Cognitive Psychology Quizzes: Test Your Understanding

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of a top-down processing approach to perception?

Accepted Answer

Recognising a familiar object in a cluttered environment

Answer

Identifying a faint smell in a crowded room

Answer

Tasting the various flavours in a dish

Answer

Feeling the texture of a fabric

Question 2

What is the term for the cognitive representation of a problem being solved?

Accepted Answer

Schema

Answer

Prototype

Answer

Heuristic

Answer

Algorithm

Question 3

What is the term for the mental process of creating and manipulating mental images?

Accepted Answer

Imagination

Answer

Memory

Answer

Perception

Answer

Thinking

Question 4

How do cognitive biases, like confirmation bias, affect our interpretation of sensory information?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive biases can lead us to focus on information that supports our beliefs and ignore information that contradicts them.

Answer

Cognitive biases have no impact on how we organize and interpret sensory information.

Answer

Cognitive biases always make us perceive things more accurately.

Answer

Cognitive biases only affect our perception of colors.

Question 5

Which of the following accurately defines selective attention?

Accepted Answer

The ability to disregard irrelevant sensory information

Answer

The capacity to concentrate on several stimuli at once

Answer

The inclination to notice new or surprising stimuli

Question 6

Selective attention refers to:

Accepted Answer

The ability to focus on a specific stimulus while ignoring distractions

Answer

The ability to distribute attention across multiple tasks simultaneously

Answer

The ability to maintain attention on a single stimulus for extended periods

Answer

The ability to shift attention rapidly between different stimuli

Question 7

The Broca's area of the brain is primarily responsible for:

Accepted Answer

Speech production

Answer

Language comprehension

Answer

Motor skills

Answer

Decision-making

Question 8

Heuristic problem-solving strategies are typically:

Accepted Answer

Simple, fast, and easy to apply

Answer

Systematic and guaranteed to find the optimal solution

Answer

Require extensive knowledge and computational power

Answer

Involve generating and testing multiple hypotheses

Question 9

According to the Gestalt theory of perception, the brain tends to perceive objects as:

Accepted Answer

Meaningful and organized wholes

Answer

Isolated and independent units

Answer

Random and chaotic collections of stimuli

Answer

Influenced solely by individual differences

Question 10

The process of actively seeking and using information to improve understanding or decision-making is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Metacognition

Answer

Memory

Answer

Attention

Answer

Motivation

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of episodic memory?

Accepted Answer

Recalling the plot of a movie you watched

Answer

Remembering a new phone number

Answer

Knowing how to ride a bike

Answer

Recognizing a familiar face

Question 12

Self-awareness refers to:

Accepted Answer

The ability to think about one's own thoughts and to regulate one's own cognitive processes

Answer

The belief in one's own abilities

Answer

The positive regard for oneself

Answer

The ability to control one's behavior

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a stage in the sequence of memory?

Accepted Answer

Recall

Answer

Encoding

Answer

Storage

Answer

Retrieval

Question 14

What type of attention involves deliberately directing our focus to specific information?

Accepted Answer

Selective

Answer

Sustained

Answer

Divided

Answer

Subliminal

Question 15

According to the constructivist theory of perception, how do we interpret our surroundings?

Accepted Answer

Subjectively, based on our beliefs and experiences

Answer

Objectively, through direct sensory input

Answer

Partially objectively and partially subjectively

Answer

Randomly, with no predictable patterns

Question 16

What cognitive process involves converting written or spoken words into meaningful units of language?

Accepted Answer

Language comprehension

Answer

Reading comprehension

Answer

Speech recognition

Answer

Syntax analysis

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a recognized problem-solving strategy?

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning

Answer

Trial and error

Answer

Means-end analysis

Answer

Algorithm

Question 18

Which type of memory stores long-term, factual knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Semantic memory

Answer

Procedural memory

Answer

Episodic memory

Answer

Working memory

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a stage of the memory process?

Accepted Answer

Decoding

Answer

Encoding

Answer

Storage

Answer

Retrieval

Question 20

Attention is the process of:

Accepted Answer

Selectively focusing on specific stimuli

Answer

Storing information in long-term memory

Answer

Interpreting sensory information

Answer

Solving complex equations

Question 21

Which theory of perception emphasizes the influence of prior knowledge and expectations?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive theory

Answer

Gestalt theory

Answer

Nativist theory

Answer

Ecological theory

Question 22

Language is primarily a system of:

Accepted Answer

Symbols used to convey meaning

Answer

Innate abilities for communication

Answer

Learned behaviours for social interaction

Answer

Cognitive processes for logical reasoning

Question 23

The working memory model proposed by Baddeley and Hitch includes which components?

Accepted Answer

Central executive, phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad

Answer

Sensory buffer, short-term store, long-term store

Answer

Encoding, storage, retrieval

Answer

Attention, perception, language

Question 24

Which neuroimaging technique measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow?

Accepted Answer

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Answer

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Answer

Positron emission tomography (PET)

Answer

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Question 25

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the preoperational stage is characterised by:

Accepted Answer

Egocentrism and limited logical reasoning

Answer

Abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking

Answer

Concrete operations and logical thinking

Answer

Formal operations and deductive reasoning

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT a type of long-term memory?

