Question 1

Define the term "theory," and explain how the adequacy of a theory is assessed.

Accepted Answer

A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is based on a body of evidence and has stood up to repeated testing and scrutiny. It is a framework for understanding and explaining a particular phenomenon or set of phenomena.

The adequacy of a theory is assessed through several criteria. First, a theory must be internally consistent, meaning that its components and principles do not contradict each other. Second, a theory should be able to explain and predict a wide range of phenomena within its domain. Third, a theory should be testable, meaning that it can be subjected to empirical observation and experimentation. Fourth, a theory should be falsifiable, meaning that it is possible to conceive of evidence that would prove it wrong. Finally, a theory should be parsimonious, meaning that it should be as simple as possible while still accounting for the observed phenomena.

In addition to these criteria, the adequacy of a theory is also assessed based on its ability to generate new research and insights, its ability to integrate with other well-established theories, and its ability to withstand challenges and criticisms from other scientists. Overall, the adequacy of a theory is determined by its ability to provide a coherent and comprehensive explanation of the phenomena it seeks to address, and its ability to withstand rigorous testing and scrutiny.

Question 2

Briefly design a cross-sectional comparison, a longitudinal comparison, and a sequential comparison, noting essential elements of each.

Accepted Answer

A cross-sectional comparison involves comparing two or more groups of subjects of differing ages, such as four-year-olds versus eight-year-olds; the groups are studied at the same point in time. A longitudinal comparison studies one group across a given age range, such as a group of children from ages four through eight. The subjects' behavior would be measured repeatedly at two or more points in time. A sequential comparison is a mix of the other two, using two or more groups and following them longitudinally. For example, four-year-olds and six-year-olds might be followed for two years. All of the various scientific methods (interviews, naturalistic observation, experiments, etc.) might be employed in any of the three types of comparison.

Question 3

Researchers seek parents' advance permission for their children to participate in a study. This is the principle of research ethics called

Accepted Answer

A) protection from harm. 
B) benefits-to-risk ratio. 
C) confidentiality. 
D) informed consent. 
A) protection from harm. 
B) benefits-to-risk ratio. 
C) confidentiality. 
D) informed consent. D

Question 4

CONTINUITY is to DISCONTINUITY as _____ is to _____.

Accepted Answer

A) HOLISTIC::PARTIAL 
B) PARTIAL::HOLISTIC 
C) QUANTITATIVE::QUALITATIVE 
D) QUALITATIVE::QUANTITATIVE 
A) HOLISTIC::PARTIAL 
B) PARTIAL::HOLISTIC 
C) QUANTITATIVE::QUALITATIVE 
D) QUALITATIVE::QUANTITATIVE

Question 5

The research goal of description is summarized as,

Accepted Answer

A) "How?" 
B) "Best!" 
C) "What?" 
D) "Why?" 
A) "How?" 
B) "Best!" 
C) "What?" 
D) "Why?"

Question 6

Suppose that the plasticity principle did NOT apply to development; if this were true, it would imply that

Accepted Answer

A) babies would not be motivated to consume plastic things. 
B) children who grow up in terrible circumstances would suffer inevitably from their deficiencies. 
C) parental training would be vital for children to develop normally. 
D) boy/girl gender differences would be nonexistent. 
A) babies would not be motivated to consume plastic things. 
B) children who grow up in terrible circumstances would suffer inevitably from their deficiencies. 
C) parental training would be vital for children to develop normally. 
D) boy/girl gender differences would be nonexistent.

Question 7

In an experiment, the factor that measures the child's response or behavior is called the ____ variable.

Accepted Answer

A) independent 
B) longitudinal 
C) dependent 
D) sequential 
A) independent 
B) longitudinal 
C) dependent 
D) sequential

Question 8

____ is a process by which our experiences produce relatively permanent changes in our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

Accepted Answer

A) Maturation 
B) History 
C) Accommodation 
D) Learning 
A) Maturation 
B) History 
C) Accommodation 
D) Learning

Question 9

What are "diary studies," and how are they used?

