Question 1

When asked to tell what happens at preschool, Hope says, "You have circle time, eat a snack, take a nap, and then play outside." This is an example of
A) verbatim memory.
B) biographical retrieval.
C) a script.
D) semantic knowledge.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a script, which is a set of expectations for familiar events or activities, such as daily routines. Hope's description follows a predictable sequence of events that occurs during a typical day at preschool. Verbatim memory refers to recalling exact words or details, biographical retrieval is recalling personal experiences or events, and semantic knowledge is general knowledge and meanings of words and concepts.

Question 2

Once formed, scripts can
A) hinder memory for events that are highly distinctive.
B) facilitate recall of single occurrences of repeated events.
C) prevent forgetting of one-time events.
D) be used to predict what will happen on future similar occasions.

Accepted Answer

Scripts, once formed, are cognitive structures that represent sequences of events in particular contexts, allowing individuals to predict future occurrences based on past experiences. They do not necessarily hinder memory for distinctive events, facilitate recall of single occurrences, or prevent forgetting of one-time events, but they do help in anticipating what might happen in similar situations in the future.

Question 3

Improvement in recall over the preschool years is strongly associated with
A) mastery of conservation.
B) understanding of false belief.
C) language development.
D) advanced perspective-taking skills.

Accepted Answer

Language development is strongly associated with improvement in recall over the preschool years. The use of language enables children to encode, store, and retrieve information more effectively. Mastery of conservation, understanding of false belief, and advanced perspective-taking skills may also contribute to cognitive development, but they are not specifically linked to improvement in recall.

Question 4

Kate tells Kim that she has six fish, four hamsters, and two dogs. Later, when asked if Kate has more fish or more dogs, Kim does not remember the exact numbers, but is able to answer correctly because she relied on her __________ memory.
A) gist
B) numerical
C) verbatim
D) recognition

Accepted Answer

Gist memory refers to remembering the overall meaning or essence of information, rather than the specific details. In this case, Kim may not remember the exact numbers of fish and dogs, but she remembers the overall idea that Kate has more fish than dogs or vice versa.

Question 5

To create autobiographical memories that persist for a lifetime, children must
A) have a well-developed language system and a repertoire of memory strategies.
B) have a clear self-image and learn to structure significant memories in narrative form.
C) be attentive to routines and embed novel events into their long-term memory of those routines.
D) possess metacognitive awareness and an elaborative style of talking about experiences.

Accepted Answer

In order to create autobiographical memories that persist for a lifetime, children must have a clear self-image and learn to structure significant memories in narrative form. This means being able to reflect on their experiences and organize them in a coherent way. Language development and memory strategies can aid in this process, but they are not the most important factors. Being attentive to routines and incorporating novel events into those routines can help with memory consolidation, but it does not necessarily lead to the creation of autobiographical memories. Metacognitive awareness and an elaborative style of talking about experiences can also assist in organizing memories, but they are not essential for creating autobiographical memories.

Question 6

According to research on scripts, both children and adults have difficulty recalling specific instances of __________ events.
A) one-time
B) repeated
C) distinctive
D) unfamiliar

Accepted Answer

Research on scripts shows that both children and adults tend to have difficulty recalling specific instances of repeated events because these events blend together in memory, making individual occurrences less distinct.

Question 7

As children construct and reconstruct information,
A) they rarely account for new information.
B) the information loses coherency.
C) they often "delete" important retrieval cues in their memory.
D) the information becomes more coherent and memorable.

Accepted Answer

As children construct and reconstruct information, they integrate new information with existing knowledge and experiences, resulting in a more coherent and memorable understanding of the topic.

Question 8

Autobiographical memory refers to representations of
A) what occurs generally and the specific time frame in which it occurs.
B) fuzzy information that preserves essential content without specific details.
C) one-time events that are long-lasting because they are imbued with personal meaning.
D) the vast, intricately organized knowledge system in long-term memory.

Accepted Answer

Autobiographical memory specifically deals with personal events that have emotional significance, making choice C the most accurate description. Choices A and B are more applicable to general semantic memory, while choice D refers to the entirety of long-term memory, which is not specific to autobiographical memory.

