Download Chapter 2 - AdvancedEdPsychology

Chapter 2
Sensory, Short-term, and Working Memory
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The basic information processing model (the modal model) portrays the
human cognitive system as being much like a
a. network
b. robotic arm
c. template
d. computer (Page 14)
2. In the information processing model, contact with the outside world comes
through our
a. sense receptors (Page 14)
b. sensory registers
c. working memory
d. long-term memory
3. Which of the following models have guided the rapid development of cognitive
theory and research in recent years?
a. recall recognition
b. sense receptor
c. information processing (page 19, 20)
d. general intelligence
4. Sensory registers are
a. perceptual stimuli
b. instantaneous environmental changes
c. “holding systems” that briefly maintain representations of stimuli (Page 19)
d. cash registers that operate by touch
5. An example of the operation of a sensory register is
a. remembering an instruction given verbally (Page 19, 20)
b. referring to the phone book for a number
c. paying for a pizza with a check
d. ordering a pizza by phone
6. The component of the information processing model in which old and new
experiences interact is called (the)
a. sensory registers
b. sense receptors
c. working memory
d. long-term memory
7. Modern cognitive views of teaching are most likely to stress
a. memorizing through repetition
b. fact learning
c. active information processing (page 4)
d. one of the sense receptors
8. Skilled reading, driving a car, and typing can be best thought of as
a. automatic cognitive processes with no behavioral aspects
b. operations of the sensory receptors and registers
c. activities involving many automatic cognitive processes (Page 16)
d. situations in which meaningfulness is not critical
9. Automaticity occurs when information is
a. processed unconsciously
b. processed with very little effort (Page 16, 23)
c. not processed at all
d. processed only in sensory memory
10. Short term memory in humans corresponds to
a. the data base stored in a computer’s hard drive
b. what we see on the computer screen
c. the way a computer electronically codes information input from the keyboard
d. software programs that accomplish special tasks such as statistical analyses
11. Which of the following is NOT true of automatic processes? Automatic
processes
a. do not consume many conscious cognitive resources
b. occur in parallel with non-automated processes
c. are completely controllable (Page 16, 23)
d. are largely a function of practice
12. Selective attention and automaticity are similar in that
a. both are unconscious processes
b. both are independent of conscious cognitive processes
c. both are more typical of good learners than poor learners (Page 16, 23)
d. all of the above
13. The primary determinant of automaticity is
a. the material
b. the other tasks required of practice
c. the amount and kind of practice
d. memory capacity
14. Studies of dichotic listening have shown that
a. nonshadowed material is processed for some meaning ????
b. shadowed material is not processed for any meaning
c. nonshadowed material is not processed for any meaning
d. all of the above
15. Perception refers to
a. exchanging symbols for perceptions
b. exchanging perceptions for symbols
c. giving meaning to discrete sensory stimuli (Page 17)
d. giving meaning to mental imagery
16. Perception depends on
a. information in long term memory
b. incoming stimuli
c. decisions in working memory
d. all of the above (Page 17)
19. Switching occurs when
a. a learner shifts all of her attention from one stimuli to another ????
rb. a learner allocates some of her attention to one stimuli, and some to another
c. two different types of information are processed simultaneously
d. information is processed in the left hemisphere first, then the right hemisphere
18. Parallel processing occurs when
a. a learner shifts all of her attention from one stimuli to another
b. a learner activates an existing slot in long term memory
c. two different types of information are processed simultaneously (Page 25, 26)
d. only one type of information is processed at any given time
19. Which of the following is NOT a principle of Gestalt psychology?
a. figure-ground
b. closure
c. automaticity ?????
d. proximity
20. The fact that prior knowledge in long term memory dramatically affects initial
perceptual processes supports the idea that the cognitive system is
a. bottom up
b. top down (Page 15)
c. interactive
d. all of the above
21. The results of Sperling’s classic 1960 study suggests that
a. everything we perceive is processed for meaning
b. information not actively processed in visual sensory memory decays in .3 to .5
seconds (Page 32)
c. all sensory channels are processed in parallel
d. all of the above
22. Selective use of attentional resources is something that occurs in
a. sensory memory
b. short term memory
c. long term memory
d. all memory systems ?????
23. Imagine you are trying to listen to the news as you drive in rush hour traffic.
Which of the following is LEAST likely to occur during resource-limited
processing?
a. selective attention
b. automaticity
c. switching
d. full parallel processing ??????
24. Visual sensory memory is assumed to hold
a. seven pieces of information for less than one second (Page 25)
b. hundreds of pieces of information for less than one second
c. seven pieces of information for up to one minute
d. hundreds of pieces of information for up to one minute
25. Which of the following is the most data-driven activity?
a. looking up an unknown word in the dictionary (Page 22)
b. summarizing a paragraph
c. guessing what an unknown word means based on prior knowledge
d. monitoring one’s comprehension
26. Which statement is true about human memory systems?
a. the systems are functionally separate (Page 32, 22)
b. the human memory system differs from person to person
c. rehearsal does not help memory
d. there is only one type of memory
27. In working memory, the central executive
a. stores verbal information
b. stores visual information
c. regulates the flow of information ?????
d. stores newly acquired knowledge
28. Cognitive load theory assumes which of the following statements are true?
a. cognitive load mostly affects long term memory
b. cognitive load is the same for all learning tasks
c. cognitive load mostly affects working memory (Page 28)
d. none of the above
29. Cognitive neuroscience is the study of
a. the mind
b. the brain
c. how the body and brain work together
d. how the brain and mind work together (Page 30)
30. Which of the following provides an example of a modularized skill?
a. using general strategies in history and science classes
b. having outstanding musical talent at a very early age (Page 32)
c. being motivated to learn in school
d. metacognition
Short Answer Questions Choose two to answer.
1. Describe the main difference between short-term memory and working
memory.
2. One of the core assumptions of cognitive psychology is that meaning is
constructed. What is meant by “construction of meaning?”
3. Explain why the partial report technique developed by George Sperling was an
important breakthrough in sensory memory research.
4. Describe what is meant by the "information processing bottleneck" and what
can be done to eliminate it.
5. What is selective attention and why is it important?
6. Describe why individual students sometimes engage in data-driven processing
and sometimes engages in conceptually-driven processing.
7. Why is "selective attention" such an important part of learning? Provide two
examples of how you selectively attend in the classroom or when studying.
1. Describe the main difference between short-term memory and working
memory.
Short term memory refers to the place where information is processed for
meaning and working memory is where the meaning is made. Short term memory is
limited to capacity and duration. Short term memory is limited to seven or so chunks of
information. Information is also forgotten rapidly if new information is presented right
away. Evidence suggests that not being able to remember is a result of interference and
capacity overload, so I shouldn’t try to learn too much in a short period of time. Test of
working memory are good predictors of learning and are correlated with academic
achievement and intelligence test scores according to the author (pg 27). Working
memory includes a central executive, articulatory loop, and visual-spatial sketch pad
which is why prior knowledge is also important to memory.
7. Why is "selective attention" such an important part of learning? Provide two
examples of how you selectively attend in the classroom or when studying.
The ability to perform mental work is limited because of the energy it takes to
perceive, think, and understand. Selective attention is the process by which we assign all
our limited resources to the most important information before us. There are limits to the
amount of information that can be perceived at any one time. As a teacher I should limit
the amount of information presented to students and study without a lot of distractions,
like the TV on. Concentration should improve greatly if there are fewer distractions.