PSYC 365 Final Study Guide

If you were to criticize Vygotsky's theory of cognitive development in a way that contemporary theorists sometimes do, which one of the following would you be most likely to say? -"It places heavy emphasis on drill and practice as factors promoting development." -"It disregards the important roles that peers play in children's development." -"It's a bit vague in its explanations of how development occurs." -"It ignores the effects that formal education has on cognitive development."

"It's a bit vague in its explanations of how development occurs."

Which of the following common sayings best reflects the basic premise underlying social learning theory? 1.)"Monkey see, monkey do." 2.)"A friend in need is a friend indeed." 3.)"A rolling stone gathers no moss." 4.)"Spare the rod and spoil the child."

"Monkey see, monkey do."

Which one of the following students is definitely demonstrating automaticity in word recognition? -When Kristen reads, she recognizes words by sight and recalls their meanings instantaneously. -When Roland reads, he has to sound out most of the words. -When Samantha reads aloud, her voice lacks expression. -When Werner listens to someone say a new word, he closes his eyes and tries to imagine how it might be spelled.

-When Kristen reads, she recognizes words by sight and recalls their meanings instantaneously.

A principle of learning can best be characterized as: 1.)A statement that describes how a particular factor affects learning 2.)An explanation of the underlying processes through which learning occurs 3.)A description of the results of a particular research study 4.)The measurement of how much learning has occurred in a particular situation

A statement that describes how a particular factor affects learning

A theory of learning can best be characterized as: -A description of the results of a particular research study -The measurement of how much learning has occurred in a particular situation - An explanation of the underlying processes through which learning occurs -A statement that describes how a particular factor affects learning

An explanation of the underlying processes through which learning occurs

Human beings undoubtedly learn more during the course of a lifetime than any other species on earth. The major result of this capacity to learn is that: -Humans are the only species whose behavior cannot be analyzed in terms of stimuli and responses. -Humans can benefit from their experiences. -Human thought becomes less logical with each generation. -New instincts begin to emerge

Humans can benefit from their experiences.

Which one of the following most closely defines Uri Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory? -Humans develop by participating in separate, but interacting systems -Adults actively manipulate children's understanding of changing systems -Children who learn about ecological systems from an early age have higher cognitive abilities -Children learn the concept of biological systems from experience

Humans develop by participating in separate, but interacting systems

Generally speaking, adults learn and remember more easily than children do. The reverse is true, however, when the children: -Are instructed to close their eyes and listen very closely -Initially know more about the topic being studied than the adults do -Get at least 8 hours of sleep per night -Engage in daily exercises designed to expand working memory capacity

Initially know more about the topic being studied than the adults do

From Piaget's perspective, why is language critical for children's cognitive development? -It takes up much of their mental energy and so helps to keep them from being easily distracted. -It helps them get things they want. -It enhances their self-efficacy, because they are now aware that they can communicate effectively with other human beings. -It gives them a means for symbolically thinking about objects and events.

It gives them a means for symbolically thinking about objects and events.

Which of the following statements best describes the history of contemporary cognitive theory? -It has been the dominant perspective in learning research only in the past six or seven decades. -Its roots can be traced to the work of verbal learning theory, which in turn evolved from Jean Piaget's research in Switzerland. -It gained prominence only when psychologists began to cast aside the need for objectivity in psychological research. -It has been a major force guiding learning research ever since computers were used to understand cognition.

It has been the dominant perspective in learning research only in the past six or seven decades.

Learning theorists often emphasize the importance of attention in the learning process? From the perspective of the dual-store model of memory, why is attention so important? -It gets information into the sensory register. -It moves information from long-term memory into the sensory register. -It moves information from the sensory register into working memory. -It moves information from the sensory register into long-term memory.

It moves information from the sensory register into working memory.

Mr. Wagner stands in front of the class explaining the process of evolution. Ellen is sitting in the front row, but her mind is on the fight she had with her best friend just before class. Based on this information, how far in Ellen's memory system did Mr. Wagner's lecture get? -It reached the sensory register -It never got into the memory system at all -It reached long-term memory -It reached working memory

It reached the sensory register

Susan is introduced to Jerry. She immediately smiles and says, "Hello Jerry." A minute later, she wants to introduce Jerry to her friend Mary, but she cannot remember his name. Based on this information, how far in Susan's memory system did Jerry's name get? -It reached working memory -It never got into the memory system at all -It reached the sensory register -It reached long-term memory

It reached working memory

When people begin to record their own behavior, the frequency of that behavior: -Typically remains unchanged unless self-reinforcement also occurs -May go either up or down -Always goes down -Always goes up

May go either up or down

Reynelda has trouble tracing a complex shape with a pencil when she is in kindergarten, but she can do it quite well by the time she is in second grade. Is this an instance of learning? 1.)Yes, because her behavior has changed. 2.)Maybe, but only if she is being reinforced for tracing accurately. 3.)Maybe, although the change may simply be due to physiological maturation. 4.)No, because the circumstances are too dissimilar.

Maybe, although the change may simply be due to physiological maturation.

Three of the following are potential drawbacks to instructional techniques that depend heavily on student discussion. Which one is least likely to be a drawback? -Students who believe that there is a single "right" perspective on any issue are more likely to participate than students who realize that several perspectives may all have legitimacy. -Outgoing and popular students may dominate discussions, even if their ideas and suggestions are off-target. -Some students may become so focused on making a good impression when it's their turn to speak that they don't listen closely to what their classmates are saying. -Some students have trouble communicating their thoughts clearly enough for others to understand them.

