3.2.2.4.1 Verbal and non-verbal communication; functions of eye contact Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 6

The 20 questions

1. Which definition of non-verbal communication is correct?

   • Communication through written messages sent between people who do not share a language
   • Communication through body movements, facial expressions, gestures and eye contact, without words
   • Communication through carefully chosen spoken words that carry no emotional meaning
   • Communication through sounds made by animals, such as barks, calls and songs

2. Which of these is a verbal form of communication?

   • A nod of the head to show agreement during a conversation about weekend plans
   • A spoken sentence describing where a meeting will take place tomorrow morning
   • A smile given to a stranger across a crowded room while waiting for a bus
   • A raised eyebrow used to show surprise when someone tells an unexpected story

3. What is one function of eye contact in conversation?

   • Storing information about a person's identity so it can be recalled later
   • Regulating the flow of conversation, such as signalling when to stop and take a turn
   • Sending a warning to nearby people that danger is approaching from behind the speaker
   • Measuring the distance between two people so each keeps a comfortable distance

4. Which of these is an example of eye contact signalling attraction?

   • Staring at a clock while the other person talks about their week at school in daily life
   • Closing the eyes briefly while listening to a friend's long story in a quiet room
   • Looking down at the floor while a teacher explains a rule to the whole class
   • Holding a steady gaze across a room, then looking away and smiling when they look back

5. A speaker keeps looking away from the listener while answering a question. What is the most likely meaning?

   • They want to take over the conversation and speak for as long as they wish
   • They want to end the conversation immediately and want the listener to leave the room
   • They may be showing discomfort, or thinking while speaking, rather than signalling attraction
   • They are sharing a secret that only the listener is allowed to hear

6. Why is eye contact often described as a 'two-way' signal?

   • Eye contact can only be recorded by a camera, so people speaking face to face cannot use it
   • Both people send and receive eye signals, so the meaning depends on what each person does
   • Eye contact can only be made by one person at a time, so the speaker alone controls it
   • Eye contact can be felt through touch, so it sends signals through the skin

7. Which pattern of eye contact would most likely signal strong emotion, such as anger?

   • Looking briefly at the listener, then down at the table, while speaking in a relaxed tone
   • Closing the eyes for most of the talk while speaking softly to a young child at bedtime
   • A fixed, intense gaze with reduced blinking while speaking loudly and firmly
   • Scanning the room for others and looking at the listener only when asked a direct question

8. Which of these is a function of eye contact listed in the specification?

   • Causing the listener's heart rate to slow for several minutes after the conversation
   • Measuring the body temperature of the person being looked at as a sign of illness
   • Storing a picture of the person in long-term memory without further attention
   • Expressing emotion, such as showing interest, sadness or surprise through the look on a face

9. Why might a researcher find it hard to study the function of eye contact in isolation?

   • Eye contact can only be measured in people with no spoken language, which limits the sample to infants
   • Eye contact is usually combined with facial expression, posture and speech, so its effect is hard to separate
   • Eye contact is never used in real conversations, so there is no real behaviour to observe
   • Eye contact is identical in every culture, so there is no variation for researchers to compare

10. Which pair correctly matches a verbal and a non-verbal example?

    • Pointing to a door is verbal, while asking someone to leave in words is non-verbal
    • Waving goodbye is verbal, while saying 'goodbye' out loud at the door is non-verbal
    • Saying 'thank you' is verbal, while nodding in response to a favour is non-verbal
    • Writing a letter is non-verbal, while tapping a pen on a desk during a lesson is verbal

11. What does 'regulating the flow of conversation' mean?

    • Using signals such as glances to show when someone should speak, pause or stop
    • Speaking at a constant volume so that every listener can hear each word clearly
    • Setting a fixed time limit for each speaker so everyone gets an equal number of minutes
    • Controlling the subject of conversation by choosing words fixed in advance by the speaker

12. A listener nods and says 'mm-hm' while another person talks. Which function is most likely served?

    • Signalling that the listener wants to leave the room and end the conversation at once
    • Signalling that the listener has forgotten the topic and needs the speaker to start again
    • Signalling that the listener has no interest in the topic and wants the speaker to move on
    • Signalling that the listener is following, so the speaker should continue

13. Which is an example of a non-verbal cue that signals attraction?

    • Sustained eye contact with a smile and leaning towards the other person at a party
    • Sudden silence and folded arms while the other person talks about a school project
    • Looking at a phone with the back turned while someone asks a simple question
    • A raised voice and a quick glance at a watch while the other person tells a long story

14. A person says 'I'm fine' while frowning and avoiding eye contact. What is the most accurate interpretation?

    • The non-verbal cues confirm the words, so the person is definitely fine with no reason to frown
    • The frown shows concentration on a maths problem, and the avoided eye contact is irrelevant
    • The non-verbal cues contradict the words, suggesting the person may not be fine
    • The verbal message is always more reliable than non-verbal cues, so the person must be fine

15. Which non-verbal feature can express emotion alongside eye contact?

    • Spelling, such as a correctly written word, which shows how carefully a message was prepared
    • Facial expression, such as a smile or frown, which shows how a person feels
    • Grammar, such as a complex sentence structure, which shows how well a person was educated
    • Vocabulary, such as a list of technical words, which shows how well a person knows a subject

16. A teacher wants a student to know a question is for them. Which non-verbal method is most effective?

    • Making eye contact with that student while asking the question, directing attention without their name
    • Writing the question on the board in capital letters so every student can read it
    • Asking the whole class to raise hands, then choosing the first hand without looking
    • Repeating the question three times in a loud voice so it can be heard from every corner

17. Which of these best describes verbal communication?

    • Communication that uses body posture and gestures, without any words or sounds
    • Communication that uses touch and distance, but not words, to express a feeling
    • Communication that uses only facial expressions, which are the same across all cultures
    • Communication that uses spoken or written words to convey meaning in a shared language

18. Which observation suggests eye contact is regulating a conversation rather than expressing emotion?

    • A speaker glances at the listener at the end of a sentence, and the listener then starts speaking
    • A speaker stares with wide eyes and raised eyebrows while describing a surprising event
    • A speaker looks with narrowed eyes and a tight jaw while complaining about a problem
    • A speaker cries while looking at the listener during a sad part of the story

19. Why might eye contact be interpreted differently in different cultures?

    • Eye contact is identical in all cultures because it is controlled entirely by genes
    • Eye contact is never used in some cultures, so it has no meaning for their people in daily life
    • Eye contact is always interpreted the same way because it only signals a need for food
    • Norms about how long and how often people should look at each other vary across cultures

20. Which is the best description of a non-verbal 'signal'?

    • A rule of grammar that determines the order of words in a sentence spoken in a language
    • A piece of equipment used to measure heart rate and skin response in a laboratory
    • A visible or audible behaviour that carries meaning to another person, such as a smile or nod
    • A written record of a conversation stored for later analysis by a researcher

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