Question 1

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Symposium on Information Theory, George Miller presented a paper suggesting that

Accepted Answer

A)  the human ability to process information is unlimited. 
B)  there are limits to the human ability to process information. 
C)  intelligent machines can be successfully created. 
D)  memory consolidation is enhanced by REM sleep.

Question 2

Describe how Tolman's maze experiment worked. What concept was developed based on the results of this research, and how is it connected to the broader theme of cognitive psychology?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how Tolman's maze experiment worked. What...

Question 3

The "cognitive revolution"

Accepted Answer

A)  occurred rapidly, within a period of a few years, in response to the attacks on Skinner and the development of computers. 
B)  extended over a long period of time, beginning in the early part of the century, in reaction to Wundt's introspection experiments. 
C)  was a gradual process that occurred over a few decades. 
D)  was not really necessary because the study of the mind has been a constant part of experimental psychology since the founding of the first psychology laboratory.

Question 4

The first experiments in cognitive psychology were based on the idea that mental responses can be

Accepted Answer

A)  measured directly. 
B)  inferred from the participant's behavior. 
C)  measured by comparing the presentation of the stimulus and the participant's response. 
D)  measured by comparing responses among different participants.

Question 5

Reaction time refers to the time between the _______ of a stimulus and a person's response to it.

Accepted Answer

A)  sensation 
B)  transduction 
C)  change in intensity 
D)  presentation

Question 6

Who introduced the flow diagram to represent what is happening in the mind?

Accepted Answer

A)  Donald Broadbent 
B)  Colin Cherry 
C)  Newell and Simon 
D)  Wilhelm Wundt

Question 7

Which of the following events is most closely associated with a resurgence in interest in the mind within the study of psychology?

Accepted Answer

A)  Watson's "Little Albert" experiment 
B)  Skinner's publication of the book, Verbal Behavior 
C)  Development of the technique of analytic introspection 
D)  Tolman's proposal of cognitive maps

Question 8

By comparing reaction times across different tasks, Donders was able to conclude how long the mind needs to perform a certain cognitive task. Donders interpreted the difference in reaction time between the simple and choice conditions of his experiment as indicating how long it took to

Accepted Answer

A)  perceive the stimulus. 
B)  process the stimulus. 
C)  attend to the stimulus. 
D)  make a decision about the stimulus.

Question 9

A mental conception of the layout of a physical space is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  cognitive map. 
B)  mental model. 
C)  artificial intelligence. 
D)  memory consolidation.

Question 10

Colin Cherry's experiment in which participants listen to two messages simultaneously, one in each ear, found all but which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  People can focus on one message and ignore the other one. 
B)  People can focus on the message they were repeating. 
C)  People take in very little information about the ignored message. 
D)  People who are deaf process auditory information on a nonconscious level.

Question 11

How is the term mind used in this statement: "If you put your mind to it, I'm sure you can solve that math problem"?

Accepted Answer

A)  The mind as involved in memory 
B)  The mind as problem solver 
C)  The mind as used to make decisions or consider possibilities 
D)  The mind as valuable, something that should be used

Question 12

In Donders's experiment on decision making, when participants were asked to press one button if the light on the left was illuminated and another button if the light on the right was illuminated, they were engaged in a

Accepted Answer

A)  memory recall task. 
B)  simple reaction time task. 
C)  choice reaction time task. 
D)  operant conditioning task.

Question 13

Which of the following psychologists is known for research on operant conditioning?

Accepted Answer

A)  Franciscus Donders 
B)  Wilhelm Wundt 
C)  John Watson 
D)  B. F. Skinner

Question 14

The investigation of how behavior is strengthened by presentation of positive reinforcers (e.g., food) or withdrawal of negative reinforcers (e.g., shock) is best known as

Accepted Answer

A)  classical conditioning. 
B)  the method of savings. 
C)  choice reaction time. 
D)  operant conditioning.

Question 15

John Watson believed that psychology should focus on the study of

Accepted Answer

A)  observable behavior. 
B)  mental processes. 
C)  consciousness. 
D)  attention.

Question 16

Attention, perception, memory, and decision making are all different types of mental processes in which the mind engages. These are known as different types of

Accepted Answer

A)  models. 
B)  cognition. 
C)  reaction times. 
D)  savings.

Question 17

The "Little Albert" experiment involving the rat and the loud noise is an example of which of the following types of experiments?

Accepted Answer

A)  Reaction time 
B)  Unconscious inference 
C)  Classical conditioning 
D)  Operant conditioning

Question 18

Ebbinghaus's "memory" experiments were important because they

Accepted Answer

A)  described complex decision making. 
B)  plotted functions that described the operation of the mind. 
C)  were the first to combine basic elements of experience called sensations. 
D)  showed how positive reinforcers strengthen behavior.

Question 19

Which of the following terms is correct in context with "conception within the rat's mind of the maze's layout"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cognitive mapping 
B)  Paradigm shift 
C)  Classical conditioning 
D)  Behaviorism

Question 20

Describe analytic introspection and explain two limitations to this method.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe analytic introspection and explain two limitations...

Exam 1: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology