Chapter 08: Memory and Information Processing
1. An information-processing theorist would most likely refer to _____ as being part of the mind’s fisoftware.”
a.
the brain
b.
sensory receptors
c.
neural connections
d.
mental problem-solving strategies
2. The information-processing approach stresses all of the following basic mental processes EXCEPT
a.
decision-making.
b.
habituation.
c.
perception.
d.
attention.
3. In the information-processing model, the purpose of the sensory register is to
a.
b.
c.
d.
4. Shirley is introduced to her friend’s mother. While Shirley heard the woman’s name, she had no idea what the woman’s
name was immediately after it was spoken. It is most accurate to say that the woman’s name
a.
never made it past Shirley’s sensory register.
b.
is trapped in Shirley’s short-term memory.
c.
is lost in Shirley’s long-term memory.
d.
could be cued for recall later on if Shirley would relax a bit.
5. Ethel looks up the phone number of a gas station and remembers it just long enough to walk over to the telephone and
dial. When she is dialing, the information is contained in her
a.
sensory register.
b.
short-term memory.
c.
long-term memory.
d.
metamemory.
6. The main distinction between short-term memory and working memory is that working memory is
a.
larger.
b.
unconscious.
c.
actively processed.
d.
sensory based.
7. As you read this exam question, what would best represent information in your long-term memory?
a.
The light waves as they excite the cells in your visual system
b.
The words from the question as you read them
c.
The words from the possible answers as you repeat them in your head
d.
The information you access from last night’s study session
8. At one time in his life, Edward could name every province in Canada. Somehow this information has disappeared from
where it was being held. Information-processing theorists would most likely argue that this is a failure of the _____
system.
a.
elaboration
b.
storage
c.
metamemory
d.
encoding
9. Which statement would best represent a failure of retrieval?
a.
I never actually learned that information.
b.
I don’t know the answer because I never read the textbook.
c.
I know the answer, but I just cannot find it in my mind.
d.
I would know the answer, but the teacher spoke and I couldn’t keep up.
10. On a recognition task, a person
a.
is presented with a list of alternatives that includes the correct answer.
b.
is not presented with the correct answer but is given a hint.
c.
is neither presented with the correct answer nor given a hint.
d.
must generate the answer completely on his or her own.
11. Professor Valdez gives the students in her class a multiple-choice test on constitutional law. This method of
assessment requires students to use _____ memory.
a.
recall
b.
cued-recall
c.
repressed
d.
recognition
12. A game show host asks a contestant, fiIn miles, how far is the Earth from the sun?” The clock begins to tick down as
the audience awaits an answer. This task is best classified as an assessment of _____ memory.
a.
recognition
b.
metamemory
c.
recall
d.
cued-recall
13. Most people find that test questions requiring _____ memory are easier to answer than those requiring _____ memory.
a.
recall; recognition
b.
cued-recall; recognition
c.
recognition; recall
d.
recall; cued-recall
14. Who would perform better on a recall task than a recognition task?
a.
Heather, who is 17
b.
Aaron, who is 36
c.
Beatriz, who is 68
d.
None of the above
15. A memory that occurs without any conscious effort is best referred to as
a.
explicit
b.
implicit.
c.
scripted.
d.
autobiographical.
16. An explicit memory
a.
always has an emotional component.
b.
is deliberately recalled.
c.
occurs only after a hint has been given.
d.
involves recalling behaviors but not ideas.
17. Colette is participating in a research study. In the first phase of the study, she is shown a list of 20 French words. She
is then asked to count backwards from 50 to 1 by threes. Colette is then asked to write down all of the French words she
can remember. She has taken part in a study of _____ memory.
a.
explicit
b.
implicit
c.
cued-recall
d.
recognition
18. Which is the best example of a semantic memory?
a.
Knowing that Ringo Starr’s real name is Richard Starkey
b.
Remembering the time you saw the Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan show
c.
Recalling how to play the song fiA Hard Day’s Night” on the guitar
d.
Knowing that the Beatles were a band
19. _____ memories always involve personal experiences.
a.
Procedural
b.
Episodic
c.
Implicit
d.
Cued-recall
20. Which is the best example of an episodic memory?
a.
Remembering how to light a candle
b.
Recalling the words to the song fiHappy Birthday”
c.
Recalling your 21st birthday party
d.
Naming four kinds of ice cream
21. The fact that some forms of amnesia destroy explicit memory but not implicit memory indicates that
a.
these forms of memory operate independently.
b.
implicit memory is learned and explicit is innate.
c.
explicit memory develops earlier than implicit memory.
d.
long-term memory lacks organization.