Outgoing and popular students may dominate discussions, even if their ideas and suggestions are off-target.

Three of the following are benefits of peer interaction in the classroom. Which one is not a typical benefit of peer interaction? -Students can model effective ways of thinking for one another. -Students can develop more effective ways of defending conclusions they have reached. -Peer-group discussions promote more rapid learning of classroom subject matter. -Peer-group discussions encourage students to organize their thoughts about a topic.

Peer-group discussions promote more rapid learning of classroom subject matter.

Which one of the following is the most accurate statement about how people perceive the world around them? -People often fill in information that they do not actually sense. -Perception is almost totally a function of what is sensed. -Visual perception is heavily dependent on sensation, whereas auditory perception s not. -Auditory perception is heavily dependent on sensation, whereas visual perception is not.

People often fill in information that they do not actually sense.

Several sources of evidence have been used to address the question of whether working memory and long-term memory are separate entities. Which one of the following is not a source of evidence that has been used for this purpose? -The serial learning curve. -The behaviors of people who have sustained brain injuries. -The form in which information is stored in different memory tasks. -People's descriptions of how they remember information.

People's descriptions of how they remember information.

Piaget's ideas were largely ignored by American psychologists until the 1960s. Three of the following are probable reasons why this was so. Which one is not a likely reason? -Most of Piaget's writings were in French. -Piaget's ideas were incompatible with the behaviorist theory. -Piaget used research methods that were unconventional in the eyes of American psychologists. -Piaget studied children rather than nonhuman species.

Piaget studied children rather than nonhuman species.

Frank sees an egg-shaped ball that he later "remembers" as being perfectly round. Frank's mistaken recollection is an example of the Gestalt principle of: -Proximity -Closure -Restructuring -Pragnanz

Pragnanz

John learned the capitals of all 50 US states when he was a child. As an adult, he can no longer recall or recognize any of the 50 state capitals. However, he relearned the capitals faster than Jenny who did not learn the state capitals as a child. John's relearning suggests that the information regarding the state capitals remained in his __________ from the time he first learned them as a child. -working memory -long-term memory -sensory register and working memory -sensory register

long-term memory

Over the course of history, science has continued to evolve as new data emerge and scientists offer new ideas to explain those data. This continuing process of change in scientific thinking over the years best reflects the idea of: -individual contructivism -information processing theory -social constructivism -Pragnanz

social constructivism

Which one of the following best illustrates the use of a concept map? -Ms. Dubroski lists the characteristics of the canine family in biology. -"Mr. Alexander puts the words force, gravity, velocity, acceleration, and time on the chalkboard; he then draws lines between pairs of related words and describes the relationships. -Mr. Calvin draws a chart showing the hierarchy that biologists use to classify animals; his chart includes vertebrates, invertebrates, mammals, fish, birds, mollusks, crustaceons, and so on. -Ms. Blanchard draws a chart listing the sequence of events leading up to World War II in chronological order.

"Mr. Alexander puts the words force, gravity, velocity, acceleration, and time on the chalkboard; he then draws lines between pairs of related words and describes the relationships.

Which one of the following statements best illustrates prior knowledge activation in a geometry lesson? -"Okay, class, it's time to put your reading assignment away so that we can begin today's geometry lesson." -"Calculating the volume of a sphere is similar to a procedure you learned last month--calculating the area of a circle." -"Do you know how many square feet you have in your bedroom? After learning how to calulate the area of a rectangle today, you will know how to figure out exactly how big your bedroom is." -"Today we will be studying three different kinds of triangles: acute, right, and obtuse."

-"Calculating the volume of a sphere is similar to a procedure you learned last month--calculating the area of a circle."

Ms. Iwata has a long-term goal for her science students--to consider what they have learned about science as they deal with issues and problems in their daily lives. Which one of the following teaching strategies will best help her students retrieve relevant scientific principles in situations where the principles might be applied? -Associate those principles with as many real-life situations as possible. -Maximize the use of concrete materials, and minimize the use of abstract ideas. -Teach students how to take good notes about classroom subject matter. -Maximize the use of abstract ideas, and minimize the use of concrete materials.

-Associate those principles with as many real-life situations as possible.

Maria moved to this country several months ago. She has been studying English as a second language but still has much to learn about the language of her new homeland. One day her teacher tells the class, "Bring an empty coffee can to school tomorrow for a project we're going to do." Maria hears only two familiar words--"coffee" and "school"--and guesses that her teacher is saying that students should not drink coffee at school. Maria's misinterpretation illustrates which one of the following? -Auditory imagery -Construction in retrieval -Construction in storage -Conceptual change

-Construction in storage

Which one of the following best describes Piaget's notion of equilibration? -A child revises existing schemes to better understand new phenomenon. -A child assimilates without accomodating. -A child doesn't encounter any new or challenging ideas. -A child has difficulty explaining new events using existing schemes.

A child revises existing schemes to better understand new phenomenon.

A community of learners can best be described as: -A classroom in which a cooperative spirit of helping one another learn prevails. -A classroom in which most activities involve whole-class discussions and reciprocal teaching. -A classroom in which most activities are relatively structured discovery-learning activities. -A small group of students that chooses a special topic it wants to pursue independently.

