Exam 1: The Study of Human Development

You are doing a study to determine whether vaping nicotine prior to taking a psychology test affects performance on that test. What is the independent variable in your study?

Harvey is interested in doing a study to determine whether a relationship exists between participating in college athletics and self-efficacy for academic work. Because Harvey is not interested in determining a cause-and-effect relationship, he would be best advised to do a(n) ____study.

Which theorist is best associated with an ecological approach to human development?

When asked to explain why teenage gang membership is rising, Dr. Yale responds, "Generally speaking, these children are driven by conflicts between what they wish to do and what society wishes them to do." It is most likely that Dr. Yale would be a proponent of ____ theory.

You and a partner are given an assignment to conduct a study using systematic observation of children playing. You want to conduct the study using naturalistic observation, however your partner wants to conduct the study using structured observation. Write a position statement that supports the use of naturalistic observation for the assignment and argues against the use of structured observation.

Dr. Fletcher is attempting to determine whether adult criminals were rule-breakers throughout their childhood or whether they suddenly turned to a life of crime. Her research is most concerned with which issue of human development?

Lisa is getting ready to apply for graduate school. To focus on this goal, she is resigning from her posts as editor of the campus newspaper and president of her sorority. These changes in Lisa's life are examples of

The strength of correlational research lies in its ability to determine cause.

Harold is upset with his grade on his developmental psychology test and says, "I bet if I would've taken that test at another time, I would have done much better." Harold's complaint deals most directly with the questionable ____of the test.

In an experiment designed to determine whether taking vitamin A before attending a social event improves self-esteem, what is the dependent variable?

Julianna is interested in studying how family relationships affect development. Julianna is probably most interested in studying ____ influences.

When asked why her sister Yvonne ended up in jail, Penny says, "She was always a mean, aggressive person. She really liked hurting people." Penny is relying on ____ forces to explain Yvonne's development.

Harry wonders if the Cubs winning the World Series in 2016 will impact the career goals of individuals who were adolescents at the time of the Cubs victory. This kind of question is one that best reflects a(n) ____ perspective.

Define the four levels of the environment as described in Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory. How do these levels relate to the biopsychosocial framework?

Viviana notices that children seem to mature socially much faster in Costa Rica than in the Canada. Viviana is most likely to support a ____ position regarding human development.

The fact that Tatiana likes to watch reality television and her grandfather prefers watching 1960s television westerns is probably best explained by

Which research method must always occur in a real-life setting?

Validity is to reliability as

Results from individual research participants should be

Use the biopsychosocial framework to describe four factors that could be important in the development of parenting skills.