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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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

Which memory store holds visual information for a fraction of a second?

  1. AWorking memory
  2. BIconic memory
  3. CEchoic memory
  4. DLong-term memory
2.Easy

Damage to Wernicke's area typically causes:

  1. ALoss of the ability to recognise familiar faces
  2. BLoss of the ability to read but not to write
  3. CSlow, effortful speech with good comprehension
  4. DFluent but largely meaningless speech with poor comprehension
3.Easy

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

  1. AElaborative rehearsal
  2. BDecay
  3. CRote repetition
  4. DMaintenance rehearsal
4.Medium

In dual-process theory, which task most clearly requires System 2 thinking?

  1. AWorking out 17 × 24 in your head
  2. BReading a large familiar word on a road sign
  3. CNoticing that a sound is loud
  4. DRecognising a friend's face
5.Medium

Which working memory component is most heavily used when you switch between two tasks and decide what to focus on?

  1. AThe phonological loop
  2. BThe central executive
  3. CThe visuospatial sketchpad
  4. DIconic memory
6.Medium

Loftus and Palmer's car crash study showed that:

  1. AStress improves the accuracy of recall
  2. BEyewitnesses are always accurate about speed
  3. CMemory for faces is more reliable than memory for events
  4. DThe wording of a question can change eyewitness memory
7.Hard

Chase and Simon showed chess positions briefly to experts and novices. Experts recalled real game positions much better, but not random positions. This suggests expertise relies on:

  1. AA larger short-term memory capacity in general
  2. BChunks of meaningful patterns stored in long-term memory
  3. CBetter eyesight
  4. DPhotographic iconic memory
8.Hard

Strayer and Johnston found that hands-free phone conversations impaired simulated driving about as much as hand-held ones. What does this suggest?

  1. AThe main cost of phoning while driving is attentional, not manual
  2. BHolding a phone is the only problem when driving
  3. CDriving is a fully automatic task
  4. DTalking to a passenger in the car is just as distracting in every case

Answer key

  1. 1. B · Iconic memory
  2. 2. D · Fluent but largely meaningless speech with poor comprehension
  3. 3. A · Elaborative rehearsal
  4. 4. A · Working out 17 × 24 in your head
  5. 5. B · The central executive
  6. 6. D · The wording of a question can change eyewitness memory
  7. 7. B · Chunks of meaningful patterns stored in long-term memory
  8. 8. A · The main cost of phoning while driving is attentional, not manual

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