer workshop to enhance the creativity of high school students. Which of the following ideas should you use, based on your understanding of Chapter 11?

Accepted Answer

A)  Watch the students carefully, so that they know you are monitoring their progress. 
B)  Offer a prize for the most creative project. 
C)  List on the blackboard the name of the most creative student of the week; however, make certain that no material rewards are given. 
D)  Do not place firm restrictions on the ways in which the students can express their creativity. 
A)  Watch the students carefully, so that they know you are monitoring their progress. 
B)  Offer a prize for the most creative project. 
C)  List on the blackboard the name of the most creative student of the week; however, make certain that no material rewards are given. 
D)  Do not place firm restrictions on the ways in which the students can express their creativity.

Question 13

In problem solving, heuristics

Accepted Answer

A)  are relatively unsophisticated strategies. 
B)  are bound to produce a solution, if you apply them rigorously. 
C)  are strategies that examine only some of the alternatives. 
D)  are seldom as useful as algorithms. 
A)  are relatively unsophisticated strategies. 
B)  are bound to produce a solution, if you apply them rigorously. 
C)  are strategies that examine only some of the alternatives. 
D)  are seldom as useful as algorithms.

Question 14

The discussion of insight in problem solving pointed out that

Accepted Answer

A)  gestalt psychologists emphasized the importance of insight in solving problems. 
B)  behaviorist psychologists were especially interested in the kinds of problems that require insight. 
C)  when people solve insight problems, their confidence builds gradually as they work on the solution to a problem. 
D)  people solve noninsight problems more quickly when they realize that their basic assumptions are not appropriate. 
A)  gestalt psychologists emphasized the importance of insight in solving problems. 
B)  behaviorist psychologists were especially interested in the kinds of problems that require insight. 
C)  when people solve insight problems, their confidence builds gradually as they work on the solution to a problem. 
D)  people solve noninsight problems more quickly when they realize that their basic assumptions are not appropriate.

Question 15

Evelyn notices that a screw on her bicycle is loose, and she doesn't have a screwdriver with her. So she searches through her pocket and finds a dime, which is the appropriate thickness to tighten the screw. Evelyn has demonstrated

Accepted Answer

A)  overcoming a mental set. 
B)  overcoming functional fixedness. 
C)  overcoming a heuristic. 
D)  a fixed mindset. 
A)  overcoming a mental set. 
B)  overcoming functional fixedness. 
C)  overcoming a heuristic. 
D)  a fixed mindset.

Question 16

Anita wants a high-paying career after college. After graduation, she must choose between a job with a moderate salary but a good chance for advancement, and a job with a much higher salary but less chance for long-term advancement. If Anita chooses the higher salary now, she is probably using the heuristic known as

Accepted Answer

A)  mean-end analysis. 
B)  working backwords. 
C)  hill-climbing. 
D)  computer simulation. 
A)  mean-end analysis. 
B)  working backwords. 
C)  hill-climbing. 
D)  computer simulation.

Question 17

Suppose that you have an assignment to write a review of the literature on a topic in cognitive psychology. If you used the means-ends heuristic, you would begin by

Accepted Answer

A)  breaking the problem into parts (e.g., select a topic, locate resources, etc.) and then solve each part. 
B)  creating a matrix consisting of possible problems and possible solutions. 
C)  searching systematically through all possible alternatives (e.g., all possible topics on perception, all possible topics on memory, etc.) until you have found a solution. 
D)  trying to think of occasions on which you faced a similar problem (e.g., writing a paper in a child development course) and use that information to help you solve the present problem. 
A)  breaking the problem into parts (e.g., select a topic, locate resources, etc.) and then solve each part. 
B)  creating a matrix consisting of possible problems and possible solutions. 
C)  searching systematically through all possible alternatives (e.g., all possible topics on perception, all possible topics on memory, etc.) until you have found a solution. 
D)  trying to think of occasions on which you faced a similar problem (e.g., writing a paper in a child development course) and use that information to help you solve the present problem.

Question 18

The section on creativity in Chapter 11 examined research about intrinsic motivation and creativity in writing poetry. According to this research, people were especially likely to be creative

Accepted Answer

A)  when they had high intrinsic motivation for working on the task. 
B)  when they knew that the best poem would receive a cash prize. 
C)  when they wrote poems with other participants in the same room, rather than when no other participants were in the room. 
D)  when the researchers specified the initial state, the goal state, and the obstacles. 
A)  when they had high intrinsic motivation for working on the task. 
B)  when they knew that the best poem would receive a cash prize. 
C)  when they wrote poems with other participants in the same room, rather than when no other participants were in the room. 
D)  when the researchers specified the initial state, the goal state, and the obstacles.

