Deck 1: Basic Concepts and Methods

Question 1

The philosophical approach of empiricism held that differences in human capabilities are due to

A) genetics.
B) original sin.
C) innate goodness.
D) experience.

Answer 1

experience.

Question 2

The philosophies of Augustine and Rousseau agree that development is a conflict between internal and external events. Which of the following best represents the major disagreement between these two world views?

A) The environment is an important positive factor in development.
B) Human beings are born with predisposed natures.
C) Children are not blank slates.
D) Full potential can be reached by every child.

Answer 2

The environment is an important positive factor in development.

Question 3

Christian doctrine dominated Western philosophy before the seventeenth century. According to this view of human nature, children were born

A) with innate goodness.
B) as blank slates.
C) with an immoral nature.
D) with the traits of their parents.

Answer 3

with an immoral nature.

Question 4

Keesha has two children. She spends many hours engaged with them and their activities. She has strict rules including bedtimes and TV restrictions. With which philosophical tradition does Keesha's parenting style agree?

A) Innate goodness
B) Original sin
C) Blank slate
D) Biological determinism

Question 5

The first scientific study of child development was conducted by

A) Darwin.
B) Hall.
C) Rousseau.
D) Gesell.

Question 6

The Planning Committee for a new preschool held many discussions centered on the underlying philosophy which would direct the program's structure and activities. It was agreed that children are naturally good and will involve themselves in positive growth activities. With which philosopher did the committee agree?

A) Rousseau
B) Locke
C) Augustine
D) Hume

Question 7

Darwin wrote that evolution occurred by natural selection. Human development he concluded occurs due to

A) biological factors.
B) environmental factors.
C) innate goodness.
D) the interaction of biological and environmental processes.

Question 8

Contemporary Developmental Science employs a multidisciplinary perspective. Research and theories from many fields, such as psychology, anthropology, economics, and biology, are employed. Which of the following topics unifies these different approaches in their study of development?

A) The effect of culture on development
B) Age-related changes
C) The genetic basis of development
D) Unique personality characteristics

Question 9

Darwin proposed that the scientific study of children would be useful for

A) improving educational opportunities.
B) tracking individual development.
C) understanding the evolution of the human species.
D) creating norms.

Question 10

Which of the following periods of development did G. S. Hall introduce?

A) Toddlerhood
B) Early childhood
C) Puberty
D) Adolescence

Question 11

The establishment of developmental norms was important for the field as norms demonstrated

A) that the theory of evolution was accurate.
B) the inaccuracy of the doctrine of original sin.
C) age-related changes.
D) the importance of experience.

Question 12

Norms are best employed when assessing milestones in children's________ domain.

A) physical
B) cognitive
C) socioemotional
D) personal

Question 13

Conscientious parents should use norms as___ when assessing their child's development.

A) absolutes
B) gauges
C) tests
D) hypotheses

Question 14

The idea of stages implies

A) qualitative change.
B) quantitative change.
C) continuity of development.
D) linear additions of capabilities.

Question 15

Peer interactions are a topic of particular interest for researchers studying the_____ domain.

A) physical
B) cognitive
C) socioemotional
D) maturational

Question 16

The only period of development with clear biological boundaries is

A) the prenatal period.
B) infancy.
C) early childhood.
D) adolescence.

Question 17

An example of a developmental change thought to be caused by maturation is

A) walking.
B) reading.
C) riding a bike.
D) dressing oneself.

Question 18

Nature is to _____ as nurture is to_____

A) maturation; environment.
B) social; genetic.
C) genetic; parents.
D) biology; environment.

Question 19

Contemporary developmental researchers acknowledge the importance of the internal model of experience when considering nurture factors of development. The internal model of experience would be studied as part of which domain?

A) Physical
B) Cognitive
C) Socioemotional
D) Experiential

Question 20

Several periods of development do not have clear biological boundaries. Rather, their limits are determined by

A) cognition.
B) peer interaction.
C) parental expectations.
D) culture.

Question 21

The beginning of adolescence is marked by puberty. What marks the end of puberty and the beginning of adulthood?

A) Age 16 - the ability to obtain a driver's license
B) Age 18 - criminal accountability
C) Age 21 - the ability to purchase alcohol
D) No set event marks the end of adolescence

Question 22

Alberto has just learned to read. This is an example of which domain?

A) Physical
B) Cognitive
C) Socioemotional
D) Maturational

Question 23

Changes in personality, emotions, and relationships with others are studied as part of which domain?

A) Physical
B) Cognitive
C) Socioemotional
D) Personal

Question 24

If developmental change is seen as quantitative only, which of the following statements is accurate?

A) Age-related development can be explained by stages.
B) Age-related development is due to changes in amount.
C) Age-related development is due to changes in kind.
D) Age-related changes are predetermined.

Question 25

Mr. Lopez is a second grade teacher. A parent of one's of his students insists that her child, Beatrice, be taught algebra. Mr. Lopez argues that although Beatrice has above average math scores for second grade, the ability to learn algebra involves comprehensive abilities not yet available to most second graders. Mr. Lopez would be advocating which of the following ideas of development?

A) Continuity of development
B) Inborn biases
C) Discontinuity of development
D) Quantitative development

Question 26

Gradual is to _____ as emergence is to

A) continuity; discontinuity.
B) stages; inborn biases.
C) continuity; inborn biases.
D) stages; discontinuity.

Question 27

An example of a normative age-graded change is

A) writing.
B) self dressing.
C) empathy.
D) puberty.

Question 28

In future studies of life experiences on development, the influence of 9/11 will be considered a

A) normative age-graded change.
B) atypical development.
C) critical period.
D) normative history-graded change.

Question 29

A synonym for cohort is

A) classmate.
B) sibling.
C) generation.
D) same age peer.

Question 30

Kim just turned 6 and enrolled in first grade. This is an example of a

A) normative age-graded change.
B) maturation.
C) normative history-graded change.
D) social clock.

Question 31

A _____ is a limited time in development when an individual is open to specific experiences in the environment.

A) social clock
B) critical period
C) normative history-graded changes
D) sensitive period

Question 32

Reading skills are acquired by some children before they enter formal school, by other children in kindergarten and first grade, but are not achieved by some children until third and fourth grades. Acquiring reading skills is an example of a

A) normative age-graded change.
B) critical period.
C) quantitative change.
D) sensitive period.

Question 33

Patterson has employed the ecological approach to examine the roots of antisocial behaviors. His research indicates that early inappropriate behaviors can cascade and influence behavior in a number of settings. Which of the following behaviors did Patterson identify as an antecedent for later antisocial behaviors?

A) Peer rejection
B) Difficult in school
C) Aggression
D) Noncompliance

Question 34

Impoverished environments do not always result in negative developmental outcomes. Some children who are raised in such conditions exhibit high achievement levels. These children are referred to as

A) resilient.
B) compliant.
C) vulnerable.
D) exceptional.

Question 35

Dr. Ahmed's current study is investigating Internet use by young adolescents in the United States. He is concerned with the generalizability of his results. Dr. Ahmed should

A) publish his results as quickly as possible.
B) include boys in his sample as they are the prime internet users.
C) include a wide range of young teens of both genders, many ethnic groups and economic levels.
D) change his focus to all adolescents.

Question 36

Case histories are descriptive methods in which an individual child is studied at length. This method is most appropriate to employ when

A) determining the influence of TV watching on aggression.
B) assessing atypical development.
C) studying effective memory strategies when learning the American presidents.
D) setting developmental norms.

Question 37

Although the findings of case histories are not generalizable, they are useful beyond the studied individual in that

A) they may be the basis for future hypotheses.
B) the findings may have been published.
C) they are helpful in designing a clinical intervention for the individual.
D) a variety of techniques may have been employed.

Question 38

An increase in the number of multiple births, 5, 6 and even 7 infants, has occurred due to technical advances in assisted fertility. This phenomenon is best studied with which of the following research methods?

A) Naturalistic observation
B) Case study
C) Laboratory observation
D) Experiment

Question 39

When should the naturalistic observation method be employed?

A) When studying unique individuals
B) For experimental results
C) When maximum control is desired
D) For ecological validity

Question 40

Blind observers are employed in research in order to limit the effect of

A) bias.
B) extraneous variables.
C) distractions.
D) resilience.

Question 41

A blind observer study should be employed if

A) there is more than one researcher.
B) there is more than one observer.
C) the observers know the hypotheses.
D) it is the first project done by a researcher.

Question 42

The results of naturalistic observations research can be helpful when designing experimental studies. Which of the following best illustrates how natural observation research can be employed in formulating experimental research?

A) The same sample can be employed.
B) Independent variables can be identified.
C) Generalizability can be determined.
D) Cause-effect relations can be replicated.

Question 43

A recent study conducted by Professor Brightman found that as the number of behavioral infractions committed by a child in the classroom rose, their grades fell. This is an example of a

A) positive correlation.
B) negative correlation.
C) zero correlation.
D) cause and effect relationship.

Question 44

A researcher interested in the toy preferences of preschool children has decided to simulate an actual store. However, she also wishes to maintain some control over the number of choices and the influence of others. She would be best advised to use which of the following research methods?

A) Survey
B) Laboratory observation
C) Naturalistic observation
D) Case history

Question 45

In an experimental study, certain variables are manipulated to determine if they cause changes in the target measure or behavior. This is called the

A) independent variable.
B) dependent variable.
C) control variable.
D) selected variable.

Question 46

Central School District is interested in improving the math scores of the enrolled fourth graders. They have elicited the assistance of Professor Glen. He informs the twenty fourth grade teachers that reviewing basic math facts is crucial to increasing the math scores. They are unconvinced. So, Professor Glen devised an experiment. All of the fourth graders were given the same math test. Then the teachers were randomly assigned to one of four groups. The groups differed on how many minutes per day were spent on reviewing basic math facts. All reviewing was identical and was conducted by completing and self grading of work sheets. The groups were ten minutes, fifteen minutes, twenty minutes, and thirty minutes. This continued for three months. At the end of the three-month period, the students were tested again on the same math test. In this experiment, the time spent reviewing is the

A) control.
B) dependent variable.
C) independent variable.
D) extraneous variable.

Question 47

Central School District is interested in improving the math scores of the enrolled fourth graders. They have elicited the assistance of Professor Glen. He informs the twenty fourth grade teachers that reviewing basic math facts is crucial to increasing the math scores. They are unconvinced. So, Professor Glen devised an experiment. All of the fourth graders were given the same math test. Then the teachers were randomly assigned to one of four groups. The groups differed on how many minutes per day were spent on reviewing basic math facts. All reviewing was identical and was conducted by completing and self grading of work sheets. The groups were ten minutes, fifteen minutes, twenty minutes, and thirty minutes. This continued for three months. At the end of the three-month period, the students were tested again on the same math test. In this experiment, the math score is the

A) control group.
B) dependent variable.
C) independent variable.
D) extraneous variable.

Question 48

In the experimental method, which of the following groups receives the independent variable?

A) Control
B) Independent
C) Dependent
D) Experimental

Question 49

Independent variable is to _____ as dependent variable is to_____ .

A) manipulate; control
B) manipulate; measure
C) measure; test
D) correlational; cause

Question 50

Which of the following best measures cause and effect?

A) Experimental method
B) Case study
C) Correlational method
D) Laboratory observation

Question 51

One of the main components of an experimental study is random assignment of participants to one or more groups. This is an attempt to control for

A) the independent variable.
B) the dependent variable.
C) extraneous variables.
D) correlational variables.

Question 52

A recent study by Dr. Fulani wanted to insure that each participant in the study had an equal chance of being assigned to the experimental groups or the control group. Which of the following is the best method to assign participants?

A) Systematically
B) Their choice
C) Researcher preference
D) Randomly

Question 53

The experimental method allows for causal explanations and maximum control. However, a major limitation of the experimental method is

A) results cannot be replicated.
B) generalizability.
C) extraneous variables.
D) certain variables cannot be ethically manipulated.

Question 54

The dependent variable in an experimental design

A) can change the independent variable.
B) can change age-related variables.
C) can change only as a result of change in the independent variable.
D) can be studied free of the independent variable.

Question 55

In cases where random assignment cannot be accomplished and the ethical manipulation of variables is not possible, a researcher must rely on which of the following research designs?

A) Experimental
B) Quasi-experimental
C) Manipulative
D) Sequential

Question 56

Repeated measures over time of the same participants is which of the following designs?

A) Cross-sectional
B) Manipulative
C) Systematic
D) Longitudinal

Question 57

A personality inventory was given to 100 8-years olds in 1998. These same children were given the personality inventory again in 2000, 2002, and 2004. This is an example of the _____ design method.

