PSYCH MISC CHAPTER 08 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Chapter 08
Multiple Choice Questions
1.What is the purpose of the 'cognitive economy' that our brains impose on the world?
A) to record events accurately
B) to connect stimuli and responses
C) to avoid uncomfortable experiences
D) to save time and energy
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-01
Page-Reference:
Topic: Cognitive Economy – Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: D) to save time and energy
2.When we use heuristics and other mental short-cuts to save time and energy in decision-making, what term
is used for that process?
A) behaviourism
B) cognitivism
C) comprehension
D) cognitive economy
Difficulty: 1
QuestionID: 08-1-02
Page-Reference:
Topic: Cognitive Economy – Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: D) cognitive economy
3.The heuristics that we use for decision making don't include all information, and can lead us to make
errors. Why, then, do our brains use them?
A) We haven't evolved past this primitive aspect of our cognition.
B) They have more advantages than disadvantages.
C) Our brains revert to these processes when we are fatigued.
D) Our cognitions are simple stimulus-response connections.
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-03
Topic: Cognitive Economy—Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: B) They have more advantages than disadvantages.
4.June is trying to decide on which car to buy. She is overwhelmed by all of the information about various
aspects of all of the different makes and models and she can't even create a short list of her top preferences.
It could be said that June lacks that would allow her to only attend to the information she needs for
decision making and minimize the rest.
A) bottom-up processing
B) schemas
1
,PSYCH MISC CHAPTER 08 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
C) cognitive economy
D) disconfirmation strategies
Difficulty: 3
QuestionID: 08-1-04
Topic: Cognitive Economy—Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: C) cognitive economy
5.Dr. Fortner is discussing cognitive psychology with his introductory psychology class and says that we act as
'cognitive misers' when making judgments about others or making decisions. What does Dr. Fortner mean by
this statement?
A) We will use heuristics only as long as they give us the correct answer.
B) We value accuracy in our judgments and decisions.
C) We value simplicity in understanding our social world.
D) We are frequently incorrect in our judgments and decision making.
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-05
Page-Reference:
Topic:
Skill: Factual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: C) We value simplicity in understanding our social world.
6. allows us to simplify what we attend to and keep the information we need for decision making to
a manageable minimum.
A) Cognitive overload
B) Cognitive economy
C) Cognitive bias
D) Cognitive restructuring
Difficulty: 1
QuestionID: 08-1-06
Topic: Cognitive Economy—Imposing Order on Our World
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: B) Cognitive economy
7.Our ability to extract useful information from observations of only small bits of behaviour is known as
A) a schema.
B) the hindsight bias.
C) thin slicing.
D) a representativeness heuristic.
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-07
Topic: Cognitive Economy—Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Factual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: C) thin slicing.
2
,PSYCH MISC CHAPTER 08 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
8.John Gottman and his colleagues were able to predict divorce rates of couples with startling accuracy
after observing 15 minutes of interaction. This technique is known as
A) linear regression.
B) the availability heuristic.
C) cognitive load.
D) thin slicing.
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-08
Topic: Cognitive Economy—Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: D) thin slicing.
9.Because our snap judgments are accurate enough to be useful, the tendency to use heuristics and
intuition might be considered from an evolutionary perspective.
A) a maladaptation.
B) a mutation.
C) adaptive.
D) too risky to use.
Difficulty: 1
QuestionID: 08-1-09
Topic: Cognitive Economy—Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: C) adaptive.
10. In situations where we have limited information, some people tend to assume the worst will happen.
This systematic tendency in thinking is known as
A) inferential statistics.
B) a prototype.
C) an algorithm.
D) a cognitive bias.
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-10
Topic: Heuristics and Biases—Double-Edged Swords
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1b
Answer: D) a cognitive bias.
