Attention: Definition, Types, and Theories - Psychology Quiz

Question 1

You're studying for a test while your roommate blasts music. You manage to focus on your textbook, ignoring the distraction.  This demonstrates:

Accepted Answer

Selective attention

Answer

Sustained attention

Answer

Automatic processing

Answer

Divided attention

Question 2

Which theory of attention suggests that we have limited processing resources and must choose which information to focus on?

Accepted Answer

Filter theory

Answer

Feature integration theory

Answer

Attentional blink

Answer

Spotlight theory

Question 3

You're driving, listening to music, and talking on the phone. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Divided attention

Answer

Sustained attention

Answer

Automatic processing

Answer

Selective attention

Question 4

You're looking at a scene and fail to notice a change, even when it's quite obvious. This is known as:

Accepted Answer

Change blindness

Answer

Attentional blink

Answer

Inattentional blindness

Answer

Cocktail party effect

Question 5

You're at a party, chatting with a friend, and suddenly hear someone mention your name across the room. This demonstrates the:

Accepted Answer

Cocktail party effect

Answer

Attentional blink

Answer

Change blindness

Answer

Inattentional blindness

Question 6

Which of these factors DOES NOT influence our ability to pay attention?

Accepted Answer

Height

Answer

Stress

Answer

Cognitive load

Answer

Motivation

Question 7

You're practicing a new musical piece. The more you practice, the less effortful it becomes to play. This illustrates:

Accepted Answer

Automatic processing

Answer

Sustained attention

Answer

Selective attention

Answer

Divided attention

Question 8

The theory that proposes attention is like a spotlight focusing on a specific part of our visual field is called:

Accepted Answer

Spotlight theory

Answer

Feature integration theory

Answer

Early selection theory

Answer

Filter theory

Question 9

You're reading a book when a loud noise suddenly interrupts you. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Exogenous attention

Answer

Endogenous attention

Answer

Automatic processing

Answer

Sustained attention

Question 10

Which of these is NOT a potential consequence of chronic inattention?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced creativity

Answer

Increased risk of accidents

Answer

Poor academic performance

Answer

Difficulty forming relationships

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a type of attention?

Accepted Answer

Fixed attention

Answer

Sustained attention

Answer

Divided attention

Answer

Selective attention

Question 12

The ability to focus on one stimulus while disregarding others is known as:

Accepted Answer

Selective attention

Answer

Sustained attention

Answer

Divided attention

Question 13

The ability to simultaneously pay attention to different stimuli is known as:

Accepted Answer

Divided attention

Answer

Sustained attention

Answer

Alternating attention

Answer

Selective attention

Question 14

The phenomenon where attention is automatically drawn to sudden or unexpected events is known as:

Accepted Answer

Capture effect

Answer

Priming effect

Answer

Inhibition of return

Answer

Stroop effect

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of inattention?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced creativity

Answer

Impaired problem-solving skills

Answer

Increased risk of accidents

Answer

Reduced empathy

Question 16

The ability to maintain attention on a task over a prolonged period is known as:

Accepted Answer

Sustained attention

Answer

Alternating attention

Answer

Divided attention

Answer

Selective attention

Question 17

You are at a party with loud music and trying to have a conversation with a friend, but you are able to focus on your friend's voice while mostly ignoring the music. This is an example of what type of attention?

Accepted Answer

Selective attention

Answer

Sustained attention

Answer

Automatic processing

Answer

Divided attention

Question 18

Which theory of attention suggests that we have limited attentional capacity and can only focus on a single piece of information at a time, and that switching between tasks requires time and effort?

Accepted Answer

Bottleneck theory

Answer

Attenuation theory

Answer

Feature integration theory

Answer

Filter theory

Question 19

You are driving down a highway and see a billboard with a rapidly changing, colorful advertisement. Your attention is drawn to it because of which factor?

Accepted Answer

Saliency

Answer

Automaticity

Answer

Habituation

Answer

Inhibition

Question 20

You are able to study for an upcoming test while simultaneously listening to music. This is an example of what type of attention?

Accepted Answer

Divided attention

Answer

Automatic processing

Answer

Sustained attention

Answer

Selective attention

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT a common characteristic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

Accepted Answer

Extreme anxiety

Answer

Impulsivity

Answer

Inattention

Answer

Hyperactivity

Question 22

The ability to maintain focus on a specific task for an extended period of time is known as what type of attention?

Accepted Answer

Sustained attention

Answer

Divided attention

Answer

Automatic processing

Answer

Selective attention

Question 23

You are reading a book in a quiet room when you suddenly hear a loud crash outside. You immediately stop reading to check what caused the noise. This is an example of what phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

The cocktail party effect

Answer

Inattentional blindness

Answer

The Stroop effect

Answer

Change blindness

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a factor that can influence attention?

Accepted Answer

Height

Answer

Motivation

Answer

Arousal

Answer

Cognitive load

Question 25

You are driving a car and suddenly see a red light ahead. You immediately apply the brakes. This is an example of what type of processing?

Accepted Answer

Automatic processing

Answer

Divided attention

Answer

Controlled processing

Answer

Selective attention

Question 26

You are reading a book when someone walks into the room. This causes you to momentarily lose your place in the book and have to re-focus. This is an example of which phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Attentional blink

Answer

Change blindness

Answer

The Stroop effect

Answer

Inattentional blindness