Question 1

One of the most important barriers to problem-solving and involves the tendency to get "hung up" on wrong solutions or become blind to alternatives is called
A) inhibition.
B) fixation.
C) conditional thinking.
D) incubation.

Accepted Answer

Fixation refers to the tendency to become fixated on a particular mindset or approach to a problem, leading to an inability to see alternative solutions. This can hinder effective problem-solving and prevent individuals from finding the best solutions to problems. Inhibition refers to a more general inability to take action or respond in situations that require new or creative thinking. Conditional thinking and incubation are related concepts but are not directly related to this particular barrier to problem-solving.

Question 2

Nikki is in the second grade and is given the following problem to solve: John has 15 apples,Amy has 10 apples,and Chris has 5 apples.How many apples do John and Chris have altogether? Nikki adds the apples for all three people,using the irrelevant information about Amy's number of apples.Thus,according to Davidson,Nikki is displaying a lack of
A) selective attention.
B) selective comparison.
C) selective encoding.
D) selective combination.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Nikki is in the second grade and...

Question 3

While reading a book about Sigmund Freud,you come upon the term psychosomatic.You cannot quite figure out the meaning of the word from the context in which it is used,and so you bring to mind your rudimentary knowledge of the parts of the word.You know that psycho has to do with the mind or with thinking,and you also know that somatic has to do with the body.Looking back at the book,you come to the conclusion that psychosomatic has to do with the mind's influence on one's physical state.You have just relied on
A) selective attention.
B) selective encoding.
C) selective comparison.
D) selective search strategies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of While reading a book about Sigmund Freud,you...

Question 4

You are trying to determine which of two terms is related to identical twins.You see "monozygotic" and "dizygotic." You remember that a zygote is formed from one egg and one sperm and that "mono" means one and "di" means two.Identical twins would have to result from the same egg and the same sperm,thus one zygote.Using old information to derive the meaning of "monozygotic" and "dizygotic" illustrates the use of
A) selective comparison.
B) selective attention.
C) selective combination.
D) selective encoding.

Accepted Answer

Selective comparison is the process of comparing and contrasting information in order to derive meaning and understand new concepts. In this case, the individual is using their understanding of the terms "mono" and "di" and their knowledge of zygotes to determine the meanings of "monozygotic" and "dizygotic" and ultimately identify which term relates to identical twins.

Question 5

According to Psychologist Janet Davidson,a person who is able to evaluate new problems by contrasting them with old information or with problems already solved is good at
A) selective attention.
B) selective encoding.
C) selective combination.
D) selective comparison.

Accepted Answer

The ability to evaluate new problems by contrasting them with old information or with problems already solved is a skill of selective comparison. Therefore, the best choice is option D.

Question 6

Unnecessary restrictions to thinking tend to result in
A) fixation.
B) selective comparison.
C) disjunctive concepts.
D) connotative meanings.

Accepted Answer

Unnecessary restrictions limit the ability to generate new ideas and lead to fixation on a particular approach or solution.

Question 7

When a person uses fables and stories from their particular culture to solve new problems,such as using the Hansel and Gretel story to solve the problem of not getting lost in a cave,the person is using
A) selective intuition.
B) selective comparison.
C) selective combination.
D) selective encoding.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a person uses fables and stories...

Question 8

The problem-solving ability known as "selective comparison" involves comparing new problems with
A) old information or with problems already solved.
B) novel possibilities for uses of objects used in problem-solving.
C) mental images of projected solutions.
D) seemingly unrelated bits of information.

Accepted Answer

Selective comparison involves using past experiences and knowledge to compare and contrast new problems in order to find similarities and differences that can aid in problem-solving.

Question 9

Selective combination is the
A) ability to evaluate new problems by associating them with old information or with problems already solved.
B) ability to choose information that is relevant to a problem while ignoring distractions.
C) ability to bring together seemingly unrelated bits of useful information.
D) tendency to get "hung up" on wrong solutions or to become blind to alternatives.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Selective combination is the
A) ability to evaluate...

Question 10

Mae was asked to solve the following problem: Pretend that you are a bus driver.You begin the day with an empty bus.At your first stop,you let on 10 passengers.At your second stop,4 people get off the bus,and 12 people get on.At your third stop,8 people get off the bus,and 2 people get on.At your fourth stop,nobody gets off the bus,and 1 person gets on.How old is the bus driver? According to Davidson,if Mae just adds the numbers without focusing on the relevant part of this problem,he or she is showing a lack of
A) selective attention.
B) selective encoding.
C) selective comparison.
D) selective combination.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mae was asked to solve the following...

Question 11

You want exactly nine gallons of water,but you have only a seven-gallon bucket and a five-gallon bucket.Although you,at first,do not see how these two buckets can help,you realize that you can use them in the following way: fill the seven-gallon bucket,then pour it in the five-gallon bucket,leaving two gallons in the seven-gallon bucket.Pour out the five-gallon,pour the two gallons of water in the five-gallon and refill the seven-gallon bucket and you have a total of nine gallons of water.To solve this problem,you had to use
A) selective comparison.
B) selective attention.
C) selective encoding.
D) selective combination.

Accepted Answer

Selective combination involves combining information in a novel way to solve a problem, which is what was done to achieve the nine gallons of water.

Question 12

Using a Chinese fable about how villagers were able to weigh an elephant,a student was able to solve a problem regarding how much gold would match a statue's weight without using a balance scale.The student is using
A) selective intuition.
B) selective comparison.
C) selective combination.
D) selective encoding.

Accepted Answer

The student is using selective comparison by drawing an analogy between the fable and the problem, applying a similar method to solve it.

