Question 1

According to the textbook, why did an "affirmation intervention" help to improve the grades of minority students?

Accepted Answer

The self-affirmation helped to block the worries prompted by stereotype threat, allowing the students to perform better without the negative impact of stereotype threat on their performance.

Question 2

According to the textbook, which of the following may account for the above-average performance on academic tasks and tests by many people from Asian cultures?

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, one possible reason for the above-average performance on academic tasks and tests by many people from Asian cultures is that Asian culture emphasizes an incrementalist view of intelligence, which leads people to work harder to succeed. This suggests that success is believed to be the result of effort and hard work, rather than innate ability.

Question 3

The entity theory of intelligence proposes that intelligence can be modified with regular, focused studying and problem solving.

Accepted Answer

The entity theory of intelligence suggests that intelligence is a fixed trait and cannot be changed, unlike the incremental theory which posits that intelligence can be developed.

Question 4

When a group of students was told by its mentors that intelligence was changeable and could be improved,

Accepted Answer

The passage states that the group of students who were told that intelligence is changeable and can be improved later scored much higher on math tests than did a control group, particularly girls. Therefore, the correct answer is B. The passage does not provide information to support any of the other choices.

Question 5

Which of the following best summarizes the results of airing the telenovelas described in the textbook that focused on presenting positive role models who accept different specific values?

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that airing telenovelas with positive role models who accept different specific values does have an impact on people's attitudes and behaviors related to those values. The programs resulted in changes to both attitudes and behaviors of viewers towards the values being portrayed. Therefore, option D is the correct choice.

Question 6

According to the textbook,

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that there is no sound evidence that people of Asian heritage are genetically smarter.

Question 7

Entertainment-education is based on the work of the learning theorist

Accepted Answer

Entertainment-education is based on the social cognitive theory of learning, which was developed by Albert Bandura. This theory suggests that people learn through observing and imitating others, particularly those who are perceived as credible or attractive. In entertainment-education, this theory is applied by using entertaining media to educate and promote behavior change, such as through television programs or video games that have positive role models or messages. While Skinner, Aaronson, and Zimbardo have all contributed to the field of psychology, their theories are not directly related to entertainment-education.

Question 8

Students who start with negative beliefs and expectations about their own abilities can show significant improvement in their academic performance if they become convinced that their intelligence level can be improved.

Accepted Answer

This statement is supported by research in the field of mindset and learning theory, which suggests that students who believe their intelligence is malleable and can be developed through effort and practice are more likely to persist in the face of challenges and ultimately achieve greater success academically.

Question 9

The belief that intelligence is something one is born with and cannot change is referred to as

Accepted Answer

The belief that intelligence is something one is born with and cannot change is referred to as the entity theory of intelligence.

Question 10

Lehman and Nisbett studied the effects of different college majors on students' ability to use statistical and methodological principles in their reasoning.What did they find?

Accepted Answer

Lehman and Nisbett found that students majoring in psychology and the social sciences showed the most improvement in their ability to use statistical and methodological principles in their reasoning.

Question 11

The textbook describes research conducted by Walton and Cohen on improving the academic performance of minority students in college.In their study, they devised an intervention for students that addressed students'

Accepted Answer

Walton and Cohen's intervention focused on addressing minority students' worries about social acceptance, which can impact their academic performance.

Question 12

A person who holds an incrementalist theory of intelligence will

Accepted Answer

A person who holds an incrementalist theory of intelligence believes that intelligence can be improved with effort and hard work. Therefore, they are more likely to spend time working toward improving their abilities.

Question 13

Cohen and colleagues conducted research in which, at the beginning of middle school, minority students were asked to write about their most important values.What was the result of this intervention?

Accepted Answer

The study found that middle school students' grades improved over the subsequent years after writing about their most important values.

Question 14

One of the most striking aspects of the "Pygmalion in the Classroom" study by Rosenthal and Jacobson is that

Accepted Answer

The "Pygmalion in the Classroom" study found that teachers' expectations of their students' abilities can significantly affect their academic performance. However, numerous replication studies have found much smaller effects or no effects at all, casting doubt on the original study's findings. Therefore, choice B is the most accurate statement about the study's impact.

Question 15

As the smartest kid in his class, Geoffrey believes that his intelligence is innate, permanent, and relatively unchangeable.His classmate, Brian, believes that with effort and many hours of studying, he can increase his intelligence.Which of the following statements is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Geoffrey's belief that intelligence is innate and relatively unchangeable aligns with an entity theory of intelligence. Brian's belief that effort and studying can increase intelligence aligns with an incrementalist theory of intelligence. Research has shown that individuals with an incrementalist theory of intelligence are more likely to work hard and seek out new learning opportunities compared to those with an entity theory of intelligence.

Question 16

Susan believes that if she works hard in her math classes, she will improve her math ability and score better on her math tests.Susan is showing an incremental theory of intelligence in regard to her math ability.

Accepted Answer

Susan's belief that her math ability can be improved through hard work is consistent with the incremental theory of intelligence which holds that intelligence can be developed and improved through learning and effort.

Question 17

There is no evidence that presenting societal values via entertainment-education techniques can change people's attitudes or behavior.

Accepted Answer

There is a growing body of research that shows that entertainment-education can be effective in changing people's attitudes and behavior when done properly. Studies have shown that it can be particularly effective in promoting positive health behaviors, such as increasing condom use or breastfeeding rates. Entertainment-education is also often used in social marketing campaigns, which have been shown to be effective in changing attitudes and behavior related to a variety of issues, such as smoking cessation, safe driving, and energy conservation.

Question 18

Bob is from a working-class family and is the first in his family to attend college.He is accepted to a university and receives a welcome letter that emphasizes how he will be able to explore his personal interests and participate in independent research.According to the research discussed in the text, how is Bob likely to respond to this letter?

Accepted Answer

Bob may feel stressed because the letter emphasizes independence and personal exploration, which might not align with his working-class background that often values interdependence and practical outcomes.

Question 19

The textbook presents examples of television programs in Mexico that help to present specific values such as literacy and family planning, featuring characters who accept and practice those values.This is an example of the concept of

Accepted Answer

The example given aligns with the concept of "entertainment-education," which involves using media such as television to educate viewers on important issues or values in an entertaining and engaging way. This approach has been successful in promoting behavior change and has been utilized in various countries for a range of topics, including health, education, and social issues.

Question 20

Asking minority students to write about their most important values helps block the effects of stereotype threat and improve grades.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that asking minority students to write about their most important values before taking a test can help reduce stereotype threat and improve their academic performance. This intervention helps to remind them of their own personal values and strengths, instead of focusing on negative stereotypes about their group, which can improve their confidence and reduce anxiety.

Quiz 17: Social Psychology and Education