GMGT 2070 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
What is perception?
the process by which we organize and interpret impressions to give meaning to our environment
What are some factors that influence perception?
The attitudes, motives, interests, experience, and expectations of the perceiver.
The time, work setting and social setting of the situation.
The novelty, motion, sounds, size, background, proximity, and similarity of the target.
What is attribution theory?
a way to explain they ways we judge people differently, depending on the meaning we attribute
to a given behaviour. When we observe what seems like atypical behaviour by an indiviudal, we
try to make sense of it.
What are internally caused behaviours?
Behaviours the observer believes to be under the personal control of another individual
What are externally caused behaviours?
Behaviours the observer believes are forced onto an individual by a situation
What are the three rules we rely on to determine whether behaviour is internally or
externally caused?
1. Distinctiveness
2. Consensus
3. Consistency
What is distinctiveness? What about distinctiveness causes internal or external attribution?
Whether an individual acts similarly across a variety of situations. If the behaviour is unusual
(distinctive) we generally regard it as external, with if its common we generally regard it as
internal.
What is consensus? How do we use consensus to determine internal or external
attribution?
There is consensus when everyone who is faced with a similar situation responds in the same
way. If consensus is high we generally giver external attribution. If consensus is low we
generally give internal.
What is consistency? How do we use consistency to make internal or external attributions?
, If a person responds the same way over time there is consistency. We attribute high consistency
with internal attribution.
What is the fundamental attribution error?
the tendency to underestimate the influence of external factors and overestimate the influence of
internal factors when making judgements about the behaviour of others
What is self-serving bias?
The tendency for individuals to attribute their own successes to internal factors while putting the
blame for failures on external factors
What is selective perception?
People's selective interpretation of what they see based on their interests, background,
experience, and attitudes
What is the halo effect?
Drawing a general impression of an individual on the basis of a single characteristic
What is the contrast effect?
the concept that our reaction to one person is often influenced by other people we have recently
encountered
What is stereotyping?
When we judge someone on the basis of our perception of the group to which he or she belongs
What is heuristics?
Judgements or shortcuts in decision making
What is a self-fulling prophecy/Pymalion effect?
A concept that proposes a person will behave in ways consistent with how he or she is perceived
by others
What is personality
the sum of the ways in which an individual reacts to and interacts with others.
What are personality traits?
Enduring characteristics that describe an individual's behaviour
What are the big 5 personality traits?
Conscientiousness
Emotional Stability
Extraversion
VERIFIED ANSWERS
What is perception?
the process by which we organize and interpret impressions to give meaning to our environment
What are some factors that influence perception?
The attitudes, motives, interests, experience, and expectations of the perceiver.
The time, work setting and social setting of the situation.
The novelty, motion, sounds, size, background, proximity, and similarity of the target.
What is attribution theory?
a way to explain they ways we judge people differently, depending on the meaning we attribute
to a given behaviour. When we observe what seems like atypical behaviour by an indiviudal, we
try to make sense of it.
What are internally caused behaviours?
Behaviours the observer believes to be under the personal control of another individual
What are externally caused behaviours?
Behaviours the observer believes are forced onto an individual by a situation
What are the three rules we rely on to determine whether behaviour is internally or
externally caused?
1. Distinctiveness
2. Consensus
3. Consistency
What is distinctiveness? What about distinctiveness causes internal or external attribution?
Whether an individual acts similarly across a variety of situations. If the behaviour is unusual
(distinctive) we generally regard it as external, with if its common we generally regard it as
internal.
What is consensus? How do we use consensus to determine internal or external
attribution?
There is consensus when everyone who is faced with a similar situation responds in the same
way. If consensus is high we generally giver external attribution. If consensus is low we
generally give internal.
What is consistency? How do we use consistency to make internal or external attributions?
, If a person responds the same way over time there is consistency. We attribute high consistency
with internal attribution.
What is the fundamental attribution error?
the tendency to underestimate the influence of external factors and overestimate the influence of
internal factors when making judgements about the behaviour of others
What is self-serving bias?
The tendency for individuals to attribute their own successes to internal factors while putting the
blame for failures on external factors
What is selective perception?
People's selective interpretation of what they see based on their interests, background,
experience, and attitudes
What is the halo effect?
Drawing a general impression of an individual on the basis of a single characteristic
What is the contrast effect?
the concept that our reaction to one person is often influenced by other people we have recently
encountered
What is stereotyping?
When we judge someone on the basis of our perception of the group to which he or she belongs
What is heuristics?
Judgements or shortcuts in decision making
What is a self-fulling prophecy/Pymalion effect?
A concept that proposes a person will behave in ways consistent with how he or she is perceived
by others
What is personality
the sum of the ways in which an individual reacts to and interacts with others.
What are personality traits?
Enduring characteristics that describe an individual's behaviour
What are the big 5 personality traits?
Conscientiousness
Emotional Stability
Extraversion