11. When we use the heuristic, we compare an event to some model or prototype.
A) algorithm
B) simulation
C) availability
D) representativeness
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-11
Topic: Heuristics and Biases—Double-Edged Swords
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1b
3
, PSYCH MISC CHAPTER 08 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Answer: D) representativeness
12. If we know that Ashley is 25 years old, outspoken on environmental and human rights issues, and
presently on her way to an anti-nuclear weapons demonstration, we might come to the quick conclusion that
she is also a feminist, because we associate feminism with other forms of activism. This mental shortcut
demonstrates the
A) algorithm.
B) base rate fallacy.
C) availability heuristic.
D) representativeness heuristic.
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-12
Topic: Heuristics and Biases—Double-Edged Swords
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1b
Answer: D) representativeness heuristic.
13. Judith is a third-year undergraduate student who lists her
interests as computer gaming, and online communities. Based on this description, you might assume that
Judith is more likely to be a computer science major than a psychology major because you think those
interests are more common among computer science majors. On your campus, there are very few computer
science majors, and a lot of psychology majors. Your judgment is likely based on the heuristic but
might be wrong due to the .
A) availability; base rate fallacy
B) representative; overconfidence bias
C) availability; overconfidence bias
D) representative; base rate fallacy
Difficulty: 3
QuestionID: 08-1-13
Topic: Heuristics and Biases—Double-Edged Swords
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1b
Answer: D) representative; base rate fallacy
14. One reason that we are susceptible to the representativeness heuristic is that we
A) mistake confidence for certainty.
B) are fooled by information that comes to our mind most easily.
C) fail to consider how probable an outcome is within the general population.
D) overestimate our cognitive economy.
Difficulty: 3
QuestionID: 08-1-14
Topic: Heuristics and Biases—Double-Edged Swords
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1b
Answer: C) fail to consider how probable an outcome is within the general population.
15. Most organic food stores sell vegan snacks, and about half of all coffee shops sell vegan snacks. There
are only a few organic food stores but there are hundreds of coffee shops in the city. If you assume that you
should go to an organic food store to find a vegan snack, what type of error have you made?
A) hindsight bias
4
Chapter 08
Multiple Choice Questions
1.What is the purpose of the 'cognitive economy' that our brains impose on the world?
A) to record events accurately
B) to connect stimuli and responses
C) to avoid uncomfortable experiences
D) to save time and energy
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-01
Page-Reference:
Topic: Cognitive Economy – Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: D) to save time and energy
2.When we use heuristics and other mental short-cuts to save time and energy in decision-making, what term
is used for that process?
A) behaviourism
B) cognitivism
C) comprehension
D) cognitive economy
Difficulty: 1
QuestionID: 08-1-02
Page-Reference:
Topic: Cognitive Economy – Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: D) cognitive economy
3.The heuristics that we use for decision making don't include all information, and can lead us to make
errors. Why, then, do our brains use them?
A) We haven't evolved past this primitive aspect of our cognition.
B) They have more advantages than disadvantages.
C) Our brains revert to these processes when we are fatigued.
D) Our cognitions are simple stimulus-response connections.
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-03
Topic: Cognitive Economy—Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: B) They have more advantages than disadvantages.
4.June is trying to decide on which car to buy. She is overwhelmed by all of the information about various
aspects of all of the different makes and models and she can't even create a short list of her top preferences.
It could be said that June lacks that would allow her to only attend to the information she needs for
decision making and minimize the rest.
A) bottom-up processing
B) schemas
1
,PSYCH MISC CHAPTER 08 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
C) cognitive economy
D) disconfirmation strategies
Difficulty: 3
QuestionID: 08-1-04
Topic: Cognitive Economy—Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: C) cognitive economy
5.Dr. Fortner is discussing cognitive psychology with his introductory psychology class and says that we act as
'cognitive misers' when making judgments about others or making decisions. What does Dr. Fortner mean by
this statement?
A) We will use heuristics only as long as they give us the correct answer.
B) We value accuracy in our judgments and decisions.
C) We value simplicity in understanding our social world.
D) We are frequently incorrect in our judgments and decision making.
