Test Bank For
Psychology Applied to Teaching 15th Edition by Jack Snowman, Rick McCown, Amy Olson, Christopher
Harris
Chapters 1-15
Chapter 1
1. The primary focus of educational psychology is to understand how
a. students develop physically, cognitively, and emotionally over time.
b. different factors influence learning in classroom settings.
c. problem-solving tactics and self-esteem influence psychosocial well-being.
d. achievement test scores relate to general aptitude.
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-1
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: snow.psyc.14.1.1 - State the main focus of educational psychology
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 4 - Content Knowledge
KEYWORDS: Knowledge
NOTES: The primary focus of educational psychology is to understand how students learn
in classroom settings.
2. The following quote, ―to study what people think and do as they teach and learn in a particular environment where
education and training are intended to take place‖ best describes the primary focus of
a. social scientists. b. board of education members.
c. school administrators. d. educational psychologists.
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-1
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: snow.psyc.14.1.1 - State the main focus of educational psychology
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 4 - Content Knowledge
KEYWORDS: Knowledge
NOTES: The primary focus of educational psychology is to understand how students learn
in various educational settings.
3. Teaching children or adolescents is challenging because it requires
a. flexible decision making and a working knowledge of the topics being discussed.
b. the development of instructional techniques that work with virtually all students.
c. rapid use of the latest methods of instruction.
d. strict adherence to carefully designed lesson plans.
ANSWER: a
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: snow.psyc.14.1.2 - Explain how learning about educational psychology will help
, make you a better teacher.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Comprehension
NOTES: Teaching is complex work because of its decision-making nature; it requires extensive
knowledge and a variety of instructional skills.
4. Being a teacher is somewhat analogous to being
a. a worker in a factory who is expected to produce a particular product efficiently.
b. the president of a company who directs the activities of all of its divisions.
c. a computer specialist who knows everything about one type of computer and nothing about any other type.
d. a rock that stands firm under any condition.
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:snow.psyc.14.1.2 - Explain how learning about educational psychology will help make
you a better teacher.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Comprehension
NOTES: Like a company president who must be knowledgeable about the personnel and
operations of all of the company's divisions, teaching requires extensive knowledge
about one's subject matter, instructional strategies, and students.
5. Many advancements in teaching and learning are due in large part to
a. the accumulation of traditional practices.
b. philanthropic contributions.
c. the research of educational psychologists.
d. suggestions from parents and school board members.
ANSWER: c
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:snow.psyc.14.1.2 - Explain how learning about educational psychology will help make
you a better teacher.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Comprehension
NOTES: For almost every topic in this textbook, suggested instructional practices are supported
by a significant body of educational research.
,6. Research shows that the most effective teachers generally have
a. received little or no formal training but seem to have a genuine knack for instruction.
b. been paid the most for teaching.
c. earned excellent grades in all of their own course work.
d. received professional training.
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:snow.psyc.14.1.2 - Explain how learning about educational psychology will help make
you a better teacher.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Comprehension
NOTES: Research has shown that the most effective teachers are those who have graduated
from an accredited teacher-education program.
7. The grade retention policies of many schools are examples of
a. the implementation of practices based on sound scientific research.
b. practices based on studies that verify teachers' beliefs about intellectual development.
c. practices that have little scientific merit because they are based on unsystematic observation.
d. practices stemming from research that suggests that repeating a grade is beneficial to a student.
ANSWER: c
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-3
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: snow.psyc.14.1.3 - Describe the limitations of a nonscientific approach to solving
education-related problems and the strengths of a scientific approach.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Comprehension
NOTES: Grade retention practices are based on unsubstantiated beliefs that are founded on
unsystematic observations.
8. One example of how unsystematic observation may lead to poor educational policies or decisions is
a. free school lunches. b. assessment instruments.
c. Head Start programs. d. grade retention policies.
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-3
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: snow.psyc.14.1.3 - Describe the limitations of a nonscientific approach to solving
education-related problems and the strengths of a scientific approach.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Comprehension
NOTES: Widely held beliefs about the value of grade retention are based on unsystematic
observations and have little scientific merit.
