Ch 1 - Introduction to Cognitive Psychology - Multiple Choice

The field that studies how to make machines behave in ways that are intelligent if a human were so behaving is known as A. cognitive psychology. B. behaviorism. C. artificial intelligence. D. flow diagramming.

C. artificial intelligence.

An animal might learn the general conception of a maze through the use of ________ . a. The savings curve b. Analytic introspection c. Artificial intelligence d. A cognitive map

d. A cognitive map

Which of the following was considered positive by the behaviorists? A. Observable behavior B. Consciousness C. Introspection D. The mind

A. Observable behavior

A mental conception of the layout of a physical space is known as a(n) A. cognitive map. B. mental model. C. artificial intelligence. D. memory consolidation.

A. cognitive map.

John Watson believed that psychology should focus on the study of A. observable behavior. B. mental processes. C. consciousness. D. attention.

A. observable behavior.

The branch of psychology concerned with the scientific study of the mind is called A. cognitive psychology. B. introspection. C. behaviorism. D. memory consolidation.

A. cognitive psychology.

Behaviorists believe that the presentation of_______ increases the frequency of behavior. A. positive reinforcers B. negative reinforcers C. practice trials D. excitatory neurotransmitters

A. positive reinforcers

Regarding children's language development, Noam Chomsky noted that children generate many sentences they have never heard before. From this, he concluded that language development is driven largely by A. inborn programming. B. cultural influences. C. classical conditioning. D. operant conditioning.

A. inborn programming.

The scene of a human sitting at a computer terminal, responding to stimuli flashed on the computer screen, would most likely be described as depicting a(n) _________ experiment. A. information processing B. analytic introspection C. operant conditioning D. behaviorist

A. information processing

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

B. cognition.

Broadbent's notion that the mind could be represented as operating in a sequence of stages, often represented by boxes, allows cognitive psychologists to develop _____that can be tested by further experiments. A. models B. approaches C. memories D. cognitive maps

A. models

Donald Broadbent was the first person to develop which of the following? A. A diagram depicting the mind as processing information in a sequence of stages B. A computer program for solving logic problems C. An experimental procedure for studying the way people process information D. The first textbook of cognitive psychology

A. A diagram depicting the mind as processing information in a sequence of stages

Which of the following methods, often associated with structuralism, was used in the psychology laboratory established by Wilhelm Wundt? A. Analytic introspection B. Measuring reaction times C. Conditioning D. All of these were used in Wundt's laboratory

A. Analytic introspection

Who introduced the flow diagram to represent what is happening in the mind? A. Donald Broadbent B. Colin Cherry C. Newell and Simon D. Wilhelm Wundt

A. Donald Broadbent

The first​ formal laboratory of psychology, where the approach of structuralism was created, was founded in which city? A. Leipzig, Germany B. Paris, France C. Baltimore, Maryland, USA D. Madrid, Spain

A. Leipzig, Germany

​An early model of memory indicates that incoming information is first handled by "sensory" memory, is then moved to "short term" memory, and finally is pushed into "long-term" memory. This model, proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968, is an example of a(n) ________ model. A. process B. structural C. nomothetic D. idiographic

A. process

Donders' measurement of reaction time is particularly important because it demonstrated the "time course" on which the mind operates. Donders found that it took ______ to decide which of two buttons to push in response to a stimulus. A. 1/100 second B. 1/10 second C. a second D. two seconds

B. 1/10 second, LESS THAN A SECOND

The example at the beginning of the book, in which Raphael talks to his friend on a cell phone on his way to class, was used to illustrate how A. Cognitive psychologists study problem solving in adults. B. Complex but seemingly effortless human cognition is. C. Human cognition is affected by emotional events. D. Both physiology and behavior is important to the study of cognition.

B. Complex but seemingly effortless human cognition is Several different cognitive processes can take place at once

Which of the following does NOT characterize the information processing (IP) approach to the study of cognition? A. IP depicts the mind as processing information in a sequence of stages. B. IP supports the principle of behaviorism that behavior is a stimulus-response relationship. C. IP involves the use of computers as a metaphor to understand human cognition. D. IP has an interest in investigating unobservable mental events.

