Question 1

While Erica and Lauren are taking their math test,their teacher comments that women tend to underperform on the test as compared to men.Erica hears the comment but Lauren does not.Erica performs more poorly than on her previous tests,while Lauren performs about the same as on her previous tests.According to Steele's research,the change in Erica's performance is due to ____.

Accepted Answer

Erica's performance decline is consistent with Steele's research on stereotype threat, which suggests that when individuals are made aware of a negative stereotype about their group (in this case, women and math performance), they may experience anxiety and decreased performance as a result. Retroactive inhibition, analytic intelligence, and convergent thinking do not explain Erica's change in performance in this specific scenario.

Question 2

Researchers who study stereotype threat have found that when people are asked to perform a task for which a negative stereotype about their ethnic group exists,they tend to ____.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that when faced with stereotype threat, individuals tend to underperform, consistent with the negative stereotype. This is because the anxiety and pressure of being judged by the stereotype leads to distractions and self-doubt, making it difficult to perform at their optimal level. However, interventions such as affirmations and role models can help alleviate the negative effects of stereotype threat.

Question 3

Murray is studying the effects of heredity and environment on IQ test scores.He thinks that heredity is the most important factor in determining IQ.Which finding would support his argument most strongly?

Accepted Answer

Identical twins share 100% of their genetic material, so if they have similar IQ scores even when reared apart, it suggests that genetics plays a strong role in determining IQ. This finding would support Murray's argument that heredity is the most important factor in determining IQ.

Question 4

Karloss has administered an IQ test to a large sample of people representative of the general population.If his results are consistent with those discussed in your textbook,he should find the greatest difference between which two groups?

Accepted Answer

The greatest difference in IQ scores, as discussed in many textbooks, is often found between individuals from different socioeconomic classes rather than between different genders, ethnicities, or races within the same socioeconomic class. This is because socioeconomic status can significantly impact access to education, nutrition, and other resources that contribute to cognitive development.

Question 5

Jennifer's daughter,Christy,has just "graduated" from the local Head Start program.This fall,she will start kindergarten.According to current thinking about the maintenance of gains from early enrichment programs,which outcome is most likely?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that while early enrichment programs like Head Start can lead to initial gains in IQ and academic performance, these gains often diminish over time without continued support and enrichment.

Question 6

Unicorns have an average IQ score that is 10 points higher than centaurs.Given this information,what is the most accurate statement about the intelligence of a particular unicorn and a particular centaur?

Accepted Answer

While unicorns, on average, have a higher IQ than centaurs, we cannot make any conclusions about the intelligence of a particular unicorn and a particular centaur without further information or testing. It is possible that the individual centaur may have a higher IQ than the individual unicorn. Therefore, the most accurate statement is that we cannot make any conclusions about their intelligence.

Question 7

In the year 2525,people are separated into groups.A standardized "Group A" IQ test has been developed,and results indicate that as a group,Group A people have an average IQ score that is 25 points higher than the Group B people.Which statement is an incorrect conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Just because the average IQ score of Group A is higher than that of Group B does not necessarily mean that every individual in Group A is more intelligent than every individual in Group B. There could be variations within each group, and some individuals in Group B may have higher IQ scores than some individuals in Group A.

Question 8

Which statement is true regarding group differences in IQ scores?

Accepted Answer

Many studies have shown that variation within ethnic groups (e.g. Asian Americans, African Americans) in terms of IQ scores is much greater than the variation between them. This highlights the importance of individual differences within groups rather than relying on stereotypes or generalizations based on ethnicity.

Question 9

Deanna and Errol are nonidentical twins separated at birth and brought up in different households.Their IQ scores are most likely ____.

Accepted Answer

Nonidentical twins, like any siblings, share some genetic material, but not as much as identical twins. Their IQ scores are likely to reflect this genetic sharing, similar to any siblings reared apart, where both genetics and different environmental factors play roles.

Question 10

Dr.Allman is an academic advisor at a major university.Right now,she is meeting Sori,an Asian American student.Dr.Allman knows the mean score of Asian Americans on IQ tests is rather high.According to the text,what can Dr.Allman reasonably conclude about Sori?

Accepted Answer

Just because Sori is an Asian American, it cannot be concluded that she will excel in her classes, get promoted more quickly or choose a specific major. Stereotyping based on race or ethnicity is not appropriate or accurate. Dr. Allman should evaluate Sori based on her individual abilities and strengths.

Question 11

Zeke and Zach are identical twins raised in the same house.Peter and Paul are identical twins raised apart.Tim and Tom are non-twin brothers who are raised together.Laverne and Shirley are nonidentical twins raised together.Which pair is most likely to have the least similar IQ scores?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Zeke and Zach are identical twins raised...

