RUTGERS GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS
Schemas
mental representations involving multiples concepts stored in memory as a coherent
unit. Can contain sensory images, concepts and simpler schemas. Can be propositions
(statements with truth value) mental models (ex: mental model of how a car engine
works) or scripts (interpersonal events; ie what happens at a soccer game)
Algorithms
Systematic procedures that will produce a solution to a problem (always).
Heuristics
Cognitive shortcuts the usually but not always produce a solution. Used when
algorithms are unknown, impossible, or too costly in terms of time or the demand on
working memory.
Many demonstrations have been done of errors resulting from the use of common
heuristics
The availability heuristic
We decide that the events we can easily recall are common and typical.
Examples:
"Driving to grandma's house is safer than flying across the ocean"
-based on the notion that more frequent events are more likely to be remembered
-fails to consider that other factors besides frequency affect memory
-relies on immediate examples that come to mind
-example: people more likely to fear plane crashes than car crashes because more
plane crashes are covered in the media they see
The Representativeness Heuristic
we match an object to its category, but don't consider the frequencies of items of that
category in the situation. used when making judgments about the probability of an event
under uncertainty.
, example: If I meet someone with a laid back attitude and long hair, I might assume they
are Californian, whereas someone who is very polite but rigid may be assumed to be
English.
Functional Fixedness
Sometimes a solution isn't generated because of the strong associations in memory for
the objects available. We fixate on the most common function of an object rather than
what else we can use it for
Confirmation Bias
When evaluating whether something is true or not, people have a tendency to look for,
favor, or remember evidence that confirms the hypothesis rather than evidence that
disconfirms it.
Expertise
not a result of special inborn talent, but of practice
Spearman's g Factor
Charles Spearman (1927) identified g, a general ability and a series of specific factors,
s. Believed that intelligence depends mostly on g, a person's general ability. what
accounts for g is unclear
Fluid Intelligence (Cattell)
One component of g. Refers to mental processes rather than specific content. Peaks
before age 20, then declines.
Crystalized Intelligence (Cattell)
One component of g. A person's acquired knowledge and skills acquired during their
lifetime. Increases with age.
Theory of Multiple Intelligences (Gardner)
Brain damage alters certain mental abilities in certain people, but not others in other
people. Professionals have different levels on intelligence on a subject. There are
differing courses of development of abilities (like how mozart could write music before
he could read words)
Garner's Intelligences
Musical
Bodily-Kinesthetic
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS
Schemas
mental representations involving multiples concepts stored in memory as a coherent
unit. Can contain sensory images, concepts and simpler schemas. Can be propositions
(statements with truth value) mental models (ex: mental model of how a car engine
works) or scripts (interpersonal events; ie what happens at a soccer game)
Algorithms
Systematic procedures that will produce a solution to a problem (always).
Heuristics
Cognitive shortcuts the usually but not always produce a solution. Used when
algorithms are unknown, impossible, or too costly in terms of time or the demand on
working memory.
Many demonstrations have been done of errors resulting from the use of common
heuristics
The availability heuristic
We decide that the events we can easily recall are common and typical.
Examples:
"Driving to grandma's house is safer than flying across the ocean"
-based on the notion that more frequent events are more likely to be remembered
-fails to consider that other factors besides frequency affect memory
-relies on immediate examples that come to mind
-example: people more likely to fear plane crashes than car crashes because more
plane crashes are covered in the media they see
The Representativeness Heuristic
we match an object to its category, but don't consider the frequencies of items of that
category in the situation. used when making judgments about the probability of an event
under uncertainty.
, example: If I meet someone with a laid back attitude and long hair, I might assume they
are Californian, whereas someone who is very polite but rigid may be assumed to be
English.
Functional Fixedness
Sometimes a solution isn't generated because of the strong associations in memory for
the objects available. We fixate on the most common function of an object rather than
what else we can use it for
Confirmation Bias
When evaluating whether something is true or not, people have a tendency to look for,
favor, or remember evidence that confirms the hypothesis rather than evidence that
disconfirms it.
Expertise
not a result of special inborn talent, but of practice
Spearman's g Factor
Charles Spearman (1927) identified g, a general ability and a series of specific factors,
s. Believed that intelligence depends mostly on g, a person's general ability. what
accounts for g is unclear
Fluid Intelligence (Cattell)
One component of g. Refers to mental processes rather than specific content. Peaks
before age 20, then declines.
Crystalized Intelligence (Cattell)
One component of g. A person's acquired knowledge and skills acquired during their
lifetime. Increases with age.
Theory of Multiple Intelligences (Gardner)
Brain damage alters certain mental abilities in certain people, but not others in other
people. Professionals have different levels on intelligence on a subject. There are
differing courses of development of abilities (like how mozart could write music before
he could read words)
Garner's Intelligences
Musical
Bodily-Kinesthetic