B. IP supports the principle of behaviorism that behavior is a stimulus-response relationship.

Which of the following events is most closely associated with the decline of behaviorism as an approach to psychology? A. Watson's "Little Albert" experiment B. Skinner's publication of the book, Verbal Behavior C. Development of the technique of analytic introspection D. The proposal of cognitive maps

B. Skinner's publication of the book, Verbal Behavior

The procedure in which trained participants describe their experiences and thought processes in response to stimuli presented under controlled conditions is known as A. information processing. B. analytic introspection. C. functional analysis. D. behavioral analysis.

B. analytic introspection.

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

B. inferred from the participant's behavior.

The main point of the Donders' reaction time experiments was to A. show that reaction times can be measured accurately. B. measure the amount of time it takes to make a decision. C. determine differences in the way people react to stimuli. D. show that our cognitions are often based on unconscious inferences.

B. measure the amount of time it takes to make a decision

The process during which information is strengthened and transformed into a strong memory that is resistant to interference is known as A. savings. B. memory consolidation. C. introspection. D. cognition.

B. memory consolidation.

Ebbinghaus' "memory" experiments were important because they 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

B. plotted functions that described the operation of the mind.

In Donders' experiment on decision making, when participants were asked to press a button upon presentation of a light, they were engaged in a A. reaction time task. B. simple reaction time task. C. choice reaction time task. D. presentation task.

B. simple reaction time task.

Newell and Simon were among the first to use computers in cognitive psychology. Their computer program A. simulated human attention. B. solved logic problems. C. controlled presentation of visual stimuli during cognitive psychology experiments. D. introduced the first flow diagram.

B. solved logic problems

A common feature of both a reaction time experiment and an operant conditioning experiment is A. the presentation of positive reinforcers. B. the measurement of behavior. C. the inference of mental processes. D. all of these are common features

B. the measurement of behavior.

At the MIT Symposium on Information Theory, George Miller presented a paper suggesting that 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.

B. there are limits to the human ability to process information

What year is usually cited as the "birthday" of cognitive science (pick the closest year)? A. 1879 B. 1945 C. 1956 D. 1967

C. 1956

The "Little Albert" experiment involving the rat and the loud noise is an example of which of the following types of experiments? A. Reaction time B. Unconscious inference C. Classical conditioning D. Operant conditioning

C. Classical conditioning

Which of the following is a criticism of analytic introspection? A. It infers mental processes based on objective data. B. It produces results that are too easy to verify. C. It produces variable results from person to person. D. It requires no training.

C. It produces variable results from person to person.

Gais et al.'s research on the impact of sleep on memory consolidation illustrates which type of approach to the study of the operations of the mind? A. Behavioral B. Structural C. Physiological D. Mathematical

C. Physiological

The founder of the first laboratory of scientific psychology was A. Franciscus Donders. B. Hermann von Helmholtz. C. Wilhelm Wundt. D. Hermann Ebbinghaus.

C. Wilhelm Wundt.

In Donders' 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 A. reaction time task. B. simple reaction time task. C. choice reaction time task. D. presentation task.

C. choice reaction time task.

Using behavior to infer mental processes is the basic principle of A. behaviorism. B. Donderism. C. cognitive psychology. D. operant conditioning.

C. cognitive psychology.

Donders' main reason for doing his choice reaction time experiment was to study A. perception. B. attention. C. decision making. D. memory.

C. decision making.

According to your text, the behavioral approach to the study of the mind involves A. measuring the relation between stimulation and brain processes. B. controlling behavior by presenting positive reinforcements. C. measuring the relation between stimuli and behavior. D. controlling behavior by presenting negative reinforcements.

C. measuring the relation between stimuli and behavior.

An important contribution to the field of psychology resulting from Wilhelm Wundt founding his laboratory at the University of Leipzig in 1879 was A. the rise of behaviorism's popularity. B. recognizing 1879 as "the birthday of cognitive science." C. producing Ph.D.s who later established psychology departments at many U.S. universities. D. the first demonstration of the forgetting curve.

C. producing Ph.D.s who later established psychology departments at many U.S. universities.

According to Ebbinghaus' savings curve, savings is a function of A. word familiarity. B. sensory modality. C. retention interval. D. reaction time.

C. retention interval., ELAPSED TIME

The "cognitive revolution" 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.

