Question 1

Belief perseverance is one of the phenomena used to demonstrate:

Accepted Answer

A)  normative thinking 
B)  confirmation bias 
C)  rigid thinking 
D)  nonselective memory search 
A)  normative thinking 
B)  confirmation bias 
C)  rigid thinking 
D)  nonselective memory search B

Question 2

Participants in an experiment were told that they were particularly good at a task requiring social skills. Later, they were told that this information was utterly bogus and that all participants had received the same feedback. Then, at the end of the experiment, the participants were asked just how good they thought their social skills really were. On the basis of other studies, we should predict that, in this final self-assessment, participants will:

Accepted Answer

A)  show a strong contrast effect, thereby underestimating their social skills 
B)  continue to believe the information they initially received, thereby overestimating their social skills 
C)  be unable to integrate the sequence of inputs and will end up uncertain of how to assess their social skills 
D)  rely on their bias toward trusting the most recent information and will be able to disregard the initial (later identified as bogus) feedback 
A)  show a strong contrast effect, thereby underestimating their social skills 
B)  continue to believe the information they initially received, thereby overestimating their social skills 
C)  be unable to integrate the sequence of inputs and will end up uncertain of how to assess their social skills 
D)  rely on their bias toward trusting the most recent information and will be able to disregard the initial (later identified as bogus) feedback B

Question 3

Steve goes to the store to buy a radio. The store has two different models available, both of very good quality and at reasonable prices. Nevertheless, Steve buys neither. Given what we know about decision-making, the most promising explanation is that Steve:

Accepted Answer

A)  couldn't find a persuasive reason for buying one radio rather than the other, so he bought neither 
B)  changed his mind in the store and decided he didn't want a radio after all 
C)  calculated the expected utility of further shopping and decided that that was his best option 
D)  realized that the utility of each radio was lower than its purchase price, making the radios unappealing 
A)  couldn't find a persuasive reason for buying one radio rather than the other, so he bought neither 
B)  changed his mind in the store and decided he didn't want a radio after all 
C)  calculated the expected utility of further shopping and decided that that was his best option 
D)  realized that the utility of each radio was lower than its purchase price, making the radios unappealing A

Question 4

In theories of decision-making, the utility of a particular commodity can be defined in terms of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  degree of value associated with the commodity for a social group 
B)  value that has historically been placed on the commodity 
C)  monetary cost associated with the commodity 
D)  subjective value associated with the commodity for each individual 
A)  degree of value associated with the commodity for a social group 
B)  value that has historically been placed on the commodity 
C)  monetary cost associated with the commodity 
D)  subjective value associated with the commodity for each individual

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a serious problem for the claim that our decisions are consistently made in accordance with utility theory?

Accepted Answer

A)  People are heavily swayed by how a decision is phrased, even if the phrasing has no impact on utilities. 
B)  The expected value of utility decreases if the likelihood of its outcome decreases. 
C)  The same information, and thus utility value, can lead to different decision outcomes depending on how the question is asked. 
D)  People often find it difficult to compare values that are seemingly incommensurable (e.g., the monetary value of a car vs. how much it pollutes the environment). 
A)  People are heavily swayed by how a decision is phrased, even if the phrasing has no impact on utilities. 
B)  The expected value of utility decreases if the likelihood of its outcome decreases. 
C)  The same information, and thus utility value, can lead to different decision outcomes depending on how the question is asked. 
D)  People often find it difficult to compare values that are seemingly incommensurable (e.g., the monetary value of a car vs. how much it pollutes the environment).

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT an aspect of confirmation bias?

Accepted Answer

A)  People seek evidence that is likely to fit with their beliefs, rather than evidence that might challenge their beliefs. 
B)  People fail to adjust their beliefs when they encounter facts that are inconsistent with their beliefs. 
C)  People often fail to consider alternative hypotheses that might explain the available data just as well as the current hypothesis does. 
D)  People seem to accept evidence that goes against their beliefs at face value but scrutinize evidence that is consistent with their beliefs. 
A)  People seek evidence that is likely to fit with their beliefs, rather than evidence that might challenge their beliefs. 
B)  People fail to adjust their beliefs when they encounter facts that are inconsistent with their beliefs. 
C)  People often fail to consider alternative hypotheses that might explain the available data just as well as the current hypothesis does. 
D)  People seem to accept evidence that goes against their beliefs at face value but scrutinize evidence that is consistent with their beliefs.