A classroom in which a cooperative spirit of helping one another learn prevails.

Three of the following illustrate various ways that learning might be reflected in a person's behavior. Which one of the following changes does not necessarily reflect learning? 1.) Lewis occasionally asks for help when he has difficulty with his classwork, but most of the time he just struggles quietly on his own. After his teacher assures him that asking for help is not a sign of weakness or inability, he begins asking for help much more frequently. 2.) Although it's a school night, Dean plays video games until well past his usual bedtime. As he becomes more tired, he finds it increasingly difficult to concentrate on what he's doing. 3.) Day after day, Martin practices his basketball skill (shooting, dribbling, etc.) on a basketball court at a local park. With each practice session, his movements become faster and smoother. 4.) Even as a young child, Jerry could tell you that his grandparents immigrated to the United States from Ireland. But after a conversation with his grandmother, he can now describe the circumstances of the family's immigration in considerable detail.

Although it's a school night, Dean plays video games until well past his usual bedtime. As he becomes more tired, he finds it increasingly difficult to concentrate on what he's doing.

Only one of the following definitely illustrates high self-efficacy. Which one? -Berta swims the fastest butterfly on the swim team. -Darlene recently got a score of 120 on an intelligence test. -Amy knows she is a good singer. -Carmen enjoys being with her friends.

Amy knows she is a good singer.

The theories of Edward Tolman and the Gestalt psychologists were similar with respect to one of the following alternatives. Which one? -The law of Pragnanz -Research with human subjects -An emphasis on how knowledge is organized -An emphasis on cognitive maps

An emphasis on how knowledge is organized

Which of the following best exemplifies experience-expectant plasticity? -Mastering one's native language -Applying principles of psychology to real-world settings -Learning how to play the guitar -Understanding abstract ideas in philosophy

Applying principles of psychology to real-world settings

Given what psychologists believe to be true about how information is typically stored in the brain, how is the concept dog probably represented in your brain? -As a single neuron located in the prefrontal cortex -As a cluster of interconnected neurons located in one of the occipital lobes -As a cluster of interconnected neurons located in the left parietal lobe -As a network of neurons spread across multiple brain regions

As a network of neurons spread across multiple brain regions

Which one of the following alternatives is the best example of a socially constructed memory? -As they sip their milkshakes at a local diner, two friends recall and talk about various scenes from a scary movie they've just seen at the movie theater. -A father is reading a bedtime story to his young son. In the middle of the story, he stops reading and makes up a different ending to the story. -A teacher says, "Once upon a time, a young farmer..." and then asks a student to complete the sentence. The teacher asks another student to provide a second sentence that relates to the first, asks a third student to supply a third sentence, and so on, until a complete story emerges. -As a boy thinks about his childhood, he remembers his best friend who moved away.

As they sip their milkshakes at a local diner, two friends recall and talk about various scenes from a scary movie they've just seen at the movie theater.

Which one of the following scenarios reflects the typical duration of working (short-term) memory? -Barney looks up the correct spelling of the word fossil and closes the dictionary. By the time he finds a piece of paper on which to write the word, he has forgotten how to spell it. -At 9:00 a.m., Darrell makes a mental list of the five items he needs to purchase at the grocery store at the end of the day. At noon, he checks himself and realizes that he still remembers all five. At 3:00 p.m., however, he discovers that he has forgotten three of the five items. -Arnie's family spends a summer at his grandmother's house and is able to remember his grandmother's telephone number for the two months he is there. However, he quickly forgets the number after he moves back home again. -Carol remembers most of the information that she has been learning about World War II in class this week, but she remembers very little of what she learned about World War I two weeks ago.

Barney looks up the correct spelling of the word fossil and closes the dictionary. By the time he finds a piece of paper on which to write the word, he has forgotten how to spell it.

Which of the following children best illustrate the use of effortful control? -Beth does not like to read, but knows it is important, so she solely attends to reading for twenty minutes a day. -Kate does not like to read and when her mother asks her to read, she watches her favorite TV show instead. -John loves dogs and can read books about dogs for hours. -Natalie loves to read about dogs, but when she is assigned reading about cats, she takes her dog for a walk instead of completing the reading assignment.

Beth does not like to read, but knows it is important, so she solely attends to reading for twenty minutes a day.

Each of the women below is engaging in two activities simultaneously. Considering contemporary views of attention, identify the woman who should have the greatest difficulty doing both things at once. -As Camille walks down the street, she calls a friend on her cell phone to express anger about his inconsiderate behavior earlier in the day. -As she jogs around the track at the health club, Donna is trying to decide where to go on her vacation next month. -Amelia is thinking about what to cook for dinner while she combs her hair. -Brenda is watching the evening news on television while she studies for an exam.

Brenda is watching the evening news on television while she studies for an exam.

Central to Vygotsky's theory of cognitive development is the idea that children increasingly make better sense of their world: -By interacting with more experienced people who mediate their understandings -By repeatedly encountering both pleasant and unpleasant events in their daily lives -Through their independent explorations of their physical and social environments -Through the mental processes of assimilation and accommodation

By interacting with more experienced people who mediate their understandings

Social cognitive theorists have studied the role of modeling on aggressive behavior. Which one of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from their research? -Children who observe aggression in cartoons and video games are more likely to be aggressive. -Children are less aggressive when they observe a nonaggressive model than when they observe no model at all. -Children model aggression only when the model is the same sex that they are. -Children can learn aggressive behavior by watching adult models as well as children.