Accepted Answer

Diary studies are a qualitative research

Question 10

Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget favored this method in his developmental research with children:

Accepted Answer

A) formal experimentation. 
B) structured interviews. 
C) correlation. 
D) the clinical method. 
A) formal experimentation. 
B) structured interviews. 
C) correlation. 
D) the clinical method.

Question 11

The holistic perspective of development is a dominant theme today, around which the text is organized. This view emphasizes

Accepted Answer

A) the active role of the child in his or her own development. 
B) that development is a lifelong process that is continual and cumulative. 
C) the interdependent way in which all components of the self (physical, cognitive, social, emotional, etc.) determine outcomes. 
D) the belief that all members of the family influence each other. 
A) the active role of the child in his or her own development. 
B) that development is a lifelong process that is continual and cumulative. 
C) the interdependent way in which all components of the self (physical, cognitive, social, emotional, etc.) determine outcomes. 
D) the belief that all members of the family influence each other.

Question 12

A researcher decides to investigate change in the nature and formation of friendships in children from ages three to 11. Discuss how both the longitudinal and microgenetic approaches might be used in this study. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of each? Would one method be preferable to the other in this situation?

Accepted Answer

In a cross-sectional design, people who

Question 13

Several studies have found a moderate correlation between the amount of violence watched on TV and aggression; i.e., the more televised violence children watch, the more aggressive they are. The correlation most consistent with these findings is

Accepted Answer

A) 0.00. 
B) + 0.40. 
C) - 0.10. 
D) - 0.40. 
A) 0.00. 
B) + 0.40. 
C) - 0.10. 
D) - 0.40.

Question 14

Changes during development that are orderly, patterned, and enduring are described as

Accepted Answer

A) systematic. 
B) immutable. 
C) randomized. 
D) self-directed. 
A) systematic. 
B) immutable. 
C) randomized. 
D) self-directed.

Question 15

Identify three potential shortcomings of structured interviews and questionnaires in obtaining information about development.

Accepted Answer

1. Social desirability bias: In structur

Question 16

Random assignment in an experiment means that

Accepted Answer

A) participants get to choose their treatment group. 
B) smart children get placed into one group, and the rest get placed in another group. 
C) each child has an equal chance of being placed in any treatment group. 
D) parents state their preferences for placement of their children into groups. 
A) participants get to choose their treatment group. 
B) smart children get placed into one group, and the rest get placed in another group. 
C) each child has an equal chance of being placed in any treatment group. 
D) parents state their preferences for placement of their children into groups.

Question 17

A developmental researcher tells colleagues, "I regard each child to be a unique individual, unlike any other; thus I use the ____ research method."

Accepted Answer

A) structured interview 
B) questionnaire 
C) correlational 
D) clinical 
A) structured interview 
B) questionnaire 
C) correlational 
D) clinical

Question 18

The fact that plasticity applies to children's development implies that

Accepted Answer

A) most developmental traits are biologically determined. 
B) parents' influence on the developing child is minimal. 
C) children born in the same year are members of a cohort. 
D) predictions based on developmental principles can be imprecise. 
A) most developmental traits are biologically determined. 
B) parents' influence on the developing child is minimal. 
C) children born in the same year are members of a cohort. 
D) predictions based on developmental principles can be imprecise.

Question 19

The principle of converging evidence means that

Accepted Answer

A) researchers search for the best single method to study a particular topic. 
B) several methods applied to a topic should give consistent results. 
C) careful research will avoid error. 
D) only experiments should be done to get valid results. 
A) researchers search for the best single method to study a particular topic. 
B) several methods applied to a topic should give consistent results. 
C) careful research will avoid error. 
D) only experiments should be done to get valid results.

Question 20

Distinguish an experiment from a natural (quasi-) experiment.

Accepted Answer

The basic experimental method requires t

Define the term "theory," and explain how the adequacy of a theory is assessed.

