Question 1

In several studies,participants have been asked to estimate the frequency of occurrence for
Various causes of death.The evidence suggests that participants' frequency estimates are
Strongly influenced by

Accepted Answer

A) whether the cause of death was related to natural forces (e.g. ,lightning,tornado). 
B) how often the cause of death is discussed in the news media. 
C) whether the cause of death is associated with prolonged suffering. 
D) how well the cause of death fits with participants' schematic knowledge.

Question 2

In one experiment,participants were asked to list either 6 or 12 instances in their lives when they were assertive.Which of the following statements is FALSE about the participants who were asked to list only 6 instances?

Accepted Answer

A) Overall,they rated themselves as less assertive. 
B) They had an easier time fulfilling the task. 
C) They were given an easier task than the 12-instance participants. 
D) They relied on the availability heuristic when making their decision.

Question 3

Maritza believes that clowns are evil.She meets two men who are very nice and then learns that they are clowns.Despite this,she does not adjust her belief and continues to think clowns are evil.This is called

Accepted Answer

A) attribute substitution. 
B) deductive reasoning. 
C) inductive reasoning. 
D) belief perseverance.

Question 4

Descriptive information that indicates that you are likely to be a member of a category (or fit the stereotype)is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A) the base rate. 
B) diagnostic information. 
C) stereotype bias. 
D) confirmation bias.

Question 5

Studies indicate that participants

Accepted Answer

A) always neglect base-rate information. 
B) overutilize base-rate information even if other compelling information is presented. 
C) make sensible use of base-rate information if no other information is available. 
D) tend to integrate base-rate information with diagnostic information.

Question 6

When selecting a course of action framed in terms of either losing lives or saving lives following an epidemic of a serious disease,people typically choose

Accepted Answer

A) the more risky option for lost lives and the less risky option for saved lives. 
B) the least risky option. 
C) the more risky option for saved lives and the less risky option for lost lives. 
D) the most risky option.

Question 7

A base rate is defined as information

Accepted Answer

A) that helps us to identify which specific candidates have a target property. 
B) about the broad likelihood of a particular type of event. 
C) indicating the internal variability of a set or category. 
D) that can be used to diagnose an individual category member.

Question 8

People tend to be more alert and responsive to evidence that supports their preexisting notions and beliefs than to evidence that challenges them.This effect is called

Accepted Answer

A) confirmation bias. 
B) stereotypy. 
C) base-rate error. 
D) the covariation law.

Question 9

The law of large numbers implies that larger samples of data are less likely to show accidental patterns;therefore,larger samples are generally more informative.In making judgments about evidence,participants

Accepted Answer

A) seem to understand and respect this law. 
B) ignore this law even though they do follow other principles of statistics. 
C) follow this law only if they have been trained in statistics. 
D) ignore this law in some situations but respect it in other situations.

Question 10

An employer interviews a job candidate for 15 minutes.On the basis of this interview,the employer decides that the candidate will perform well in the job,so he hires her.This is a case of a

Accepted Answer

A) sound decision because the employer is making use of available information. 
B) sound decision because the employer is employing base rates. 
C) potential error because the employer is assuming that a small sample of information (the interview)is representative of a broader pattern (job performance). 
D) potential error because the employer is relying on schema-based reasoning rather than deduction.

Question 11

According to the work of Tversky and Kahneman,people are likely to be ________ when dealing with potential losses,and ________ when dealing with potential gains.

Accepted Answer

A) risk seeking;risk averse 
B) risk averse;risk seeking 
C) risk seeking;risk seeking 
D) worried;excited

Question 12

People are more likely to judge a syllogism to be valid if

Accepted Answer

A) they are using Type 2 thinking. 
B) they have formal training in logic. 
C) the conclusion in the statement is believed to be true based on prior knowledge. 
D) the syllogism is phrased in concrete terms.

Question 13

Your friend Alex swears that,while driving to school every morning,he gets caught at almost every red light,which of course makes him late for class.You know that it is incredibly unlikely that he actually hits every red light.Assume that Alex isn't intentionally lying to you,and consider the factors that might lead him to truly believe that he is unlucky when it comes to red lights.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Your friend Alex swears that,while driving to...

Question 14

Molly is a member of the Forest Political Party,and she is certain that every member of the Mountains Political Party is evil and trying to ruin the country.Discuss how tendencies like confirmation bias and belief perseverance contribute to her beliefs and her evaluation of new evidence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Molly is a member of the Forest...

Question 15

Someone who is insensitive to base rates is likely to have all of the following problems EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) a hard time estimating covariation. 
B) inaccuracy at determining cause-and-effect relationship. 
C) overreliance on the representative heuristic. 
D) underuse of diagnostic information.

Question 16

Ravi is shown a picture with many different breeds of dogs and is asked to discover the rule connecting all of the items in the picture.He believes the rule connecting all of the items is "must be a living thing," but before he announces his guess,he is allowed to propose a new addition to the picture.If Ravi is searching for disconfirming evidence,which of the following items will he propose?

Accepted Answer

A) a lion 
B) a poodle 
C) a plant 
D) a rock

Question 17

When we encounter a highly unusual event,we are particularly likely to notice and consider the event.As a consequence

Accepted Answer

A) we are likely to think about how distinctive the event really is,leading us to underestimate the likelihood of this type of event. 
B) we are likely to think about the event as being in its own special category,so the event will have little impact on our estimates of frequency. 
C) the event will be easy to recall,leading us to overestimate the likelihood of this type of event. 
D) the event will be difficult to recall,leading us to underestimate the likelihood of this type of event.

Question 18

Which of the statements below would complete the following syllogism in a way to make it valid?: All busy people are stressed out.All professors are busy.

Accepted Answer

A) Therefore,all professors are stressed out. 
B) Therefore,all busy people are professors. 
C) Therefore,all stressed-out people are professors. 
D) Therefore,you should not become a professor.

Question 19

People often make logical errors.Create a real-world example that illustrates the error in this categorical syllogism: All X are Y.All A are X.Therefore,all A are X.

Accepted Answer

The answer of People often make logical errors.Create a real-world...

Question 20

If Tabitha believes that detective television shows are more dramatic than hospital television shows,then confirmation bias would make her more likely to do all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) notice a detective television show that is dramatic. 
B) overlook a hospital television show that is dramatic. 
C) have memory schemata that include more examples of dramatic detective television shows than dramatic hospital television shows. 
D) have memory schemata that include more examples of dramatic hospital television shows than dramatic detective television shows.

Exam 12: Judgment and Reasoning

In several studies,participants have been asked to estimate the frequency of occurrence for Various causes of death.The evidence suggests that participants' frequency estimates are Strongly influenced by