Question 7

Deduction is a process that:

Accepted Answer

A)  allows us to extrapolate from a sample of evidence 
B)  allows us to make specific predictions on the basis of more general knowledge 
C)  helps us to draw general conclusions on the basis of specific facts 
D)  helps us to determine whether a pattern exists in a set of observations 
A)  allows us to extrapolate from a sample of evidence 
B)  allows us to make specific predictions on the basis of more general knowledge 
C)  helps us to draw general conclusions on the basis of specific facts 
D)  helps us to determine whether a pattern exists in a set of observations

Question 8

Which of the following claims about deductive logic is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  People can often handle simple logic problems (especially if they are based on modus ponens). 
B)  Only people trained in logic (e.g., logic teachers) can successfully use deductive logic. 
C)  People can rely on less formal reasoning strategies such as pragmatic reasoning schemata, as well as deductive logic. 
D)  People can rely on shortcuts, such as the matching strategy or belief bias, as well as deductive logic. 
A)  People can often handle simple logic problems (especially if they are based on modus ponens). 
B)  Only people trained in logic (e.g., logic teachers) can successfully use deductive logic. 
C)  People can rely on less formal reasoning strategies such as pragmatic reasoning schemata, as well as deductive logic. 
D)  People can rely on shortcuts, such as the matching strategy or belief bias, as well as deductive logic.

Question 9

Participants' great sensitivity to losses is evident in all of the following EXCEPT that participants:

Accepted Answer

A)  will often take risky courses of action in hope of avoiding a loss 
B)  will avoid any gamble when confronting a potential loss to make certain they don't lose any more than necessary 
C)  tend to be risk-seeking when making a decision to try and reduce a loss 
D)  tend to be risk-averse when contemplating gains, preferring to keep what they already have 
A)  will often take risky courses of action in hope of avoiding a loss 
B)  will avoid any gamble when confronting a potential loss to make certain they don't lose any more than necessary 
C)  tend to be risk-seeking when making a decision to try and reduce a loss 
D)  tend to be risk-averse when contemplating gains, preferring to keep what they already have

Question 10

Imagine you are a judge and are asked to determine sole custody of a child to one of two divorcing parents. Parent A is closer with the child and has a good job, but works long hours and often has to travel. Parent B has a reasonable rapport with the child and average income, works 9 to 5 and never travels. Based on previous research, you are MOST likely to choose _____ if asked to "award custody" and _____ if asked which parent you would "deny custody."

Accepted Answer

A)  Parent A; Parent B 
B)  Parent A; Parent A 
C)  Parent B; Parent A 
D)  Parent B; Parent B 
A)  Parent A; Parent B 
B)  Parent A; Parent A 
C)  Parent B; Parent A 
D)  Parent B; Parent B

Question 11

Theorists have proposed a model of decision-making based on reasons rather than on the calculation of utilities. Their proposal is that participants decide to take one option rather than another only when:

Accepted Answer

A)  the expected utility of the option is clearly greater than the expected utility of any other option 
B)  the choice fits socially defined norms 
C)  they see a compelling argument for making that choice 
D)  the decision is framed in terms of gains rather than losses 
A)  the expected utility of the option is clearly greater than the expected utility of any other option 
B)  the choice fits socially defined norms 
C)  they see a compelling argument for making that choice 
D)  the decision is framed in terms of gains rather than losses

Question 12

One theoretical account of the original (number and letter) version of the four-card problem states that the:

Accepted Answer

A)  uniformly poor performance on this task suggests that participants are reading it as a question of sufficiency 
B)  uniformly poor performance on this task suggests that participants are reading it as a question of necessity 
C)  results on this task reflect the fact that this task is ambiguous with respect to necessity and sufficiency rules 
D)  performance on this task suggests that it cannot be cast in terms of necessity or sufficiency rules 
A)  uniformly poor performance on this task suggests that participants are reading it as a question of sufficiency 
B)  uniformly poor performance on this task suggests that participants are reading it as a question of necessity 
C)  results on this task reflect the fact that this task is ambiguous with respect to necessity and sufficiency rules 
D)  performance on this task suggests that it cannot be cast in terms of necessity or sufficiency rules

