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.

New worksheetPractise online with hints

For teachers: free to print, copy and use in class. Every new worksheet has new values and its own answer key. A link to ExamProblems on your course page is appreciated.

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

Which method records the brain's electrical activity through electrodes on the scalp and has excellent temporal resolution?

  1. APET
  2. BCT
  3. CEEG
  4. DfMRI
2.Easy

Knowing that you understand a topic well enough to stop studying is an example of:

  1. APriming
  2. BMetacognition
  3. CProactive interference
  4. DHabituation
3.Easy

About how many items can a person hold in short-term memory, according to George Miller's classic estimate?

  1. A7 ± 2
  2. B12 ± 3
  3. C3 ± 1
  4. D20 ± 5
4.Medium

After studying the words "bed, rest, tired, dream, snooze", many people falsely recall "sleep". This paradigm demonstrates:

  1. AFalse memories produced by related associations
  2. BThe word length effect in verbal memory
  3. CRapid decay of items in iconic memory
  4. DNear-perfect recall of meaningful, related word lists
5.Medium

In Shepard and Metzler's mental rotation task, the time to decide whether two 3D shapes are the same:

  1. ADecreases as the angle between them gets larger
  2. BIncreases with the angle between the two shapes
  3. CIs the same whatever the angle of rotation is
  4. DDepends mainly on how complex the shapes are
6.Medium

In Duncker's candle problem, participants must fix a candle to a wall using a box of tacks and matches. The solution is hard to find because people:

  1. ASee the box only as a container, not as a shelf
  2. BSpend too long trying to melt wax with the matches
  3. CAssume the tacks are too short to hold the candle
  4. DDo not realise the candle has to be lit first
7.Hard

The framing effect is demonstrated when people:

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

Gick and Holyoak gave participants a story about an army attacking a fortress from many sides, then Duncker's radiation problem. What did they find?

  1. AAlmost everyone used the analogy without needing any hint
  2. BThe story made the radiation problem harder to solve
  3. CFew used the analogy until told the story might help
  4. DNobody could solve the radiation problem, even with a hint

Answer key

  1. 1. C · EEG
  2. 2. B · Metacognition
  3. 3. A · 7 ± 2
  4. 4. A · False memories produced by related associations
  5. 5. B · Increases with the angle between the two shapes
  6. 6. A · See the box only as a container, not as a shelf
  7. 7. D · Choose differently between identical options described as gains or as losses
  8. 8. C · Few used the analogy until told the story might help

Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.