Question 1

Which statement best describes the case study method?

Accepted Answer

A) Specific individuals are selected for study because of their unique characteristics. 
B) Representative samples of individuals are asked for their opinions. 
C) Selected individuals are carefully observed in their natural environments. 
D) A researcher tries to determine the relationship between two variables.

Question 2

A researcher studied the effects of a preschool enrichment program on the IQ of children starting at 2, 3, or 4 years of age.Each age group was assessed at the end of the first year of the program for short-term effects and then again five years later for long-term effects.Which research design does this study exemplify?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

Which data-collection methods would be most impacted by individual and age-related differences in verbal skills?

Accepted Answer

A) interviews and questionnaires 
B) naturalistic observation 
C) structured observation 
D) controlled experiments

Question 4

Briefly describe the research method known as structured observation and explain when this method might be used.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly describe the research method known as...

Question 5

What are investigators who prefer the cross-cultural approach often looking for in their research?

Accepted Answer

A) longitudinal rather than cross-sectional changes 
B) similarities rather than differences 
C) cross-sectional rather than longitudinal changes 
D) differences rather than similarities

Question 6

The confounding of age and cohort that can occur with the cross-sectional design is most likely to impact interpretation in a comparison between which of the following age groups?

Accepted Answer

A) 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-month-olds 
B) 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-year-olds 
C) 3-, 10-, 18-, and 30-year-olds 
D) 15-, 16-, and 17-year-olds

Question 7

Pat has developed a test to measure aggression.Pat gives the test to her developmental psychology class at the beginning of the term and again at the end of the term.Much to Pat's dismay, the results obtained at the end of the semester are completely different from those obtained at the start.What is a likely explanation for the difference in results?

Accepted Answer

A) The test does not have strong validity. 
B) The test is not reliable. 
C) The test is free from cohort effects. 
D) The test is adequately standardized.

Question 8

Robert is interested in understanding how his pupils acquire the ability to count using their fingers.In order to answer his question, which research design should he use?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

Studies have indicated that children who watch violent films demonstrate more violent behaviours.One hypothesis for this finding is that children who are more aggressive might begin with choose more violent films to view.What is this notion of existing aggression known as?

Accepted Answer

A) experimental control 
B) ecological factor 
C) confounding variable 
D) random variable

Question 10

In comparison to correlational studies, what are two main advantages of the field experiment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In comparison to correlational studies, what are...

Question 11

Isaac is interested in studying the effects of maternal drug use during pregnancy on the developing fetus.He proposes recruiting pregnant volunteers from a local neighbourhood where numerous drug addicts are known to live.He argues that because all participants would be volunteers, it would not be unethical to administer controlled doses of various drugs to the pregnant women.Under current ethical guidelines, would Isaac's research proposal be accepted?

Accepted Answer

A) yes, because the participants would be volunteers and would not have to agree if they didn't want to 
B) no, because he would have to recruit women who were not yet pregnant and follow them through the entire pregnancy 
C) no, because the potential harm to the unborn infants would be too great 
D) yes, because the women who are using drugs have already put their unborn infants at risk

Exam 1: Introduction to Developmental Psychology and Its Research Strategies