Deck 14: Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Question 1

All of the following are higher-level cognitive abilities that occur during formal operations EXCEPT

A) hypothetico-deductive reasoning.
B) logical thinking about tangible objects.
C) reasoning logically about abstract concepts.
D) thinking about one's own thinking.

Answer 1

logical thinking about tangible objects.

Question 2

The ability to engage in abstract reasoning about hypothetical events that are not directly experienced develops in which of Piaget's stages of cognitive development?

A) concrete operations
B) formal operations
C) sensorimotor
D) preoperational

Answer 2

formal operations

Question 3

Piaget's classic "pendulum problem" was used to assess adolescents'

A) egocentrism.
B) deductive reasoning skills.
C) level of concrete operations.
D) intuitive thinking ability.

Answer 3

deductive reasoning skills.

Question 4

When presented with tasks like the pendulum problem, in contrast to adolescents, children in the ______________ stage are not good at systematically testing all of the factors; they tend to report whatever answer seems to be correct after conducting only a few tests.

A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) concrete operational
D) formal operational

Question 5

Which type of reasoning involves reaching a particular conclusion on the basis of general principles?

A) abstract
B) combinatorial
C) reflective
D) deductive

Question 6

Frank has been asked to complete Piaget's pendulum problem. He comes up with some hypotheses and then systematically tests each variable. First, he holds the length of the string and the amount of weight constant and varies the height at which oscillation is started then he moves on to examining the other variables. Frank is in which stage of Piaget's cognitive developmental theory?

A) sensorimotor stage
B) preoperations
C) concrete operations
D) formal operations

Question 7

Hypothetico-deductive reasoning, which develops in Piaget's stage of formal operations, shares the same set of logical skills as

A) intuitive reasoning.
B) formal scientific reasoning.
C) reasoning based on mental imagery, but not verbal concepts.
D) sensorimotor reasoning.

Question 8

The ability to think about concepts and ideas that are not concrete and tangible is called

A) hypothetico-deductive reasoning.
B) combinational logic.
C) abstract thought.
D) reflective thinking.

Question 9

If you ask a child what she would do if she had a "third eye," she might respond by saying things like "spy on my older brother" or "put it on the top of my foot so I could see under things." These answers indicate that the child is capable of

A) transitive thinking.
B) perspective-taking.
C) abstract thought.
D) reversibility.

Question 10

Sixteen-year-old Carmen is extremely interested in learning about the justice system. She loves to discuss topics such as minority and women's rights in her government class. According to Piaget's theory, Carmen enjoys engaging in

A) abstract thought.
B) hypothetico-deductive reasoning.
C) combinational logic.
D) reflective thinking.

Question 11

Which aspect of formal operational thought helps adolescents to become idealistic about the possibilities for their own lives, the environment, or for those in difficult and unfair situations around the world?

A) abstract thought
B) separating reality from possibilities
C) combinatorial logic
D) reflective thinking

Question 12

Elise has been asked to complete Piaget's pendulum problem. She takes an approach where she systematically examines all of the possible combinations of the elements. For example, she considers what would happen if she had a short length of string with a light weight swung from a high height. This is most likely an example of

A) abstract thought.
B) reflective thinking.
C) combinational logic.
D) logical comparisons.

Question 13

LaShondra, a high school student, is contemplating running for class president. As she imagines herself giving a speech, she notices that she begins to feel nervous and self-conscious. According to Piaget, LaShondra's ability to observe her own thoughts is called

A) reflective thinking.
B) hypothetico-deductive reasoning.
C) abstract thought.
D) combinatorial logic.

Question 14

Piaget's notion of reflective thinking is closely related to the concept of ____________ studied by information-processing theorists.

A) working memory
B) long-term store
C) metacognition
D) internalization

Question 15

On a whim, 16-year-old Bre decided to get a short haircut. When she walks into school the next day, she feels as if everyone in the entire school is watching her. This is most likely an example of

A) personal fable.
B) abstract thought.
C) reflective thinking.
D) imaginary audience.

Question 16

The inability to distinguish between your own thoughts and the thoughts of others is called

A) a personal fable.
B) adolescent egocentrism.
C) reflective thinking.
D) abstract thought.