Question 13

Research on decision-making indicates that participants:

Accepted Answer

A)  consistently seek to maximize their expected value of utility 
B)  make choices guided by a strong tendency toward consistency with previous choices 
C)  show inconsistencies in their choices that follow no systematic pattern 
D)  are heavily influenced by minor changes in a problem's wording 
A)  consistently seek to maximize their expected value of utility 
B)  make choices guided by a strong tendency toward consistency with previous choices 
C)  show inconsistencies in their choices that follow no systematic pattern 
D)  are heavily influenced by minor changes in a problem's wording

Question 14

When trying to figure out a rule, most people seek to _____ their theory, but people who seek to _____ their theory are more likely to get the answer correct.

Accepted Answer

A)  confirm; perseverate 
B)  disconfirm; confirm 
C)  disconfirm; perseverate 
D)  confirm; disconfirm 
A)  confirm; perseverate 
B)  disconfirm; confirm 
C)  disconfirm; perseverate 
D)  confirm; disconfirm

Question 15

The term _____ refers to a tendency to affirm a conclusion that contains the word "all" if both premises contain the word "all."

Accepted Answer

A)  belief perseverance 
B)  belief bias 
C)  conversion error 
D)  matching strategy 
A)  belief perseverance 
B)  belief bias 
C)  conversion error 
D)  matching strategy

Question 16

Matt is given the following conditional statement: If A, then B
B is true.
Therefore, A is true.
Matt believes the conclusion is true. Is Matt correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes 
B)  No; he is affirming the consequent 
C)  No; he is denying the consequent 
D)  No; he is denying the antecedent 
A)  Yes 
B)  No; he is affirming the consequent 
C)  No; he is denying the consequent 
D)  No; he is denying the antecedent

Question 17

Which of the following claims about mental models is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mental models translate abstract information into a relatively concrete presentation. 
B)  Participants are able to scrutinize a mental model in order to discover what conclusions follow from the modeled situation. 
C)  Each logical statement is compatible with just a single mental model. 
D)  Participants are likely to make more errors as the number of models needed to reason about a premise increases. 
A)  Mental models translate abstract information into a relatively concrete presentation. 
B)  Participants are able to scrutinize a mental model in order to discover what conclusions follow from the modeled situation. 
C)  Each logical statement is compatible with just a single mental model. 
D)  Participants are likely to make more errors as the number of models needed to reason about a premise increases.

Question 18

People often make errors in deciding whether phrases with the format "If A is true, then B is true. A is not true. Therefore, B is not true" are valid or not. These errors are known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  conversion errors 
B)  affirming the consequent 
C)  denying the antecedent 
D)  belief-bias errors 
A)  conversion errors 
B)  affirming the consequent 
C)  denying the antecedent 
D)  belief-bias errors

Question 19

In a version of the Wason's four-card task, participants are told, "If a person wishes to drink alcohol, the person must be over 21 years old." Participants are then asked which cases they would need to investigate in order to determine whether the rule is being followed. Given the available evidence, we should expect that participants will reason:

Accepted Answer

A)  well in testing this rule because participants always reason well when given the Wason's four-card task, regardless of its context 
B)  well in testing this rule because it is likely to be understood in terms of permission 
C)  poorly with this rule because the rule is based on a conditional statement 
D)  poorly with this rule because they are likely to blur the rule together with other similar cases they have encountered 
A)  well in testing this rule because participants always reason well when given the Wason's four-card task, regardless of its context 
B)  well in testing this rule because it is likely to be understood in terms of permission 
C)  poorly with this rule because the rule is based on a conditional statement 
D)  poorly with this rule because they are likely to blur the rule together with other similar cases they have encountered

Question 20

Research on framing effects demonstrates that people who are considering potential losses are likely to:

Accepted Answer

A)  accept courses of action that contain an element of risk 
B)  minimize their degree of risk 
C)  choose options that are highly conservative 
D)  seek paths that will maximize their utility 
A)  accept courses of action that contain an element of risk 
B)  minimize their degree of risk 
C)  choose options that are highly conservative 
D)  seek paths that will maximize their utility

Belief perseverance is one of the phenomena used to demonstrate:

Steve goes to the store to buy a radio. The store has two different models available, both of very good quality and at reasonable prices. Nevertheless, Steve buys neither. Given what we know about decision-making, the most promising explanation is that Steve:

In theories of decision-making, the utility of a particular commodity can be defined in terms of the:

Which of the following is NOT a serious problem for the claim that our decisions are consistently made in accordance with utility theory?