22. Carlos has experienced significant damage to his hippocampus. How would this most likely impact his memory?
a.
He would not be able to recall events from his childhood.
b.
He would have trouble creating new episodic memories.
c.
He would not be able to recall who he is.
d.
He could recall past events but not past factual information.
23. Which statement concerning memory is true?
a.
Explicit memory increases in capacity from infancy through adulthood then declines, while implicit memory
capacity peaks in childhood then declines.
b.
Explicit memory increases in capacity from infancy through adulthood then declines, while implicit memory
capacity is constant across the lifespan.
c.
Implicit memory increases in capacity from infancy through adulthood then declines, while explicit memory
capacity peaks in childhood then declines.
d.
Implicit memory increases in capacity from infancy through adulthood then declines, while explicit memory
capacity is constant across the lifespan.
24. The main purpose of the executive control processor is to
a.
store information in long-term memory.
b.
collect sensory input from the environment.
c.
suppress memories that are too painful.
d.
plan and monitor problem-solving.
25. Allison is attempting to recall the code number that she uses to unlock her high school locker. As she tries different
combinations, a part of her consciously keeps track of the combinations of numbers she has already tried. Information-
processing theorists would refer to this aspect of Allison’s cognitive system as her
a.
fuzzy-trace.
b.
sensory register.
c.
executive control process.
d.
implicit memory.
26. Cognitive psychologists believe that humans are capable of engaging in fiparallel processing.” This means that humans
can
a.
carry out several mental activities at the same time.
b.
think about complex issues, like religion.
c.
pay selective attention to an event.
d.
encode information into long-term memory.
27. Six-month-old Trent saw his dad blink three times when he held a baby bottle. An hour after this occurred, Trent sees
a baby bottle and blinks three times. This action would best be described as _____ imitation.
a.
deferred
b.
implicit
c.
serial
d.
decentered
28. Six-month-old Lacey has been happily listening to her mother Wanda singing for the past 20 minutes. How would
Lacey demonstrate habituation?
a.
She would eventually become disinterested in her mom’s singing.
b.
She would attempt to imitate the noise her mother is making.
c.
She would become more excited by her mom’s singing.
d.
She would store the scene in her autobiographic memory.
29. Which pair best describes the memory abilities of a human infant?
a.
Cue-dependent and context-independent
b.
Cue-dependent and context-specific
c.
Cue-independent and context-independent
d.
Cue-independent and context-specific
30. While attempting to find his lost toy bear, 10-month-old Teddy pulls away a couch cushion and finds the bear he
watched his mother hide there 10 minutes earlier. This best demonstrates the use of _____ memory.
a.
recognition
b.
recall
c.
implicit
d.
sensory register
31. Infants appear to remember best when they experience an event
a.
once and are provided with no recall cues.
b.
once and are provided with recall cues.
c.
repeatedly and are provided with no recall cues.
d.
repeatedly and are provided with recall cues.
32. Your text discusses four major reasons to explain the improved memory and learning abilities in the developing child.
Which item below is NOT one of these reasons?
a.
Increased knowledge about how memory works
b.
An increase in general knowledge about the world
c.
A doubling in the size of the brain’s working memory
d.
Better fisoftware” for effective information retrieval
33. Older children can learn faster and remember more than younger children because older children typically show a
significant increase in
a.
the size of their sensory register.
b.
selective compensatory strategies.
c.
capacity of long-term memory.
d.
short term memory capacity.
34. What seems to underlie the significant increase in processing speed seen during childhood?
a.
Enhanced use of preservation
b.
Vastly improved sensory systems
c.
A greater reliance on implicit memory
d.
Brain maturation
35. Case suggested more advanced stages of cognitive development are made possible because children make better use
of the available space in their _____ memory.
a.
sensory
b.
working
c.
long-term
d.
implicit
36. The tendency to keep making the same mistake over and over is referred to as making a(n) _____ error.
a.
perseveration
b.
mediation
c.
utilization
d.
organization
37. Which statement best exemplifies a fiperseveration error”?
a.
I have never tried this before, so what the heck.
b.
Trial and error is the way to go.
c.
It worked in the past so I will keep doing it.
d.
I saw someone do this before and I want to try it.
38. Tomas and Val are shopping for groceries. Tomas looks at the list and tells Val, “I’ll get the cat food, soap, toilet
paper, and flour, and meet you by the lettuce.” Tomas takes off, muttering to himself over and over: “Cat food, soap, toilet
paper, flour.” This best illustrates the use of which memory strategy?
a.
Chunking
b.
Elaboration
c.
Organization
d.