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-05
Page-Reference:
Topic:
Skill: Factual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: C) We value simplicity in understanding our social world.
6. allows us to simplify what we attend to and keep the information we need for decision making to
a manageable minimum.
A) Cognitive overload
B) Cognitive economy
C) Cognitive bias
D) Cognitive restructuring
Difficulty: 1
QuestionID: 08-1-06
Topic: Cognitive Economy—Imposing Order on Our World
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: B) Cognitive economy
7.Our ability to extract useful information from observations of only small bits of behaviour is known as
A) a schema.
B) the hindsight bias.
C) thin slicing.
D) a representativeness heuristic.
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-07
Topic: Cognitive Economy—Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Factual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: C) thin slicing.
2
,PSYCH MISC CHAPTER 08 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
8.John Gottman and his colleagues were able to predict divorce rates of couples with startling accuracy
after observing 15 minutes of interaction. This technique is known as
A) linear regression.
B) the availability heuristic.
C) cognitive load.
D) thin slicing.
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-08
Topic: Cognitive Economy—Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: D) thin slicing.
9.Because our snap judgments are accurate enough to be useful, the tendency to use heuristics and
intuition might be considered from an evolutionary perspective.
A) a maladaptation.
B) a mutation.
C) adaptive.
D) too risky to use.
Difficulty: 1
QuestionID: 08-1-09
Topic: Cognitive Economy—Imposing Order on Our World
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1a
Answer: C) adaptive.
10. In situations where we have limited information, some people tend to assume the worst will happen.
This systematic tendency in thinking is known as
A) inferential statistics.
B) a prototype.
C) an algorithm.
D) a cognitive bias.
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-10
Topic: Heuristics and Biases—Double-Edged Swords
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1b
Answer: D) a cognitive bias.
11. When we use the heuristic, we compare an event to some model or prototype.
A) algorithm
B) simulation
C) availability
D) representativeness
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-11
Topic: Heuristics and Biases—Double-Edged Swords
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1b
3
, PSYCH MISC CHAPTER 08 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Answer: D) representativeness
12. If we know that Ashley is 25 years old, outspoken on environmental and human rights issues, and
presently on her way to an anti-nuclear weapons demonstration, we might come to the quick conclusion that
she is also a feminist, because we associate feminism with other forms of activism. This mental shortcut
demonstrates the
A) algorithm.
B) base rate fallacy.
C) availability heuristic.
D) representativeness heuristic.
Difficulty: 2
QuestionID: 08-1-12
Topic: Heuristics and Biases—Double-Edged Swords
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1b
Answer: D) representativeness heuristic.
13. Judith is a third-year undergraduate student who lists her
interests as computer gaming, and online communities. Based on this description, you might assume that
Judith is more likely to be a computer science major than a psychology major because you think those
interests are more common among computer science majors. On your campus, there are very few computer
science majors, and a lot of psychology majors. Your judgment is likely based on the heuristic but
might be wrong due to the .
A) availability; base rate fallacy
B) representative; overconfidence bias
C) availability; overconfidence bias
D) representative; base rate fallacy
Difficulty: 3
QuestionID: 08-1-13
Topic: Heuristics and Biases—Double-Edged Swords
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1b
Answer: D) representative; base rate fallacy
14. One reason that we are susceptible to the representativeness heuristic is that we
A) mistake confidence for certainty.
B) are fooled by information that comes to our mind most easily.
C) fail to consider how probable an outcome is within the general population.
D) overestimate our cognitive economy.
Difficulty: 3
QuestionID: 08-1-14
Topic: Heuristics and Biases—Double-Edged Swords
Skill: Applied/Conceptual
Objective: 8.1b
Answer: C) fail to consider how probable an outcome is within the general population.
15. Most organic food stores sell vegan snacks, and about half of all coffee shops sell vegan snacks. There
are only a few organic food stores but there are hundreds of coffee shops in the city. If you assume that you
should go to an organic food store to find a vegan snack, what type of error have you made?
A) hindsight bias
4
