11. ____ claims that a culture includes a number of social communities, and each one
distinctively shapes the perceptions, identities, and opportunities of its members.
a. Social exchange theory
b. Uncertainty reduction theory
c. Constructivism
d. Attribution theory
e. Standpoint theory
12. ____ claims that we organize and interpret experience by applying cognitive schemata.
a. Social exchange theory
b. Uncertainty reduction theory
c. Constructivism
d. Attribution theory
e. Standpoint theory
13. The dimension of interpersonal attributions that explains actions as resulting from a global
pattern or a specific instance is known as
a. locus.
b. stability.
c. scope.
d. responsibility.
e. None of these answers are correct.
14. The dimension of interpersonal attributions that explains that behaviors come from factors
people can control or from those they cannot control is known as
a. locus.
b. stability.
c. scope.
d. responsibility.
e. None of these answers are correct.
15. If we wish to enhance our competence and avoid the problems of abstraction, we should
a. recognize that all perceptions are subjective.
b. avoid mind reading.
c. check our perception with others.
d. distinguish between facts and inferences.
e. All of these answers are correct.
16. Jill is nervous about her biology test and says to her roommate, “This is stupid! I‘m stupid!
I’m going to fail.” When Jill gets her test back a week later, she learns that she did, in fact,
fail the test. Jill engaged in
a. mind reading.
b. self-fulfilling prophecy.
c. an attribution.
d. using a prototype.
e. using a stereotype.
17. What is the term used for the ability to perceive another person as a unique and distinct
individual based on our knowledge of them?
a. personal construct
b. prototype
c. person-centered perception
d. constructive bias
True-False Items
18. Our choices of social media shape our perceptions of events, issues, and people.
a. True
b. False
19. A prototype is a knowledge structure that defines the best or most representative example of
some category.
a. True
b. False
20. Stereotypes are generalizations about groups that are always inaccurate.
a. True
b. False
21. Positioning people as intelligent or not intelligent is an example of a personal construct.
a. True
b. False
22. An inference is based solely on facts gained from observing stimuli.
a. True
b. False
23. Empathy is the ability to feel with another person.
a. True
b. False
24. Cognitive complexity refers to the number of constructs used, how abstract they are, and how
elaborately they interact to shape a person’s perception.
a. True
b. False
25. Our perceptions are not equivalent to the complex reality on which they are based because
we can never fully describe or even apprehend total reality.
a. True
b. False
26. Self-indication occurs when we point out certain things to ourselves.
a. True
b. False
27. The older we get, the more complex is our perspective on life and people.
a. True
b. False
28. Locus attributes what a person does based on internal or external factors.
a. True
b. False
29. Our cognitive schemata are entirely individualistic.
a. True
b. False
30. Stereotypes are generalizations that can be both useful and misleading.
a. True
b. False
31. Cognitively complex people are likely to ignore information that doesn’t fit neatly with their
previously formed impressions.
a. True
b. False
32. Interpretation is an objective process of explaining perceptions to assign meaning to them.
a. True
b. False
Fill-in-the-Blank Items
33. A person’s point of view as it is influenced by social circumstances is called the person’s
____________________.
34. ____________________ is the active process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting
people, objects, events, situations, and activities.
35. ____________________ refers to the number, abstractness, and elaborateness of constructs
we use to perceive phenomena.
36. Assuming we understand how another person thinks or perceives without asking that person
is ____________________.
37. The person you think of as the ideal friend, or the best example of what a friend is like, is
your ____________________ for a friend.
38. A(n) ____________________ for a first date describes how you and another person are
supposed to act on a first date.
39. Attributing your strengths and good actions to your personal integrity while attributing your
weaknesses and mistakes to external factors beyond your control is known as the
____________________.
40. ____________________ is the ability to feel with another person or to feel what she or he
feels in a given situation.
41. ____________________ consists of beliefs, understandings, practices, and ways of
interpreting experiences that are shared by a number of people.
42. The ability to perceive another as a unique and distinct individual apart from social roles and
generalizations is known as ____________________.
43. A(n) ____________________ is a phenomenon that occurs when a person acts in ways
consistent with how one has learned to perceive oneself.
44. ____________________ is a theory that suggests that we organize and interpret our world
based on the use of cognitive schemata.
Essay Items
45. Discuss the five guidelines for enhancing communication competence.
46. Discuss perception, identifying and briefly explaining the three processes involved.
47. Describe the four dimensions of attributions.
TEST ITEMS ANSWER KEY
Multiple Choice Items
1. Elijah goes into the library to find his friend Aimee who went there to study. He walks
through the library until he sees her and then sits down beside her. Later Elijah’s friend
Marvin comes over and says, “Hey, man, why did you ignore me when you walked right past
me a minute ago?” Elijah shakes his head, not knowing why he didn’t see Marvin. Elijah’s
failure to see Marvin when he was focusing on finding Aimee is an example of
2. Shelli and Lisa are talking about their favorite teachers. They each have qualities and
characteristics that they feel make the ideal teacher. What are Shelli and Lisa talking about?
