Question 1

Give an example of a research question that you think would lend itself best to a qualitative approach. Explain why you might want to use this type of analysis rather than a quantitative analysis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Give an example of a research question...

Question 2

the following research methods, select the one that studies the same subjects over a period of time, observing whether their responses remain the same or change in systematic ways?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

(conceptual-19). Some cross-sectional studies do not use age groups. Instead, they use stages in life. Which cross-sectional study would be the most suitable using stages in life?

Accepted Answer

A)  comparing young couples without children to couples who have already had their first child to see the effects of parenthood on marriage 
B)  comparing answers to survey questions from men and women aged 35-44 years old 
C)  comparing a freshman and senior high school student grade point average and athletic ability 
D)  comparing twins' personality inventories every five years

Question 4

U.S. culture, adults in their early 20s are expected to marry, start families, establish themselves in their jobs or careers, and settle into separate households; 45-year-olds are expected to be launching their children into independence, to be reaching the peak of their careers, and to be caring for their own aging parents. Such expectations illustrate which concept?

Accepted Answer

A)  cohorts 
B)  generations 
C)  shared experiences 
D)  cross-sectional comparisons

Question 5

a researcher interviews a group of 20-year-olds, a group of 40-year-olds, and a group of 60-year-olds about their gender role attitudes at one point in time, this would be an example of which sort of research design?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

Briefly describe two of the significant problems with longitudinal design.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly describe two of the significant problems...

Question 7

After doing a large-scale cross-sectional study, a researcher finds that each successively older group does slightly less well on a test of memory for 10-digit telephone numbers. Which of the following is the best interpretation of this result?

Accepted Answer

A)  A basic biological change underlies the observed steady reduction of memory skill. 
B)  The differences can be explained by gender of the participants. 
C)  The difference has nothing to do with practice of memory skills. 
D)  No interpretation can be made using this result.

Question 8

large-scale research project known as the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) National Survey included questions pertaining to personal health that was sent out to 7000 participants between the ages of 25 and 74. This type of study in which data is gathered at one time from groups of participants who represent different age groups is an example of what general type of research design?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

According to the theory about the impact of the social clock of adult life events, which of the following individual patterns is associated with the most upheaval or disruption or personal difficulty-at least for current cohorts?

Accepted Answer

A)  having your parents both die when you are in your 20s 
B)  having a first child at age 30 
C)  receiving your last work promotion at age 40 
D)  retiring at age 65

Question 10

Explore the concepts of individual difference in terms of stability and change, using either an example from your family or one that you make up from imagination, providing definitions in your own words and applied examples.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explore the concepts of individual difference in...

Question 11

According to the text, emerging adulthood begins in the age decade of _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  the 20s 
B)  the 30s 
C)  the 40s 
D)  the 50s

Question 12

Which of the following is a major argument in favor of cross-sectional research designs in the study of adulthood?

Accepted Answer

A)  They allow researchers to collect information about age differences on some variable quite rapidly. 
B)  They allow researchers to answer questions about individual continuity over time. 
C)  They unconfound age and cohort. 
D)  They clarify the relationship between age and family life cycle.

Question 13

Schwebel combined data from 30 studies to examine the link between optimism and health. This is an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  meta-analysis 
B)  quasi-experimental design 
C)  experiment 
D)  survey SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Question 14

researcher selects a sample of 65-year-olds and interviews and tests them every two years for 14 years. Over these years, some of the subjects die or drop out of the study. This phenomenon is referred to as _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  attrition 
B)  terminal drop 
C)  longitudinal loss 
D)  selective bias

Question 15

There is a significant positive correlation between IQ scores and academic performance (grades). Given this statistic, we can reasonably conclude that _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  low IQ scores and low grades are not at all related 
B)  high IQ scores are a predictor of good grades 
C)  high IQ scores are the only established cause of high grades 
D)  low IQ scores are a result of neglectful parenting.

Question 16

researcher finds in a longitudinal study that her subjects are significantly more open to new experiences at age 50 than they were at 30. This change most likely reflects _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  a cohort difference 
B)  the classic nature nurture dichotomy 
C)  a developmental change 
D)  attrition

Question 17

explaining adult development, psychologists must ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  explain both changes with age and continuities 
B)  focus primarily on explaining changes with age 
C)  focus primarily on explaining continuities with age 
D)  deal most centrally with individual differences in responses to life problems

Question 18

What is a meta-analysis and why would a researcher choose to do it?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a meta-analysis and why would...

Question 19

Three groups of males take a timed reaction test. All the males in Group 1 are aged 20. The males in Group 2 are all aged 40. The males in the last group (Group 3) are all aged 60. The statistic reported to describe the differences in reaction times between groups is each group's mean score. However, this mean score does NOT identify _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  which group has the fastest reaction times 
B)  a trend for reaction times based on age 
C)  any individual's reaction time 
D)  the group that would include the best candidates for a job requiring excellent reaction times

Question 20

Although Alex's biological mother used crack cocaine during her pregnancy, Alex was adopted at birth into a loving home with parents who did the best that they could to give her every opportunity possible. She ended up graduating from high school and is now beginning a culinary program at a local community college. Alex's scenario best exemplifies:

Accepted Answer

A)  contextualism. 
B)  plasticity. 
C)  normative history-graded influences. 
D)  the multidisciplinary nature of development.

Exam 1: Introduction to Adult Development