Perceptions & Attributions

What is the process by which individuals organize and interpret their sensory impressions in order to give meaning to their environment?

• interpretation

• environmental analysis

• social verification

• outlook

• perception

What are the three classes of factors that influence perception?

• factors in the setting, factors in the environment, and factors in the motives

• factors in the perceiver, factors in the target, and factors in the situation

• factors in the character, factors in knowledge, and factors in experience

• factors in the personality, factors in the character, and factors in the values

• factors in the senses, factors in the surroundings, and factors in the lighting

Two people see the same thing at the same time yet interpret it differently. Where do the factors that operate to shape their dissimilar perceptions reside?

• the perceivers

• the target

• the timing

• the context

• the situation

When individuals observe another person’s behavior, they attempt to determine whether it is internally or externally caused. This phenomenon is most directly relevant to which of the following?

• a.the Pygmalion effect

• projection theory

• attribution theory

• selective perception theory

• expectancy theory

Shortcuts in judging others include all of the following except

• stereotyping

• halo effect

• projection

• self-serving-bias

• the Pygmalion effect

We engage in ________because it is impossible for us to assimilate everything we perceive.

• selective perception

• Memorization

• mental desensitization

• periodic listening

• linear clustering

Jennifer has already presented two excellent reports. The report she has just presented is clearly not as good as the first two reports, yet she is given the same high grade as before. What shortcut has the teacher used in this case?

• the contrast effect

• the halo effect

• stereotyping

• projection

• assertion

Allison has just presented her paper and has done a really good job. Why should you not want to present your own paper directly after she does?

• to avoid the stereotyping effect

• to avoid the halo effect

• to avoid the contrast effect

• to avoid the projection effect

• to avoid the ultimate attribution error

You have heard that the teacher believes that men perform better in oral presentations than women. What shortcut has the teacher used in this case?

• the halo effect

• the contrast effect

• Projection

• Stereotyping

• prototyping

Jenny is being interviewed for a position as an editor. At the start of the interview she is flustered and repeatedly mispronounces the name of the company she is applying to work for. She thinks the rest of the interview goes very well and she is confident about getting the job. Why might her confidence be misplaced?

• Most employment decisions have been made before the interview is conducted.

• Most interviewers make their decision by the first 5 minutes of the interview.

• Employers gain most of their knowledge of a potential employee’s skill set through interviewing.

• Interviewers make perceptual judgments that are often inaccurate.

• Interviewers will use stereotypes to judge her, so what she says and does at the interview will be of little importance.