A Loose Screw on the Visor Causes It to Drop

question 131

Multiple Choice

A loose screw on the visor causes it to drop down while Ben drives; however, he keeps forgetting to take a screwdriver out to the car to fix it. When he notices the visor drop again, he reaches into his pocket for a dime he then uses to tighten the screw holding the visor. What problem-solving difficulty did Ben overcome?

• A) relative comparison
• B) functional fixedness
• C) poor problem representation
• D) the representative heuristic

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Definitions:

Selective Attention

The process of focusing on a specific aspect of information while disregarding other perceivable information.

Short-term Memory

The component of the memory system that is responsible for holding small amounts of information in an active, readily available state for a short period.

Thorndike

An American psychologist known for his work in comparative psychology and the law of effect, related to learning.

Chunking

A method of breaking down large pieces of information into smaller, more manageable units to aid in memory retention.