Question 17

All of the following are aspects of the personal fable EXCEPT

A) personal uniqueness.
B) reflective thinking.
C) omnipotence.
D) invulnerability.

Question 18

15-year-old Tyler is failing his chemistry class. When his parents ask him what the problem is, he tells them that it is all his teacher's fault-her exams are hard. His father refuses to accept this explanation and asks Tyler if he needs a tutor. Tyler loudly responds, "I don't need a tutor! You have no idea how hard high school is! You don't know how I feel!" This is most likely an example of a(n)

A) imaginary audience.
B) guided participation.
C) personal fable.
D) situated cognition.

Question 19

Risky behaviors such as having unprotected sex and drinking and driving may be a result of

A) the personal fable.
B) the imaginary audience.
C) abstract thought.
D) combinational logic.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is consistent with a personal fable that includes the feeling of invulnerability?

A) "I have to dress well, or my friends will tell me that I am sloppy."
B) "I can drink and drive; I'm sure I'll never have an accident."
C) "Whenever I make a choice, I have to carefully consider each option."
D) "There is no one at school who likes the same music that I do."

Question 21

The theory that there is a stage of development beyond Piaget's formal operations, which is reached by older adolescents and adults, is called

A) post-formal reasoning.
B) metasensorimotor cognition.
C) ultraconcrete thinking.
D) superoperational thought.

Question 22

All of the following are aspects of post-formal reasoning EXCEPT

A) the acceptance of contradictions in the world.
B) relativistic reasoning.
C) hypothetico-deductive reasoning.
D) understanding that you have to be practical within a given situation.

Question 23

As Josiah approaches his 30th birthday, he imagines the kind of advice he might give the teenage version of himself. He concludes, though, that through making mistakes he has learned many valuable lessons, and that those experiences have helped him to develop a sense of wisdom. Which aspect of post-formal reasoning has Josiah begun to develop?

A) understanding that you have to be practical within a given situation
B) judgments and decisions based on increasing wisdom
C) relativistic reasoning
D) acceptance of contradictions in the world

Question 24

Many studies over many years have replicated Piaget's results on tasks such as object permanence and conservation, under the condition that

A) the instructions are presented in English.
B) the child's parent is present during testing.
C) the experimenters conduct the tasks in the same ways as Piaget conducted them.
D) only firstborn children are tested.

Question 25

What percentage of 18- to 20-year-olds is able to consistently use formal operational thought?

A) 20 to 30%
B) 50 to 60%
C) 80 to 90%
D) 100%

Question 26

Research examining Piaget's theory in a number of different cultures indicates that

A) children seem to pass through Piaget's stages in the same order and at the same ages world-wide.
B) children seem to pass through Piaget's stages in the same order but not necessarily at the same ages world-wide.
C) all children regardless of cultural background or educational level eventually attain formal operations.
D) the rates at which individuals achieve formal operations are the same in industrialized and non industrialized countries.

Question 27

Although Kendra, a 16-year-old, occasionally shows signs of ______________, it may be more an indication of her attempt to develop an identity, and to psychologically separate from her family, than a sign of general cognitive immaturity.

A) reflective thinking
B) adolescent egocentrism
C) combinatorial logic
D) abstract thought

Question 28

Which of the following statements regarding evaluations of Piaget's theory is FALSE?

A) Piaget tended to overestimate the cognitive abilities of adolescents and young adults.
B) Adolescents may not consistently show adolescent egocentrism.
C) Children and adolescents often show evidence of being in more than one stage of cognitive development at a time.
D) Piaget's ideas concerning the cognitive construction have not been supported by research.

Question 29

Piaget's theory implies that as children reorganize their cognitive structures, they rise to a higher and qualitatively different level of logical thought. Once achieved, these new structures and organizations

A) apply across all contexts.
B) are temporary, and often "regress" to a lower stage of development.
C) influence thinking only within a particular context or domain of knowledge.
D) depend on the child's age, rather than on their level of experience.

Question 30

A well-accepted aspect of Piaget's theory is his _______________ view of development. Children do seem to be active participants in their own learning and development, assimilating new information into their existing cognitive structures, and modifying or reorganizing their structures when necessary to fit new information.