Rehearsal
39. Which memory strategy is being used when a long number is memorized by breaking it into manageable subunits each
containing three digits?
a.
Chunking
b.
Mediation
c.
Implicit memory
d.
Rehearsal
40. Sarah is presented with the following list of items to memorize: bagel, carrot, ham, corn, hot dog, donut, bread,
chicken, peas. Her immediate reaction is to think of the items in the following way: (bagel, donut, bread); (carrot, corn,
peas); (ham, hotdog, chicken). This reaction would indicate that Sarah is using the strategy of
a.
rehearsal.
b.
elaboration.
c.
organization.
d.
compensation.
41. The best example of elaboration is
a.
repeating fired, chair, dog” several times.
b.
noting fired” and figreen” as colors and fichair” and fitable” as furniture .
c.
noting that the red chair and the green piano remind you of Christmas.
d.
seeing the color red but perceiving the color green.
42. Wayne has trouble remembering the last four digits of his new phone number (4422) until he makes the connection
that the last two digits are exactly half of the first two digits. Once he makes this connection, he has no trouble
remembering the number! This best demonstrates the memory concept of
a.
chunking
b.
elaboration
c.
organization
d.
rehearsal
43. Samuel teaches his son to serve a tennis ball so the opponent cannot return it. However, his son Jacob appears to not
benefit from the advice or understand what is going on. Jacob is best classified as exhibiting a(n)
a.
mediation deficiency.
b.
utilization deficiency.
c.
production deficiency.
d.
A-B error.
44. While trying to solve a math problem, Victor is able to come up with a strategy that might work. Unfortunately,
Victor’s math performance does not improve by using the strategy. This situation best exemplifies
a.
autobiographical memory.
b.
cued recall.
c.
the method of loci.
d.
utilization deficiency.
45. Lamont has just returned from a trip to Australia. His friend asks, fiWhat was the best food you ate on your trip?”
Lamont responds, fiNothing immediately comes to mind. Perhaps if I think back about where I stayed each night I’ll be
able to remember a great meal.” Lamont appears to be attempting to use _____ to improve recall.
a.
a retrieval strategy
b.
sensory register
c.
metamemory
d.
implicit memory
46. Which is NOT an example of metamemory?
a.
Knowing the difference between metaphysics and meta-analysis
b.
Knowing which memory strategies are most effective for you
c.
Knowing which memorization tasks are most difficult for you
d.
Being able to plan and control your memory processes as you learn
47. Jack knows that he can more easily memorize and recall a list of 10 familiar words than he can 10 unfamiliar words.
This knowledge provides an excellent example of
a.
short-term memory.
b.
chunking.
c.
recall memory.
d.
metamemory.
48. Which is the best example of an autobiographical memory?
a.
Recalling that the War of 1812 was fought between the United States and the United Kingdom
b.
Recalling the heated argument between you and your mom that broke out at your wedding
c.
Thinking about the hot ham sandwich that you are going to have for lunch
d.
Understanding that numbers are easier to recall when they are chunked into groups
49. Childhood amnesia is defined as the inability to access _____ memories.
a.
all traumatic
b.
insignificant
c.
autobiographical
d.
meta-
50. The key to the fifuzzy trace” theory of childhood amnesia is the belief that _____ is/are stored separately in memory.
a.
visual and auditory information
b.
emotional and behavioral memories
c.
verbatim and general accounts of events
d.
tactile and spatial events
51. Ben is trying to explain why his four-year-old son, Henry, cannot recall what happened at a concert they attended two
years ago. Ben says, fiHenry kind of recalls being at some event with a lot of people and singing, but he has no
recollection for any details of the concert.” Ben’s description best matches the _____ theory of childhood amnesia.
a.
fuzzy-trace
b.
working memory capacity
c.
surfactant
d.
constraint-seeking
52. Four-year-old Javier goes to the circus and sees animals that he has never seen before. When asked about the event a
year later, Javier is most likely to recall
a.
a verbatim account of the event.
b.
the overall experience of the event.
c.
only the emotional parts of the event.
d.
nothing about having gone to a circus.
53. Eight-year-old Haley has a script for a visit to the doctor’s office. Which is the most likely example of her doctor’s
office script?
a.
Enter clinic, tell mom she feels better, sit in waiting room, see doctor, cry
b.
Realizing that doctors earn money so that they can buy things
c.
Envisioning herself performing brain surgery on a patient
d.
Remembering that her favorite television show is also about doctors
54. Robert Siegler investigated the type of information that a child takes in during a problem-solving task and also what
strategies he or she formulates when attempting to solve the problem. Siegler called his model the _____ approach.