Deck 1: Introduction

Question 1

"The orderly and sequential changes that occur with the passage of time" is the definition of:

A) age norms
B) age grades
C) ascriptions
D) development

Answer 1

development

Question 2

Developmental psychology is mainly concerned with:

A) studying the development of our cultural value systems
B) studying the development in individuals of fixations
C) studying how we change and remain the same over time
D) studying socio-economic influences on individuals

Answer 2

studying how we change and remain the same over time

Question 3

A researcher's notes that contain the exact speech utterances that children make, as well as the ages of the children under study, is most related to which goal of developmental psychology?

A) description
B) expression
C) prediction
D) conclusion

Answer 3

description

Question 4

A psychologist wishes to know why there is an increase in childhood obesity. This is related to which goal of developmental psychology?

A) control
B) explanation
C) description
D) prediction

Question 5

A developmental psychologist wants to determine the chances that a particular ninth-grade student will graduate from high school. This best illustrates:

A) description
B) explanation
C) prediction
D) control

Question 6

Based on recent research findings, a developmental psychologist advises that an infant born with an inherited disorder be put on a special diet to avoid intellectual impairment. This best illustrates:

A) intervention
B) description
C) explanation
D) prediction

Question 7

The changes that occur in a person's height, weight, and organ, skeletal, muscular, and neurological structures refer to:

A) biodevelopment
B) physical development
C) cognitive development
D) emotional-social development

Question 8

The changes that occur in sensation, perception, memory, thought, reasoning, and language refer to:

A) biodevelopment
B) physical development
C) cognitive development
D) emotional-social development

Question 9

The changes that occur in an individual's personality, emotions, and relationships with others refer to:

A) biodevelopment
B) physical development
C) cognitive development
D) emotional-social development

Question 10

The more or less automatic unfolding of biological potential in a set, irreversible sequence is known as:

A) maturation
B) growth
C) learning
D) socialization

Question 11

One of the most noticeable features of early development is the increase in size of the individual. This is dependent on the metabolic processes that take place within the body. This is known as:

A) maturation
B) growth
C) learning
D) socialization

Question 12

The relatively permanent modification in behavior that results from the individual's experience in the environment is known as:

A) maturation
B) growth
C) learning
D) development

Question 13

As her son Jamal grows older, Nadia is particularly fascinated with his ability to think more abstractly and logically. The changes in Jamal's thinking patterns illustrate which kind of development?

A) emotional-social
B) physical
C) cognitive
D) life-span

Question 14

Mary's personality has become more outgoing as she has grown older. The changes in Mary's personality illustrate which kind of development?

A) cognitive development
B) maturation
C) emotional-social
D) learning

Question 15

Urie Bronfenbrenner's approach to understanding human development is known as:

A) environmental
B) ecological
C) concentric
D) embedded

Question 16

Bronfenbrenner's approach asserts that developmental influences include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) one's interaction with the environment
B) changing physical and social settings
C) how the process is affected by society
D) six levels of environmental influence

Question 17

Research on immigrant children and their families has been lacking in:

A) psychological research
B) sociological research
C) medical research
D) all of these

Question 18

According to Bronfenbrenner's model, the microsystem consists of:

A) the network of microorganisms in the person's body that influence physical growth
B) the network of social relations and physical settings the person experiences daily
C) the network of new technologies in society that influence health and well-being
D) the network of interrelationships among the various settings in which the person is

Question 19

According to Bronfenbrenner's model, the mesosystem consists of:

A) medium-strength direct or indirect influences on society
B) outside influences on a person's logical thinking processes
C) the interrelationships among the person's various settings
D) the interrelationships among technical and societal values

Question 20

According to Bronfenbrenner's model, the exosystem consists of:

A) social structures that directly or indirectly affect a person's life
B) the expert advice of more competent individuals to a person
C) the network of invisible influences on a person's development
D) extraterrestrial networks of influence

Question 21

According to Bronfenbrenner's model, the macrosystem consists of:

A) large, particulate matter that influences physical growth
B) large-scale structures that influence emotional growth
C) foreign policy initiatives on a grand scale
D) the overarching cultural patterns of a society

Question 22

In terms of Bronfenbrenner's model, 10-year old Melissa's microsystem would most likely include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) the home where Melissa lives
B) the school that Melissa attends
C) Melissa's after-school program
D) the office of Melissa's mother

Question 23

Having been born in the United States, Jami would have a macrosystem likely to consist of all of the following EXCEPT:

A) a communist-inspired ideal for the economy
B) a belief in the right to have religious freedom
C) a strong belief in the importance of education
D) a belief in the right to have freedom of speech

Question 24

The ecological approach to human development:

A) relies on controlled experimental situations to understand behavior and development
B) uses only one context/setting to explain individual development
C) does not place much value on a person's day-to-day experiences in terms of development
D) exemplifies the difficulty of studying people in multiple contexts

Question 25

The changes that are most likely to occur because a person is at a particular stage of development, such as infancy, adolescence, or adulthood, are characteristic of:

A) normative age-graded influences
B) nonnormative life events
C) norm-referenced behavior
D) history-graded influences

Question 26

John, Rodrigo, and Marla are sixth-graders who are all feeling a little anxious about making the transition to junior high school. According to your text's discussion of the timing of developmental events, their anxieties can be attributed to:

A) social anxiety
B) relocation anxiety syndrome
C) nonnormative life events
D) normative age-graded influences

Question 27

An age cohort is:

A) a group of people who believe that age is unimportant
B) a group of people born in the same historical time period
C) a group of people certain to live in the same geographic area
D) a type of measurement index of historical time periods

Question 28

According to your text's discussion of the timing of developmental events, when a generation of people experience social, political, and economic events at the same time they will likely experience:

A) nonnormative generational constancy
B) normative history-graded influences
C) normative age-graded influences
D) nonnormative life events

Question 29

According to your text's discussion of the timing of developmental events, influences that involve unique turning points that cause people to change direction in their lives are known as:

A) normative history-graded influences
B) normative age-graded influences
C) nonnormative life events
D) breaking points

Question 30

Keisha wins the lottery and is awarded 10 million dollars. She buys a house in France and a new sports car and organizes and finances a charitable institute for disadvantaged youth. According to your text's discussion of the timing of developmental events, this is an example of:

A) nonnormative life events
B) normative history-graded influences
C) normative age-graded influences
D) normative life events

Question 31

Justin's 55-year-old mother attends rock concerts and political rallies against the war. According to your text's discussion of the timing of developmental events, the activities Justin's mother engages in probably result from:

A) nonnormative life events
B) normative history-graded influences
C) normative age-graded influences
D) throw-back syndrome

Question 32

All of the following are true about age EXCEPT:

A) age status has no bearing on a person's role in society
B) age is a master status
C) it operates indirectly as a criterion for certain roles via linkage with other factors
D) it is a major dimension of social organization

Question 33

Age strata:

A) use ranking of people as higher or lower
B) are dependent on motivational factors
C) are dependent on recruitment factors
D) have no bearing on society's organization

Question 34

The definition of "old age":

A) is now divided into "young-old" and "old-old"
B) was much later in life in Renaissance times
C) has not changed for many decades in American culture
D) does not relate to stereotypes

Question 35

The scientific method differs from ordinary inquiry because:

A) it specifies a systematic, formal process to gather facts
B) it does not have its primary basis in logic
C) it is meant to be an end point to objective inquiry
D) it is usually easier to undertake than ordinary inquiry is

Question 36

A psychologist is studying the link between a mother's level of shyness and her children's level of shyness. Related to this subject, the statement, "If the mother has an above-normal level of shyness, then the child will have an above-normal level of shyness" would be:

A) a myth
B) a hypothesis
C) an objective reality
D) not testable

Question 37

Roger reads about a study in which the same set of people are investigated each year from birth until age 30. This study best illustrates which research method?

A) social survey
B) experiment
C) longitudinal
D) cross-sectional

Question 38

The major reason experimental designs are not used in developmental studies is:

A) they are not as interesting as most other types of research designs
B) it is impossible to exercise the control necessary to conduct them
C) they are less expensive but also less accurate than other design types
D) they are less time-consuming but also less reliable than other designs

Question 39

A psychologist conducts a study of 800 children who have mental disabilities using subjects from several schools. She follows them from the age of 4 through adulthood. This study is based on which research method?

A) convergence approach
B) experimental
C) cross-sectional
D) longitudinal

Question 40

The cross-sectional method of research:

A) studies the same individuals at different points in their lives
B) compares different age groups of people at the same point in time
C) maintains a biographical account of a single individual for a period of years
D) compares data on individuals or groups from two or more societies

Question 41

Intelligence tests are given to all the students at Evergreen School and Horace Mann School. The scores from all grades at the two schools are compared. This is an example of a study using which type of research method?

A) case study
B) cross-sectional method
C) longitudinal method
D) cross-cultural method

Question 42

An advantage of longitudinal research is:

A) the data obtained from the research are ready for instant analysis
B) the environment where the study takes place is easily controlled
C) the results of any given longitudinal study are easily replicated
D) a more accurate view of developmental continuity can be found

Question 43

The method that combines collecting data over time as well as across study groups to measure more than one cohort over time is called the:

A) case study method
B) cross-sectional method
C) sequential method
D) longitudinal method

Question 44

On the basis of the discussion in your text, what is the most important advantage of using a cross-sectional approach?

A) It avoids the problem of finding groups of similar people to study.
B) It matches people according to chronological and maturational age.
C) It saves a great deal of time and money over longitudinal research.
D) It eliminates any ambiguity regarding cause-effect relationships.

Question 45

A major advantage of using the cross-sectional approach to research is that:

A) it can assess the degree of continuity between early childhood and adult behaviors
B) it avoids the difficulties associated with nonequivalence of sample groups
C) researchers need not wait a long time until subjects reach the age for retesting
D) it requires making certain periodic readjustments associated with staff turnover

Question 46

Dr. Robertson is interested in studying temperament changes over the course of adolescence. She would like to avoid the disadvantages associated with longitudinal and cross-sectional research. What could you suggest she use to complete her study?

A) time sampling
B) sequential methods
C) event sampling
D) cross-cultural methods

Question 47

The factor that a researcher manipulates in an experimental situation is called the:

A) independent variable
B) dependent variable
C) cultural variable
D) longitudinal variable

Question 48

Dr. Benson conducts a study to determine the effect of rewards on altruistic behavior. The measure of altruistic behavior would be an example of the:

A) independent variable
B) dependent variable
C) ascriptive variable
D) predictive variable

Question 49

A control group is a necessary part of which research method?

A) social survey
B) case study
C) experiment
D) longitudinal method

Question 50

A researcher conducts a study in which he manipulates several variables and then measures the effect on the other variables. He is most likely using which research method?

A) naturalistic observation
B) experiment
C) social survey
D) prediction

Question 51

A psychologist wants to know whether there is a cause-effect relationship between how much effort a child expends on completing a puzzle and how much he or she likes it. According to your text, which method should she use?

A) experiment
B) social survey
C) naturalistic observation
D) case study

Question 52

The students in Mr. Bertram's class are very noisy when he leaves the room but become quiet when he returns. If this were an experiment, what would the independent variable be?

A) the level of noise when Mr. Bertram was out of the room
B) the change in the level of the classroom noise
C) Mr. Bertram's presence or absence in the room
D) the punishment for being noisy

Question 53

Marcia has childhood arthritis. She takes part in an experiment designed to determine if a new drug will relieve the suffering of childhood arthritis. She reports to the lab every week and is examined by a doctor, but she receives a pill that contains no medication. According to your text, what is the best explanation for Marcia's receiving a pill with no drug?

A) Marcia is a subject who is in the control group.
B) Marcia is in the naturalistic observation group.
C) Marcia is a subject in the event sampling group.
D) Marcia is a subject in the experimental group.