, 9. Mr. Fradigio would like to investigate the effectiveness of forehead bandages on the retention of information
among high school seniors in his school district. He believes that the tighter students tie their bandages the better
they will recall lecture material. To see if his theory is correct, one-third of his morning history class wear extremely
tight bandages, one-third wear moderately tight bandages, and one-third wear loose fitting bandages. To control
for morning daydreamers, he asks his afternoon class to do the same. Each class does as he requests for each
lecture. He then administers the regularly scheduled exam to each of the classes. He scores the exams without
knowing which class or bandage group they came from. He repeats the same experiment the following term with a
new group of students. He then writes about his experiment and reports the results in the weekly school newsletter.
Mr. Fradigio's inquiry is an example of
a. using constructivist teaching methods. b. the scientific method.
c. selection and interpretation of data. d. unsystematic observation.
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-3
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: snow.psyc.14.1.3 - Describe the limitations of a nonscientific approach to solving
education-related problems and the strengths of a scientific approach.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Application
NOTES: This example contains the major elements of the scientific method: sampling, control,
objectivity, publication, and replication.
10. Given the observations of David Berliner, how should you respond to someone who maintains that educational
research is relatively easy to do?
a. State that educational issues are among the most difficult to research because of the complexity of
educational processes and outcomes.
b. Agree with the statement.
c. State that educational research is difficult to conduct because it is not valued by educators or
policy makers.
d. State that educational research is difficult to conduct because researchers are frequently denied access to
classrooms.
ANSWER: a
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-4
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:snow.psyc.14.1.4 - Describe how the limited focus of research, the complexity of
teaching and learning, differences in how educational psychologists select and interpret
research findings, and the accumulation of knowledge over time complicates the
scientific study of behavior and thought processes.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Synthesis
NOTES: As David Berliner points out on p. 9, research on education is difficult to do because
schools and classrooms differ in a number of ways and the cognitive and affective
outcomes in which most people are interested are the product of many variables that
interact with each other in complex ways. Not valued is incorrect because the federal
government, through the No Child Left Behind law, requires that schools base
programs on scientifically-based research. Although denial of classroom access is not
Psychology Applied to Teaching 15th Edition by Jack Snowman, Rick McCown, Amy Olson, Christopher
Harris
Chapters 1-15
Chapter 1
1. The primary focus of educational psychology is to understand how
a. students develop physically, cognitively, and emotionally over time.
b. different factors influence learning in classroom settings.
c. problem-solving tactics and self-esteem influence psychosocial well-being.
d. achievement test scores relate to general aptitude.
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-1
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: snow.psyc.14.1.1 - State the main focus of educational psychology
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 4 - Content Knowledge
KEYWORDS: Knowledge
NOTES: The primary focus of educational psychology is to understand how students learn
in classroom settings.
2. The following quote, ―to study what people think and do as they teach and learn in a particular environment where
education and training are intended to take place‖ best describes the primary focus of
a. social scientists. b. board of education members.
c. school administrators. d. educational psychologists.
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-1
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: snow.psyc.14.1.1 - State the main focus of educational psychology
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 4 - Content Knowledge
KEYWORDS: Knowledge
NOTES: The primary focus of educational psychology is to understand how students learn
in various educational settings.
3. Teaching children or adolescents is challenging because it requires
a. flexible decision making and a working knowledge of the topics being discussed.
b. the development of instructional techniques that work with virtually all students.
c. rapid use of the latest methods of instruction.
d. strict adherence to carefully designed lesson plans.
ANSWER: a
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: snow.psyc.14.1.2 - Explain how learning about educational psychology will help
, make you a better teacher.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Comprehension
NOTES: Teaching is complex work because of its decision-making nature; it requires extensive
knowledge and a variety of instructional skills.
4. Being a teacher is somewhat analogous to being
a. a worker in a factory who is expected to produce a particular product efficiently.
b. the president of a company who directs the activities of all of its divisions.
c. a computer specialist who knows everything about one type of computer and nothing about any other type.
d. a rock that stands firm under any condition.
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:snow.psyc.14.1.2 - Explain how learning about educational psychology will help make
you a better teacher.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Comprehension
NOTES: Like a company president who must be knowledgeable about the personnel and
operations of all of the company's divisions, teaching requires extensive knowledge
about one's subject matter, instructional strategies, and students.