C. was a gradual process that occurred over a few decades.

Which of the following psychologists is known for research on operant conditioning? A. Franciscus Donders B. Wilhelm Wundt C. John Watson D. B.F. Skinner

D. B.F. Skinner

Who proposed that children's language development was caused by imitation and reinforcement? A. Noam Chomsky B. John Watson C. Keller Breland D. B.F. Skinner

D. B.F. Skinner

The use of the term "artificial intelligence" was coined by A. B.F. Skinner. B. Colin Cherry. C. Edward Tolman. D. John McCarthy

D. John McCarthy.

Which of the following stimuli were used in Ebbinghaus' "memory" experiment discussed in your text? A. Common words B. Light illuminated on the left or the right of a computer screen C. Grey rectangles in front of light rectangles D. Three-letter nonsense words

D. Three-letter nonsense words

Who developed the concept of the cognitive map? A. Watson B. Ebbinghaus C. Wundt D. Tolman

D. Tolman

Donders' reaction time experiment was performed using stimuli in which of the following sensory modalities? A. Touch B. Hearing C. Smell D. Vision

D. Vision

Colin Cherry's experiment in which participants listen to two messages simultaneously, one in each ear, found that 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. all of these

D. all of these

The relationship between the _____ is NOT measured directly by cognitive psychologists. A. physiological response and the behavioral outcome B. cognitive task and the behavioral outcome C. cognitive task and the physiological response D. cognitive task and the mental response

D. cognitive task and the mental response

Your text describes the occurrence of a cognitive revolution" during which dramatic changes took place in the way psychology was studied. This so-called "revolution" occurred parallel to (and, in part, because of) the introduction of A. cognitive psychology textbooks. B. analytic introspection. C. Skinner boxes. D. computers.

D. computers.

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

D. make a decision about the stimulus.

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

D. operant conditioning.

Reaction time refers to the time between the ________ of a stimulus and a person's response to it. A. perception B. mental awareness C. disappearance D. presentation

D. presentation

Who developed the concept of the cognitive map? a. Tolman b. Raynor c. Sanders d. James

Tolman

​Which of the following analogies would provide the best description for how research progresses in cognitive psychology? a. ​A trail from which one thing leads to another. b. ​A pyramid, where all questions lead to a singular answer, or "tip." c. ​A pair of railroad tracks where two things move in a parallel fashion. d. ​An octopus where every leg comes from a singular body.

a. A trail from which one thing leads to another

Which of the following psychologists is known for research on operant conditioning? a. B.F. Skinner b. John Watson c. Franciscus Donders d. Wilhelm Wundt

a. B.F. Skinner

Noam Chomsky argued that language development was primarily determined by ________ . a. Inborn biological processes b. Cultural differences c. Reinforcement d. Imitation

a. Inborn biological processes

________ founded behaviorism which ________ the study of inner mental processes. a. John Watson ; rejected b. William James ; accepted c. William James ; rejected d. John Watson ; accepted

a. John Watson ; rejected

Of the following brain structures, the one that is LEAST associated with the pain matrix is the ________ . a. Medulla b. Hippocampus c. Thalamus d. Amygdala

a. Medulla

The process model refers to representations of ________ . a. Processes involved in cognitive mechanisms b. Physical structures c. The brain d. Real or imagined structures

a. Processes involved in cognitive mechanisms

Which of the following events is most closely associated with a resurgence in interest in the mind within the study of psychology? a. Skinner's publication of the book, Verbal Behavior b. The proposal of cognitive maps c. Watson's "Little Albert" experiment d. Development of the technique of analytic introspection

a. Skinner's publication of the book, Verbal Behavior

While George takes the bus home, he is thinking about how to resolve a difficult issue at work. This example particularly highlights the value of ________ . a. Working to solve a problem b. Visualizing c. Making a decision d. Remembering

a. Working to solve a problem

Which of the following methods, often associated with structuralism, was used in the psychology laboratory established by Wilhelm Wundt? a. Analytic introspection b. Measuring reaction times c. Classical conditioning d. Operant conditioning

a. analytic introspection

The field that studies how to make machines behave in ways that are intelligent if a human were so behaving is known as a. artificial intelligence. b. behaviorism. c. flow diagramming. d. cognitive psychology.

a. artificial intelligence

Colin Cherry's experiment in which participants listen to two messages simultaneously, one in each ear, found all but which of the following? a. people take in very little information about the ignored message. b. people can focus on one message and ignore the other one. c. even deaf individuals process auditory information, even on a non-conscious level. d. people can focus on the message they were repeating.

