GRE Subject Test: Psychology : GRE Subject Test: Psychology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Intelligence Development

Which of the following types of intelligence derived from Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory is concerned with the ability to solve problems?

Possible Answers:

Logical-mathematical

Spatial

Linguistic

Interpersonal

Correct answer:

Logical-mathematical

Explanation:

Gardner's "logical-mathematical" intelligence, the correct response, refers to the ability to analyze problems, solve mathematical equations, detect patterns, and think logically. Multiple theories of intelligence have been developed within the field of Intelligence Development.  Howard Gardner is one of these theorists. He provides a seven-faceted model of intelligence that includes the types listed in the response choices. "Linguistic" is incorrect as it refers to the individual’s command of language. "Spatial" is incorrect because it refers to the individual’s ability to manipulate and work with physical objects. "Interpersonal" is also incorrect because it captures one’s ability to successfully navigate social interactions and relationships. 

 

Example Question #2 : Intelligence Development

According to Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, there are __________ (how many) cognitive levels? 

Possible Answers:

four

five

seven

six

Correct answer:

six

Explanation:

Bloom's Taxonomy contains six cognitive levels that a student progresses through as intellectual capacities increase. Here, they are listed in ascending order of complexity: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Bloom and his followers posited that by assessing a student's level of intellectual capacity, educators could best meet and test their students' learning development. 

Example Question #3 : Intelligence Development

Psychological researchers have proposed an explanation(s) for the Flynn Effect. Their results point to which of the following?:

Possible Answers:

Increased years of schooling

Improved nutrition

All of these

Decreases in infectious diseases

Correct answer:

All of these

Explanation:

The Flynn Effect can be described as the significant statistical research finding that intelligence, as measured by standardized tests, has increased across time in first world nations. That is, the average scores on intelligence tests have been climbing over the last several decades. For example, where the average score on a standardized intelligence test in the 1950's was 100, examinees today would score on average closer to 105. This has required a restandardization of normative data and has led researchers to investigate the phenomenon. 

 

Example Question #21 : Lifespan Development

Which level of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives describes a student's ability to compare and discriminate between ideas as well as make judgements as to the purpose of those ideas?

Possible Answers:

Evaluation

Synthesis

Application

Analysis

Correct answer:

Evaluation

Explanation:

Bloom's Taxonomy contains six cognitive levels that a student progresses through as intellectual capacities increase. Here, they are listed in ascending order of complexity: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Bloom and his followers posited that by assessing a student's level of intellectual capacity, educators could best meet and test their students' learning development. In Bloom's 6-tiered model, "evaluation" is at the peak and refers to the ability to render informed judgements by effectively comparing and discriminating among ideas.

Example Question #22 : Lifespan Development

Which level of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives requires students to identify patterns and/or meanings?

Possible Answers:

Analysis

Synthesis

Evaluation

Application

Correct answer:

Analysis

Explanation:

Bloom's Taxonomy contains six cognitive levels that a student progresses through as intellectual capacities increase. Here, they are listed in ascending order of complexity: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. In Bloom's Taxonomy, "analysis" is a higher level skill which requires the ability of the learner to deconstruct information into its various parts in such a way that the relationship and order between those parts can be clearly expressed.  "Application" is a lower level ability, while the other two selections ("synthesis" and "evaluation") supercede analysis in complexity.

Example Question #23 : Lifespan Development

Which level of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives requires students to use old ideas to create new ones?

Possible Answers:

Analysis

Synthesis

Evaluation

Application

Correct answer:

Synthesis

Explanation:

Bloom's Taxonomy contains six cognitive levels that a student progresses through as intellectual capacities increase. Here, they are listed in ascending order of complexity: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. According to Bloom, the level of "synthesis" is being exercised when the student is peicing together elments or parts to form a whole. 

Example Question #24 : Lifespan Development

Which theorist of intelligence development proposed that there is a general factor that accounts for and underlies intelligent behavior?

Possible Answers:

Louis Thurstone

Alfred Binet

Robert Sternburg

Charles Spearman

Correct answer:

Charles Spearman

Explanation:

Spearman's theory of intelligence development is famous for its "g" factor, that is a general underlying intelligence that accounts for mental performance. This should not be confused with "s" factors which do not refer to Spearman's factors. Rather, "s" factors refer to specific intellectual abilities which build on the underlying "g" factor. The other theorists listed as possibilities all considered intelligence to be comprised of multiple facets with no single underlying factor.

Example Question #9 : Intelligence Development

Which theorist proposed a theory of intelligence development that is based on the information-processing approach?

Possible Answers:

Alfred Binet

Daniel Goleman

Robert Sternberg

Howard Gardner

Correct answer:

Robert Sternberg

Explanation:

Inspired by technological innovations with computers, Robert Sternberg proposed his information processing theory of intelligence wherein our intellectual ability was proposed to be comprised of three different components: Metacomponents, performance components and knowledge-acquisition components. Using computer analogies, these components work together as processors and memory stores capable of carrying out mental tasks. On the other hand, Gardner focused on types of intelligence and not on the way intelligence was processed. Binet's approach was similar in this regard. As for Goleman, he focused on emotion and an individual's ability to manage his own emotions as well as respond effectively to the emotions of others. 

 

Example Question #10 : Intelligence Development

Which theorist of intelligence development popularized the concept of Emotional Intelligence?

Possible Answers:

Daniel Goleman

Alfred Binet

David Wechsler

Howard Gardner

Correct answer:

Daniel Goleman

Explanation:

Daniel Goleman's contributed to the field of intelligence development in a major way by drawing attention to the importance of emotions as a marker of sucess in personal and interpersonal functioning. He posited that those with high levels of emotional intelligence were just as likely to acheive the goals and marks of sucess as those with standard indicators of high intelligence (i.e., strong performance on fluid, crystallized, perceptual, and working memory tasks). Binet and Wechsler were proponents of the standard indicators of intelligence just referred to in the previous sentence. Gardner had a broader concept of intelligence that included intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects which are comparable to Goleman's model; however, Gardner's model did not focus wholly and exclusively on emotion the way Goleman's did.  

Example Question #25 : Lifespan Development

Which of the following is not one of areas tested by the Stanford-Binet intelligence test?

Possible Answers:

Crystallized Intelligence

Working Memoory

Fluid Intelligence

Perceptual Speed

Correct answer:

Perceptual Speed

Explanation:

Similar to Thurstone's Primary Mental Abilities, the Stanford-Binet intelligence test focuses on three and not four (as with the Weschler scales) primary areas of intelligence. The Stanford-Binet, however, includes working memory in place of perceptual speed whereas Thurstone includes perceptual speed to the exclusion of working memory. As such, "perceptual speed" is not an index of intelligence measured by the Stanford-Binet.

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