Cognitive psychology worksheet with answers

Free printable Cognitive psychology worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy

Trying to perform two tasks at the same time, such as texting while listening to a lecture, involves:

  1. ADivided attention
  2. BSelective attention
  3. CSustained attention
  4. DIconic memory
2.Easy

Linking new information to things you already know, so it becomes meaningful, is called:

  1. AMaintenance rehearsal
  2. BElaborative rehearsal
  3. CDecay
  4. DRote repetition
3.Easy

In cognitive psychology, a schema is:

  1. AA sudden loss of memory after brain injury
  2. BA visual illusion caused by misleading depth cues in a scene
  3. CAn organised framework of knowledge about something
  4. DA single item held in short-term memory
4.Medium

Anchoring bias occurs when:

  1. APeople remember only the end of an experience
  2. BPeople believe after the event that they knew the outcome all along
  3. CAn initial number strongly influences a later estimate
  4. DPeople prefer options presented as gains
5.Medium

In the Brown–Peterson task, participants count backwards by threes after seeing a trigram such as "KTR". The main finding was that:

  1. ACounting backwards made the trigrams easier to remember
  2. BOnly the first letter of each trigram tended to be forgotten
  3. CRecall fell sharply within about 18 seconds without rehearsal
  4. DRecall stayed almost perfect even after 18 seconds of counting
6.Medium

People verify "A robin is a bird" faster than "A penguin is a bird". This finding supports:

  1. AFeature integration theory
  2. BThe multi-store model of memory
  3. CPrototype theory and graded category membership
  4. DThe classical view that all members are equally good examples
7.Hard

The framing effect is demonstrated when people:

  1. ARecall information better in the same room
  2. BRemember the frame of a picture better than its content
  3. CIgnore all numerical information
  4. DChoose differently between identical options described as gains or as losses
8.Hard

Linda is described as outspoken and concerned with social justice. Many people judge "Linda is a bank teller and a feminist" more likely than "Linda is a bank teller". What is the error?

  1. AThe conjunction fallacy: A and B cannot be likelier than A
  2. BAnchoring: the first description fixes the later estimate
  3. CCorrect base-rate use: feminists are common among bank tellers
  4. DThe gambler's fallacy: past events change the future odds

Answer key

  1. 1. A · Divided attention
  2. 2. B · Elaborative rehearsal
  3. 3. C · An organised framework of knowledge about something
  4. 4. C · An initial number strongly influences a later estimate
  5. 5. C · Recall fell sharply within about 18 seconds without rehearsal
  6. 6. C · Prototype theory and graded category membership
  7. 7. D · Choose differently between identical options described as gains or as losses
  8. 8. A · The conjunction fallacy: A and B cannot be likelier than A

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