Intelligence & Problem Solving

Which set of mental processes belongs to the cognitive pillar of psychology as introduced in this section?

• Perception, thinking, intelligence, memory

• Emotion, motivation, personality, culture

• Biological needs, hormones, neurotransmitters

• Social roles, group norms, institutions

Which pair correctly distinguishes between abstract concepts and concrete concepts?

• Abstract concepts are tied to physical objects; concrete concepts exist only in language

• Abstract concepts refer to ideas like justice; concrete concepts refer to tangible items like a chair

• Both abstract and concrete concepts are natural and arise without learning

• Abstract concepts are artificial; concrete concepts are natural

Which option correctly contrasts natural concepts with artificial concepts?

• Natural concepts are defined by strict rules; artificial concepts form through everyday experiences

• Natural concepts develop from direct experiences and prototypes; artificial concepts are defined by specific rules or formulas

• Both natural and artificial concepts are unrelated to linguistic information

• Artificial concepts always involve physical objects; natural concepts never do

Which statement best defines a prototype within concepts?

• A mental construct that organizes knowledge about roles and events

• The best or most typical example representing a category

• A step-by-step algorithm for solving complex problems

• A personal opinion formed without evidence

Which option best illustrates an event schema, also called a cognitive script?

• Knowing that a robin is a classic bird example

• Expecting a cashier to handle payments while a customer waits

• Anticipating the sequence of actions when entering a restaurant, such as being seated, ordering, and paying

• Judging an issue based on prior beliefs

Which problem-solving approach is defined as trying different methods until one works, without following a set plan?

• Algorithm

• Trial and error

• Heuristic

• Convergent thinking

An algorithm in problem solving is best described as which of the following?

• A creative guess that often works but is not guaranteed

• A step-by-step procedure that guarantees a solution if followed correctly

• Choosing the first information encountered when deciding

• Using imagination to generate many possible answers

A heuristic is sometimes called a "rule of thumb." In which situation would a heuristic be the most appropriate tool?

• When a precise, guaranteed method is available and time is plentiful

• When you need to quickly reach a workable solution even if it might not be perfect

• When you must prove a solution mathematically

• When the task requires narrowing to a single best answer using fixed steps

Which term refers to getting stuck using familiar strategies even when they are ineffective for a new problem?

• Functional fixedness

• Mental set

• Anchoring bias

• Availability heuristic

A shopper sees a jacket first priced at $200 but now on sale for $120 as a bargain mainly because of the initial $200 figure. Which bias best explains this judgment?

• Confirmation bias

• Anchoring bias

• Hindsight bias

• Representative bias