Question 9

According to fuzzy-trace theory, __________ preserve(s) essential meaning without details, whereas __________ memory contains precise details.
A) scripts; autobiographical
B) recognition memory; recall
C) semantic memory; episodic
D) gists; verbatim

Accepted Answer

Fuzzy-trace theory suggests that gist memory preserves essential meaning without details, whereas verbatim memory contains precise details. The other options do not relate to the concept of fuzzy-trace theory.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true regarding fuzzy-trace theory?
A) Gist memories decay more rapidly than verbatim memories.
B) Gist memory requires more mental effort than verbatim memory.
C) Children under the age of 5 show little ability to answer verbatim-dependent questions.
D) School-aged children are better able than preschoolers at answering gist-dependent questions.

Accepted Answer

Fuzzy-trace theory suggests that people encode information at two levels, verbatim (exact, word-for-word) and gist (meaning of the information). School-aged children are better able than preschoolers at answering gist-dependent questions, indicating a developmental progression in their ability to use gist-based processing. Therefore, option D is true. Options A and B are incorrect because gist memories are retained better and require less mental effort than verbatim memories. Option C is incorrect because even young children can answer verbatim-dependent questions.

Question 11

High levels of organization at retrieval suggest that very knowledgeable children's recall of items in their area of expertise is
A) based largely on verbatim memory.
B) automatic.
C) the result of their exceptional metacognitive skills.
D) based largely on gist memory.

Accepted Answer

Knowledgeable children often retrieve information automatically due to their familiarity and expertise in the subject area, which allows for efficient and organized recall.

Question 12

Constructive processing takes place during
A) initial encoding only.
B) the retrieval phase only.
C) short-term storage only.
D) any phase of information processing.

Accepted Answer

Constructive processing involves using prior knowledge to interpret new information and integrate it into existing knowledge structures. This can occur during any phase of information processing, including encoding, storage, and retrieval. Therefore, the best choice is D - any phase of information processing.

Question 13

Research shows that __________ heighten(s) the chances of reporting false items consistent with the fuzzy meaning of an experience.
A) autobiographical narratives
B) theory of mind
C) gists
D) infantile amnesia

Accepted Answer

The term "gists" refers to the general meaning of an experience or event rather than specific details. Research indicates that memories based on gists are more susceptible to distortion and fabrication, increasing the likelihood of reporting false items. Autobiographical narratives and theory of mind are not directly related to this phenomenon, and infantile amnesia refers to the inability to remember events from early childhood.

Question 14

__________ knowledge contributes vitally to the development of __________ memory, or recollections of personally experienced events that occurred at a specific time and place.
A) Long-term; short-term
B) Autobiographical; semantic
C) Semantic; episodic
D) Gist; verbatim

Accepted Answer

Semantic knowledge refers to general knowledge about the world and language, while episodic memory refers to specific memories of events that occurred at a particular time and place. Semantic knowledge contributes to the development of episodic memory by providing a framework for understanding and organizing new experiences, which can then be stored and retrieved as specific memories. Autobiographical knowledge (choice B) is a type of episodic memory that specifically pertains to one's own personal experiences, while long-term and short-term (choice A) and gist and verbatim (choice D) do not directly relate to the development of episodic memory.

Question 15

Aaron's memory of his family's vacation to Yellowstone National Park resides in his __________ memory.
A) semantic
B) eyewitness
C) short-term
D) autobiographical

Accepted Answer

Autobiographical memory refers to our memories of specific life events and experiences. Aaron's memory of his family's vacation to Yellowstone National Park is an example of autobiographical memory.

Question 16

When Chi compared the performance of child chess experts and adult chess novices on a task involving memory for the layout of chess pieces on a chessboard, she found that the children
A) outperformed the adults because the children were very bright and had exceptional memories.
B) performed as well as the adults, suggesting that knowledge can compensate for memory limitations.
C) performed as well as the adults when there were fewer than eight pieces on the chessboard.
D) outperformed the adults because their knowledge base contributed to memory performance.

Accepted Answer

Chi found that the child chess experts outperformed the adult chess novices on the memory task, suggesting that their knowledge base contributed to their memory performance. This implies that prior knowledge and expertise can compensate for memory limitations.