Children model aggression only when the model is the same sex that they are.

Only one of the following conclusions can be derived from recent research regarding Piaget's thory of cognitive development. Which one? -Middle school and secondary school students typically have an easier time thinking logically in the social sciences than they do in the physical and life sciences. -Many young people continue to show signs of preoperational thinking until well into the high school years. -Children have an easier time understanding fractions and proportions in adolescence if such concepts are first introduced at the same time that division is introduced (e.g., in third grade). -Children will think more logically about a topic when they have acquired relevant knowledge and experiences related to the topic.

Children will think more logically about a topic when they have acquired relevant knowledge and experiences related to the topic.

According to the textbook, which one of the following conclusions is most warranted from research on brain development? -Classroom experiences can significantly enhance people's cognitive development throughout the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary school years. -Children probably won't acquire the basic skills essential to succeed in the adult world (e.g., reading, writing, math) unless they begin developing those skills in the early elementary grades at the latest. -To become truly skilled in such domains as art and music, children should begin systematic instruction in these domains before the age of five. -The ability to think abstractly depends on the development of many synaptic connections during the first five years of life.

Classroom experiences can significantly enhance people's cognitive development throughout the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary school years.

Piaget has described four stages of cognitive development. Which one of the following is an accurate statement about Piaget's view of these stages? -Children have difficulty solving problems until they reach formal operations. -It is possible for children to skip from the pre operational state to the formal operational stage, but only a small minority of children actually do so. -Each stage involves forms of thought qualitatively different from those of other stages. -With each successive stage, schemata becomes more simplified.

Each stage involves forms of thought qualitatively different from those of other stages.

Which one of the following examples best shows one or more students using a procedure known as scripted cooperation while studying? -Elliot and Henry work on their math homework together by each completing every other problem. -A group of drama students read through the script of the play they are set to perform later that year. -Danny and Emma are second graders who are working on their reading comprehension. Their teacher gives them a structured activity to do together to uncover the storyline of a new book. -Ben and Will read their favorite story together. Ben reads the first half aloud and Will reads the second half aloud.

Danny and Emma are second graders who are working on their reading comprehension. Their teacher gives them a structured activity to do together to uncover the storyline of a new book.

Which one of the following best illustrates Skinner's concept of superstitious behavior? -David usually struggles with his geography exams, but he recently got high scores on two occasions when he wore a Denver Broncos sweatshirt to school. He now wears his Broncos sweatshirt whenever a geography test is scheduled. -Alice is praised for her accurate bookkeeping at work. After that, she continues to keep accurate books at work. She also begins to be more careful about balancing her personal checkbook each month, even though she receives no reinforcement for doing so. -Charlotte misinterprets a teacher's praise as sarcasm and therefore as punishment rather than reinforcement. -Bradley thinks his reinforcement for cleansing his apartment is the good feeling that a clean place gives him. In reality, he cleans only when company is coming, and it is his company that makes him feel good.

David usually struggles with his geography exams, but he recently got high scores on two occasions when he wore a Denver Broncos sweatshirt to school. He now wears his Broncos sweatshirt whenever a geography test is scheduled.

Modeling is often facilitated by memory codes. Three of the following are examples of such codes. Which one does not specifically illustrate a memory code? -Beatrice successfully recalls how to make crepe batter simply by thinking, "eggs, milk, flour, oil." -While trying to remember how to do a front walk-over, Andrew visualizes how he saw his gymnastics coach do it a few minutes ago. -David wears the same style of clothing his friends wear, even though he's never been reinforced for doing so. -Charlene's father shows her how to use a radial arm saw. Charlene listens closely in order to remember his verbal description of what he is doing.

David wears the same style of clothing his friends wear, even though he's never been reinforced for doing so.

Mr. MacDonald wants his students to ask him for help on their geometry problems only after they have tried to solve the problems independently for at least five minutes. Mr. McDonald should reinforce students' help-seeking behavior on a __________ schedule. -Answered Fixed ratio -Differential rate of low responding -Variable ratio -Differential rate of high responding

Differential rate of low responding

Tammy has trouble getting dates, so she begins to observe how other students attract boys. The four girls below have all had a date within the last week. Without knowing anything about Tammy, but using criteria proposed by social cognitive theorists, choose the girl whom Tammy is most likely to model. -Belinda is much taller and more slender than Tammy. -Amanda has a steady boyfriend, but most of her classmates don't like her. -Dorinda is popular and feminine. -Corinda enjoys playing traditionally "masculine" sports such as football and ice hockey with the boys.

Dorinda is popular and feminine

Harry and Sam are both taking French; Harry is also taking German, but Sam is not. Harry and Sam learn these French vocabulary words in their French class: head-la tete eye-l'oeil mouth-la bouche The following day, Harry learns these German vocabulary words in his German class: head-der Kopf eye-das Auge mouth- der Mund A week later the two boys are given a French vocabulary quiz in which they are asked to give the French words for head, eye, and mouth. Other things being equal, findings from verbal learning research would lead us to predict that: -Due to retroactive facilitation, Harry will get a lower grade on the quiz than Sam. -Due to retroactive inhibition, Harry will get a lower grade on the quiz than Sam. -Due to proactive facilitation, Harry will get a higher grade on the quiz than Sam. -Due to proactive inhibition, Harry will get a higher grade on the quiz than Sam.

