Deck 1: The Study of Human Development.

Question 1

The farther a correlation coefficient is from zero, the weaker the relationship between the two variables in question.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Research by developmentalists led to the ban on lead-based paint in the United States.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The primary pioneer in the study of behaviorism was Erik Erikson.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

According to the information-processing theory, the human mind is analogous to a computer and contains both mental "software" and mental "hardware."

Question 5

The independent variable in an experiment is the condition that is observed by the researcher, while the dependent variable in an experiment is the condition that is manipulated by the researcher.

Question 6

If the same group of research participants is evaluated repeatedly over a long period of time, then a longitudinal study is what is being conducted.

Question 7

Research has conclusively found that nature has a significantly greater effect on development than does nurture across nearly all behaviors and characteristics.

Question 8

If you are studying flirting behavior in college students by sitting quietly at the college snack bar and watching students as they interact with each other, all the while pretending to read a newspaper, you are engaging in a form of naturalistic observation.

Question 9

The life-span perspective in human development maintains the position that most of our development is complete by the time we finish our adolescent years.

Question 10

While there is an expectation that researchers will conduct their studies ethically, there is no system of checks and verifications that ensures this is the case.

Question 11

The ecological theory of Urie Bronfenbrenner proposes that there are three interacting levels of environmental context that influence human development.

Question 12

Neuroscientists base their studies of the brain and nervous systems exclusively on the information gleaned from brain imaging techniques.

Question 13

The demands that are placed on individuals by their environment are referred to as environmental press.

Question 14

The entire group of individuals that is the focus of interest in a research study is called the sample, while the small subset of group that is actually studied is called the population.

Question 15

The biggest limitation of conducting correlational research is the lack of ability to draw conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 16

A punishment is a consequence of an action that decreases the likelihood that the action will be repeated in the future

Question 17

The continuity-discontinuity issue concerns whether there is just one path of development or several.

Question 18

The biopsychosocial model emphasizes that many different forces interact with each other in order to make up development.

Question 19

The reliability of a research measure refers to the extent to which that measure provides consistent evaluations of a given characteristic.

Question 20

Erikson's conceptualization of the epigenetic principle provides the basis for psychosocial theory's sequence of stages.

Question 21

____ is the study of the brain and the nervous system, especially in terms of brain-behavior relationships.

A) ​Neuroscience
B) ​Biopsychology
C) ​Physiology
D) ​Teratology

Question 22

Influences such as one's parents and siblings, teachers and co-workers, peers, schools, television, and the workplace are all examples of ____ forces.

A) ​psychological
B) ​biological
C) ​life-cycle
D) ​sociocultural

Question 23

Emotional, personality, and perceptual factors are all examples of ____ forces.

A) ​psychological
B) ​biological
C) ​life-cycle
D) ​sociocultural

Question 24

Regarding comprehensive theories that guide all research in the field of human development, which of the following is the most accurate statement?

A) ​The most widely accepted come from the psychodynamic school of thought.
B) ​The most widely accepted come from the learning school of thought.
C) ​There are no truly comprehensive theories that guide all research
D) ​The selective optimization with compensation is the only truly comprehensive theory.

Question 25

Which BEST describes the relationship between biological, psychological, and sociocultural forces in human development?

A) ​unimportant
B) ​independent
C) ​interactive
D) ​non-normative

Question 26

The fact that babies from around the world tend to develop language skills at approximately the same age is support for which of the following concepts from the study of human development?

A) ​continuity
B) ​discontinuity
C) ​context-specific development
D) ​universal development

Question 27

Why are theories such an important part of the understanding of human development?

A) ​They provide the "whys" for development.
B) ​They give definitive proof of relationships between various developmental factors.
C) ​They allow us to understand the similarities between species.
D) ​They are scientifically irrefutable.

Question 28

Iggy wakes up one day and suddenly decides, "I am tired of being the nice guy that everyone pushes around. Starting today, I am going to be more assertive and less accommodating of other people's needs. And if others don't like it, I'm not going to care about that anymore." Iggy's belief that he can rapidly change a basic part of his own character demonstrates a belief in

A) ​continuity.
B) ​stability.
C) ​discontinuity.
D) ​context-specific development.

Question 29

A ____ is an organized set of ideas that is designed to explain development.

A) ​theory
B) ​prediction
C) ​correlation coefficient
D) ​structured observation

Question 30

Marjorie believes that her husband, Tom, is an excellent father because he was born with a gentle nature and an abundance of patience. Tom, on the other hand, believes that he is a good father because he learned to be one from his own parents. Which fundamental question of human development does this issue address?