Question 19

Imagine that a group of male college students is about to take a test of their ability to "read" other people's body language. The students are divided into three groups. Group A is not told anything about how males and females tend to perform on this test. Group B is told that males tend to outperform females on this test. Group C is told that females tend to outperform males on this test. Based on research regarding stereotype threat, we would expect that

Accepted Answer

A)  all three groups will perform similarly on the test. 
B)  Group C will perform best, followed by Group A and then Group B. 
C)  Group B will perform best, followed by Group A and then Group C. 
D)  Both Group B and Group C will outperform Group A. 
A)  all three groups will perform similarly on the test. 
B)  Group C will perform best, followed by Group A and then Group B. 
C)  Group B will perform best, followed by Group A and then Group C. 
D)  Both Group B and Group C will outperform Group A.

Question 20

Steve is a college sophomore who is fascinated by politics, even though he isn't currently enrolled in any related courses. He spends several hours each day reading a variety of political columns, visiting his favorite news websites, and talking about political issues. Researchers would say that Steve is high in

Accepted Answer

A)  intrinsic motivation. 
B)  extrinsic motivation. 
C)  divergent production. 
D)  convergent production. 
A)  intrinsic motivation. 
B)  extrinsic motivation. 
C)  divergent production. 
D)  convergent production.

In problem solving, the term obstacles refers to

Which of the following students provides the best explanation for stereotype threat during problem solving?

According to the introduction to the chapter on problem solving,

If you solve a problem by using the solution strategy from an earlier problem, which of the following problem-solving strategies are you using?

According to the discussion of insight problems and noninsight problems,

In problem solving, a method that always produces a problem solution (though not necessarily very efficiently) is known as

One way that functional fixedness and mental set are similar to each other is that

Suppose your friend Ellen has lost the back to her earring. She looks around her room, picks up a pencil, removes the eraser, and uses the eraser as a substitute for the missing part. According to the chapter on problem solving, Ellen

Divergent production

According to the discussion of creativity,

According to your textbook, cognition is the acquisition, storage, transformation, and use of knowledge. Compared to more basic cognitive processes such as working memory, problem solving makes more use of which of those four processes?

Imagine that you are conducting a summer workshop to enhance the creativity of high school students. Which of the following ideas should you use, based on your understanding of Chapter 11?

In problem solving, heuristics

The discussion of insight in problem solving pointed out that

Evelyn notices that a screw on her bicycle is loose, and she doesn't have a screwdriver with her. So she searches through her pocket and finds a dime, which is the appropriate thickness to tighten the screw. Evelyn has demonstrated

Suppose that you have an assignment to write a review of the literature on a topic in cognitive psychology. If you used the means-ends heuristic, you would begin by

The section on creativity in Chapter 11 examined research about intrinsic motivation and creativity in writing poetry. According to this research, people were especially likely to be creative

An Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

Visual and Auditory Recognition

Attention and Consciousness

Working Memory

Long-Term Memory

Memory Strategies and Metacognition

Mental Imagery and Cognitive Maps

General Knowledge

Language I: Introduction to Language and Language Comprehension

Language II: Language Production and Bilingualism

Deductive Reasoning and Decision Making

Cognitive Development Throughout the Lifespan

Filters

Exam 11: Problem Solving and Creativity

In problem solving, the term obstacles refers to

Which of the following students provides the best explanation for stereotype threat during problem solving?

According to the introduction to the chapter on problem solving,

If you solve a problem by using the solution strategy from an earlier problem, which of the following problem-solving strategies are you using?

According to the discussion of insight problems and noninsight problems,

In problem solving, a method that always produces a problem solution (though not necessarily very efficiently) is known as

One way that functional fixedness and mental set are similar to each other is that

Suppose your friend Ellen has lost the back to her earring. She looks around her room, picks up a pencil, removes the eraser, and uses the eraser as a substitute for the missing part. According to the chapter on problem solving, Ellen

Divergent production

According to the discussion of creativity,

According to your textbook, cognition is the acquisition, storage, transformation, and use of knowledge. Compared to more basic cognitive processes such as working memory, problem solving makes more use of which of those four processes?

Imagine that you are conducting a summer workshop to enhance the creativity of high school students. Which of the following ideas should you use, based on your understanding of Chapter 11?

In problem solving, heuristics

The discussion of insight in problem solving pointed out that

Evelyn notices that a screw on her bicycle is loose, and she doesn't have a screwdriver with her. So she searches through her pocket and finds a dime, which is the appropriate thickness to tighten the screw. Evelyn has demonstrated

Suppose that you have an assignment to write a review of the literature on a topic in cognitive psychology. If you used the means-ends heuristic, you would begin by

The section on creativity in Chapter 11 examined research about intrinsic motivation and creativity in writing poetry. According to this research, people were especially likely to be creative

An Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

Visual and Auditory Recognition

Attention and Consciousness

Working Memory

Long-Term Memory

Memory Strategies and Metacognition

Mental Imagery and Cognitive Maps

General Knowledge

Language I: Introduction to Language and Language Comprehension

Language II: Language Production and Bilingualism

Deductive Reasoning and Decision Making

Cognitive Development Throughout the Lifespan

Filters