MCAT Behavioral Sciences Question 248: Answer and Explanation
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Question: 248
5. What type of memory is used in a multiple-choice test, such as this one?
- A. Recall
- B. Recognition
- C. Repressed
- D. Déjà vu
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
To the delight of many exhausted college students, multiple-choice tests rely most heavily on recognition memory; that is, test-takers do not have to generate the correct response, but rather have to recognize the correct response from several options (choice B is correct). On the flip side, a test that involved short-answer or essay questions would rely on recall memory, which requires individuals to retrieve previously learned information and repeat it in some context (choice A is wrong). Repressed memories are a phenomenon that is hotly debated in the legal and psychological fields, and would likely not come into play during a multiple-choice test (choice C is wrong). Déjà vu is the phenomenon in which cues from the current situation subconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier experience, creating that "I've been here before" feeling. This phenomenon is not typically associated with testing (choice D is wrong).