A) ​nature and nurture
B) ​external and internal
C) ​continuity and discontinuity
D) ​universal and context-specific development

Question 31

The biopsychosocial framework organizes the contributions of many different forces in human development. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

A) ​biological forces
B) ​spiritual forces
C) ​sociocultural forces
D) ​psychological forces

Question 32

Marielle and Dominic have not seen each other since high school, and they are both getting ready to attend their 30-year reunion. Marielle remembers Dominic as being a very playful, funny, and easy-going person. She is looking forward to seeing him, and expects that he will be very much the same as he was 30 years ago. Marielle's expectation demonstrates a belief in

A) ​universal development.
B) ​continuity.
C) ​nurture.
D) ​nature.

Question 33

When people in the United States watch television programs about children in other cultures, they are often surprised to find out that children from other countries often have very different skills and abilities than their own kids, even though they are the same age. This difference demonstrates the concept of

A) ​context-specific development.
B) ​universal development.
C) ​nomothetic development.
D) nature-based development.​

Question 34

When Jordan, who is a 25-year-old and married father of one infant daughter, is laid off from his job, it impacts him with a devastating amount of worry and fear. When Jackson, who is a 72-year-old married man with five grandchildren, is laid off from his job, he seems to take it in stride and decides that this is a good time to retire. Which of the following forces BEST explains the different reactions of Jordan and Jackson?

A) ​biological forces
B) ​psychological forces
C) ​sociocultural forces
D) ​life-cycle forces

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT one of the key aspects of human development, as described by your textbook?

A) ​It is a multidisciplinary field.
B) ​It is interested in how people change over time.
C) ​It is based upon the sound, scientific theories of philosophy.
D) ​It is interested in how people remain the same over time.

Question 36

Which term does NOT belong in this group?

A) ​experiential
B) ​nurture
C) ​environmental
D) ​hereditary

Question 37

Which of the following BEST summarizes the current thinking in human development with regard to the nature and nurture question?

A) ​Development is always shaped by both nature- and nurture-related factors.
B) ​While nature is important, it is truly our environment that determines who we are.
C) ​While nurture is important, it is truly our genetics that determines who we are.
D) ​Because there are no scientific ways to tease them apart, nature and nurture are largely ignored.

Question 38

Prenatal development, brain maturation, puberty, and menopause are all examples of ____ forces.​

A) ​psychological
B) ​life-cycle
C) ​biological
D) ​sociocultural

Question 39

There are three fundamental characteristics of human development, according to your authors. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

A) ​nature and nurture
B) ​external and internal
C) ​continuity and discontinuity
D) ​universal and context-specific development

Question 40

The notion that development is best described in terms of a series of abrupt shifts in behavior BEST fits with the ____ approach.

A) ​nature
B) ​nurture
C) ​continuity
D) ​discontinuity

Question 41

David is a pharmacist, and has worked as such for nearly 30 years. He hopes that someday his son will take over his drugstore, and so from an early age he has been "grooming" young Daniel to follow in his footsteps. He has taught Daniel about how to dispense medications, has let Daniel watch as he prepares difficult prescriptions, and has encouraged his son to enjoy chemistry and biology in school. In a very real way, Daniel has been serving as a young apprentice to his father for most of his life. Which theorist would be most attentive to this sociocultural influence on Daniel's life?

A) ​Lev Vygotsky
B) ​Erik Erikson
C) ​Sigmund Freud
D) ​B.F. Skinner

Question 42

The idea that children act like little scientists, constantly creating theories about the relationships between their physical and social worlds, is central to the theory of

A) ​Jean Piaget.
B) ​Lev Vygotsky.
C) ​Urie Bronfenbrenner.
D) ​Erik Erikson.

Question 43

Focusing on how people think and how those thinking processes change over time is the central feature of the ____ theory.

A) ​learning
B) constructivist
C) ​​cognitive-developmental
D) ​ecological and systems

Question 44

Imitation is most closely related to the concept of

A) ​positive reinforcement.
B) ​selective optimization.
C) ​life-cycle forces.
D) ​observational learning.

Question 45

The information-processing theory of development likens human cognitive processes to the functions of a

A) ​motorcycle.
B) ​cellular phone.
C) ​computer.
D) ​television

Question 46

Peter is doing a study where psychology students are asked how confident they are that they will do well on an exam immediately before taking that test. Peter seems to be assessing the ____ of the students.

A) ​life-cycle forces
B) ​exosystems​
C) internal maturational plans​
D) self-efficacy

Question 47

The idea that development is determined largely as a result of the manner in which people resolve the conflicts that they face at different ages is the central concept of the ____ theories.

A) ​epigenetic
B) ​learning
C) ​context-specific
D) ​psychodynamic

Question 48

When Dr. Bentley is asked to explain troubled adolescents, she says, "The only way to explain the problems of adolescents is to study them in relation to their parents and the culture that surrounds them." Dr. Bentley is most likely a proponent of ____ theory.

