WGU Educational Psychology
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (RATED A+)
What is working memory (sometimes known as short-term memory)? - ANSWERIt
actively processes a small amount of information, typically holding it for less than a
minute.
What is positive reinforcement? - ANSWERReinforcement consists of getting
something a learner finds desirable.
What is metacognition? - ANSWERThinking about thinking
What is an accurate comparison between behaviorist and social cognitive theories of
learning. - ANSWERsocial cognitive theorists propose that reinforcement affects
observers as well as the individuals actually being reinforced.
In what way does self-efficacy differ from the term self-concept? - ANSWERself-
efficacy varies depending on the specific task to be performed
The term negative reinforcement can best be described as a situation in which: -
ANSWERSomething the learner doesn't want is taken away after a response
- No homework after doing well on an exam
- Car chiming until you put your seatbelt on
Ms. O'Connor reinforces James every time she sees him reading independently.
Once he is reading frequently, she begins to reinforce him only every second time,
then only every third time, and so on, gradually reinforcing him less and less often.
From a behaviorist perspective, we can predict Jimmy will: - ANSWERContinue to
read independently
Which one of the following statements best characterizes ho reinforement of
incompatible behavior can help reduce inappropriate behavior in the classroom? -
ANSWERAn undesirable behavior will decrease when a student is reinforced for a
behavior in an opposite manner
Social cognitive theory can best be characterized as being concerned with learning: -
ANSWERthrough observations of others
One characteristic common to all behavorist learning theories is an emphasis on: -
ANSWERthe effect of the environment on learning
Which one of the following statements best describes positive reinforcement? -
ANSWERReinforcement consists of getting something a learner wants.
,If we want to enhance students' metacognitive processes during problem solving, we
would be most likely to: - ANSWERsuggest questions that students might ask
themselves as they work on problems.
Which one of the following is the best illustration of metacognition? - ANSWERDolly
is studying for a history test. She knows that she has trouble with dates, so she
checks herself by giving herself a short quiz after each chapter.
Criterion-Referenced Assessment - ANSWER- Helps to figure out whether of not the
teaching and students' learning meet the international goals and the content area
standards for the covered material.
- assess strengths and weaknesses of students' understanding
- Focus is on standards
Which one of the following eamples illustrates informal assessment? -
ANSWERobserving how students handle the ball as they play soccer in gym class
Which one of the following is the best example of performance assessment -
ANSWERhaving students do as many push-ups as they can
by encouraging students to evaluate their own performance during assessment
activities we are most likely to: - ANSWERpromote self-regulation
Which one of the following is a legitimate concern about the use of performance
assessment? - ANSWERits reliability and content validitly are sometimes
questionable.
Which of the following students show motivation consistent with theoretical views of
self worth? - ANSWERMonica doesn't read the comments her teacher has written on
her research paper because she suspects that they're not very flattering.
which one of the following statements best describes motivation theorists' concept of
sense of self-determination? - ANSWERBelieving that you have some choice about
what you do.
Norm-Referenced Assessment - ANSWER- Individual performance
- In your music class the teacher decides on chair order by having your whole
trumpet section play the same piece and then evaluates their quality relative to the
other students.
- Top 10% of your class in order to get into a certain college
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of informal assessment -
ANSWERinformal assesment is valid
Ms. Smith's 7th grade language arts class has a reading chart on the wall to chart
how mny books they read during the month of december. If they read 3 books each,
the class as a wholewill receive a movie day where they get to choose a movie.
What type of motivation is this classified as? - ANSWERExtrinisic motivation
, The cognitive theory of motivation that one fo the congnitions that affect motivation is
goals. Out of the four types of goals, which of these scenarios best illustrates a
mastery approach? - ANSWERSam loves playing football, but for some reason he
just can't seem to throw that perfect spiral. After many attempts he asks his dad for
tips and suggestions on how to throw a great pass since his dad played football
throughout his younger years
"My parents are proud of my academic achievements and peers look up to
classmates who are part of a team or club. It means a lot to me that i graduate with a
perfect GPA and I hope to be valedictorian" Which type of goal does this indicate? -
ANSWERPerformance-approach goal
Anthony is a seventh grade student who is struggling to be motivated in his science
class. Which of the following theories regarding Anthony's lack of motivation exhibits
a cognitive theoretical approach? - ANSWER"Anthony's teacher should present him
with choices, allowing him some control over his activities. His intrinsic motivation to
learn will increase if he is granted a sense of autonomy and self-determination"
what is a good way to enhance student's sense of self determination? -
ANSWERgive students opportunites to make choices
What is an example of Erikson's state of identity versus role confusion? -
ANSWERCraig is trying to decide what career he wants to pursue.
Many cognitive psychologists believe that learning and understanding are often
constructive in nature. Three of the following scenarios illustrate such construction.
Which scenario does not neccessarily involve construction in learning? -
ANSWERMr. McFarland asks his third graders to practice their multiplication tables
every day. After a month of such practice, Misty can retrieve all the basic
multiplication facts quickly and easily.
Which one of the following is the best example of Piaget's concept of assimilation? -
ANSWERA kindergartner uses a white crayon instead of chalk to draw on the
blackboard
According to Erik Erikson, students' ability to trust those around them intially stems
from: - ANSWERExperiences with adults during infancy
Which one of the following best describes Piaget's notion of equilibration? -
ANSWERA child revises existing schemes to incorporate new information
Which one of the following statements best characterized cognitive psychology's
approach to learning? - ANSWERStudents's learning is a function of what they do
mentally, with the info they receive
Which one of the following best illustrates Piaget's concept of accommodation? -
ANSWERDonna reviese her understanding of what clouds are like wen she studies
them in science
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (RATED A+)
What is working memory (sometimes known as short-term memory)? - ANSWERIt
actively processes a small amount of information, typically holding it for less than a
minute.
What is positive reinforcement? - ANSWERReinforcement consists of getting
something a learner finds desirable.
What is metacognition? - ANSWERThinking about thinking
What is an accurate comparison between behaviorist and social cognitive theories of
learning. - ANSWERsocial cognitive theorists propose that reinforcement affects
observers as well as the individuals actually being reinforced.
In what way does self-efficacy differ from the term self-concept? - ANSWERself-
efficacy varies depending on the specific task to be performed
The term negative reinforcement can best be described as a situation in which: -
ANSWERSomething the learner doesn't want is taken away after a response
- No homework after doing well on an exam
- Car chiming until you put your seatbelt on
Ms. O'Connor reinforces James every time she sees him reading independently.
Once he is reading frequently, she begins to reinforce him only every second time,
then only every third time, and so on, gradually reinforcing him less and less often.
From a behaviorist perspective, we can predict Jimmy will: - ANSWERContinue to
read independently
Which one of the following statements best characterizes ho reinforement of
incompatible behavior can help reduce inappropriate behavior in the classroom? -
ANSWERAn undesirable behavior will decrease when a student is reinforced for a
behavior in an opposite manner
Social cognitive theory can best be characterized as being concerned with learning: -
ANSWERthrough observations of others
One characteristic common to all behavorist learning theories is an emphasis on: -
ANSWERthe effect of the environment on learning
Which one of the following statements best describes positive reinforcement? -
ANSWERReinforcement consists of getting something a learner wants.
,If we want to enhance students' metacognitive processes during problem solving, we
would be most likely to: - ANSWERsuggest questions that students might ask
themselves as they work on problems.
Which one of the following is the best illustration of metacognition? - ANSWERDolly
is studying for a history test. She knows that she has trouble with dates, so she
checks herself by giving herself a short quiz after each chapter.
Criterion-Referenced Assessment - ANSWER- Helps to figure out whether of not the
teaching and students' learning meet the international goals and the content area
standards for the covered material.
- assess strengths and weaknesses of students' understanding
- Focus is on standards
Which one of the following eamples illustrates informal assessment? -
ANSWERobserving how students handle the ball as they play soccer in gym class
Which one of the following is the best example of performance assessment -
ANSWERhaving students do as many push-ups as they can
by encouraging students to evaluate their own performance during assessment
activities we are most likely to: - ANSWERpromote self-regulation
Which one of the following is a legitimate concern about the use of performance
assessment? - ANSWERits reliability and content validitly are sometimes
questionable.
Which of the following students show motivation consistent with theoretical views of
self worth? - ANSWERMonica doesn't read the comments her teacher has written on
her research paper because she suspects that they're not very flattering.
which one of the following statements best describes motivation theorists' concept of
sense of self-determination? - ANSWERBelieving that you have some choice about
what you do.
Norm-Referenced Assessment - ANSWER- Individual performance
- In your music class the teacher decides on chair order by having your whole
trumpet section play the same piece and then evaluates their quality relative to the
other students.
- Top 10% of your class in order to get into a certain college
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of informal assessment -
ANSWERinformal assesment is valid
Ms. Smith's 7th grade language arts class has a reading chart on the wall to chart
how mny books they read during the month of december. If they read 3 books each,
the class as a wholewill receive a movie day where they get to choose a movie.
What type of motivation is this classified as? - ANSWERExtrinisic motivation
, The cognitive theory of motivation that one fo the congnitions that affect motivation is
goals. Out of the four types of goals, which of these scenarios best illustrates a
mastery approach? - ANSWERSam loves playing football, but for some reason he
just can't seem to throw that perfect spiral. After many attempts he asks his dad for
tips and suggestions on how to throw a great pass since his dad played football
throughout his younger years
"My parents are proud of my academic achievements and peers look up to
classmates who are part of a team or club. It means a lot to me that i graduate with a
perfect GPA and I hope to be valedictorian" Which type of goal does this indicate? -
ANSWERPerformance-approach goal
Anthony is a seventh grade student who is struggling to be motivated in his science
class. Which of the following theories regarding Anthony's lack of motivation exhibits
a cognitive theoretical approach? - ANSWER"Anthony's teacher should present him
with choices, allowing him some control over his activities. His intrinsic motivation to
learn will increase if he is granted a sense of autonomy and self-determination"
what is a good way to enhance student's sense of self determination? -
ANSWERgive students opportunites to make choices
What is an example of Erikson's state of identity versus role confusion? -
ANSWERCraig is trying to decide what career he wants to pursue.
Many cognitive psychologists believe that learning and understanding are often
constructive in nature. Three of the following scenarios illustrate such construction.
Which scenario does not neccessarily involve construction in learning? -
ANSWERMr. McFarland asks his third graders to practice their multiplication tables
every day. After a month of such practice, Misty can retrieve all the basic
multiplication facts quickly and easily.
Which one of the following is the best example of Piaget's concept of assimilation? -
ANSWERA kindergartner uses a white crayon instead of chalk to draw on the
blackboard
According to Erik Erikson, students' ability to trust those around them intially stems
from: - ANSWERExperiences with adults during infancy
Which one of the following best describes Piaget's notion of equilibration? -
ANSWERA child revises existing schemes to incorporate new information
Which one of the following statements best characterized cognitive psychology's
approach to learning? - ANSWERStudents's learning is a function of what they do
mentally, with the info they receive
Which one of the following best illustrates Piaget's concept of accommodation? -
ANSWERDonna reviese her understanding of what clouds are like wen she studies
them in science