Accepted Answer

Working memory

Answer

Episodic memory

Answer

Semantic memory

Answer

Procedural memory

Question 27

How does metacognition enhance learning and decision-making? Give examples to support your answer.

Accepted Answer

Metacognition helps learners identify their strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to adjust their study methods.

Answer

Metacognition hinders decision-making by causing self-doubt and overthinking.

Answer

Metacognition only applies to complex tasks and has no impact on daily decision-making.

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a stage of the memory process?

Accepted Answer

Comprehension

Answer

Encoding

Answer

Storage

Answer

Retrieval

Question 29

Which type of attention involves focusing selectively on specific stimuli while ignoring others?

Accepted Answer

Selective attention

Answer

Divided attention

Answer

Peripheral attention

Answer

Sustained attention

Question 30

What is the difference between problem-solving and decision-making?

Accepted Answer

Problem-solving involves finding a solution to an unfamiliar problem, while decision-making involves choosing the best option from a set of alternatives.

Answer

Problem-solving is a type of decision-making.

Answer

There is no difference between problem-solving and decision-making.

Answer

Decision-making involves finding a solution to an unfamiliar problem, while problem-solving involves choosing the best option from a set of alternatives.

Question 31

What is working memory and how does it impact our daily cognitive functioning?

Accepted Answer

Working memory is a temporary storage system that holds information for use in current tasks.

Answer

Working memory stores long-term memories for later use.

Answer

Working memory is not important for cognitive tasks and has no impact on our daily lives.

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT a stage of the working memory model proposed by Baddeley and Hitch?

Accepted Answer

Retrieval

Answer

Visuospatial sketchpad

Answer

Episodic buffer

Answer

Phonological loop

Question 33

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which stage is characterized by the development of logical and abstract thinking?

Accepted Answer

Formal operational

Answer

Sensorimotor

Answer

Preoperational

Answer

Concrete operational

Question 34

The cognitive revolution in psychology emphasized the human mind as an:

Accepted Answer

Information processor

Answer

Behavioral responder

Answer

Unconscious entity

Answer

Fixed structure

Question 35

Which cognitive bias involves a tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Availability heuristic

Answer

Recency bias

Question 36

The brain region primarily involved in language production is:

Accepted Answer

Broca's area

Answer

Hippocampus

Answer

Amygdala

Answer

Wernicke's area

Question 37

According to Gardner's multiple intelligences theory, which intelligence type involves the ability to perceive and understand emotions?

Accepted Answer

Interpersonal

Answer

Logical-mathematical

Answer

Linguistic

Question 38

The memory system responsible for storing explicit knowledge, such as facts and details, is:

Accepted Answer

Declarative memory

Answer

Sensory memory

Answer

Working memory

Answer

Procedural memory

Question 39

In the problem-solving process, which stage involves generating potential solutions?

Accepted Answer

Generate solutions

Answer

Implement the solution

Answer

Evaluate the solution

Answer

Define the problem

Question 40

Which language processing model proposes that sentence comprehension involves multiple levels of representation?

Accepted Answer

Hierarchical model

Answer

Connectionist model

Answer

Parallel model

Answer

Interactive model

Question 41

The cognitive bias that leads individuals to believe that random events exhibit patterns or streaks is known as:

Accepted Answer

Clustering illusion

Answer

Availability heuristic

Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Confirmation bias

Question 42

The brain structure associated with the consolidation of memories is the:

Accepted Answer

Hippocampus

Answer

Amygdala

Answer

Cerebellum

Question 43

Which type of perception involves interpreting sensory information influenced by past experiences and expectations?

Accepted Answer

Top-down processing

Answer

Lateral processing

Answer

Bottom-up processing

Question 44

Which memory retrieval cue effectively retrieves information stored in semantic memory?

Accepted Answer

Category cue

Answer

Context cue

Answer

State-dependent cue

Answer

Mood cue

Question 45

Which cognitive process involves consciously and deliberately controlling thoughts and actions?

Accepted Answer

Executive function

Answer

Perception

Answer

Metacognition

Answer

Attention

Question 46

What is the process of selecting and focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others?

Accepted Answer

Attention

Answer

Language

Answer

Perception

Answer

Cognition

Question 47

Which type of problem-solving involves breaking down a complex problem into smaller ones?

Accepted Answer

Means-ends analysis

Answer

Trial and error

Answer

Insight

Answer

Heuristic

Question 48

What is the name of the theory that suggests that we process information in a series of stages, with each stage having a specific function?

Accepted Answer

Multi-store model

Answer

Working memory model

Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory

Answer

Attentional control theory

Question 49

Which of the following is a common type of bias in decision-making that occurs when we rely too heavily on information that is easily accessible to us?

Accepted Answer

Availability bias

Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Framing bias

Question 50

What is the term for the process by which we acquire and develop language?

Accepted Answer

Language acquisition

Answer

Linguistics

Answer

Speech production

Answer

Communication