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1. For each of the pairs below, use an example to...
Nov 16, 2023
answer this free response
1. For each of the pairs below, use an example to show how the first term in each pair affects or is related to the second. Definitions alone without examples will not score.
• Serial-position effect . . recall
• Functional fixedness . . problem solving
• Operational definition . . replication
• Double-blind research . . bias
• Operant conditioning . . superstition
• Reinforcement . . overjustification effect
• Myelin sheath . . neural impulse
Answer
The serial-position effect influences recall by showing that people tend to remember the first (primacy effect) and last (recency effect) items in a list better than the middle items. For example, when given a list of grocery items to remember, you're more likely to recall 'apples' and 'zucchini' if they were the first and last items on the list, respectively, than 'chicken' if it was in the middle.
Key Concept
Serial-position effect
Explanation
The serial-position effect is a cognitive phenomenon where the position of an item in a sequence affects the probability of its recall.
Answer
Functional fixedness can hinder problem solving by limiting a person's ability to use objects in novel ways. For instance, if someone needs to tighten a screw but doesn't have a screwdriver, they might not consider using a coin or a butter knife due to functional fixedness.
Key Concept
Functional fixedness
Explanation
Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used.
Answer
An operational definition is crucial for replication as it specifies the exact procedures used to measure a variable. For example, defining 'aggression' in a study as 'the number of times a participant presses a button to deliver a loud noise to another participant' allows other researchers to replicate the study precisely.
Key Concept
Operational definition
Explanation
An operational definition is a clear, precise detailing of a variable that allows it to be measured and replicated.
Answer
Double-blind research helps reduce bias by ensuring that neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving the treatment or the placebo. For example, in a drug trial, this method prevents both parties' expectations from influencing the results.
Key Concept
Double-blind research
Explanation
Double-blind research is a study design that prevents bias by keeping both the subjects and the researchers unaware of who has been assigned to the control or experimental groups.
Answer
Operant conditioning can lead to superstition when a behavior is followed by a reinforcer, even if the reinforcement is not related to the behavior. For example, a baseball player might develop a ritual of tapping their shoes with the bat before batting because they once hit a home run after doing so.
Key Concept
Operant conditioning
Explanation
Operant conditioning is a learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment.
Answer
Reinforcement can lead to the overjustification effect when external rewards undermine intrinsic motivation. For instance, if a child enjoys drawing and is then paid to draw, they may lose their intrinsic interest in drawing for pleasure.
Key Concept
Reinforcement
Explanation
Reinforcement is a process in operant conditioning that increases the likelihood of a behavior by following it with a reward or positive outcome.
Answer
The myelin sheath speeds up the transmission of neural impulses. For example, in the nervous system, the myelin sheath allows electrical impulses to jump from one node of Ranvier to the next, increasing the speed of impulse conduction.
Key Concept
Myelin sheath
Explanation
The myelin sheath is an insulating layer that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord, and is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system.
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