Colette Received a Surprisingly High Grade on Her First Biology

question 24

Multiple Choice

Colette received a surprisingly high grade on her first biology test. She failed to perform as well on her second test, even though she studied equally for both tests. Which of the following best explains Colette's deteriorating pattern of performance?

• A) the placebo effect
• B) systematic desensitization
• C) meta-analysis
• D) regression toward the mean

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Definitions:

Dispositional Attribution

A psychological concept suggesting that individuals attribute behavior to innate qualities of the person performing the action.

Central Route Persuasion

A method of persuasion that involves deeply processing the content of a message, leading to lasting attitude change.

Peripheral Route Persuasion

A method of persuasion that relies on cues outside of the message content itself, such as the attractiveness or credibility of the source.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The cognitive bias of overemphasizing personal characteristics and underestimating situational factors when explaining others' behaviors.