PSYC101 General Psychology
Final Assessment Review
Module 5 (Questions & Solutions)
2025
©2025
, 1. Case Study – Thinking & Problem Solving (Mental Set):
A participant is asked to solve a novel puzzle. Despite several hints
suggesting an alternative approach, the participant persists in using the
same method that had worked on previous puzzles, even though a more
efficient solution exists.
Question: Which cognitive phenomenon best explains the participant’s
difficulty in switching strategies?
A. Algorithmic processing
B. Heuristic bias
C. Mental set
D. Functional fixedness
ANS: C. Mental set
Rationale: A mental set is the tendency to approach problems in a
habitual, established way based on past experiences, which can hinder
innovative solutions even when simpler strategies exist.
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2. Case Study – Thinking & Cognitive Biases (Representativeness
Heuristic):
In a laboratory study, participants read a detailed description of an
individual with quiet, methodical, and bookish traits. They are then asked
to estimate the likelihood that this person is a librarian rather than a
salesperson.
Question: Which cognitive shortcut is most likely influencing their
judgment?
A. Availability heuristic
B. Anchoring bias
C. Confirmation bias
D. Representativeness heuristic
©2025
, ANS: D. Representativeness heuristic
Rationale: The representativeness heuristic involves judging the
likelihood of an event based on how closely it matches a typical case or
stereotype, often leading to neglect of base-rate information.
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3. Case Study – Intelligence (Fluid vs. Crystallized):
A researcher administers a battery of tests to measure various cognitive
abilities. One participant excels in tasks requiring novel problem solving
and pattern recognition but performs modestly on tests of cultural and
factual knowledge.
Question: This pattern is most consistent with which distinction in
intelligence theory?
A. Multiple intelligences
B. Triarchic theory of intelligence
C. Fluid versus crystallized intelligence
D. Spearman's g factor
ANS: C. Fluid versus crystallized intelligence
Rationale: Fluid intelligence pertains to the capacity to reason, solve
novel problems, and identify patterns, whereas crystallized intelligence
involves accumulated knowledge and cultural information. The pattern
described aligns with high fluid intelligence relative to crystallized
intelligence.
---
4. Case Study – Intelligence Testing (Cultural Bias):
In an IQ testing scenario, test scores vary dramatically among participants
from different cultural backgrounds. Some participants perform poorly
despite comparable cognitive abilities measured by alternative
assessments.
Question: This discrepancy is most likely attributable to:
A. Cultural bias in intelligence testing
©2025
, B. A lack of test reliability
C. Poor construct validity
D. Differences in executive functioning
ANS: A. Cultural bias in intelligence testing
Rationale: Many standard IQ tests contain culturally specific content
that may disadvantage individuals from diverse backgrounds, resulting in
variations that do not necessarily reflect true cognitive ability.
---
5. Case Study – Thinking (Insight and Incubation):
During a problem-solving session, a participant struggles with a difficult
puzzle, then takes a short break. Upon returning, they suddenly
experience an "aha!" moment and solve the problem quickly.
Question: Which stage of problem solving is best illustrated by this
phenomenon?
A. Preparation
B. Incubation
C. Illumination
D. Verification
ANS: C. Illumination
Rationale: Illumination (or insight) refers to the sudden realization or
clarity that occurs after a period of incubation, where subconscious
processing leads to a breakthrough in solving the problem.
---
6. Case Study – Memory (False Memories/DRM Paradigm):
A study presents participants with a list of words related to sleep (e.g.,
bed, rest, dream, nap) but omits the word “sleep.” Later, many
participants falsely recall “sleep” as one of the words.
Question: This phenomenon is best explained by the:
A. Misinformation effect
©2025
Final Assessment Review
Module 5 (Questions & Solutions)
2025
©2025
, 1. Case Study – Thinking & Problem Solving (Mental Set):
A participant is asked to solve a novel puzzle. Despite several hints
suggesting an alternative approach, the participant persists in using the
same method that had worked on previous puzzles, even though a more
efficient solution exists.
Question: Which cognitive phenomenon best explains the participant’s
difficulty in switching strategies?
A. Algorithmic processing
B. Heuristic bias
C. Mental set
D. Functional fixedness
ANS: C. Mental set
Rationale: A mental set is the tendency to approach problems in a
habitual, established way based on past experiences, which can hinder
innovative solutions even when simpler strategies exist.
---
2. Case Study – Thinking & Cognitive Biases (Representativeness
Heuristic):
In a laboratory study, participants read a detailed description of an
individual with quiet, methodical, and bookish traits. They are then asked
to estimate the likelihood that this person is a librarian rather than a
salesperson.
Question: Which cognitive shortcut is most likely influencing their
judgment?
A. Availability heuristic
B. Anchoring bias
C. Confirmation bias
D. Representativeness heuristic
©2025
, ANS: D. Representativeness heuristic
Rationale: The representativeness heuristic involves judging the
likelihood of an event based on how closely it matches a typical case or
stereotype, often leading to neglect of base-rate information.
---
3. Case Study – Intelligence (Fluid vs. Crystallized):
A researcher administers a battery of tests to measure various cognitive
abilities. One participant excels in tasks requiring novel problem solving
and pattern recognition but performs modestly on tests of cultural and
factual knowledge.
Question: This pattern is most consistent with which distinction in
intelligence theory?
A. Multiple intelligences
B. Triarchic theory of intelligence
C. Fluid versus crystallized intelligence
D. Spearman's g factor
ANS: C. Fluid versus crystallized intelligence
Rationale: Fluid intelligence pertains to the capacity to reason, solve
novel problems, and identify patterns, whereas crystallized intelligence
involves accumulated knowledge and cultural information. The pattern
described aligns with high fluid intelligence relative to crystallized
intelligence.
---
4. Case Study – Intelligence Testing (Cultural Bias):
In an IQ testing scenario, test scores vary dramatically among participants
from different cultural backgrounds. Some participants perform poorly
despite comparable cognitive abilities measured by alternative
assessments.
Question: This discrepancy is most likely attributable to:
A. Cultural bias in intelligence testing
©2025
, B. A lack of test reliability
C. Poor construct validity
D. Differences in executive functioning
ANS: A. Cultural bias in intelligence testing
Rationale: Many standard IQ tests contain culturally specific content
that may disadvantage individuals from diverse backgrounds, resulting in
variations that do not necessarily reflect true cognitive ability.
---
5. Case Study – Thinking (Insight and Incubation):
During a problem-solving session, a participant struggles with a difficult
puzzle, then takes a short break. Upon returning, they suddenly
experience an "aha!" moment and solve the problem quickly.
Question: Which stage of problem solving is best illustrated by this
phenomenon?
A. Preparation
B. Incubation
C. Illumination
D. Verification
ANS: C. Illumination
Rationale: Illumination (or insight) refers to the sudden realization or
clarity that occurs after a period of incubation, where subconscious
processing leads to a breakthrough in solving the problem.
---
6. Case Study – Memory (False Memories/DRM Paradigm):
A study presents participants with a list of words related to sleep (e.g.,
bed, rest, dream, nap) but omits the word “sleep.” Later, many
participants falsely recall “sleep” as one of the words.
Question: This phenomenon is best explained by the:
A. Misinformation effect
©2025
