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

The Gestalt principle of proximity states that we tend to group together elements that are:

  1. AMoving in the same direction
  2. BForming a closed shape
  3. CSimilar in colour
  4. DClose to each other
2.Easy

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

  1. AElaborative rehearsal
  2. BMaintenance rehearsal
  3. CDecay
  4. DRote repetition
3.Easy

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

  1. AProactive interference
  2. BPriming
  3. CMetacognition
  4. DHabituation
4.Medium

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

  1. AThe classical view that all members are equally good examples
  2. BThe multi-store model of memory
  3. CFeature integration theory
  4. DPrototype theory and graded category membership
5.Medium

A strategy that breaks a problem into subgoals, each reducing the difference between the current state and the goal, is called:

  1. ATrial and error
  2. BMeans–end analysis
  3. CIncubation
  4. DInsight
6.Medium

The availability heuristic means people judge how likely an event is by:

  1. AHow similar it is to a typical case
  2. BIts actual statistical frequency
  3. CThe first number they hear
  4. DHow easily examples come to mind
7.Hard

In Sperling's experiments, participants saw a 3 × 4 grid of letters briefly. When a tone signalled which row to report immediately afterwards, they could report most letters of that row. What did this show?

  1. ABriefly seen letters are transferred into long-term memory at once
  2. BIconic memory holds only about four letters, however they are tested
  3. CHearing a warning tone improves visual perception of nearby letters in general
  4. DMost of the display is briefly held but fades before it can all be reported
8.Hard

The framing effect is demonstrated when people:

  1. AChoose differently between identical options described as gains or as losses
  2. BRecall information better in the same room
  3. CIgnore all numerical information
  4. DRemember the frame of a picture better than its content

Answer key

  1. 1. D · Close to each other
  2. 2. A · Elaborative rehearsal
  3. 3. C · Metacognition
  4. 4. D · Prototype theory and graded category membership
  5. 5. B · Means–end analysis
  6. 6. D · How easily examples come to mind
  7. 7. D · Most of the display is briefly held but fades before it can all be reported
  8. 8. A · Choose differently between identical options described as gains or as losses

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