A) ​psychodynamic
B) ​cognitive developmental
C) ​ecological
D) ​social cognitive

Question 49

Which of the following is NOT one of the levels of one's environment as postulated by the ecologicaltheory of Urie Bronfenbrenner?

A) ​the metasystem
B) ​the mesosystem
C) ​the exosystem
D) ​the macrosystem

Question 50

The concept that personality emerges from conflicts that children experience when what they want to do differs from what society wants them to do is the basis of ____'s psychodynamic theory.

A) ​Albert Bandura
B) ​Jean Piaget
C) ​Sigmund Freud
D) ​Lev Vygotsky

Question 51

According to Bandura, experience gives people a sense of self-____, which to a person's beliefs about their own abilities and talents.

A) ​efficacy
B) ​esteem
C) ​image
D) ​concept

Question 52

According to Erikson's concept of ____, different life periods are associated with different psychosocial strengths.

A) ​external societal demands
B) ​naturalistic observation
C) ​the epigenetic principle
D) ​identity versus confusion

Question 53

Gracie helps her mother set the table for dinner without being asked. She lays out napkins and silverware, places the plates in their correct spots, and puts ice in all of the glasses. When her mother realizes that she has done this, she gives Gracie a big hug, thanks her repeatedly, and later gives her a little extra dessert as a treat. In learning theory, we would say that Gracie's behavior has been:

A) ​punished.
B) ​extinguished.​
C) reinforced.​
D) differentiated.

Question 54

Which of the following is NOT one of the stages of development, according to the theory of Jean Piaget?

A) ​sensorimotor
B) ​diffused operational thought
C) ​formal operational thought
D) ​concrete operational thought

Question 55

According to your textbook, the very first comprehensive life-span view of human development was forwarded by

A) ​Sigmund Freud.
B) ​Erik Erikson.
C) ​E.L. Thorndike
D) ​Urie Bronfenbrenner

Question 56

The idea that a child's sociocultural backdrop was an essential factor in their development as crucial to the theory of

A) ​Julian Rotter.
B) ​Urie Bronfenbrenner.
C) ​Lev Vygotsky.
D) ​John Watson.

Question 57

According to your text, the most influential developmental psychologist of the 20th century was

A) ​Lev Vygotsky.
B) Sigmund Freud.
C) ​​Paul Baltes.
D) ​Jean Piaget.

Question 58

The role of experience, focusing on whether actions are rewarded or punished, is a central tenet in ____theory.

A) ​learning
B) ​lifespan
C) ​epigenetic
D) ​cognitive-developmental

Question 59

Whenever Ridgley has a headache, he takes two aspirin tablets. Shortly thereafter, the pain goes away. The next time the headache shows up, Ridgley is more likely to take an aspirin. In learning theory, we would say that Ridgley's behavior of taking the aspirin has been

A) ​negatively reinforced.
B) ​positively reinforced.
C) ​negatively punished.
D) ​positively punished.

Question 60

Brandon's developmental psychology teacher believes human development is best conceptualized as progressing through several qualitatively different stages of thinking that change radically at specific ages. His instructor is likely a(n)

A) ​Piagetian.
B) ​social learning theorist.
C) ​ecological theorist.
D) ​behaviorist.

Question 61

Martika is an accomplished businesswoman, and has decided to retire at the age of 53 years. She has begun taking cello lessons, something in which she has always been interested. While her friends keep telling her that it is too late for her to learn such a complex skill, she has started getting rather good on her instrument. Martika's midlife development of a new skill demonstrates

A) ​multidimensionality.
B) ​plasticity.
C) life-cycle forces.​
D) ​multidirectionality.

Question 62

A key feature of the ____, which posits an increase in continuity over time and that specific life paths across domains are interdependent, is the dynamic interplay between individual and society.

A) ​the life-span perspective
B) ​the life-course perspective
C) ​the epigenetic perspective
D) ​the psychodynamic perspective

Question 63

A researcher is studying the effects of the revolution and political unrest taking place in the Middle East on the development of cognitive skills in children from that region of the world. According to the ecological theory of human development, this study is focusing on the children's ____.

A) ​macrosystem
B) ​exosystem
C) ​ecosystem
D) ​microsystem

Question 64

According to Paul Baltes, the life-span perspective includes several features that are central to the study of human development. They include all EXCEPT which of the following?

A) ​multidirectionality
B) ​multiple causation
C) ​plasticity
D) ​epigenesis

Question 65

Which type of measure is usually highly specific and thus cannot be applied broadly?

A) ​self-report
B) ​structured observations
C) ​physiological
D) ​naturalistic observations

Question 66

According to your text, what is the first step in doing research in the field of human development?

A) ​deciding whether to use systematic observation, sampling behavior with tasks, self-report or physiological measurement
B) ​creating a rationale for the research, by describing it in terms of at least one theory of development
C) ​coming up with a way to assess the validity and reliability of the measurement instruments that will be used
D) ​scouring the existing research literature for holes that can be filled with research based on contemporary theories

Question 67

According to the ____ perspective, no single period of life (e.g., infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood) can be understood apart from its origins and its consequences.

A) ​contextual
B) ​life-span
C) ​psychodynamic
D) ​ecological

Question 68

According to the ecological theory of human development, the ____ provides connections across microsystems.

A) ​megasystem
B) ​mesosystem
C) ​chronosystem
D) ​exosystem

Question 69

On the hit reality television show, "Hell's Kitchen," contestants vying for a position of Executive Chef at a posh restaurant are often placed in circumstances where their culinary skills are tested in creative and novel ways. According to ____, the one most likely to succeed would be the one whose skills are most fully consistent with the tasks laid before them.

A) ​the psychosocial theory of development
B) ​Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory of development
C) ​the competence-environmental press theory of development
D) ​Kohlberg's theory of moral development

Question 70

As Florence gets older, passing her 50s and 60s, she finds that she has become more patient, less emotional, and finds it easier to deal with the challenges of life. At the same time, she is acutely aware that her physical functioning has declined, her eyesight is becoming problematic, and she now requires the use of a hearing aid. Florence's various changes demonstrate Baltes's feature of

A) ​multiple causation.
B) ​plasticity.
C) ​mutidirectionality.
D) ​context-specific development.

Question 71

Which research study would you most expect to see from a researcher with a life-course perspective?

A) ​the effect of smoking on neurotransmitter systems and memory
B) ​how memory processes change from infancy to old age
C) ​growing up in the 1960s, and its influence on drug use in adulthood
D) ​sex differences in marital satisfaction

Question 72

Matti finds himself unable to adjust to college because he doesn't seem to have the study skills necessary to earn passing grades. Matti's predicament would probably best be explained by

A) ​psychosocial theory.
B) ​Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory.
C) ​the competence-environmental press theory.
D) ​Kohlberg's theory of moral development.

Question 73

What is the major distinction between a structured observation and a naturalistic observation?

A) ​Structured observation involves the manipulation of an independent variable, while naturalistic observation involves manipulation of a dependent variable.
B) ​Naturalistic observation involves creating a setting that is likely to evoke the behavior being studied, while a structured observation involves watching people as they behave in real-life situations.
C) ​Naturalistic observation involves the manipulation of an independent variable, while structured observation involves manipulation of a dependent variable.
D) ​Structured observation involves creating a setting that is likely to evoke the behavior being studied, while a naturalistic observation involves watching people as they behave in real-life situations.

Question 74

The fact that a teen growing up during the Vietnam War will develop in a different manner than a teen growing up during the Iraq War is best explained in terms of

A) ​multidirectionality.
B) ​multiple causation.
C) ​plasticity.
D) ​historical context.

Question 75

Marcia has started to have difficulty with her nighttime vision, and thus has decided that it is better if she no longer drives after dusk, except in emergency situations. She has asked her friends, with whom she often gets together, if they would mind either (a) getting together at her house more often than normal, or (b) if one of them would mind giving her regular rides to other social events that take place at night. Marcia's behaviors best demonstrate which model of human development?

A) ​ecological theory
B) ​selective optimization with compensation
C) ​social learning theory
D) ​information processing theory

Question 76

Which method of collecting research data has the benefit of being easy to administer to large groups of participants?

A) ​self-reports
B) ​structured observations
C) ​naturalistic observations
D) ​correlational experiments

Question 77

Sally steps on her bathroom scale, and it tells her that she weighs 145 pounds. When she steps on it again after her shower, she gets the same result. In fact, it has told her that her weight is stable at 145 pounds for several days now. Based on her observations, what can more accurately be said about the measurements provided by Sally's scale?

A) ​The measurements lack reliability.
B) ​The measurements lack validity.
C) The measurements are reliable.​
D) ​The measurements are valid.

Question 78

Which approach to studying development is not often used but offers a potentially powerful approach to understanding issues such as age-related changes in brain functioning?

A) ​physiological measures
B) ​self-reports
C) ​naturalistic observation
D) ​sampling behavior with tasks

Question 79

Monroe wants to conduct a research study assessing the way children play with each other at different ages. After getting the appropriate permissions, he sits on a bench near a school playground and surreptitiously takes notes on the children's behaviors. Monroe would be best described as engaging in

A) ​case studies.
B) ​self-report data collection.
C) ​structured observation.
D) ​naturalistic observation.

Question 80

Which two perspectives share the common feature of drawing attention to the role of aging and its unique influences in the broader context of human development?

A) the competence-environmental press and selective optimization withcompensation perspectives
B) ​the learning and psychodynamic perspectives
C) ​the life-span and life-course perspectives
D) ​the information-processing and ecological perspectives