Thinking and Problem-Solving Strategies: Cognitive Psychology MCQ Quiz

Questions: 30

Questions
  • 1. What is the first step in the problem-solving process?

    • a) Evaluating solutions
    • b) Identifying the problem
    • c) Implementing the solution
    • d) Defining the goal
  • 2. Which of the following is an example of a heuristic in problem-solving?

    • a) A step-by-step algorithm
    • b) A mental shortcut for quick decisions
    • c) Conducting a comprehensive analysis
    • d) Calculating exact probabilities
  • 3. What does the term "functional fixedness" refer to in cognitive psychology?

    • a) The inability to consider new uses for familiar objects
    • b) The tendency to rely on past experiences
    • c) The process of breaking down a problem into smaller parts
    • d) The use of intuition over logic
  • 4. What is the primary goal of brainstorming in problem-solving?

    • a) To eliminate all incorrect options
    • b) To generate a variety of potential solutions
    • c) To apply logical reasoning
    • d) To focus only on practical solutions
  • 5. Which type of reasoning involves drawing specific conclusions from general principles?

    • a) Inductive reasoning
    • b) Deductive reasoning
    • c) Analogical reasoning
    • d) Divergent reasoning
  • 6. What is the "availability heuristic"?

    • a) Judging the likelihood of events based on how easily they come to mind
    • b) Using past experiences to solve current problems
    • c) Assessing probabilities through logical analysis
    • d) Comparing current problems to similar past scenarios
  • 7. What does "cognitive restructuring" involve in problem-solving?

    • a) Breaking down a complex problem into manageable parts
    • b) Reframing the problem to view it from a new perspective
    • c) Applying learned strategies to new problems
    • d) Eliminating unnecessary information
  • 8. What is the purpose of analogical reasoning?

    • a) To identify similarities between two situations and apply knowledge from one to the other
    • b) To create entirely new solutions
    • c) To evaluate all possible solutions systematically
    • d) To calculate probabilities based on data
  • 9. The "mental set" in problem-solving refers to:

    • a) A predisposition to approach problems in a particular way
    • b) The ability to think creatively
    • c) The process of eliminating incorrect solutions
    • d) The focus on emotional responses during problem-solving
  • 10. What is the role of "working memory" in problem-solving?

    • a) Storing solutions permanently
    • b) Holding and manipulating information while solving problems
    • c) Retrieving past knowledge for application
    • d) Filtering irrelevant information
  • 11. Which term refers to breaking down a problem into smaller= more manageable parts?

    • a) Chunking
    • b) Subgoal analysis
    • c) Cognitive mapping
    • d) Heuristics
  • 12. What is the primary limitation of the "representativeness heuristic"?

    • a) It often ignores statistical probabilities
    • b) It focuses too heavily on past experiences
    • c) It requires detailed analysis
    • d) It eliminates creative solutions
  • 13. Which problem-solving strategy involves starting with the desired outcome and working backward?

    • a) Means-end analysis
    • b) Reverse engineering
    • c) Analogical reasoning
    • d) Deductive reasoning
  • 14. What is the primary advantage of using heuristics?

    • a) They guarantee accurate solutions
    • b) They speed up decision-making processes
    • c) They prevent cognitive biases
    • d) They rely on mathematical probabilities
  • 15. What does "confirmation bias" involve in thinking?

    • a) Seeking information that supports pre-existing beliefs
    • b) Ignoring information that contradicts prior knowledge
    • c) Both A and B
    • d) Evaluating all evidence equally
  • 16. The "Tower of Hanoi" puzzle is commonly used to study:

    • a) Deductive reasoning
    • b) Planning and problem-solving strategies
    • c) Memory recall
    • d) Emotional intelligence
  • 17. Which of the following is a characteristic of "creative problem-solving"?

    • a) Using a fixed set of rules
    • b) Applying conventional methods only
    • c) Generating novel and original solutions
    • d) Relying on past experiences
  • 18. What is the "anchoring effect" in decision-making?

    • a) Making decisions based solely on available information
    • b) Overestimating the importance of the first piece of information received
    • c) Relying on intuition rather than logic
    • d) Making decisions based on emotions
  • 19. What does "metacognition" refer to in problem-solving?

    • a) The process of memorizing information
    • b) Thinking about one's own thinking and problem-solving strategies
    • c) Relying on external help to solve problems
    • d) Using trial-and-error to find solutions
  • 20. The "law of small numbers" refers to:

    • a) Believing that small samples represent the entire population
    • b) Overgeneralizing from large amounts of data
    • c) Drawing conclusions based on limited data
    • d) Using large samples to ensure accurate results
  • 21. What does "overconfidence bias" result in?

    • a) Underestimating the difficulty of a problem
    • b) Accurate and well-supported decisions
    • c) A higher level of problem-solving ability
    • d) A tendency to take excessive risks based on perceived knowledge
  • 22. Which cognitive strategy is most likely to be used when faced with a well-defined problem?

    • a) Trial and error
    • b) Algorithmic thinking
    • c) Heuristics
    • d) Insight
  • 23. What is "hindsight bias"?

    • a) The tendency to think an event was predictable after it has occurred
    • b) The tendency to ignore past experiences
    • c) The ability to predict future outcomes accurately
    • d) The inclination to rely solely on statistical evidence
  • 24. What does "the framing effect" refer to?

    • a) Making decisions based on how information is presented
    • b) The impact of previous decisions on future choices
    • c) The ability to find solutions despite limited information
    • d) Relying on intuition to make choices
  • 25. What does "confirmation bias" lead to?

    • a) Seeking evidence that supports existing beliefs
    • b) Avoiding external influences when making decisions
    • c) Open-mindedness in evaluating contradictory evidence
    • d) Making well-reasoned decisions based on facts
  • 26. Which cognitive process is used to find patterns in complex data?

    • a) Insight
    • b) Problem-solving by analogy
    • c) Inductive reasoning
    • d) Deductive reasoning
  • 27. "Cognitive load" refers to:

    • a) The amount of information that can be processed at one time
    • b) The difficulty of a problem
    • c) The time taken to solve a problem
    • d) The emotional state of the decision-maker
  • 28. The "gambler's fallacy" is based on the incorrect assumption that:

    • a) Past outcomes influence future ones in random events
    • b) Probability can be calculated using logic
    • c) Each event in a sequence is independent
    • d) The odds of an event remain constant
  • 29. What is "cognitive dissonance"?

    • a) The discomfort caused by holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes
    • b) The ability to think logically without biases
    • c) The process of making decisions based on reasoned analysis
    • d) The tendency to change one's beliefs in response to external pressure
  • 30. The "availability heuristic" is best described as:

    • a) Making judgments based on the ease with which examples come to mind
    • b) Relying on statistical evidence to make decisions
    • c) Using logic to weigh all possible outcomes
    • d) A decision-making process based on prior knowledge

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