A) information-processing
B) biological
C) constructivist
D) environmental

Question 31

Which of the following statements regarding the application of Piaget's theory to human development is FALSE?

A) Piaget changed the view of children from one of passivity to one of activity.
B) Piaget's theory has many applications to the field of education.
C) Piaget's theory sparked researchers to conduct studies attempting to support or refute his claims.
D) Piaget himself did not collect much data about child cognitive development.

Question 32

A major distinction between Vygotsky's theory of development and Piaget's theory is that Vygotsky's theory focused more directly on

A) social interaction's contribution to cognitive growth.
B) cognitive assessment through standardized tasks.
C) different stages of language development.
D) the universality and invariance of cognitive development.

Question 33

The idea that you cannot understand cognition without examining the context in which the thought takes place is called

A) guided participation.
B) personal fable.
C) situated cognition.
D) abstract thinking.

Question 34

Paolo has been working in his uncle's bakery since he was able to walk and he can double or halve recipes with ease. In the classroom, however, he tends to have difficulty with word problems and equations containing fractions. This is an example of

A) stunted interaction.
B) collaborative learning.
C) situated cognition.
D) a phenomenological variant.

Question 35

An implication of situated cognition for educators is that they strive to teach

A) skills within contexts that are meaningful and relevant to the student.
B) basic abilities such as memorization of facts.
C) understanding and respect for students from other parts of the world.
D) the importance of solving a problem with assistance from others.

Question 36

Sean finds that when he tries to learn algebra by himself it is impossible. However, when he works with his tutor, algebra seems so much easier-she gradually gets him to understand the material by himself. According to Vygotsky's theory, Sean is able to master algebra because of the concept of

A) guided participation.
B) abstract thinking.
C) situated cognition.
D) socially shared cognition.

Question 37

According to sociocultural theory, guided participation occurs within _____________, which refers to the people, activities, and social interactions that take place as people work together to learn and accomplish goals.

A) the psychometric approach
B) fluid ability
C) the adolescent register
D) a community of practice

Question 38

Which of the following would be the best example of development according to the guided participation perspective?

A) Amos can play the piano beautifully at home but has problems playing in front of his peers at school.
B) Tammy moves from watching her family dig clams to digging in the sand with her older brother to actually finding clams on her own.
C) Marcus and Colin work together to solve a math problem that neither of them could solve individually.
D) Enrique moves from talking out loud to whispering to himself to silently moving his lips as he ties his shoes.

Question 39

In Jeffry's high school, the science club is set up to use guided participation. He helps to clean all of the beakers and organize the chemicals and watches one of the more experienced students, Uli, create chemical compounds. In this situation, Jeffry is the ________ and Uli is the ________.

A) central participant; junior participant
B) legitimate peripheral participant; central participant
C) legitimate peripheral participant, experienced participant
D) central participant; legitimate peripheral participant

Question 40

In contrast to the legitimate peripheral participant, the ___________ is able to do a great deal of the work by him or herself and even teach the basics to other participants.

A) project leader
B) gifted child
C) dialect speaker
D) central participant

Question 41

An important difference between Vygotsky's view and guided participation is that guided participation emphasizes

A) maturation of brain structures.
B) the importance of positive feedback and punishment on behavior.
C) how a person's social roles or interactions with others change as the person develops.
D) equilibration of internal dynamic processes.

Question 42

Diane, Rory, and Linda are working on a research project for the science fair. They have discussed many ideas and have finally come up with an interesting study. Their teacher, Ms. Peterson, asks them who came up with the idea for their project. Diane answers, "No one person came up with the idea-we all had the idea!" This is an example of

A) socially shared cognition.
B) intelligence.
C) the psychometric approach.
D) situated cognition.

Question 43

According to the idea of "socially shared cognition,"

A) thinking extends beyond the individual and includes that of dyads and groups.
B) thinking must revert to the question of "whose idea is it?"
C) individuals are unable to think independently.
D) individuals share information unconsciously through body language.

Question 44

Most psychological research conceptualizes intelligence as being similar to whose views of formal operational thought?

A) Vygotsky
B) Kohlberg
C) Piaget
D) Chall

Question 45

Most psychologists conceptualize intelligence as

A) post-formal thought.
B) the ability to make competent decisions.
C) being similar to hypothetico-deductive reasoning.
D) the ability to think logically about abstract concepts.

Question 46

Which approach to studying intelligence uses paper-and-pencil measurements?

A) triarchic theory
B) psychometric
C) analytical
D) componential

Question 47

The two factors in Spearman's theory of intelligence are

A) musical intelligence and specific intelligence.
B) experiential intelligence and contextual intelligence.
C) general intelligence and specific intelligence.
D) componential intelligence and general intelligence.

Question 48

The letters "g" and "s" were used within

A) Galton's two-factor theory of intelligence.
B) Spearman's two-factor theory of intelligence.
C) Guilford's five-factor theory of intelligence.
D) Thurstone's seven-factor theory of intelligence.

Question 49

Which aspect of intelligence did Spearman believe to be neurologically based?

A) contextual
B) specific
C) experiential
D) general

Question 50

While Stephanie normally earns good grades, she is struggling in geometry. According to Spearman, which type of intelligence is limiting Stephanie's ability to learn geometry?

A) spatial intelligence
B) specific intelligence (s)
C) fluid intelligence
D) general intelligence (g)

Question 51

Which of the following statements regarding Horn and Cattell's theory of crystallized and fluid intelligence is FALSE?

A) Fluid intelligence peaks at approximately age 18.
B) Crystallized intelligence consists of vocabulary and number abilities.
C) Crystallized intelligence increases throughout adulthood.
D) Fluid intelligence consists of mechanical skills.

Question 52

The type of intelligence that includes number ability, mechanical skills, and vocabulary is called

A) general intelligence.
B) fluid intelligence.
C) crystallized intelligence.
D) specific intelligence.

Question 53

What school of thought does Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence support?

A) information-processing
B) psychoanalysis
C) behaviorism
D) Gestalt

Question 54

Sternberg's componential subtheory is also referred to as

A) creative intelligence.
B) practical intelligence.
C) analytical intelligence.
D) crystallized intelligence.

Question 55

Eighteen-year-old Alita is writing a paper for her history class. The project requires her to use at least three references and integrate all of the information she gathers into a comprehensive time line of a particular decade in the twentieth century. According to Sternberg's triarchic theory, which aspect of intelligence is Alita using?

A) contextual
B) experiential
C) componential
D) specific

Question 56

Sternberg's componential subtheory of intelligence includes all of the following components EXCEPT

A) automaticity.
B) knowledge-acquisition.
C) metacomponent.
D) performance.

Question 57

"As we learn new tasks and then how to perform them automatically, we become more intelligent." This statement is the foundation of which of Sternberg's three subtheories?

A) componential
B) analytical
C) experiential
D) contextual

Question 58

Which subtheory of Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence involves mastering new tasks and figuring out new ways to solve problems?

A) componential
B) experiential
C) contextual
D) crystallized

Question 59

Which subtheory of Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence is related to the concepts of common sense, street smarts, and practical intelligence?

A) componential
B) experiential
C) contextual
D) intrapersonal

Question 60

All of the following are criticisms of Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence EXCEPT

A) it is unclear how the three subtheories related to one another.
B) it is unclear why other aspects of intelligence are not included in the theory.
C) he does not discuss how each aspect of intelligence relates to biological and brain functioning.
D) the theory has not been supported by empirical research studies.

Question 61

Gardner believed that intelligence has a(n) ________, meaning that it has an underlying biological and/or genetic aspect.

A) evolutionary cause
B) biopsychological potential
C) sociological potential
D) hormonal cause

Question 62

Which of the following statements concerning Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences is FALSE?

A) Everyone has a different profile of intelligences.
B) There is an underlying biological component to intelligence.
C) The eight types of intelligence are independent from one another.
D) Environmental factors such as culture do not influence intelligence.

