Module 26: Thinking

Question 1

cognition/thinking

Answer 1

mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

Question 2

concept

Answer 2

mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, and people

Question 3

category

Answer 3

subset of category

Question 4

prototype

Answer 4

mental image or best example of a category. matching new items to a prototype provides a quick and easy method for sorting items into categories.

Question 5

algorithm

Answer 5

methodical, logical rule, or procedure that guarantees a solution to a problem

Question 6

heuristic

Answer 6

a simpler strategy that usually is speedier than the algorithm but is also more error-prone

Question 7

insight

Answer 7

not a strategy-based solution but rather a sudden flash of inspiration that solves a problem

Question 8

intuition

Answer 8

effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning

Question 9

representativeness heuristic

Answer 9

estimating the likelihood of events in terms of how well they seem to represent, or match, particular prototypes; it may lead us to ignore other relevant information.

Question 10

availability heuristic

Answer 10

estimating likelihood of events based on their availability in memory; if instances come readily to mind, we presume such events are common

Question 11

confirmation bias

Answer 11

predisposes us to verify rather than challenge our hypotheses

Question 12

fixation

Answer 12

such as mental set, may prevent us from taking a fresh perspective that would lead to a solution

Question 13

mental set

Answer 13

tendency to approach a problem with a previously successful mindset, an example of fixation

Question 14

overconfidence

Answer 14

tendency to be more confident than correct– to overestimate the accuracy of our beliefs and judgments

Question 15

belief perseverance

Answer 15

occurs when we cling to beliefs and ignore evidence that proves these beliefs are wrong

Question 16

framing

Answer 16

sways decisions and judgments by influencing the way an issue is posed. it can also influence beneficial decisions

Question 17

creativity

Answer 17

ability to produce new/novel and valuable ideas. supported by ability to learn/aptitude, intelligence, and working memory

Question 18

divergent thinking/brainstorming

Answer 18

▪ Expands the number of possible problem solutions
▪ Creative thinking that diverges in different directions

Question 19

convergent thinking

Answer 19

▪ Narrows the available problem solutions to determine the single best solution

Question 20

Robert Sternberg’s five ingredients of expertise

Answer 20

expertise, imaginative thinking skills, venturesome personality, intrinsic motivation, creative environment