Question 17

When young children recall and retell a story, they often recall certain important features while forgetting unimportant ones, reorder the sequence of events in more logical fashion, and even include new information that fits with a passage's meaning. This demonstrates that young children
A) have poor metacognitive skills.
B) reconstruct information based on their everyday experiences.
C) often fail to employ appropriate memory strategies.
D) are not yet adept at cognitive self-regulation.

Accepted Answer

Young children reconstruct information based on their everyday experiences, which includes their prior knowledge, schemas, and expectations. They tend to remember important features while forgetting unimportant ones, reorder events in a more logical fashion, and even include new information that fits with the passage's meaning. This is because they are actively making sense of the world around them and constructing meaning from their experiences. It is not necessarily a reflection of poor metacognitive skills, failure to employ appropriate memory strategies, or a lack of cognitive self-regulation.

Question 18

Schneider's and Bjorklund's study of children soccer experts versus soccer novices demonstrated that compared to novices, expert children are more likely to
A) rely on gist rather than verbatim memories.
B) have better organized lists during recall.
C) rehearse the test items during encoding.
D) engage in reconstructive processing during storage.

Accepted Answer

Schneider's and Bjorklund's study found that expert children, compared to novices, have better organized lists during recall, which is indicative of their more structured knowledge and understanding of the game of soccer. This organization aids in more efficient and effective recall of information.

Question 19

At his class reunion, Cesar recognizes a number of familiar faces, but he has trouble remembering their names. This is because __________ is easier than __________.
A) recognition; recall
B) recall; reconstruction
C) recognition; reconstruction
D) reconstruction; recall

Accepted Answer

Recognition involves identifying something you've previously seen, which is generally easier than recall, where you have to retrieve information from your memory without any cues.

Question 20

According to fuzzy-trace theory, we have a bias toward gist memory compared to literal versions because it
A) interferes with cognitive processing.
B) decays more rapidly.
C) requires less space in working memory.
D) is less likely to undergo constructive processing.

Accepted Answer

According to fuzzy-trace theory, gist memory requires less space in working memory as it focuses on the essential meaning of information rather than storing verbatim details. This allows for easier and more efficient processing of information, reducing cognitive load. Therefore, the bias towards gist memory is due to its efficiency in cognitive processing, rather than any decay or susceptibility to constructive processing.

Quiz 7: Cognitive Development: an Information-Processing Perspective

When asked to tell what happens at preschool, Hope says, "You have circle time, eat a snack, take a nap, and then play outside." This is an example of

Once formed, scripts can

Improvement in recall over the preschool years is strongly associated with

Kate tells Kim that she has six fish, four hamsters, and two dogs. Later, when asked if Kate has more fish or more dogs, Kim does not remember the exact numbers, but is able to answer correctly because she relied on her __________ memory.

To create autobiographical memories that persist for a lifetime, children must

According to research on scripts, both children and adults have difficulty recalling specific instances of __________ events.

As children construct and reconstruct information,

Autobiographical memory refers to representations of

According to fuzzy-trace theory, preserve(s) essential meaning without details, whereas memory contains precise details.

Which of the following statements is true regarding fuzzy-trace theory?

High levels of organization at retrieval suggest that very knowledgeable children's recall of items in their area of expertise is

Constructive processing takes place during

Research shows that __________ heighten(s) the chances of reporting false items consistent with the fuzzy meaning of an experience.

knowledge contributes vitally to the development of memory, or recollections of personally experienced events that occurred at a specific time and place.

Aaron's memory of his family's vacation to Yellowstone National Park resides in his __________ memory.

When Chi compared the performance of child chess experts and adult chess novices on a task involving memory for the layout of chess pieces on a chessboard, she found that the children

When young children recall and retell a story, they often recall certain important features while forgetting unimportant ones, reorder the sequence of events in more logical fashion, and even include new information that fits with a passage's meaning. This demonstrates that young children

Schneider's and Bjorklund's study of children soccer experts versus soccer novices demonstrated that compared to novices, expert children are more likely to

At his class reunion, Cesar recognizes a number of familiar faces, but he has trouble remembering their names. This is because is easier than .

According to fuzzy-trace theory, we have a bias toward gist memory compared to literal versions because it