a. people take in very little info about the ignored message

The cognitive revolution, which marked a rebirth of the study of the mind, began in the ________ . a. 1920s b. 1950s c. 1990s d. 1960s

b. 1950s

Analytic introspection generally involves ________ . a. Sampling recall ability of many subjects b. Describing one's thought processes c. Physiological activity d. Measuring reaction time

b. Describing one's thought processes

Which one of these early pioneers in cognitive psychology was the first to undertake quantitative measurements of mental processes? a. Donders b. Ebbinghaus c. Wundt d. James

b. Ebbinghaus

In a flow diagram of the mind, messages first enter a(n) ________ . a. Unit b. Filter c. Cognitive map d. Detector

b. Filter

The predominant theme of the information-processing approach holds that the operation of the mind occurs ________ . a. Only through observed behaviors b. In a number of stages c. Merely through reinforcement d. Via unconscious processes

b. In a number of stages

In a classic paper from the 1950s, George Miller argued that the information-processing of the mind is ________ . a. Unlimited b. Limited to about seven items c. Limited to about one million items d. Limited to about 100 items

b. Limited to about seven items

The structural model refers to representations of ________ . a. Mental configurations b. Physical structures c. The brain d. Real or imagined structures

b. Physical structures

According to Ebbinghaus's savings curve, savings is a function of a. word familiarity. b. elapsed time. c. reaction time. d. sensory modality.

b. elapsed time

In Donders' experiment on decision making, when participants were asked to press a button upon presentation of a light, they were engaged in a a. reaction time task. b. simple reaction time task. c. presentation task. d. choice reaction time task.

b. simple reaction time task

The statement "If you put your mind to it, I'm sure you can solve that math problem" highlights how the mind can be used ________ . a. In memory b. To show normal functioning c. As a problem-solver d. Making decisions or considering possibilities

c. As a problem-solver

Ivan Pavlov's famous experiment with dogs is an example of ________ . a. Operant conditioning b. Analytic introspection c. Classical conditioning d. The savings curve

c. Classical conditioning

Your text describes the "cognitive revolution" during which dramatic changes occurred in the way psychology was studied. This revolution occurred parallel to (and in part, because of) the introduction of a. Cognitive psychology textbooks. b. Skinner boxes. c. Computers. d. Analytic introspection.

c. Computers.

Who introduced the flow diagram to represent what is happening in the mind? a. Newell and Simon b. Wilhelm Wundt c. Donald Broadbent d. Colin Cherry

c. Donald Broadbent

If you are thinking about experiences about a previous vacation, then you are most likely making use of ________ memories. a. Sensory b. Procedural c. Episodic d. Semantic

c. Episodic

The relationship between the _____ is NOT measured directly by cognitive psychologists. a. physiological response and the behavioral outcome b. cognitive task and the physiological response c. cognitive task and the mental response d. cognitive task and the behavioral outcome

c. cognitive task and mental response

Joe and Meg are doing a study in psychology. Joe is asked to push a button as soon as he sees a red light whereas Meg is asked to push a red button if she sees a red light and a green button if she sees a green light. From the information, ________ appear to be involved in a task measuring choice reaction time. a. Only Joe b. Both Joe and Meg c. Neither Joe nor Meg d. Only Meg

d. Only Meg

The structural model refers to representations of ________ . a. Mental configurations b. The brain c. Real or imagined structures d. Physical structures

d. Physical structures

Wilhelm Wundt is primarily associated with the study of ________ . a. The cognitive revolution b. Behaviorism c. Artificial intelligence d. Structuralism

d. Structuralism

The "Little Albert" experiment involving the rat and the loud noise is an example of which of the following types of experiments? a. Reaction time b. Unconscious inference c. Operant conditioning d. Classical conditioning

d. classical conditioning

John Watson believed that psychology should focus on the study of a. mental processes. b. consciousness. c. attention. d. observable behavior.

d. observable behavior

​An early model of memory indicates that incoming information is first handled by "sensory" memory, is then moved to "short term" memory, and finally is pushed into "long-term" memory. This model, proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968, is an example of a(n) ________ model. a. nomothetic b. structural c. idiographic d. process

d. process

Which of the following are the two primary categories of models in cognitive psychology?​ a. Psychodynamic models and behavioral models b. Interpersonal models and intrapersonal models c. Biological models and psychological models d. Structural models and process models

d. structural models and process models