Question 13

The textbook problem of how many socks to take out of a drawer to get a matched pair when the drawer contains a four to five mixture of white and black socks requires the reader to realize that the four to five mixture is irrelevant information and that the only relevant information is that there are two colors of socks.Getting the correct answer of three socks requires the reader to first use which of Davidson's insight abilities?
A) selective combination
B) selective attention
C) selective comparison
D) selective encoding

Accepted Answer

Selective encoding is the ability to focus on relevant information while ignoring irrelevant information. In this problem, recognizing that the specific mixture of white and black socks is irrelevant and that the only important detail is the existence of two colors requires selective encoding.

Question 14

According to Psychologist Janet Davidson,a person who is able to bring together seemingly unrelated bits of information to solve a problem is good at
A) selective attention.
B) selective encoding.
C) selective combination.
D) selective comparison.

Accepted Answer

The ability to bring together seemingly unrelated bits of information to solve a problem is a skill known as selective combination. Option A, selective attention, refers to the ability to selectively focus on certain stimuli while ignoring others. Option B, selective encoding, refers to the process of selectively storing certain information in memory while discarding others. Option D, selective comparison, does not accurately describe the ability to bring together unrelated bits of information to solve a problem.

Question 15

More American college students than Chinese students were able to solve the cave problem by recalling the "Hansel and Gretel story," while more Chinese students than American students solved the statue's weight problem by recalling the "weighing of the elephant" fable.These differing percentages illustrate all of the following EXCEPT that
A) every culture prepares its members to solve some types of problems more easily than others.
B) both groups of students exhibited functional fixedness regarding the stories they had heard in childhood.
C) the culture we grow up in affects our ability to use selective comparison to solve problems.
D) being exposed to a similar problem in the past helps the students' problem solving.

Accepted Answer

The differing percentages illustrate that cultural background can influence problem-solving strategies and the use of selective comparison. It does not necessarily suggest that both groups exhibited functional fixedness regarding the stories they had heard in childhood.

Question 16

Which of the following could enhance your selective comparison ability and aid you in becoming a more flexible and resourceful thinker?
A) increasing one's ability to utilize functional fixedness
B) increasing one's use of algorithms
C) increasing one's knowledge about other cultures
D) all of these

Accepted Answer

Increasing one's knowledge about other cultures can broaden the range of options and perspectives, which can aid in selective comparison and promoting flexible and resourceful thinking. Functional fixedness limits the ability to consider alternative uses for an object, and algorithms involve a fixed set of steps and do not promote flexibility.

Question 17

You want to boil an egg for 15 minutes,and all you have is a 7-minute hourglass and an 11-minute hourglass.Using these two hourglasses in your solution requires you to use
A) selective combination.
B) selective attention.
C) selective encoding.
D) selective comparison.

Accepted Answer

Using both hourglasses in a selective combination allows for the measurement of a 15-minute interval by flipping both hourglasses simultaneously twice. By flipping the 7-minute hourglass twice, 14 minutes are measured, and then, while the 11-minute hourglass is still running its final minute, the 7-minute hourglass is flipped for a third time, allowing for the full 15-minute interval to be measured. This requires a selective combination of two different hourglasses to achieve the desired outcome.

Question 18

Selective comparison is the
A) ability to evaluate new problems by associating them with old information or with problems already solved.
B) ability to select information that is relevant to a problem while ignoring distractions.
C) ability to bring together seemingly unrelated bits of useful information.
D) tendency to get "hung up" on wrong solutions or to become blind to alternatives.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Selective comparison is the
A) ability to evaluate...

Question 19

You are given the problem of building a structure that can support an overcoat in the middle of a room and are given only two long sticks and a clamp to work with.You are more likely to solve this problem if you first thought of how pole lamps are wedged between floor and ceiling.Using your previous knowledge of pole lamps to solve the coat rack problem is an example of
A) selective comparison.
B) selective attention.
C) selective combination.
D) selective encoding.

Accepted Answer

Selective comparison involves using previous knowledge or experiences to solve a new problem. In this case, the individual is using their knowledge of how pole lamps are supported to come up with a solution for supporting the coat in the middle of the room.

Question 20

You are locked in a windowless room with only a candle,a quarter,and a slab of processed cheese food.If you are able to use all of these items successfully to escape from the room,you would most likely have used
A) selective attention.
B) selective inhibition.
C) selective encoding.
D) selective combination.

Accepted Answer

In order to successfully escape from the room using the limited resources available, one would need to selectively combine and use the candle, quarter, and processed cheese food in a creative and strategic way. This involves selecting and combining the resources in a way that allows for a successful escape. Therefore, the best answer is selective combination.

Quiz 8: B: Cognition,language,and Creativity

One of the most important barriers to problem-solving and involves the tendency to get "hung up" on wrong solutions or become blind to alternatives is called

According to Psychologist Janet Davidson,a person who is able to evaluate new problems by contrasting them with old information or with problems already solved is good at

Unnecessary restrictions to thinking tend to result in

When a person uses fables and stories from their particular culture to solve new problems,such as using the Hansel and Gretel story to solve the problem of not getting lost in a cave,the person is using

The problem-solving ability known as "selective comparison" involves comparing new problems with

Selective combination is the

Using a Chinese fable about how villagers were able to weigh an elephant,a student was able to solve a problem regarding how much gold would match a statue's weight without using a balance scale.The student is using

According to Psychologist Janet Davidson,a person who is able to bring together seemingly unrelated bits of information to solve a problem is good at

Which of the following could enhance your selective comparison ability and aid you in becoming a more flexible and resourceful thinker?

You want to boil an egg for 15 minutes,and all you have is a 7-minute hourglass and an 11-minute hourglass.Using these two hourglasses in your solution requires you to use

Selective comparison is the

You are locked in a windowless room with only a candle,a quarter,and a slab of processed cheese food.If you are able to use all of these items successfully to escape from the room,you would most likely have used