Deck 3: Understanding and Using Theories

Question 1

Which of the following is not true of theories?

A) Theories are explanations of events, observations, or life experiences.
B) Theories provide continuity between past and present events.
C) Theories provide ways to predict future events.
D) A strong, complex theory can explain all of development.

Answer 1

A strong, complex theory can explain all of development.

Question 2

Adult commitment to the well-being of the child is a key feature of which of the following theories?

A) Transactional theory
B) Bioecological theory
C) Relationship-based theory
D) Maslow's hierarchy of human needs

Answer 2

Relationship-based theory

Question 3

Ecobiodevelopmental theory asserts that:

A) early experiences create the structure of the brain
B) genes are the dominant determinant of brain development
C) early interventions cannot overcome the power of poverty in brain development
D) improving early nutrition could break the cycle of poverty

Answer 3

early experiences create the structure of the brain

Question 4

Transactional theory emphasizes that:

A) the well-being of a child is dependent on events and forces far beyond the child's own experiences
B) separation and individuation are important aspects of development
C) infants/toddlers and their parents are constantly affecting each other
D) children construct their knowledge about the world

Question 5

Dara's parents both work for a corporation that expects them to work 50 hours a week. Dara's child care center is close to her parents' worksite and now stays open longer each day to accommodate the needs of the families who work in the corporation. Because of the center's responsiveness to them, Dara's parents experience less stress and Dara has thrived. Which theory best explains why Dara has thrived?

A) Transactional theory
B) Bioecological theory
C) Relationship-based theory
D) Maslow's hierarchy of human needs

Question 6

A teacher applying Maslow's hierarchy of human needs will be concerned first about:

A) a child's sense of trust and mistrust
B) a child's ego-integrity
C) a child's sense of safety
D) whether children have a sense of belonging

Question 7

Because of attachment theory we now understand that:

A) children use an adult's presence to feel safe enough to explore
B) at 18 months of age, a child will the difference between himself and the outside world
C) a desire for mastery is an important human need
D) children develop schemas as they explore the world

Question 8

Morris, an 8-month-old, was exploring a toy truck. First, he tasted it. Then he banged it on the ground. Soon, he tried to throw it. Morris is using:

A) the zone of proximal development
B) differentiation
C) schemas
D) symbolic representation

Question 9

Paul knew what a bird and a squirrel was. Then he saw a flying squirrel for the first time in his life. He yelled, "look at that bird." This is an example of:

A) disequilibrium
B) accommodation
C) zone of proximal development
D) assimilation

Question 10

Sociocultural theory emphasizes:

A) that a child learns independently from adults
B) the role of the adult in teaching or supporting the child's learning
C) that the child constructs his own knowledge
D) that attachment is a key component of development

Question 11

Maria usually chose to put together the puzzles with four pieces. One day she watched how her friend put an 8-piece puzzle together. After that she always chose the 8 piece puzzles and put them together successfully. This is an example of peer:

A) scaffolding
B) symbolic representation
C) disequilibrium
D) assimilation

Question 12

A teacher is trying to apply Erikson's theory to her organization of her toddler classroom. While she will do all of the following to meet the needs of the children, which of the following is an application of Erikson's theory?

A) She strives for an attachment bond with each child.
B) She sets up her environment so that children can develop autonomy.
C) She pays attention to children's zone of proximal development.
D) She first develops trust and then supports autonomy.

Question 13

The teacher in a program noticed even young infants paid most attention to objects, people, and significantly differing amounts. What theory guided her thinking?

A) Social/cognitive
B) Social cultural
C) Core knowledge
D) Constructionism

Question 14

Kuhl's perceptual mapping theory of language acquisition proposes:

A) as infants listen to language, they figure out the structure of the sounds, words and sentences of their home language
B) infants are so ready to soak up language they could learn it from a television
C) parentese is necessary for children learning language
D) infants can figure out language just by listening, without ever making sounds

Question 15

The traditional theory of motor development proposes an ages and stages progression. Recently, though, Karen Adolph (2008) emphasizes that infants and toddlers learning to move is:

A) an amazing feat
B) a product of good teaching
C) a process of learning
D) a result of innate biological abilities

Question 16

A teacher understanding a child's need to "learn to learn to move" would:

A) expect an infant to follow a predictable series of movements in a predictable timeline
B) know that movement development needs no encouragement
C) not expect an infant to use earlier postural or spatial knowledge as he/she tries a new mode of movement
D) wait for the family to discover new motor skills before reporting them

Question 17

A relationship-based program would be structured to assure that infants and toddlers:

A) create relationships with everyone in the program
B) stay with one teacher and a small group of children over a long period of time
C) focus on their relationship with the teacher rather than develop peer relationships
D) have a limited variety of interactions with many teachers

Question 18

A teacher using the interpersonal development theory knows her interactions with the infant are building:

A) his sense of identity
B) his ability to explore
C) his interest in objects
D) his sense of space

Question 19

The New Science of Learning theory emphasizes which of the following?

A) Learning is a decision-making process.
B) Learning uses mirror neurons and is social.
C) Learning is computational and uses core knowledge.
D) Learning is both interpsychological and intrapsychological.

Question 20

Infants and toddlers are active learners who co-construct language with adults. This is primarily an example of which of the following theories?

A) Sociocultural theory
B) Dynamic systems theory
C) Social cognitive/learning theory
D) Social interaction theory

Question 21

When a program is relationship-based, how does it incorporate theories such as transactional, attachment, language mapping, and learning to learn to move?

Question 22

If you were designing an infant/toddler program based on constructivist theory of cognitive development, what components would you include as "learning experiences?"

Question 23

How would you also use sociocultural theory in this program?