3. Jason passes Greg in the residence hall lobby and says hi. Greg does not say hi back. Jason
expected Greg to say hello in return. Jason’s expectation refers to
4. Bipolar mental yardsticks that allow us to position people and situations along dimensions of
judgment are
5. All of the following are cognitive schemata we use to make sense of phenomena EXCEPT
6. The reason Letitia yelled at me is because she is a mean person. This attribution
7. Janet says, “I didn’t get a job offer because the interviewer was biased and it was a nasty day.
However, Ellen didn’t get an offer because she isn’t qualified.” This is an example of
8. Ashley grew up in a poor neighborhood with parents who struggled to pay their bills. She
was even homeless for several months as a child after her family was evicted from their
apartment. As an adult, Ashley makes enough money to live comfortably, but she has a fuller
understanding of socioeconomic class due to her experiences as a child. Ashley’s perspective
on class is an example of
9. The following are all influences on perception EXCEPT
10. Which of the following explains why it is dangerous to use social media while driving?
11. ____ claims that a culture includes a number of social communities, and each one
distinctively shapes the perceptions, identities, and opportunities of its members.
12. ____ claims that we organize and interpret experience by applying cognitive schemata.
13. The dimension of interpersonal attributions that explains actions as resulting from a global
pattern or a specific instance is known as
14. The dimension of interpersonal attributions that explains that behaviors come from factors
people can control or from those they cannot control is known as
15. If we wish to enhance our competence and avoid the problems of abstraction, we should
16. Jill is nervous about her biology test and says to her roommate, “This is stupid! I‘m stupid!
I’m going to fail.” When Jill gets her test back a week later, she learns that she did, in fact,
fail the test. Jill engaged in
17. What is the term used for the ability to perceive another person as a unique and distinct
individual based on our knowledge of them?
True-False Items
18. Our choices of social media shape our perceptions of events, issues, and people.
19. A prototype is a knowledge structure that defines the best or most representative example of
some category.
20. Stereotypes are generalizations about groups that are always inaccurate.
21. Positioning people as intelligent or not intelligent is an example of a personal construct.
22. An inference is based solely on facts gained from observing stimuli.
23. Empathy is the ability to feel with another person.
24. Cognitive complexity refers to the number of constructs used, how abstract they are, and how
elaborately they interact to shape a person’s perception.
25. Our perceptions are not equivalent to the complex reality on which they are based because
we can never fully describe or even apprehend total reality.
26. Self-indication occurs when we point out certain things to ourselves.
27. The older we get, the more complex is our perspective on life and people.
28. Locus attributes what a person does based on internal or external factors.
29. Our cognitive schemata are entirely individualistic.
30. Stereotypes are generalizations that can be both useful and misleading.
31. Cognitively complex people are likely to ignore information that doesn’t fit neatly with their
previously formed impressions.
32. Interpretation is an objective process of explaining perceptions to assign meaning to them.
Fill-in-the-Blank Items
33. A person’s point of view as it is influenced by social circumstances is called the person’s
____________________.
34. ____________________ is the active process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting
people, objects, events, situations, and activities.
35. ____________________ refers to the number, abstractness, and elaborateness of constructs
we use to perceive phenomena.
36. Assuming we understand how another person thinks or perceives without asking that person
is ____________________.
37. The person you think of as the ideal friend, or the best example of what a friend is like, is
your ____________________ for a friend.
38. A(n) ____________________ for a first date describes how you and another person are
supposed to act on a first date.
39. Attributing your strengths and good actions to your personal integrity while attributing your
weaknesses and mistakes to external factors beyond your control is known as the
____________________.
40. ____________________ is the ability to feel with another person or to feel what she or he
feels in a given situation.
41. ____________________ consists of beliefs, understandings, practices, and ways of
interpreting experiences that are shared by a number of people.
42. The ability to perceive another as a unique and distinct individual apart from social roles and
generalizations is known as ____________________.
43. A(n) ____________________ is a phenomenon that occurs when a person acts in ways
consistent with how one has learned to perceive oneself.
44. ____________________ is a theory that suggests that we organize and interpret our world
based on the use of cognitive schemata.
Essay Items
45. Discuss the five guidelines for enhancing communication competence.
ANSWER:
46. Discuss perception, identifying and briefly explaining the three processes involved.
47. Describe the four dimensions of attributions.