On the Day You Give a Paper-Pencil Test, Your Classroom

question 56

Multiple Choice

On the day you give a paper-pencil test, your classroom is unusually cold, and a construction crew is working noisily just outside the building.For which one of the following students are such conditions likely to adversely affect test performance?

• A)Andrea, who thinks tests are challenging and fun
• B)Brittany, who does not really care how she does on the test
• C)Corbin, who has done well on similar tests in the past
• D)Dennis, who is receiving special educational services for students who are gifted

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Definitions:

Foot-In-The-Door Phenomenon

A psychological tactic involving getting someone to agree to a small request to increase the chances of them agreeing to a larger request later.

Cognitive Dissonance

The psychological discomfort experienced when holding two or more conflicting thoughts, beliefs, values, or attitudes.

Role-Playing

A teaching or training technique that involves acting out situations or assuming the roles of characters to simulate real-life scenarios.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent. For example, when our awareness of our attitudes and of our actions clash, we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes.