Deck 1: Making a Difference in the Lives of Children and Adolescents

Question 1

Dr. Penrose is studying the reflexes that infants exhibit at or shortly after birth. He speculates about the ways in which these reflexes might be, or perhaps were at one time, important for infants' survival. Dr. Penrose's approach illustrates which one of the following theoretical perspectives?

A) biological
B) behaviorist
C) sociocultural
D) developmental systems

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which one of the following best illustrates a qualitative (rather than quantitative) change in development?

A) Between ages 11 and 13, Bunny grew 4 inches taller and gained 15 pounds.
B) After attending last night's concert, Penny changed her mind about who her favorite band is.
C) Micha used to be puzzled by statements such as "Look before you leap" but now understands their underlying meanings.
D) Mason has a much larger vocabulary than he did last year.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Leanna believes that children have a natural curiosity that makes them eager to learn. LeRoy believes that children's motivation to learn is fostered by good nutrition, positive relationships with other people, and opportunities to explore a complex environment. This difference in viewpoints best reflects the issue of:

A) Nature vs. nurture
B) Universality vs. diversity
C) Progression vs. regression
D) Quantitative vs. qualitative change

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Three of the following statements are true regarding the interplay between heredity and environment in child development. Which statement is false?

A) Certain environmental experiences may have a greater impact at some ages than at others.
B) Inherited predispositions have a large influence in some aspects of development, whereas environment is more influential in other aspects.
C) Children's inherited tendencies may make them more or less susceptible to particular environmental conditions.
D) Heredity is more influential when children live in extremely impoverished circumstances than when they have good nutrition and other environmental supports.

Question 5

Which one of the following statements reflects what developmentalists mean by the term maturation?

A) Changes related specifically to children's physical development
B) Changes related specifically to children's emotional development
C) Changes that reflect increasingly appropriate social behavior
D) Developmental changes that are controlled largely by heredity

Question 6

Some developmentalists have proposed stage theories to describe the changes they observe in growing children. By stage, they mean:

A) A worrisome characteristic that temporarily appears in some children's development
B) An episode in which a child acts in ways very different from his or her general personality
C) A period of development in which certain ways of thinking or behaving are typical
D) An age range in which most youngsters are likely to exhibit irritable or unruly behavior

Question 7

The concept of universality in development refers to:

A) Developmental progressions shared by virtually all human beings
B) Developmental progressions that differ from one individual to another
C) A feeling of "oneness" with the earth that many children have in early childhood
D) Differences among children that can be traced to a particular historical era or to unique cultural events

Question 8

Which one of the following best illustrates a quantitative (rather than qualitative) change in development?

A) Five-year-old Mercedes has finally learned how to carry a tune.
B) As a 15-year-old, LaRue has started to grow facial hair.
C) Beth used to be shy around her peers, but now she's very outgoing and makes friends easily.
D) Robert knows many more addition facts than he did a few months ago.

Question 9

Many developmental theorists are interested in the influence of "nature versus nurture" in child development. The term nurture refers to:

A) A child's characteristics at birth
B) Genetically controlled maturational changes
C) Environmental conditions that influence development.
D) The loving bonds that exist between children and their parents

Question 10

In developmental psychology, a theory can best be characterized as:

A) A description of the results of a particular research study
B) A statement that describes how a particular variable affects children's development
C) An objective measure of how a child behaves in a particular situation
D) A general explanation of how and why development occurs

Question 11

A sensitive period in development can best be described as:

A) An approach to teaching or parenting that takes a child's developmental level into account
B) A stage of development in which children display unpredictable (and often inappropriate) emotional responses
C) An age range during which environmental conditions are most likely to have an effect on a particular aspect of a child's development
D) A period during children's cognitive development in which they are highly distractible and so are frequently off task in the classroom

Question 12

Which one of the following theoretical perspectives most emphasizes genetic and maturational contributions to children's development?

A) psychodynamic
B) biological
C) cognitive-developmental
D) developmental systems

Question 13

Which one of the following statements best illustrates a universal in development as developmentalists define the term?

A) In their pretend play, girls tend to enact domestic scenarios (e.g., "house"), whereas boys are more likely to enact superhero scenarios (e.g., "Batman").
B) Children in some cultures learn that it's rude and disrespectful for a child to initiate a conversation with an adult.
C) Young children show similar patterns in their language development regardless of the specific language they learn.
D) Children are most likely to appreciate the importance of reading and writing if the people around them read and write frequently.

Question 14

Many psychologists are interested in the influence of "nature versus nurture" in child development. Which one of the following examples illustrates the influence of nature?

A) Fourteen-year-old Deborah is starting to grow pubic hair, and she's just had her first menstrual period.
B) Two-year-old Sophia is learning to speak two languages because her parents speak Spanish at home but everyone at her preschool speaks English.
C) Ten-year-old Bart loves being outdoors. As far back as he can remember, his family has gone camping almost every weekend during the summer months.
D) Eight-year-old Yannie goes to his Aunt Jane's house after school every day. As he watches television, Jane gives him as much candy and other sweets as he wants, and so he is becoming increasingly overweight.

Question 15

Which one of the following best illustrates physical development as a developmental domain?

A) Mark can watch a basketball player and critique his movements.
B) Tammy can hold and use a pencil more easily than she could last year.
C) Timothy is increasingly able to understand other people's points of view.
D) Thomas learns how to count by practicing counting with a variety of household objects.

Question 16

Aaron has always had an irritable temperament. As a baby, he often cried and was difficult to soothe. As a toddler, he threw temper tantrums if he didn't immediately get something he wanted. As a preschooler, he was moody and unpredictable. He's often so ornery that other people-even family members-simply don't want to be around him very much. Which one of the following principles best describes this situation?

A) Children's natural tendencies affect their environment.
B) The relative effects of heredity and environment vary for different developmental domains.
C) Inherited tendencies make children more or less responsive to particular environmental influences.
D) For some aspects of development, when certain environmental conditions are present is just as important as whether they are present.

Question 17

Which one of the following best illustrates social-emotional development as a developmental domain?

A) Pamela has decided to get a fashionable new haircut.
B) Annika cries in pain when she steps on a sharp pebble.
C) Carlos is learning how to play cooperatively with his preschool classmates.
D) Thomas used to think that the earth was flat, but now he knows that it's round.

Question 18

In her book Genie: A Psycholinguistic Study of a Modern-Day "Wild Child," Susan Curtiss (1977) described a girl (whom Curtiss called "Genie" to protect her privacy) who had been raised with little exposure to language. Convinced that his daughter was retarded and unmanageable, Genie's father kept her almost constantly confined to a small room in the house. Genie's life was one of physical abuse, neglect, and isolation from the outside world. The family rarely spoke to her, and she had no access to either television or radio. Finally, when Genie was 13, she, her mother, and an older brother left the home that Genie's father had made so unbearable. Shortly after, social services authorities became aware of Genie's situation and hospitalized her for severe malnutrition. At the time, Genie had only two words in her speaking vocabulary and understood fewer than 20 words. In more nurturing care over the next 4¹/₂ years, Genie gradually learned many more words, but she never did acquire the grammar of a typical 4- or 5-year-old. This situation best illustrates _______ in child development.

A) universality
B) a sensitive period
C) the role of maturation
D) the role of temperament

Question 19

Many psychologists are concerned about whether certain aspects of development are marked by universality or diversity. Which one of the following statements illustrates diversity?

A) Children almost always first sit, then walk, then run.
B) Children think in increasingly logical ways as they get older.
C) By interacting with their physical environment all children learn that things always fall down, never up, when released.
D) On average, teenagers who live in middle-income neighborhoods have better study skills than those who live in low-income neighborhoods.

Question 20

Only one of the following statements is true about stage theories. Which one?

A) As children make the transition from one developmental stage to the next, they are apt to display characteristics of both stages for a short period.
B) The order in which children progress through various stages of development differs from one child to the next.
C) Stage theories largely describe physical development, rather than cognitive or social-emotional development.
D) Increasingly, developmentalists are realizing that development is characterized by discrete stages rather than by gradual trends.

Question 21

Which one of the following statements best describes a cognitive-developmental perspective of child development?

