Cognitive Psychology Intermediate Level MCQs
Questions: 30
Questions
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1. What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in cognition?
- a) Processing emotions
- b) Encoding sensory information
- c) Planning and decision-making
- d) Regulating autonomic functions
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2. What is the key concept of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development?
- a) Stages of moral reasoning
- b) The role of unconscious motivation
- c) Sequential stages of cognitive growth
- d) Social interaction as a basis for learning
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3. Which term describes the mental process of organizing and interpreting sensory input?
- a) Encoding
- b) Perception
- c) Attention
- d) Retrieval
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4. What is the primary function of sensory memory?
- a) Storing sensory inputs for long-term use
- b) Encoding information into long-term memory
- c) Briefly retaining sensory information
- d) Organizing stimuli into patterns
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5. What does the term “dual coding” suggest in learning?
- a) Using both verbal and visual information for memory
- b) Processing auditory and tactile stimuli simultaneously
- c) Storing information in two separate memory systems
- d) Relying on emotional and logical reasoning
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6. What is the “recency effect”?
- a) The tendency to remember the first items in a list
- b) The tendency to remember the last items in a list
- c) The ability to remember random information
- d) The tendency to forget irrelevant details
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7. Which of the following is a type of implicit memory?
- a) Semantic memory
- b) Procedural memory
- c) Episodic memory
- d) Declarative memory
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8. What is “attention switching”?
- a) The ability to divide attention among multiple tasks
- b) The act of shifting focus between tasks or stimuli
- c) Maintaining sustained focus over time
- d) Filtering out irrelevant information
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9. What does the term “mental set” refer to?
- a) A habitual approach to problem-solving
- b) Flexibility in decision-making
- c) An emotional state affecting cognition
- d) A strategy for multitasking
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10. What is the capacity of short-term memory according to Miller’s law?
- a) 5 ± 2 items
- b) 7 ± 2 items
- c) 9 ± 2 items
- d) 10 ± 2 items
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11. What is the role of rehearsal in memory?
- a) Enhancing sensory memory
- b) Transferring information to long-term memory
- c) Decoding sensory stimuli
- d) Reducing cognitive load
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12. What is the purpose of a heuristic in problem-solving?
- a) To guarantee an accurate solution
- b) To simplify complex problems quickly
- c) To test multiple hypotheses
- d) To minimize emotional influence
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13. What is “functional fixedness”?
- a) The tendency to perceive objects only in their traditional use
- b) The ability to use objects creatively
- c) The process of adapting to novel tasks
- d) A lack of focus in problem-solving
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14. What does “top-down processing” emphasize?
- a) Sensory input guiding perception
- b) Pre-existing knowledge shaping perception
- c) Data-driven interpretation of stimuli
- d) Random organization of sensory input
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15. What is the main function of declarative memory?
- a) Storing procedural knowledge
- b) Retaining factual and event-related information
- c) Managing emotional responses
- d) Encoding sensory details
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16. Which term describes the ability to process multiple stimuli simultaneously?
- a) Selective attention
- b) Divided attention
- c) Sustained attention
- d) Focused attention
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17. What is the term for the phenomenon of improved memory recall when the context matches the learning environment?
- a) Encoding specificity principle
- b) Context-dependent memory
- c) State-dependent learning
- d) Episodic memory
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18. What is an example of proactive interference in memory?
- a) Forgetting a new password due to remembering an old one
- b) Forgetting old habits due to learning new ones
- c) Failing to recall due to emotional distress
- d) Forgetting details over time
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19. What is the role of the amygdala in cognition?
- a) Storing semantic memories
- b) Processing emotional responses
- c) Managing motor coordination
- d) Enhancing visual perception
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20. What does “anchoring bias” refer to in decision-making?
- a) Relying on the first piece of information as a reference point
- b) Avoiding risk in uncertain situations
- c) Overestimating the likelihood of recent events
- d) Preferring familiar options over new ones
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21. Which cognitive theory emphasizes the role of reinforcement in learning?
- a) Behaviorism
- b) Constructivism
- c) Social learning theory
- d) Information processing theory
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22. What is “metacognition”?
- a) The ability to multitask
- b) Knowledge and awareness of one’s own thought processes
- c) Automatic retrieval of information
- d) The organization of sensory inputs
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23. What does “semantic memory” store?
- a) Personal experiences
- b) Factual knowledge and concepts
- c) Procedural skills
- d) Emotional memories
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24. Which type of processing involves analyzing individual components of a stimulus?
- a) Top-down processing
- b) Bottom-up processing
- c) Selective processing
- d) Divided processing
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25. What is the term for forgetting caused by insufficient retrieval cues?
- a) Decay theory
- b) Retrieval failure
- c) Proactive interference
- d) Retroactive interference
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26. Which term describes the brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt?
- a) Neuroplasticity
- b) Neurogenesis
- c) Cognitive restructuring
- d) Synaptic pruning
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27. What does the “serial position effect” explain?
- a) Improved recall for the first and last items in a list
- b) Difficulty recalling details in random order
- c) Enhanced memory for repetitive stimuli
- d) The impact of practice on memory
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28. What does “automaticity” refer to in cognitive psychology?
- a) The ability to perform tasks without conscious effort
- b) The process of encoding information into memory
- c) The practice of multitasking effectively
- d) The application of heuristics in decision-making
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29. Which of the following is an example of state-dependent memory?
- a) Recalling information while in the same emotional state as learning
- b) Memorizing a list of words using repetition
- c) Forgetting details of unrelated events
- d) Recognizing familiar faces
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30. Which of the following is an example of cognitive dissonance?
- a) Feeling anxiety before a big exam
- b) A person justifying their unhealthy lifestyle despite knowing its risks
- c) Recalling a memory from childhood
- d) Learning a new language by repeating words aloud
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