Due to retroactive inhibition, Harry will get a lower grade on the quiz than Sam.

Based on the textbook's discussion, you might best think of attention as being a process of: -Filtering out unwanted information, in much the same way that an oil filter removes unwanted particles. -Focusing one's cognitive processes on certain stimuli in the environment. -Making stronger responses to bright or loud stimuli. -Turning one's sensory receptors in the direction of desired information.

Focusing one's cognitive processes on certain stimuli in the environment.

Mrs. Sloan wanted to use behaviorist approaches in her classroom. She decided to test the students many times throughout her course. Which assessment practice is she employing? -Backward design -High stakes tests -Summative assessment -Formative assessment

Formative assessment

Research indicates that mastery learning approaches are superior to traditional instruction in several ways. Which one of the following conclusions should not be drawn on the basis of research on mastery learning? -Students remember material for a longer period of time when taught with a mastery learning approach rather than with traditional instructional methods -Some forms of mastery learning (e.g., Keller's PSI) promote regular study habits rather than procrastination and cramming. -High-ability students are the primary beneficiaries of mastery learning approaches. -Academic achievement is higher in classrooms that emphasize mastery learning

High-ability students are the primary beneficiaries of mastery learning approaches.

Which one of the following issues reflects a fundamental difference between Piaget's and Vygotsky's theories of cognitive development? -How much children require adult guidance to make cognitive gains -Whether preschoolers are cognitively ready to handle complex, adult like tasks -Whether challenging tasks promote cognitive development -Whether social interactions are important for cognitive development

How much children require adult guidance to make cognitive gains

Three of the following common criticisms of using behaviorist approaches in the classroom are valid ones. Which ones usually is not true about behaviorist approaches? -If some misbehaviors are reduced through reinforcement or punishment, other misbehaviors will always spring up to replace them. -Reinforcing a student simply for doing a task, without regard for the quality of performance, can encourage the student to do it quickly rather than well. -When a student who enjoys an activity is given extrinsic reinforcement for doing it, the student's intrinsic interest in the activity may decrease. -When a student has cognitive deficits that interfere with performance, simply reinforcing desired behaviors will be insufficient to bring about important changes.

If some misbehaviors are reduced through reinforcement or punishment, other misbehaviors will always spring up to replace them.

Piaget spoke of egocentrism as a characteristic of preoperational thought. Three of the following are examples of egocentrism as Piaget defined it. Which one is not an example of preoperational egocentrism. -Kate cannot make sense of the question "How do you think Molly feels?" -Lois tells a story as if her listeners already know many details they can't possibly know. -Justin is constantly grabbing objects and pulling them toward himself. -Frank thinks that Lucinda sees the same thing he does, even though Lucinda is in a different room.

Justin is constantly grabbing objects and pulling them toward himself

Which one of the following kinds of knowledge is least likely to be dependent on active, conscious processing to be learned? Base your choice on research findings presented in the textbook. -Knowing how to start a fire using crumpled newspaper and small twigs. - Knowing that the word cat appears in speech more often than feline. -Knowing the Los Angeles is approximately 3,000 miles from New York. -Knowing that football, lighthouse, and airport are all compound words.

Knowing that the word cat appears in speech more often than feline.

Vygotsky proposed that thought and language are: -Closely connected early in life and become increasingly independent with age -Largely independent before age two but closely connected thereafter -Largely independent until the elementary school years and closely connected thereafter -Closely connected at all stages of life

Largely independent before age two but closely connected thereafter

Which one of the following statements best describes a contextual view of learning? -Information stored in long-term memory is highly interrelated, such that everything is either directly or indirectly connected with everything else. -People of all ages--but especially young children--learn most effectively when they can relate a new concept to their own experiences. -Practice in applying principles of deductive and inductive reasoning leads to more logical thought processes in a variety of contexts. -Learners can tackle complex tasks more successfully when they have familiar concrete tools to assist them in their efforts.

Learners can tackle complex tasks more successfully when they have familiar concrete tools to assist them in their efforts.

Which one of the following best describes psychologists' current beliefs about the brain and learning? -Learning involves changes in synapses and possibly also involves the growth of new neurons and astrocytes. -The brains of rapid learners are about 20% larger than the brains of slower learners. -Left-hemisphere-dominant individuals are, on average, more effective learners than right-hemisphere-dominant individuals. -Large doses of certain vitamins promote brain growth and lead to more rapid learning.

Learning involves changes in synapses and possibly also involves the growth of new neurons and astrocytes.

Which one of the following is the best example of paired associate learning? -Learning how to fly a kite -Learning the months of the year in order -Learning the capitals of European countries -Learning French grammar

Learning the capitals of European countries

Two boys are fighting on school grounds. Fighting is against school rules, and the boys know this. Even so, a teacher who sees them lets them continue to fight rather than punishing them for doing so. From the perspective of social cognitive theory, these boys will be: -Likely to imitate more appropriate social behaviors in the future -Less likely to fight in the future -Likely to feel guilty when they stop fighting -More likely to fight in the future

More likely to fight in the future

Which one of the following statements best characterizes the duration of the sensory register? -Information remains for about ten seconds regardless of its nature. -Most visual information lasts less than a second, with auditory information lasting slightly longer. -Information can last indefinitely in the sensory register if the visual auditory image is occasionally retrieved. -Meaningless information fades quickly, but meaningful information may remain for hours.

