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

Köhler's chimpanzees, who suddenly stacked boxes to reach bananas, are a classic example of:

  1. AMental set
  2. BTrial-and-error learning
  3. CFunctional fixedness
  4. DInsight
2.Easy

What is a heuristic?

  1. AA step-by-step procedure that always finds the right answer
  2. BA disorder of perception
  3. CA type of long-term memory
  4. DA mental shortcut used to make judgements quickly
3.Easy

Declarative memory, which can be consciously recalled and put into words, is also called:

  1. ASensory memory
  2. BImplicit memory
  3. CExplicit memory
  4. DMotor memory
4.Medium

Loftus and Palmer's car crash study showed that:

  1. AThe wording of a question can change eyewitness memory
  2. BStress improves the accuracy of recall
  3. CEyewitnesses are always accurate about speed
  4. DMemory for faces is more reliable than memory for events
5.Medium

Repeating "the, the, the" aloud while learning a word list impairs recall because it:

  1. AErases information already in long-term memory
  2. BBlocks rehearsal in the phonological loop
  3. CPrevents the eyes from reading the words
  4. DOverloads the visuospatial sketchpad
6.Medium

A student who studied while drinking coffee recalls more when tested after drinking coffee. This illustrates:

  1. AThe spacing effect
  2. BFlashbulb memory
  3. CState-dependent memory
  4. DThe serial position effect
7.Hard

In Luchins' water jar problems, after solving several problems with the formula B − A − 2C, many participants kept using it even when a simpler solution (A − C) worked. This shows:

  1. AFunctional fixedness about what the jars can be used for
  2. BSudden insight into the structure of the problem
  3. CA mental set (Einstellung) that hides simpler solutions
  4. DProactive interference in short-term memory
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. ANobody could solve the radiation problem, even with a hint
  2. BThe story made the radiation problem harder to solve
  3. CAlmost everyone used the analogy without needing any hint
  4. DFew used the analogy until told the story might help

Answer key

  1. 1. D · Insight
  2. 2. D · A mental shortcut used to make judgements quickly
  3. 3. C · Explicit memory
  4. 4. A · The wording of a question can change eyewitness memory
  5. 5. B · Blocks rehearsal in the phonological loop
  6. 6. C · State-dependent memory
  7. 7. C · A mental set (Einstellung) that hides simpler solutions
  8. 8. D · Few used the analogy until told the story might help

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