Which of the following is NOT an aspect of confirmation bias?

Deduction is a process that:

Which of the following claims about deductive logic is NOT true?

Participants' great sensitivity to losses is evident in all of the following EXCEPT that participants:

Theorists have proposed a model of decision-making based on reasons rather than on the calculation of utilities. Their proposal is that participants decide to take one option rather than another only when:

One theoretical account of the original (number and letter) version of the four-card problem states that the:

Research on decision-making indicates that participants:

When trying to figure out a rule, most people seek to _ their theory, but people who seek to _ their theory are more likely to get the answer correct.

The term _____ refers to a tendency to affirm a conclusion that contains the word "all" if both premises contain the word "all."

Matt is given the following conditional statement: If A, then B B is true. Therefore, A is true. Matt believes the conclusion is true. Is Matt correct?

Which of the following claims about mental models is NOT true?

People often make errors in deciding whether phrases with the format "If A is true, then B is true. A is not true. Therefore, B is not true" are valid or not. These errors are known as:

Research on framing effects demonstrates that people who are considering potential losses are likely to:

The Science of the Mind

The Neural Basis for Cognition

Recognizing Objects

Paying Attention

The Acquisition of Memories and the Working-Memory System

Interconnections Between Acquisition and Retrieval

Remembering Complex Events

Associative Theories of Long-Term Memory

Concepts and Generic Knowledge

Language

Visual Knowledge

Judgment: Drawing Conclusions From Evidence

Solving Problems

Conscious Thought, Unconscious Thought

Filters

Exam 13: Reasoning: Thinking Through the Implications of What You Know

Belief perseverance is one of the phenomena used to demonstrate:

Steve goes to the store to buy a radio. The store has two different models available, both of very good quality and at reasonable prices. Nevertheless, Steve buys neither. Given what we know about decision-making, the most promising explanation is that Steve:

In theories of decision-making, the utility of a particular commodity can be defined in terms of the:

Which of the following is NOT a serious problem for the claim that our decisions are consistently made in accordance with utility theory?

Which of the following is NOT an aspect of confirmation bias?

Deduction is a process that:

Which of the following claims about deductive logic is NOT true?

Participants' great sensitivity to losses is evident in all of the following EXCEPT that participants:

Theorists have proposed a model of decision-making based on reasons rather than on the calculation of utilities. Their proposal is that participants decide to take one option rather than another only when:

One theoretical account of the original (number and letter) version of the four-card problem states that the:

Research on decision-making indicates that participants:

When trying to figure out a rule, most people seek to _____ their theory, but people who seek to _____ their theory are more likely to get the answer correct.

The term _____ refers to a tendency to affirm a conclusion that contains the word "all" if both premises contain the word "all."

Matt is given the following conditional statement: If A, then B B is true. Therefore, A is true. Matt believes the conclusion is true. Is Matt correct?

Which of the following claims about mental models is NOT true?

People often make errors in deciding whether phrases with the format "If A is true, then B is true. A is not true. Therefore, B is not true" are valid or not. These errors are known as:

Research on framing effects demonstrates that people who are considering potential losses are likely to:

The Science of the Mind

The Neural Basis for Cognition

Recognizing Objects

Paying Attention

The Acquisition of Memories and the Working-Memory System

Interconnections Between Acquisition and Retrieval

Remembering Complex Events

Associative Theories of Long-Term Memory

Concepts and Generic Knowledge

Language

Visual Knowledge

Judgment: Drawing Conclusions From Evidence

Solving Problems

Conscious Thought, Unconscious Thought

Filters

When trying to figure out a rule, most people seek to _ their theory, but people who seek to _ their theory are more likely to get the answer correct.