Most visual information lasts less than a second, with auditory information lasting slightly longer.

Three of the following teachers are practicing principles from contemporary memory theory. Which teacher is not? -Mr. Adamson tells his students that, with practice, they will be able to do complicated long division problems in their heads. -Mr. Canton makes sure that students are paying attention before he begins an explanation of photosynthesis. -Ms. Borelli tells her students that they should not try to remember every detail in their 100-page reading assignment, but instead should focus on main ideas. -Ms. Darwin talks about how famous battles in history are in some ways similar to the fights students sometimes have on the playground.

Mr. Adamson tells his students that, with practice, they will be able to do complicated long division problems in their heads.

Three of the following alternatives depict situations in which a teacher is facilitating the retention component of modeling. Which one does not depict such a situation? -As he demonstrates how to throw a baseball correctly, Mr. Duffy says, "Now repeat these words as you throw the ball: back, up, thrust, release." -As he writes a capital J on the board, Mr. Anson tells his kindergartners, "To write a capital J, you make a fishhook with a line across the top." -Mr. Byers suggests, "Let's play some background music while I show you how to use the dipstick to measure your oil level." -Mr. Caruso says, "There are several critical steps involved in throwing a pot on the potter's wheel. Repeat these steps to yourself as you work so you don't forget them."

Mr. Byers suggests, "Let's play some background music while I show you how to use the dipstick to measure your oil level."

Three of the following educators are using an accurate understanding of the brain and its development to guide their teaching. Which one is not? -Mr. Helbert knows that the environment, not just genetics, affects student learning, so he plans for Aisha to participate in the same science activities as her classmates, despite the fact that he taught her brother last year and he struggled with certain concepts. -Mr. Ornstein divides his class into two groups --- left-brain thinkers and right-brain thinkers --- and gives each group different activities, tailored to the strengths of their dominant hemisphere. -Ms. Alda, a music teacher, knows that the plasticity of the brain could help her students make connections between music and math. -Ms. Chen knows that her middle school students could struggle to control their impulses, so she has them practice appropriate behaviors before their scheduled field trip.

Ms. Alda, a music teacher, knows that the plasticity of the brain could help her students make connections between music and math.

A teacher wants to encourage her students to work cooperatively with one another as they study classroom subject matter. If she were to use the concept of a setting event to encourage such cooperative behavior, she would: -Praise her students when they cooperate with one another. -Provide instructional materials that students can use only by working together. -First give students a task in which they can't work with one another. -Say "I like how Sally and John are helping one another today" loudly enough that other students can hear.

Provide instructional materials that students can use only by working together.

Nadia is an only child who lives on a ranch that is located many miles from the homes of other children. Although she enjoys being with her peers at school, she is often physically aggressive toward them. School personnel have made many small attempts to curb Nadia's aggression (for example, they have scolded her, kept her in from recess, and put her in a time-out situation) but always without success. They are now thinking about taking more drastic measures. According to the textbook, which one of the following is most likely to be effective? -Scolding Nadia in front of her peers about her inappropriate behavior -Putting Nadia in in-school suspension -Suspending Nadia from school -Giving Nadia extra classwork in school subjects she knows well

Putting Nadia in in-school suspension

In which one of the following situations should we be most concerned about missing a critical period in a person's development? -Joey has his first tennis lesson when he is 25. -Although Ross knows how to count, he gets no formal instruction in mathematics until he is 15. -Phoebe doesn't learn how to write until she is 12 years old. -Rachel is born with a cataract in her left eye that is surgically removed when she is 8 years old.

Rachel is born with a cataract in her left eye that is surgically removed when she is 8 years old.

Which one of the following reflects class inclusion as Piaget described it? -Getting cows and horses confused -Identifying a shape as a square one day but as a triangle the next. -Understanding that some behaviors that are perfectly acceptable at home are unacceptable at school. -Realizing that things that are cars are also vehicles.

Realizing that things that are cars are also vehicles

Matthew knows that his teacher will give him credit for each assignment he completes on time, without regard for the accuracy of what he does. As a result, Matthew often completes his work quickly, sloppily, and sometimes incorrectly. This situation illustrates which one of the following concerns regarding the use of behaviorist techniques in the classroom? -Even very mild punishment adversely affects his self-esteem -Reinforcement is a form of bribery -Reinforcement of some behaviors may impede optimal learning -Applied behavior analysis ignores the cognitive factors that affect learning

Reinforcement of some behaviors may impede optimal learning

When Gianna returns to college after a summer touring France, she tells her roommate about her many experiences. She does not always remember them accurately, however, so she fills in the gaps in her memory with logical details about how things "must" have happened. Several weeks later, she is telling another friend about her trip. Gianna will probably: -Remember her experiences more accurately than she had previously -Have different gaps in her memory than she did when talking to her roommate, and so construct very different recollections of her experiences in france -Remember her experiences in France as occurring in essentially the way that she previously described them to her roommate -Feel very confused about what things actually did and did not happen in France

Remember her experiences in France as occurring in essentially the way that she previously described them to her roommate

Three of the following are assumptions that underlie contemporary cognitive theories of learning. Which one is not such an assumption? -Humans often learn by relating new information to what they already know. -Humans sometimes learn differently than other species do. -Researchers can study mental events only by abandoning objectivity. -Mental events can be studied indirectly by observing behavior.