A) Children are naturally disposed to think about their environment in particular ways; in a sense, some basic knowledge about the world is "pre-wired."
B) Children actively try to make sense of the world from their experiences with the environment.
C) Initially, children unconsciously develop a rather complex and confused view of the world, but this view becomes simpler and more straightforward as time goes on.
D) Children repeatedly parrot their parents' and teachers' beliefs, eventually adopting these beliefs as their own "knowledge."

Question 22

Social learning theory can best be characterized as being concerned with:

A) Acquisition of communication skills
B) Acquisition of socially appropriate behaviors
C) How children learn through observing what others do
D) The influence of large groups on children's thoughts and behaviors

Question 23

Imagine that you are a teacher. The students in your class have frequent mood swings, and they worry constantly about what others might think about them. They are also just beginning to think idealistically about how the world might be better than it actually is. Your students are most likely in the developmental period of:

A) Early childhood
B) Middle childhood
C) Early adolescence
D) Late adolescence

Question 24

If we take a developmental systems approach in looking at the effects of formal education on children's development, we must conclude that the quality of children's classroom experiences is influenced:

A) Primarily by what teachers do in the classroom
B) Primarily by how children think about classroom material
C) Both by classroom events and by what children themselves do
D) Largely by things that have happened to children in the past

Question 25

Which one of the following best characterizes infancy as a developmental period?

A) Fearfulness
B) An urge to explore
C) Keen memory for day-to-day events
D) Minimal brain in the first year growth

Question 26

Ms. Currat is a preschool teacher. Her students are likely to be:

A) Developing language skills at a rapid rate
B) Able to play effectively in organized sports
C) Able to control their impulses easily
D) Reluctant to play with one another

Question 27

If you were interested in how culture influences the development of children's thinking, you would be most likely to consider _______ approach to cognitive development.

A) Lev Vygotsky's
B) a social learning
C) a developmental systems
D) Jean Piaget's

Question 28

One characteristic common to all behaviorist theories of development is an emphasis on:

A) The effect of the environment on development
B) The negative emotional repercussions of punishment
C) The importance of each and every event in a person's life
D) How one learns by observing the actions of others

Question 29

After teaching kindergarten for fifteen years, Ms. Donnellen will be teaching third grade next year. She knows she must rethink her approach to teaching, because kindergartners and third graders tend to think very differently. Ms. Donnellen is taking a _______ approach to child development.

A) psychodynamic
B) developmental systems
C) cognitive-developmental
D) social learning

Question 30

You read a research article in which a psychologist emphasizes the significant impact of early social experiences on children's later characteristics and behaviors. Your best guess would be that the author of the article takes a _______ approach to development.

A) biological
B) developmental systems
C) sociocultural
D) psychodynamic

Question 31

A teacher says to you, "I never believe my students have learned something new until I see their behavior change." Without knowing anything else about this teacher, you can guess that he or she agrees with the _______ perspective of development.

A) behaviorist
B) biological
C) cognitive process
D) psychodynamic

Question 32

Mr. Milligan rewards his first graders with scratch-and-sniff stickers when they exhibit appropriate behavior in the classroom. Mr. Milligan's classroom management strategy is most consistent with which one of the following theoretical perspectives of development?

A) developmental systems
B) cognitive process
C) cognitive-developmental
D) behaviorist

Question 33

A preschool teacher thinks it is very important for children to participate as much as possible in real-life adult tasks-baking cookies, constructing napkin holders with wood, and so on-with whatever guidance and support they need to accomplish the tasks successfully. This teacher is taking a _______ approach to child development.

A) cognitive process
B) psychodynamic
C) sociocultural
D) maturational

Question 34

Which one of these is central to a cognitive process approach to child development?

A) How children learn from observing others
B) How children learn from what others tell them
C) What consequences follow children's behaviors
D) How children's thinking changes over time

Question 35

You attend a workshop in which a science educator proposes that children's understanding of science progresses through a series of qualitatively distinct stages. Without knowing anything else about this individual, you might reasonably guess that he or she takes a _______ approach to child development.