Briefly design a cross-sectional comparison, a longitudinal comparison, and a sequential comparison, noting essential elements of each.

Researchers seek parents' advance permission for their children to participate in a study. This is the principle of research ethics called

CONTINUITY is to DISCONTINUITY as _ is to _.

The research goal of description is summarized as,

Suppose that the plasticity principle did NOT apply to development; if this were true, it would imply that

In an experiment, the factor that measures the child's response or behavior is called the ____ variable.

____ is a process by which our experiences produce relatively permanent changes in our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

What are "diary studies," and how are they used?

Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget favored this method in his developmental research with children:

The holistic perspective of development is a dominant theme today, around which the text is organized. This view emphasizes

Several studies have found a moderate correlation between the amount of violence watched on TV and aggression; i.e., the more televised violence children watch, the more aggressive they are. The correlation most consistent with these findings is

Changes during development that are orderly, patterned, and enduring are described as

Identify three potential shortcomings of structured interviews and questionnaires in obtaining information about development.

Random assignment in an experiment means that

A developmental researcher tells colleagues, "I regard each child to be a unique individual, unlike any other; thus I use the ____ research method."

The fact that plasticity applies to children's development implies that

The principle of converging evidence means that

Distinguish an experiment from a natural (quasi-) experiment.

Hereditary Influences on Development

Prenatal Development and Birth

Infancy

Physical Development: the Brain, the Body, Motor Skills, and Sexual Development

Cognitive Development: Piagets Theory and Vygotskys Sociocultural Viewpoint

Cognitive Development: Information-Processing Perspectives

Intelligence: Measuring Mental Performance

Development of Language and Communication Skills

Emotional Development, Temperament, and Attachment

Development of the Self-Concept

Sex Differences and Gender-Role Development

Aggression, Altruism, and Moral Development

The Context of Development I: the Family

The Context of Development

Filters

Exam 1: Introduction to Developmental Psychology and Its Research Strategies

Define the term "theory," and explain how the adequacy of a theory is assessed.

Briefly design a cross-sectional comparison, a longitudinal comparison, and a sequential comparison, noting essential elements of each.

Researchers seek parents' advance permission for their children to participate in a study. This is the principle of research ethics called

CONTINUITY is to DISCONTINUITY as _____ is to _____.

The research goal of description is summarized as,

Suppose that the plasticity principle did NOT apply to development; if this were true, it would imply that

In an experiment, the factor that measures the child's response or behavior is called the ____ variable.

____ is a process by which our experiences produce relatively permanent changes in our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

What are "diary studies," and how are they used?

Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget favored this method in his developmental research with children:

The holistic perspective of development is a dominant theme today, around which the text is organized. This view emphasizes

Several studies have found a moderate correlation between the amount of violence watched on TV and aggression; i.e., the more televised violence children watch, the more aggressive they are. The correlation most consistent with these findings is

Changes during development that are orderly, patterned, and enduring are described as

Identify three potential shortcomings of structured interviews and questionnaires in obtaining information about development.

Random assignment in an experiment means that

A developmental researcher tells colleagues, "I regard each child to be a unique individual, unlike any other; thus I use the ____ research method."

The fact that plasticity applies to children's development implies that

The principle of converging evidence means that

Distinguish an experiment from a natural (quasi-) experiment.

Hereditary Influences on Development

Prenatal Development and Birth

Infancy

Physical Development: the Brain, the Body, Motor Skills, and Sexual Development

Cognitive Development: Piagets Theory and Vygotskys Sociocultural Viewpoint

Cognitive Development: Information-Processing Perspectives

Intelligence: Measuring Mental Performance

Development of Language and Communication Skills

Emotional Development, Temperament, and Attachment

Development of the Self-Concept

Sex Differences and Gender-Role Development

Aggression, Altruism, and Moral Development

The Context of Development I: the Family

The Context of Development

Filters

CONTINUITY is to DISCONTINUITY as _ is to _.