Question 12

Group differences in IQ scores can be attributed to non-genetic factors.Which environmental influence is least significant with regard to IQ differences?

Accepted Answer

Geographic location is the least significant environmental influence on IQ differences. While different regions may have varying access to resources and educational opportunities, these differences are typically accounted for in measures of socioeconomic status. Additionally, geographic location does not have a direct impact on parenting styles or the extent of parents' educational backgrounds, which have been shown to significantly impact IQ scores.

Question 13

Based on research studies of college students,what percentage of the students taking this exam could be expected to be suffering from some test anxiety?

Accepted Answer

Research studies of college students have consistently found that approximately 40% of students experience some level of test anxiety, making it the most common form of anxiety among college students. Therefore, the best choice is C, which represents 40% of the students taking the exam. Choices A, B, and D are too low or too high based on research data.

Question 14

Morgan was adopted as a newborn and has always lived with his adoptive family.Now,at age twenty,he discovers that he has an identical twin brother.According to research,Morgan's IQ score will be most similar to his ____.

Accepted Answer

Research on twins, especially identical twins, has consistently shown that genetics play a significant role in determining IQ. Identical twins, sharing 100% of their genes, tend to have very similar IQ scores, even when raised apart. This similarity is typically greater than the similarity between adoptive family members and the adopted individual, as the latter relationship does not share a genetic basis for IQ.

Question 15

Vlade is experiencing test anxiety during his psychology exam.His symptoms are least likely to include ____.

Accepted Answer

Unconsciousness is not a symptom commonly associated with test anxiety. The other symptoms listed, such as heart palpitations, sweating, and negative thoughts, are all commonly reported by individuals experiencing test anxiety.

Question 16

You are baffled about how to untangle the influence of heredity and environment on intelligence.According to your text,you should ____.

Accepted Answer

To untangle the influence of heredity and environment on intelligence, measuring and comparing the IQs of identical twins, fraternal twins, and siblings reared either together or separately can help isolate the effect of genetics from environmental factors. This helps to understand which factors contribute to intelligence. A longitudinal study may not be practical, while calculating the IQ of parents and offspring may not show the influence of the environment accurately. Mapping the genes responsible for intelligence is still a topic under research, and their influence may not provide a complete picture of the environmental factors that affect intelligence. Therefore, C is the best choice for untangling the influence of heredity and environment on intelligence.

Question 17

Which example lends the strongest support to an environmental explanation of intelligence?

Accepted Answer

The fact that children with intellectual disabilities who are moved from institutions into adoptive homes have an average gain of 30 IQ points strongly supports an environmental explanation of intelligence. This suggests that improving the quality of the environment can have a significant impact on intelligence.

Question 18

David wants to look at genetic influences on IQ,so he administers a battery of tests to Frank and Fred,who are fraternal twins; Sidney and Sheldon,who are identical twins; and Larry and Harry,who are non-twin brothers.David's supervisor asks him to make estimate which set of siblings will most likely have the most similar IQs.What is David's best guess likely to be?

Accepted Answer

Since Sidney and Sheldon are identical twins, they share nearly 100% of their genes, while Frank and Fred are only fraternal twins and share about 50% of their genes. Larry and Harry are non-twin siblings and share roughly 50% of their genes as well. Therefore, if genetics play a significant role in IQ, Sidney and Sheldon will have the most similar IQs compared to the other pairs.

Question 19

In a study,math-proficient women are randomly divided into two groups.The first group is told that men usually do better on the type of math test the women are about to take.The second group is not told anything.Which outcome would you expect?

Accepted Answer

The second group likely performed better because they were not subjected to stereotype threat, which can impair performance by making individuals anxious about confirming negative stereotypes about their group.

Question 20

Amber and Lisa are identical twins.They were separated at birth and raised to adulthood in completely different families without contact with one another.Greg and James are fraternal twins separated at birth and raised to adulthood in completely different families without contact with one another.Based only on this information,you would expect the difference in adult IQ scores between Lisa and Amber to be ____the difference between Greg and James.

Accepted Answer

The difference between Lisa and Amber's IQ scores is likely to be less than the difference between Greg and James' scores because Lisa and Amber are identical twins, meaning they have identical DNA. Therefore, any differences in their IQ scores would likely be due to environmental factors, such as their upbringing. On the other hand, Greg and James are fraternal twins and share only about 50% of their DNA, so differences in their IQ scores could be due to both genetic and environmental factors.

Quiz 8: Intelligence