Researchers can study mental events only by abandoning objectivity.

According to the textbook, technology based collaborative learning programs have many benefits. Which one of the following is least likely to be a benefit? -Explanations of difficult concepts -Developmental aids -A community of learners -Sample test questions

Sample test questions

Piaget's sensorimotor stage is characterized by: -The beginnings of conservation -Basic schemes for dealing with abstract ideas -Schemes based primarily on perceptions and behaviors -Inaccurate mental representations of the physical and biological world

Schemes based primarily on perceptions and behaviors

Four-year-old Becky is playing with blocks, stacking them one on top of another until the towers eventually tumble, and then stacking the blocks again. Which one of the following best reflects Piaget's view of how Becky is probably learning in this situation? -Because she is probably still in the sensorimotor stage, she will remember what she learns about the blocks only while the blocks are still in front of her. -She is absorbing information about how the environment behaves (e.g., "objects fall") without consciously thinking about it. -Because she builds one tower after another, she is obviously reinforced by watching her towers tumble down. -She is actively thinking about and interpreting the results of her actions.

She is actively thinking about and interpreting the results of her actions.

People are more likely to perceive this configuration of shapes: %%%% # # # # $ $ $ $ & & & & as four rows rather than as four columns. Which one of the following Gestaltist concepts best accounts for this phenomenon? -Similarity -Closure -Proximity -Pragnanz

Similarity

Contemporary cognitive theory asserts that humans are actively involved in their own learning. This assertion is most closely aligned to which theory? -Cognitive developmental -Cognitive neuroscience -Cognitive behavioral -Social cognitive

Social cognitive

Three of the following are likely to enhance the effectiveness of a community of learners. Which one is least likely to be helpful? -Students are taught how to present a persuasive argument. -Students all try to master the same topic. -Students all have unique talents they can contribute to the overall class effort. -Students focus on significant real-world problems.

Students all try to master the same topic.

Three of the following represent why it is important for teachers to understand theories and principles related to learning. Which one is not? 1.)Teachers can maximize student learning when they understand what factors and processes influence how students learn. 2.)Teachers can draw on research findings to determine the effectiveness of instructional methods and strategies. 3.)Teachers can help students avoid common pitfalls to learning. 4.)Teachers can help prove learning theories and principles, leading to new laws in the field of Psychology.

Teachers can help prove learning theories and principles, leading to new laws in the field of Psychology.

Which one of the following is the best example of generalized self-efficacy? -Thanks to his good study habits, Evan is optimistic that he'll do well in the wide variety of college courses he must take in order to graduate -Rashida easily masters first-years algebra and can readily apply algebraic principles to solve new problems -Shawna is such a skillful figure skater that she earns a place on the national Olympic team -Lance plays basketball every change he gets, and when he's not playing the game himself, he's watching professional basketball on television

Thanks to his good study habits, Evan is optimistic that he'll do well in the wide variety of college courses he must take in order to graduate

Which one of the following statements best illustrates the concept of reciprocal causation? -People are unlikely to exhibit a behavior that will probably be punished. -Individuals are more likely to model a behavior for which they have seen others reinforced. -The environment alters behavior, but behavior alters the environment as well. -Modeling can occur only when an individual is capable of performing an observed behavior.

The environment alters behavior, but behavior alters the environment as well

To pass the time one day, Keisha multiples 2 by 2 by 2... and so on, on her calculator. She observes that the products increase in size more dramatically with each calculation. A few weeks later, when her math teacher explains what it means for something to increase exponentially, Keisha realizes that she has already discovered this idea on her own, and she remembers it better as a result. Which one of the following concepts best characterizes Keisha's enhanced understanding of an exponential increase? -Internal organization -A meaningful learning set -Implicit knowledge -The generation effect

The generation effect

An avoidance behavior of a previously aversive situation is particularly different to extinguish because: -The learner has no opportunity to learn that the situation is not longer aversive. -It has typically been reinforced on a fixed ratio schedule. -It has typically been reinforced on a variable ratio schedule. -It has typically been reinforced on a variable interval schedule.

The learner has no opportunity to learn that the situation is not longer aversive.

Loretta has been painting graffiti on the school walls after school hours. The school principal and the school counselor discuss the problem. The counselor thinks they should try to eliminate the graffiti-painting by asking her to chair a clean-up-the-school committee, then giving her school-wide recognition for her efforts. The counselor is suggesting: -Punishment II -Extinction -Noncontingent reinforcement -The reinforcement of an incompatible behavior

The reinforcement of an incompatible behavior

Which one of the following best illustrates how sociocognitive conflict might promote cognitive development? -Two students help each other prepare for a quiz by giving each other practice test questions. -A teenage boy worries that his friends might think he's a "nerd" if he refuses a can of beer at a party. -Two children work together on a crossword puzzle that includes the week's new spelling words. -The students in a cooperative learning group debate different ways of solving a difficult math problem.

The students in a cooperative learning group debate different ways of solving a difficult math problem.