Question 54

The case-study method of research:

A) focuses on a group of subjects
B) relies on only one interview
C) focuses on an individual
D) requires a control group

Question 55

Jean Piaget observed and tested individual children on the conservation task between the ages of 4 and 5. Two years later he tested the children again on the same task. The results were recorded for each individual child. This is an example of research using which method?

A) case study
B) cross-cultural research
C) survey
D) time sampling

Question 56

All of the following are limitations of the case study method EXCEPT:

A) it is difficult to generalize to a large population from only one case
B) the researcher and subject might become familiar over time
C) the objectivity of the results may be impaired
D) researcher and subject are unlikely to have close contact

Question 57

Dr. Yu wishes to study the effect of home schooling on children across the United States. He prepares a set of questions to mail to the parents of children who are being home schooled. He mails the questionnaire with a return envelope. This is known as what type of research method?

A) social survey
B) longitudinal
C) case study
D) naturalistic

Question 58

When each member has an equally likely probability of being chosen in a sample population, it is called:

A) probability sampling
B) random sampling
C) population sampling
D) sampling error

Question 59

All of the following are limitations of the social survey method EXCEPT:

A) it has a higher response rate than many other research methods do
B) some respondents will not answer questions of a sensitive nature
C) some respondents try to please the questioner with the "right" answer
D) it has limited use with children and cannot be used at all with infants

Question 60

Mr. Brown is undertaking research in which he is watching the behavior of people as they wait in line at the Department of Labor. He observes over a period of 2 weeks. Each day he goes to the site and tapes conversations as he observes and takes notes. This type of research is called:

A) social survey
B) naturalistic observation
C) random sampling
D) case study

Question 61

Dr. Sheehan observes preschool children in a Head Start program. She watches and records their interactions with teachers and adults in the classroom every 10 seconds. This is an example of:

A) random sampling
B) event sampling
C) case study sampling
D) time sampling

Question 62

All of the following are limitations of the naturalistic observation method EXCEPT:

A) the researcher has complete control of the subjects
B) there is no independent variable to be manipulated
C) the resulting theories are speculative in nature
D) it is not a strong technique for testing hypotheses

Question 63

Which research method compares data obtained from two or more societies?

A) cross-sectional
B) cross-cultural
C) time sampling
D) random sampling

Question 64

Dr. Gillespie is studying relationships between children and grandparents. She examined data from the United States, Japan, and Botswana related to this topic. She is engaging in:

A) cross-cultural research
B) random sampling
C) cross-sectional research
D) time sampling

Question 65

All of the following are drawbacks of cross-cultural research EXCEPT:

A) the quality of the data collected varies a great deal
B) the data rarely provide information on individual differences
C) not every culture experiences the problems under investigation
D) most cultures do not respect the work of developmentalists

Question 66

Correlational analysis:

A) proves causation
B) can be used for predictive purposes
C) is not recognized as valid
D) cannot show a relationship between two variables

Question 67

The numerical expression of the degree or extent of relationship between two variables or conditions is called the:

A) variable coefficient
B) correlation coefficient
C) correlational analysis
D) numerical comparison

Question 68

Bob wishes to undertake a study of the students at his college comparing their grade point averages and drinking behaviors. He draws up a document explaining the purpose of his study, the type of data to be collected, and the way the data will be used. The document states that participants have the right to terminate participation at any time during the study. Before beginning to collect his data he gets each participant to sign the document. Bob is obtaining:

A) informed consent
B) a quit claim document
C) indemnity assurance
D) consensual agreement

Question 69

Identify the four major goals of science and give examples of the kind of questions or research tasks that would be involved for each with respect to issues related to human development.

Question 70

What are the advantages and disadvantages of longitudinal research compared to cross-sectional research methods? Give an example to support your statements.

Question 71

What role does age play in society? How are notions about aging changing and how are they remaining the same?

Question 72

Describe at least five aspects of good child observation practices.