Chapter 7 - Cognition

Question 1

cognition

Answer 1

mental activity associated with obtaining converting and using knowledge

Question 2

thinking

Answer 2

a specific type of cognition that uses information and transforms it to make decisions and reach solutions and form beliefs

Question 3

concepts

Answer 3

mental representations of categories of objects situations ideas that belong together based on their central features and characteristics

Question 4

formal concepts

Answer 4

the mental representations of categories that are created through rigid and logical rules or features

Question 5

natural concepts

Answer 5

the mental representations of categories resulting from experiences in everyday life

Question 6

prototypes

Answer 6

the ideal or most representative example of a natural concept helps us categorize or identify specific members of a concept

Question 7

problem solving

Answer 7

the variety of approaches that can be used to achieve a goal

Question 8

trial and error

Answer 8

finding a solution to a problem through attempts eliminating those that do not work

Question 9

algorithms

Answer 9

an approach to problem solving using a formula or set of rules that if followed ensures a solution

Question 10

heuristics

Answer 10

problem solving approaches that incorporate a rule of thumb or broad application of a strategy

Question 11

means ends analysis

Answer 11

breaking up the solution to reaching the goal state into steps and conquering them one by one until the goal state is reached

Question 12

insight

Answer 12

an understanding or solution that occurs in a sudden stroke of clarity

Question 13

functional fixedness

Answer 13

a barrier to problem solving that occurs when familiar objects can only be imagined to function in their normal usual way

Question 14

decision making

Answer 14

cognitive process of choosing from alternatives that might be used to reach a goal

Question 15

availability heuristic

Answer 15

a decision making strategy that predicts the likelihood of something happening based on how easily a similar type of event from the past can be recalled

Question 16

representativeness heuristic

Answer 16

a decision making strategy that evaluates the degree to which the primary characteristics of a person or situation are similar to our prototype of that type of person or situation

Question 17

confirmation bias

Answer 17

the tendency to look for evidence that upholds our beliefs and to overlook evidence that runs counter to them

Question 18

framing effect

Answer 18

occurs when the wording of questions or the context of a problem influences the outcome of a decision

Question 19

language

Answer 19

a system for using symbols to think and communicate

Question 20

phonemes

Answer 20

the basic building blocks of spoken language

Question 21

morphemes

Answer 21

the fundamental units that bring meaning to language

Question 22

syntax

Answer 22

the collection of rules concerning where to place words or phrases

Question 23

grammar

Answer 23

the rules associated with word and sentence structure

Question 24

semantics

Answer 24

the rules used to bring meaning to words and sentences

Question 25

pragmatics

Answer 25

the social rules that help to organize language

Question 26

intelligence

Answer 26

the innate ability to solve problems adapt to the environment and learn form experiences

Question 27

general intelligence

Answer 27

a singular underlying aptitude or intellectual competence that drives abilities in many areas including verbal spatial and reasoning

Question 28

triarchic theory of intelligence

Answer 28

sternbergs theory suggesting that humans have varying degrees of analytical creative and practical abilities

Question 29

aptitude

Answer 29

an individuals potential for learning

Question 30

achievement

Answer 30

acquired knowledge or what has been learned

Question 31

mental age

Answer 31

a score representing the mental abilities of an individual in relation to others of a similar chronological age

Question 32

intelligence quotient

Answer 32

a score from an intelligence assessment originally based on mental age divided by chronological age multiplied by 100

Question 33

validity

Answer 33

the degree to which an assessment measures what it intends to measure

Question 34

reliability

Answer 34

the ability of an assessment to provide consistent reproducible results

Question 35

standardization

Answer 35

occurs when test developers administer a test to a large sample and then publish the average scores for specified groups

Question 36

normal curve

Answer 36

depicts the frequency of values of a variable along a continuum bell shaped symmetrical distribution with the highest point reflecting the average score

Question 37

culture fair intelligence tests

Answer 37

assessments designed to minimize cultural bias

Question 38

gifted

Answer 38

highly intelligent defined as having an IQ score of 130 or above

Question 39

emotional intelligence

Answer 39

the capacity to perceive understand regulate and use emotions to adapt to social situations

Question 40

heritability

Answer 40

the degree to which hereditary factors are responsible for a particular characteristic observed within a population the proportion of variation in characteristic attributed to genetic factors

Question 41

creativity

Answer 41

in problem solving the ability to construct valuable results in innovative ways the ability to generate original ideas

Question 42

divergent thinking

Answer 42

the ability to devise many solutions to a problem a component of creativity

Question 43

convergent thinking

Answer 43

a conventional approach to problem solving that focuses on finding a single best solution to a problem by using previous experience and knowledge