1. What is the first step in the problem-solving process?
- Evaluating solutions
- Identifying the problem
- Implementing the solution
- Defining the goal
Thinking and Problem-Solving Strategies: Cognitive Psychology MCQ
Test your knowledge of thinking and problem-solving strategies with this Cognitive Psychology MCQs. Explore concepts like heuristics, algorithms, reasoning and decision-making.
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2. Which of the following is an example of a heuristic in problem-solving?
- A step-by-step algorithm
- A mental shortcut for quick decisions
- Conducting a comprehensive analysis
- Calculating exact probabilities
3. What does the term "functional fixedness" refer to in cognitive psychology?
- The inability to consider new uses for familiar objects
- The tendency to rely on past experiences
- The process of breaking down a problem into smaller parts
- The use of intuition over logic
4. What is the primary goal of brainstorming in problem-solving?
- To eliminate all incorrect options
- To generate a variety of potential solutions
- To apply logical reasoning
- To focus only on practical solutions
5. Which type of reasoning involves drawing specific conclusions from general principles?
- Inductive reasoning
- Deductive reasoning
- Analogical reasoning
- Divergent reasoning
6. What is the "availability heuristic"?
- Judging the likelihood of events based on how easily they come to mind
- Using past experiences to solve current problems
- Assessing probabilities through logical analysis
- Comparing current problems to similar past scenarios
7. What does "cognitive restructuring" involve in problem-solving?
- Breaking down a complex problem into manageable parts
- Reframing the problem to view it from a new perspective
- Applying learned strategies to new problems
- Eliminating unnecessary information
8. What is the purpose of analogical reasoning?
- To identify similarities between two situations and apply knowledge from one to the other
- To create entirely new solutions
- To evaluate all possible solutions systematically
- To calculate probabilities based on data
9. The "mental set" in problem-solving refers to:
- A predisposition to approach problems in a particular way
- The ability to think creatively
- The process of eliminating incorrect solutions
- The focus on emotional responses during problem-solving
10. What is the role of "working memory" in problem-solving?
- Storing solutions permanently
- Holding and manipulating information while solving problems
- Retrieving past knowledge for application
- Filtering irrelevant information
11. Which term refers to breaking down a problem into smaller= more manageable parts?
- Chunking
- Subgoal analysis
- Cognitive mapping
- Heuristics
12. What is the primary limitation of the "representativeness heuristic"?
- It often ignores statistical probabilities
- It focuses too heavily on past experiences
- It requires detailed analysis
- It eliminates creative solutions
13. Which problem-solving strategy involves starting with the desired outcome and working backward?
- Means-end analysis
- Reverse engineering
- Analogical reasoning
- Deductive reasoning
14. What is the primary advantage of using heuristics?
- They guarantee accurate solutions
- They speed up decision-making processes
- They prevent cognitive biases
- They rely on mathematical probabilities
15. What does "confirmation bias" involve in thinking?
- Seeking information that supports pre-existing beliefs
- Ignoring information that contradicts prior knowledge
- Both A and B
- Evaluating all evidence equally
16. The "Tower of Hanoi" puzzle is commonly used to study:
- Deductive reasoning
- Planning and problem-solving strategies
- Memory recall
- Emotional intelligence
17. Which of the following is a characteristic of "creative problem-solving"?
- Using a fixed set of rules
- Applying conventional methods only
- Generating novel and original solutions
- Relying on past experiences
18. What is the "anchoring effect" in decision-making?
- Making decisions based solely on available information
- Overestimating the importance of the first piece of information received
- Relying on intuition rather than logic
- Making decisions based on emotions
19. What does "metacognition" refer to in problem-solving?
- The process of memorizing information
- Thinking about one's own thinking and problem-solving strategies
- Relying on external help to solve problems
- Using trial-and-error to find solutions
20. The "law of small numbers" refers to:
- Believing that small samples represent the entire population
- Overgeneralizing from large amounts of data
- Drawing conclusions based on limited data
- Using large samples to ensure accurate results
21. What does "overconfidence bias" result in?
- Underestimating the difficulty of a problem
- Accurate and well-supported decisions
- A higher level of problem-solving ability
- 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?
- Trial and error
- Algorithmic thinking
- Heuristics
- Insight
23. What is "hindsight bias"?
- The tendency to think an event was predictable after it has occurred
- The tendency to ignore past experiences
- The ability to predict future outcomes accurately
- The inclination to rely solely on statistical evidence
24. What does "the framing effect" refer to?
- Making decisions based on how information is presented
- The impact of previous decisions on future choices
- The ability to find solutions despite limited information
- Relying on intuition to make choices
25. What does "confirmation bias" lead to?
- Seeking evidence that supports existing beliefs
- Avoiding external influences when making decisions
- Open-mindedness in evaluating contradictory evidence
- Making well-reasoned decisions based on facts
26. Which cognitive process is used to find patterns in complex data?
- Insight
- Problem-solving by analogy
- Inductive reasoning
- Deductive reasoning
27. "Cognitive load" refers to:
- The amount of information that can be processed at one time
- The difficulty of a problem
- The time taken to solve a problem
- The emotional state of the decision-maker
28. The "gambler's fallacy" is based on the incorrect assumption that:
- Past outcomes influence future ones in random events
- Probability can be calculated using logic
- Each event in a sequence is independent
- The odds of an event remain constant
29. What is "cognitive dissonance"?
- The discomfort caused by holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes
- The ability to think logically without biases
- The process of making decisions based on reasoned analysis
- The tendency to change one's beliefs in response to external pressure
30. The "availability heuristic" is best described as:
- Making judgments based on the ease with which examples come to mind
- Relying on statistical evidence to make decisions
- Using logic to weigh all possible outcomes
- A decision-making process based on prior knowledge