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

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

  1. A12 ± 3
  2. B3 ± 1
  3. C20 ± 5
  4. D7 ± 2
2.Easy

The representativeness heuristic means judging the probability of something by:

  1. AHow closely it resembles a typical example
  2. BHow much time or money you have already invested in it
  3. CThe first number you were given
  4. DHow easily examples come to mind
3.Easy

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

  1. AForming a closed shape
  2. BSimilar in colour
  3. CMoving in the same direction
  4. DClose to each other
4.Medium

Which feature is typical of an automatic process, such as reading a familiar word?

  1. AIt is fast and hard to stop once started
  2. BIt needs a lot of conscious effort
  3. CIt is easily disrupted by a second task
  4. DIt can only be done slowly, one step at a time
5.Medium

In January you keep writing last year's date on forms. This is an example of:

  1. ARetroactive interference
  2. BProactive interference
  3. CEncoding failure
  4. DAnterograde amnesia
6.Medium

A patient can no longer form new long-term memories after brain surgery but remembers events from before the operation. This is called:

  1. ADissociative amnesia
  2. BRetrograde amnesia
  3. CInfantile amnesia
  4. DAnterograde amnesia
7.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
8.Hard

H.M. practised mirror drawing over several days. His performance improved steadily, yet each day he said he had never done the task before. What does this show?

  1. AH.M. was only pretending not to remember the sessions
  2. BSkills can be learned without remembering the practice
  3. CHis improvement came from rehearsal in short-term memory
  4. DMirror drawing depends mainly on the hippocampus

Answer key

  1. 1. D · 7 ± 2
  2. 2. A · How closely it resembles a typical example
  3. 3. D · Close to each other
  4. 4. A · It is fast and hard to stop once started
  5. 5. B · Proactive interference
  6. 6. D · Anterograde amnesia
  7. 7. A · The main cost of phoning while driving is attentional, not manual
  8. 8. B · Skills can be learned without remembering the practice

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