5. Many advancements in teaching and learning are due in large part to
a. the accumulation of traditional practices.
b. philanthropic contributions.
c. the research of educational psychologists.
d. suggestions from parents and school board members.
ANSWER: c
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:snow.psyc.14.1.2 - Explain how learning about educational psychology will help make
you a better teacher.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Comprehension
NOTES: For almost every topic in this textbook, suggested instructional practices are supported
by a significant body of educational research.
,6. Research shows that the most effective teachers generally have
a. received little or no formal training but seem to have a genuine knack for instruction.
b. been paid the most for teaching.
c. earned excellent grades in all of their own course work.
d. received professional training.
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:snow.psyc.14.1.2 - Explain how learning about educational psychology will help make
you a better teacher.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Comprehension
NOTES: Research has shown that the most effective teachers are those who have graduated
from an accredited teacher-education program.
7. The grade retention policies of many schools are examples of
a. the implementation of practices based on sound scientific research.
b. practices based on studies that verify teachers' beliefs about intellectual development.
c. practices that have little scientific merit because they are based on unsystematic observation.
d. practices stemming from research that suggests that repeating a grade is beneficial to a student.
ANSWER: c
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-3
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: snow.psyc.14.1.3 - Describe the limitations of a nonscientific approach to solving
education-related problems and the strengths of a scientific approach.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Comprehension
NOTES: Grade retention practices are based on unsubstantiated beliefs that are founded on
unsystematic observations.
8. One example of how unsystematic observation may lead to poor educational policies or decisions is
a. free school lunches. b. assessment instruments.
c. Head Start programs. d. grade retention policies.
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-3
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: snow.psyc.14.1.3 - Describe the limitations of a nonscientific approach to solving
education-related problems and the strengths of a scientific approach.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Comprehension
NOTES: Widely held beliefs about the value of grade retention are based on unsystematic
observations and have little scientific merit.
, 9. Mr. Fradigio would like to investigate the effectiveness of forehead bandages on the retention of information
among high school seniors in his school district. He believes that the tighter students tie their bandages the better
they will recall lecture material. To see if his theory is correct, one-third of his morning history class wear extremely
tight bandages, one-third wear moderately tight bandages, and one-third wear loose fitting bandages. To control
for morning daydreamers, he asks his afternoon class to do the same. Each class does as he requests for each
lecture. He then administers the regularly scheduled exam to each of the classes. He scores the exams without
knowing which class or bandage group they came from. He repeats the same experiment the following term with a
new group of students. He then writes about his experiment and reports the results in the weekly school newsletter.
Mr. Fradigio's inquiry is an example of
a. using constructivist teaching methods. b. the scientific method.
c. selection and interpretation of data. d. unsystematic observation.
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-3
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: snow.psyc.14.1.3 - Describe the limitations of a nonscientific approach to solving
education-related problems and the strengths of a scientific approach.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Application
NOTES: This example contains the major elements of the scientific method: sampling, control,
objectivity, publication, and replication.
10. Given the observations of David Berliner, how should you respond to someone who maintains that educational
research is relatively easy to do?
a. State that educational issues are among the most difficult to research because of the complexity of
educational processes and outcomes.
b. Agree with the statement.
c. State that educational research is difficult to conduct because it is not valued by educators or
policy makers.
d. State that educational research is difficult to conduct because researchers are frequently denied access to
classrooms.
ANSWER: a
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 1-4
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:snow.psyc.14.1.4 - Describe how the limited focus of research, the complexity of
teaching and learning, differences in how educational psychologists select and interpret
research findings, and the accumulation of knowledge over time complicates the
scientific study of behavior and thought processes.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: United States - INTASC 5 - Application of Content
KEYWORDS: Synthesis
NOTES: As David Berliner points out on p. 9, research on education is difficult to do because
schools and classrooms differ in a number of ways and the cognitive and affective
outcomes in which most people are interested are the product of many variables that
interact with each other in complex ways. Not valued is incorrect because the federal
government, through the No Child Left Behind law, requires that schools base
programs on scientifically-based research. Although denial of classroom access is not