A) developmental systems
B) cognitive-developmental
C) sociocultural
D) psychodynamic

Question 36

Ms. Luo is puzzled by Amanda's fearful reactions to men. Amanda is generally a very friendly child, and so her fear of men seems out of character. Ms. Luo wonders if Amanda may have had a traumatic experience with her father or with another man when she was younger. Ms. Luo's hypothesis illustrates a _______ approach to child development.

A) psychodynamic
B) biological
C) sociocultural
D) cognitive process

Question 37

Which one of the following statements best describes a developmental systems perspective of child development?

A) Children's growing knowledge structures are at first relatively separate and isolated, but they increasingly become integrated and interactive.
B) Children are influenced by their environment, but so, too, do they influence the environment in which they grow up.
C) Traumatizing events in the early years can have a lifelong impact on children's emotional well-being.
D) Developmental progressions in the cognitive, emotional, and social domains are interrelated throughout childhood and adolescence, such that advancements in one domain invariably influence development in other domains as well.

Question 38

Ms. Redshaw asks 15-year-old DeWayne to describe his thoughts as he works on a math problem that is giving him trouble. Ms. Redshaw's approach is most consistent with a _______ perspective of development.

A) developmental systems
B) cognitive process
C) sociocultural
D) behaviorist

Question 39

Which one of the following statements is most accurate regarding the theoretical perspectives of development described in the textbook?

A) They have all been proven to be true.
B) Eventually researchers will determine which one of them is correct.
C) Any single one of them can be used to explain virtually every aspect of children's behavior.
D) Each one provides a somewhat different angle from which to look at children's development.

Question 40

Imagine that you are a teacher. The students in your class are now, for the first time, able to give sustained attention to academic tasks. They have also begun to place great importance on friendships, especially those with same-sex peers. Your students are most likely in the developmental period of:

A) Early childhood
B) Middle childhood
C) Early adolescence
D) Late adolescence

Question 41

Mr. Rivera is a teacher who adheres largely to behaviorist and social learning perspectives in his classroom. Describe at least three different things he might do in his classroom that would be consistent with these perspectives.

Question 42

There is a large drop-out rate among seniors in a district's high school. To encourage retention and graduation rates to increase, which of the following would
Be most effective?

A) Increase the amount of homework to be done each night.
B) Initiate a career path program in partnership with a local university.
C) Institute a rigorous program of standardized testing.
D) Decrease expectations for students who express a desire to drop out.

Question 43

What is the most appropriate way that adults can support a child's curiosity?

A) Show them what to do in a step-by-step manner.
B) Encourage participation in structured play and sports activities.
C) Encourage exploration along with challenging educational experiences.
D) Make choices for them because you know what will be beneficial.

Question 44

Which of the following statements is the strongest argument to advocate for the importance of play in the life of a child?

A) Play is recommended by those who work with children.
B) Play is something that children like to do.
C) Play is a natural part of childhood.
D) Play is a way to explore the world and learn to solve problems.

Question 45

Virtually all aspects of development are clearly influenced by both nature and nurture. Thinking specifically about physical growth and development, describe at least one way in which nature influences development, and at least one way in which nurture influences development.

Question 46

The textbook recommends that teachers and others who work with children and adolescents take an eclectic approach to understanding development, using a variety of theoretical approaches. Explain why an eclectic approach would be most beneficial.

Question 47

Mr. Walsh is chairing a committee that will be exploring effective ways of addressing the needs of the middle school students. He wants to present suggestions to the committee of strategies and practices that will enhance the motivation and address the particular needs of students who are in middle school. Discuss specific strategies and practices that will address these developmental needs and enhance student motivation.
Developmental Trends Table
The table below describes information collected about the experiences of five youngsters that reflect one or more underlying developmental strengths. For each of these experiences, the table identifies youngsters' developmental strengths, an implication for building on these strengths, or both. Apply what you've learned about the value of identifying children's strengths to fill in the empty cells in the table.
Identifying Developmental Strengths in Youngsters

Question 48

An established pre-school is now adding the care of infants and toddlers to their school. What practices should they implement order to provide the best development for these children?

Question 49

You see a picture of a classroom without students in it. You see a large brightly-colored alphabet rug on the floor. There are writing stations, math stations,
Listening stations, and art stations located around the room. Books are prominently
Featured throughout the room. Which grade, most likely, would be learning in
This room?

