1. In the information processing model, which stage is responsible for initially registering environmental stimuli?
- Sensory memory
- Short-term memory
- Long-term memory
- Working memory
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology: MCQs on Information Processing Models
Test your knowledge of cognitive development across the lifespan with this MCQ test. Explore key stages of cognitive development, from Piaget’s theory to Vygotsky’s ideas, covering childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Perfect for cognitive psychology students.
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2. According to Miller’s theory, the capacity of short-term memory is typically defined as:
- 5 ± 2 items
- 7 ± 2 items
- 9 ± 2 items
- 11 ± 2 items
3. Which process in the information processing model is primarily responsible for converting sensory input into a meaningful representation?
- Encoding
- Storage
- Retrieval
- Chunking
4. What component of the model filters out irrelevant information to focus on significant details?
- Encoding
- Selective attention
- Retrieval
- Sensory storage
5. Atkinson and Shiffrin's multi-store model suggests that information is transferred from short-term memory to long-term memory through:
- Rehearsal
- Retrieval
- Chunking
- Attention
6. Which of the following is NOT a component of the information processing model?
- Encoding
- Storage
- Retrieval
- Reflexes
7. The duration of iconic memory (sensory memory for visual information) is approximately:
- 0.1–0.5 seconds
- 1–2 seconds
- 3–5 seconds
- 5–10 seconds
8. Which type of memory holds information temporarily while it is being processed?
- Sensory memory
- Short-term memory
- Long-term memory
- Procedural memory
9. The primary distinction between short-term memory and working memory is that working memory:
- Only stores information temporarily
- Actively processes and manipulates information
- Has a larger capacity than long-term memory
- Is not a part of the cognitive model
10. What is the role of the central executive in working memory?
- Storing long-term memories
- Filtering sensory input
- Allocating attention and resources to tasks
- Rehearsing verbal information
11. Chunking is a strategy used to increase the capacity of:
- Sensory memory
- Short-term memory
- Long-term memory
- Working memory
12. In Baddeley and Hitch's working memory model, the phonological loop is responsible for:
- Processing visual information
- Rehearsing auditory information
- Storing long-term information
- Allocating cognitive resources
13. Which memory system is described as having unlimited capacity but slow retrieval?
- Sensory memory
- Short-term memory
- Long-term memory
- Episodic memory
14. Semantic memory stores:
- Information about personal experiences
- Knowledge of facts and concepts
- Motor skills and habits
- Sensory inputs from the environment
15. In the levels of processing model, deeper processing typically results in:
- Faster retrieval of information
- Greater storage capacity
- Better retention and recall
- Higher attention demands
16. The term "bottleneck" in information processing refers to:
- The capacity limitation of sensory memory
- The focus on selective attention due to limited processing resources
- The slow transfer of information to long-term memory
- The restriction of working memory capacity
17. Procedural memory is primarily associated with:
- Factual knowledge
- Skills and tasks
- Episodic experiences
- Emotional responses
18. Which model emphasizes parallel processing of information?
- Atkinson and Shiffrin's model
- Levels of processing model
- Connectionist model
- Serial position model
19. Which phenomenon explains why people remember the first and last items in a list better than the middle ones?
- Recency effect
- Primacy effect
- Serial position effect
- Encoding specificity principle
20. The process of actively focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others is known as:
- Storage
- Selective attention
- Encoding
- Retrieval
21. Which model introduced the idea of parallel distributed processing in cognitive psychology?
- Atkinson and Shiffrin's model
- Connectionist model
- Levels of processing model
- Serial processing model
22. Which type of long-term memory involves remembering personal experiences and specific events?
- Procedural memory
- Episodic memory
- Semantic memory
- Implicit memory
23. What is the primary function of the episodic buffer in Baddeley’s working memory model?
- Temporary storage for integrating information from different sources
- Rehearsing phonological information
- Processing sensory input
- Coordinating visual and spatial information
24. The "primacy effect" in memory is explained by:
- The enhanced recall of the most recent items in a list
- The enhanced recall of the first items in a list
- The retrieval of semantically meaningful items
- The consolidation of implicit memories
25. Which phenomenon occurs when previously learned information interferes with the learning of new information?
- Retroactive interference
- Proactive interference
- Encoding failure
- Retrieval failure
26. In the levels of processing framework, which type of processing leads to better retention?
- Shallow processing
- Semantic processing
- Structural processing
- Phonemic processing
27. What is the primary purpose of chunking in memory processing?
- To increase the speed of encoding
- To enhance retrieval cues
- To increase short-term memory capacity
- To reduce interference effects
28. The sensory memory that retains auditory information for a brief period is called:
- Echoic memory
- Iconic memory
- Semantic memory
- Procedural memory
29. The term "retrieval cue" refers to:
- A process of encoding information for long-term storage
- A trigger that facilitates the recall of stored information
- A mechanism for preventing memory decay
- A strategy for improving working memory capacity
30. The term "schema" in cognitive psychology refers to:
- A memory storage system for sensory input
- A cognitive framework for organizing and interpreting information
- A process of retrieving memories from long-term storage
- A technique for improving working memory capacity