Which one of the following best illustrates collective self-efficacy in teachers? -The teachers at West Middle School confer weekly about students who they believe are at risk for academic failure, and they are confident that, by working together, they can help these student be successful at school -The English teachers at East High School have agreed on how they will teach the required freshman English class. That way, students will have a similar classroom experience no matter which teacher they have for the course. -The teachers at South Elementary School have coordinated what they do at each grade level so that at any particular grade, students master the knowledge and skills they will need in the following grade -A third-grade teacher and a fourth-grade teacher at North Elementary School have combined their two classes into one large class. Sometimes they team-teach the entire group. At other times they divide the class into two smaller groups, one of which is ready for more advanced work than the other.

The teachers at West Middle School confer weekly about students who they believe are at risk for academic failure, and they are confident that, by working together, they can help these student be successful at school

William is trying to remember his new nine-digit social security number, and he does so by thinking of its three groups of three digits each. William is demonstrating: -The use of chunking -Storage in the sensory register -Retrieval from working memory -The use of maintenance rehearsal

The use of chunking

A revision of Bloom's taxonomy published in 2001 (described in the textbook) can help teachers consider not only the various types of cognitive processes that should be encouraged but also the: -Forms that those processes might take in literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies -Specific instructional methods most effective in fostering each process -Environmental contexts in which each process is most suitable -Types of knowledge to which those processes might be applied

Types of knowledge to which those processes might be applied

The texbooks's perspective regarding various theories of learning is that: - Different theories may be applicable in different situations. - Cognitivist theories are probably more accurate. - There is currently no "right" theory, but one will eventually be developed. - Behaviorist theories are probably more accurate.

There is currently no "right" theory, but one will eventually be developed.

Three of the following are recommended practices when using punishment to reduce an inappropriate behavior. Which one is not recommended? -Threaten punishment several times before administering it -Whenever possible, punish the behavior as soon as it occurs -Teach the appropriate behavior for the situation -Explain why the behavior is unacceptable

Threaten punishment several times before administering it

Which one of the following statements best describes Vygotsky's concept of internalization? -With age, children acquire more sophisticated problem solving skills, largely because their parents and teachers give them increasingly more challenging problems to solve. -As children grow older, they develop an increasing ability to think about events in abstract rather than concrete terms. -Through their social interactions with other people, children acquire ways of mentally approaching and thinking about challenging tasks. -Over time, children acquire greater self-confidence about their ability to deal with the world.

Through their social interactions with other people, children acquire ways of mentally approaching and thinking about challenging tasks.

According to the textbook, which one of the following conclusions is most true regarding factors that influence brain development? -Environmental factors are particularly influential in abnormal brain development. -Together, brain development is shaped by genetic and environmental factors throughout the life span. -Genetic factors have the strongest influence on brain development, particularly later in life. -Environmental factors and people's experiences have the strongest influence on brain development in middle childhood.

Together, brain development is shaped by genetic and environmental factors throughout the life span.

From Piaget's perspective, why might it be wise to postpone the teaching of complex fractions until middle school or high school? -Younger students can't learn complex equations. -Younger students haven't aquired proportional reasoning. -Younger students haven't attained conservation. -Younger students don't know their math facts well enough.

Younger students haven't aquired proportional reasoning.

Louis receives a new soccer ball and begins to dribble it in the same way he dribbles his basketball. His dribbling of the new ball reflects Piaget's notion of: -concrete operations -assimilation -cognitive structure -accommodation

assimilation

After being bitten by a neighbor's dog, Kathy is now afraid of the puppy her family has just adopted. Kathy's father gives Kathy a hot fudge sundae; then, while she is happily eating it, he brings the puppy about fifteen feet from where she is sitting. On each successive day, Kathy gets another ice cream treat, and her father brings the puppy a little close than he did on the previous day. Eventually Kathy is able to pet and enjoy the new puppy. Kathy's father is using a procedure known as: -stimulus discrimination -extinction -counterconditioning -generalization

counterconditioning

You know what a computer is, and you also know how to send an email message using a computer. This difference between these two kinds of knowledge can best be characterized as a difference between: -declarative vs. procedural knowledge -things learned through deep vs. shallow processing -things learned through the visuospatial sketchpad vs. through the phonological loop -explicit vs. implicit memory

declarative vs. procedural knowledge

Albert grew up in Germany but now lives in England. He recalls more about his childhood in Germany when he's speaking German than when he's speaking English. Which one of the following concepts best explains this fact? -fan effect -flashbulb memory -encoding specificity -spreading activation

encoding specificity

After a severe head injury, Mary has exceptional difficulty setting goals and in other ways planning her actions. Without knowing anything else about Mary's injury, you might reasonably conclude that it affected her: -forebrain -reticular formation -hindbrain -midbrain

forebrain

Olivia understands why 3/4 and 9/15 are equivalent fractions. Based on this information, Olivia is probably in Piaget's stage of development. -concrete operations -sensorimotor -preoperational -formal operations

formal operations

During a lecture on World War II, Mr. Cochran tells his class about some of the major leaders of the countries involved in the war. He then asks Kathy to identify the leader of Great Britain during World War II, and she correctly responds, "Winston Churchill." At the time she answers the question, Kathy is exhibiting: -proactive facilitation -retrieval -storage -elaboration

retrieval