A) First grade
B) Fourth grade
C) Sixth grade
D) Eighth grade

Question 50

Some aspects of development seem to follow universal patterns of change, while other aspects show great diversity across individuals. Describe at least one aspect of development that seems to follow a universal pattern, and at least one aspect of development that reflects diversity across individuals.

Question 51

The adults in your community want to know how to promote their children's emotional well-being. What is your best advice to them to accomplish this?

A) Listen and respond to each child's needs.
B) Share all details about family life.
C) Shelter them from bad news.
D) Let them know that everything will be alright.

Question 52

Although Jimmy is generally a good math student, he is having a great deal of trouble with word problems. His teacher, Ms. Marx, wonders how she can best help him. Which theoretical perspective would you recommend that Ms. Marx use as an aid for thinking about how to help Jimmy: a biological, behaviorist, or cognitive-process approach? Justify your answer.

Question 53

Three of the following statements reflect developmentally appropriate practice. Which one does not?

A) Look for and build on children's existing talents.
B) Work hard to help children acquire more advanced ways of thinking as quickly as possible.
C) Keep in mind that the "weaknesses" of children and adolescence may serve a developmental purpose.
D) Use the universals of development to form general expectations about children and adolescents, but expect diversity at every turn.

Question 54

A middle school faculty and staff are considering an effective way to ensure that all students are completing their assignments. Which of the following would be most effective with students who are in middle school?

A) Phone calls to families when assignments are not submitted
B) A chart system with stickers for completed assignments
C) A teacher mentor who keeps in touch with each individual student
D) An uncompleted assignment is assigned a zero for the grade

Question 55

What is the most appropriate way to advance children's thinking in your class?

A) Set specific goals and provide a moderate amount of support.
B) Set the same high expectations for all children.
C) Set a general goal and allow the children to accomplish it by themselves.
D) Set many high goals and expect all children to reach them.

Question 56

A ninth grade math teacher is searching for ways to make math more engaging for her students. Which of the following would be most appropriate to motivate her students to learn more about math?

A) Assign worksheets that will be completed independently.
B) Ask students to bring in ways that math is used in everyday life.
C) Complete the odd-numbered math problems from the textbook.
D) Present detailed lectures and require the students to take notes.

Question 57

You are asked to give advice for developmentally appropriate practice for a new child caregiver who will be working with infants. Which of the following advice will be most appropriate to give to this infant caregiver?

A) Design a stimulating environment with opportunities for exploration.
B) Individualize reading instruction.
C) Set up stations for small group work.
D) Bake cookies from recipes brought from home.

Question 58

Imagine that you are a teacher. The students in your class believe they should be making most of their own decisions these days, and many are starting to think seriously about what kinds of careers to pursue. Your students are most likely in the developmental period of:

A) Early childhood
B) Middle childhood
C) Early adolescence
D) Late adolescence

Question 59

What is the most effective ways to incorporate the diverse cultures and values of your students in meaningful ways?

A) Have a class multicultural food fair.
B) Read folktales from countries around the world.
C) Have students write family histories and share with the class.
D) Have a cultural diversity month with guest speakers.

Question 60

A kindergarten teacher has a student who consistently cries each morning when brought to school by his family. What would be the most developmentally
Appropriate way to ease this student's arrival to school so that he can confidently
Start his day in class?

A) Advise the family to drop him off and leave immediately.
B) Ask an older student to walk the kindergarten student to class.
C) Shower the student with attention.
D) Routinely have the student say goodbye to his family and start an activity.

Question 61

Implications in Late Adolescence: Let the adolescents have their say. Ask them to make a presentation to the school's accountability team but to do so in a way that does not offend any individual teachers or staff members.

Question 62

Implications in Infancy: Comfort the baby by holding her. Advise family members of the child's distress, and ask if a doctor has recommended physical care for the baby.

Question 63

Developmental Concepts in Middle Childhood: The children understand and respect the rules of the game. They are motivated to follow-and to see that others follow-these rules. Their developmental strengths are their appreciation for rules and their emerging ability to work out their different interpretations of the game.