What is the term for organizing items into familiar, manageable units? Chunking.
What is the brief, immediate memory for the limited amount of material that you are currently processing called? Working Memory.
What component of working memory holds and manipulates visual and spatial information? The Visuospatial Sketchpad.
What is the process of maintaining information in memory over time called? Storage.
What is the inability to see a problem from a new perspective called? Fixation.
What is a methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem? An algorithm.
What is a simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgments and solve problems efficiently? A heuristic.
What is the tendency to be more confident than correct called? Overconfidence.
How does the working memory model differ from the original concept of short-term memory? Working memory is seen as an active “workspace” for processing and manipulating information, not just a passive storage box. It includes subsystems for visual-spatial information and auditory information, controlled by a central executive.
What is the role of the central executive in Baddeley’s working memory model? The central executive is the control center that directs attention, coordinates the slave systems (phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad), and integrates information from long-term memory.
How can the availability heuristic lead to errors in judgment? The availability heuristic estimates the likelihood of events based on how easily instances come to mind. If examples are vivid or recent (e.g., plane crashes on news), we may overestimate their probability.
What is the difference between a representative heuristic and an availability heuristic? The representative heuristic judges the probability of something based on how well it matches (represents) a prototype. The availability heuristic judges probability based on how easily examples come to mind.
How does fixation, such as mental set, impede problem-solving? Mental set is a tendency to approach a problem with the mindset that has worked in the past, which can prevent us from seeing a simpler or more appropriate solution for a new problem.
What is confirmation bias, and how does it affect our thinking? Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for information that confirms our preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence, leading to flawed decision-making.
Explain the concept of functional fixedness. Functional fixedness is the tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions, which can hinder creative problem-solving (e.g., not seeing a coin can be used as a screwdriver).
How does overconfidence impact decision-making? Overconfidence can lead us to overestimate our knowledge, judgments, and abilities, causing us to make riskier decisions and be less likely to correct our errors.
What is the difference between convergent and divergent thinking? Convergent thinking aims for a single, correct solution to a problem. Divergent thinking generates multiple, creative solutions to a problem.
A person trying to use a dime as a screwdriver because they don’t have one is overcoming ________. Functional Fixedness.
After several high-profile shark attacks are reported, people avoid swimming in the ocean, overestimating the danger. This illustrates the ________. Availability Heuristic.
A chess player considers several possible moves and their consequences simultaneously. This relies heavily on ________. Working Memory.
A doctor only looks for evidence that confirms their initial diagnosis and ignores symptoms that suggest a different illness. This is ________. Confirmation Bias.
To remember a long number, you break it into chunks like a phone number. This is ________. Chunking.
You assume someone is a librarian because they are quiet and wear glasses, ignoring the fact that librarians are a small percentage of the population. This is the ________. Representativeness Heuristic.
A student is so sure they aced an exam that they are shocked by their low grade. This demonstrates ________. Overconfidence.
Trying every possible combination on a lock is an example of using a(n) ________. Algorithm.