A) cross-sectional
B) sequential
C) descriptive
D) longitudinal

Question 58

A major limitation of longitudinal designs in particular is

A) age of the participants.
B) the ability to observe sequences of change.
C) practice effects.
D) experimenter bias.

Question 59

An example of a cohort variable is

A) poverty.
B) nutrition.
C) Sesame Street.
D) religion.

Question 60

In a sequential design, if two different cohort groups score alike on a particular measure at the same testing point, the changes in the measured variable can be concluded to be due to

A) cohort effects.
B) developmental changes.
C) random variables.
D) the historical period.

Question 61

Which of the following research designs have attrition rate concerns?

A) Cross-sectional and longitudinal
B) Longitudinal and correlational
C) Cross-sectional and sequential
D) Longitudinal and sequential

Question 62

A study conducted by Professor McGowan investigated the memory capabilities of three different age groups over a period of 15 years. This is an example of

A) cross-sectional design.
B) longitudinal design.
C) sequential design.
D) correlational design.

Question 63

The combination of the between-group comparisons of the cross-sectional design and the within-group comparisons of the longitudinal study results in which of the following designs?

A) Experimental
B) Ethnography
C) Natural observation
D) Sequential

Question 64

A type of research design which examines a specific culture or context over an extended period of time is a(n)

A) ethnography.
B) longitudinal design.
C) cross-sectional.
D) observational design.

Question 65

Ms. Chan has been teaching third grade for 15 years. For the past two years, she has been awarded both Best Teacher in the County and Best Teacher in the School District Recognitions. This year, however, she has found that her class is just "not coming together." The number of behavioral infractions has increased, and the test scores have decreased. Ms. Chan decided to contact Professor Allen in the psychology program at the nearby university to assist her. Professor Allen suggests that she conduct a_____ to determine the unique workings of Ms. Chan's current class.

A) case study
B) laboratory observation
C) experiment
D) ethnography

Question 66

Which one of the following types of research designs would best be employed to examine if universal age-related changes exist?

A) Longitudinal
B) Cross-cultural
C) Case history
D) Descriptive

Question 67

According to the ethical guidelines of the American Psychological Association, all information that is collected in a research study is

A) cross-cultural.
B) confidential.
C) public.
D) shared.

Question 68

At the completion of any study, the participants are to be informed of the purpose and results of the study. According to the APA guidelines this is the standard of

A) knowledge of results.
B) shared information.
C) deception.
D) public record.

Question 69

According to the APA guidelines, all participants in human research over the age of 7 must

A) give informed consent.
B) know the true purpose of the study beforehand.
C) be paid.
D) sign release documents

Question 70

Which of the following variables can be systematically manipulated?

A) Intelligence
B) Age
C) Reading Scores
D) Gender

Question 71

Normative history-graded changes are best studied by employing which of the following designs?

A) Cross-sectional
B) Longitudinal
C) Sequential
D) Laboratory Observation

Question 72

When would a case study most likely be conducted?

A) Comparison of two age groups
B) When a variable cannot be manipulated
C) Determining cause effect
D) Clinical assessment of an individual child

Question 73

Human nature, according to John Locke is shaped

A) entirely by experience.
B) entirely by biological processes.
C) by an interaction of experience and genetics.
D) by innate principles.

Question 74

Aggression at recess has become at problem in Mr. Brown's third grade class. He has asked the research methods psychology class at the local university to help him discern the factors involved. Which of the following research methods would best assist in this situation?

A) Case history
B) Naturalistic observation
C) Laboratory observation
D) Longitudinal design

Question 75

Roberta's first baby was cheerful and compliant. Her second child, however, cried frequently and was difficult. This is an example of

A) environmental factors.
B) nurture.
C) inborn biases.
D) culture.

Question 76

____ is the concept that children are born with dispositions to respond to the
environment in a particular manner.

Question 77

When children are born, their minds are like________ philosopher, John Locke.

Question 78

______ were detailed observations of individual's development recorded by Darwin and other early researchers.

Question 79

When assessing children for________ developmental norms can provide useful information to both parents and professionals.

Question 80

The __________ delineates specific age-related cultural expectations for sequences of behavior.