Question 63

An important feature of Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences is that it is supported by not only psychometric findings, but also

A) isolating a specific intelligence by brain damage.
B) an evolutionary account or explanation.
C) the existence of exceptional people (with either strengths or weaknesses).
D) all of the above

Question 64

Which of the following is a criticism of Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences?

A) It does not further our understanding of brain development.
B) Gardner's measures of the intelligences are not correlated with one another.
C) It is not clear how separate intelligences are coordinated on a given task.
D) The theory is not supported by psychometric tests.

Question 65

All of the following are types of intelligence in Gardner's theory EXCEPT

A) spatial intelligence.
B) naturalist intelligence.
C) creative intelligence.
D) musical intelligence.

Question 66

Simon is a highly successful biologist who studies and classifies different species of butterflies. According to Gardner's theory, Simon most likely displays a high level of ________ intelligence.

A) naturalist
B) spatial
C) bodily-kinesthetic
D) intrapersonal

Question 67

When Shevaun was four years old, she liked to watch Sesame Street in both English and Spanish. When she was seven years old, she could transcribe nursery rhymes from one language to the other. When she grows up, she wants to work for the United Nations as an interpreter. Shevaun would likely score high in Gardner's

A) interpersonal intelligence.
B) linguistic intelligence.
C) naturalist intelligence.
D) intrapersonal intelligence.

Question 68

Homer keeps a journal and writes honestly and deeply about his own intentions, feelings, and fears. He started meditating as a teenager and attended a retreat to learn more about his reactions to solitude. Homer would likely score high in

A) intrapersonal intelligence.
B) interpersonal intelligence.
C) linguistic intelligence.
D) naturalist intelligence.

Question 69

Janice is a highly successful brain surgeon. According to Gardner's theory, which two types of intelligence does Janice most likely have?

A) intrapersonal; linguistic
B) bodily-kinesthetic; spatial
C) intrapersonal; logical-mathematical
D) musical; naturalist

Question 70

What popularized the term intelligence quotient or "IQ"?

A) Binet-Simon scale
B) Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences
C) Spearman's two-factor theory
D) Sternberg's triarchic theory

Question 71

The formula used to calculate a person's intelligence quotient (IQ) is

A) Chronological age / Mental age.
B) (Mental age / Chronological age) x 100.
C) 100 x Chronological age x Mental age.
D) Mental age / Chronological age.

Question 72

Roberto is 14 years old, but his performance on an intelligence test reveals a mental age of 18. His IQ is

A) above 100.
B) equal to 40.
C) below 75.
D) equal to 100.

Question 73

Who created the first practically used intelligence scale in 1905?

A) Binet and Simon
B) Terman and Gardner
C) Terman and Binet
D) Gardner and Sternberg

Question 74

Cass was given an assessment test by his school psychologist that measured his progress in achieving the goals of a curriculum. Most likely, Cass was given a(n)

A) aptitude test.
B) personality inventory.
C) curriculum-based measurement.
D) intelligence test.

Question 75

In checking your weight on Monday, you find that you weigh 180 pounds at 10:00 am, 203 pounds at 11:00 am, and 160 pounds at noon. Your scale does not appear to be

A) valid.
B) standardized.
C) reliable.
D) stabilized.

Question 76

_____ are used as a way to identify students with learning disabilities.

A) Aptitude tests
B) Personality inventories
C) Curriculum-based measurements
D) Intelligence tests

Question 77

Robin has exceptional math skills and is determined to become an engineer. According to Gardner's theory, which type of intelligence does Robin have?

A) spatial
B) logical-mathematical
C) interpersonal
D) intrapersonal

Question 78

The first practical intelligence scale was

A) the Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale.
B) the Terman Scale.
C) the Gardner Intelligence Scale.
D) the Wechsler Scale.

Question 79

Current assessment procedures emphasize a child's ____ for future learning.

A) aptitude
B) motivation
C) potential
D) ability

Question 80

Amy is given an intelligence test by her school psychologist as she has learning disabilities and is unable to pay attention in class. The results of the test will be more useful when

A) considered by themselves.
B) considered in combination with results from personality tests.
C) combined with results from clinical tests, including blood work.
D) combined with interviews, physical examinations, results from other psychological tests, and other observations.