Deck 8: Cognition, Language, and Intelligence

Question 1

Dr. Currie investigates personality development in middle childhood and early adolescence. Dr. Currie specializes in _____ development.

A)physical
B)biological
C)cognitive
D)socioemotional

Answer 1

socioemotional

Question 2

Dr. Irwin is testing the same individuals repeatedly over time as part of a research study, while Dr. Jenner is comparing the performance of different people of various ages at the same time. Dr. Irwin is using a _____ research design; Dr. Jenner is using a _____ design.

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

Answer 2

longitudinal; cross-sectional

Question 3

Dr. Adelson studies how infants form attachments to caregivers; Dr. Bryan investigates eyewitness memory accuracy among schoolchildren; and Dr. Chan researches perceptions of social support among elderly adults. Which of these scientists is a developmental psychologist?

A)Only Dr. Adelson is a developmental psychologist.
B)Only Dr. Bryan is a developmental psychologist.
C)Both Dr. Adelson and Dr. Bryan are developmental psychologists, but Dr. Chan is not.
D)All three are developmental psychologists.

Answer 3

All three are developmental psychologists.

Question 4

Which answer choice is a correct match? 

A)longitudinal study - indicates changes over time
B)longitudinal study - susceptible to cohort effects
C)cross-sectional study - requires substantial time investment
D)cross-sectional study - results may reflect a historically specific effect

Question 5

Which statement about cross-sectional and longitudinal research designs is True?

A)The cross-sectional design provides information regarding age differences, whereas the longitudinal design provides information regarding age changes.
B)The cross-sectional design provides information regarding age changes, whereas the longitudinal design provides information regarding age differences.
C)Both designs provide information regarding age differences rather than age changes.
D)Both designs provide information regarding age changes rather than age differences.

Question 6

Based on the textbook's discussion of the heredity-environment debate, which phrase is MOST accurate in regards to human development?

A)nature, not nurture
B)nurture, not nature
C)nature or nurture
D)nature and nurture

Question 7

Mark is a graduate student who is studying identity formation. He interviews a group of 5-year-olds, a group of 10-year-olds, and a group of 15-year-olds, and asks them what they plan to be when they finish school. In this example, Mark is using a _____ research design.

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

Question 8

Imagine a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is "entirely nature" and 10 is "entirely nurture." Based on the textbook's discussion, where would one place the trait of impulsivity on this scale?

A)1
B)5
C)8
D)10

Question 9

Heredity vs. environment is another of way of referring to the _____ debate.

A)nature vs. nurture
B)stages vs. continuity
C)free will vs. determinism
D)stability vs. change

Question 10

Psychologists use the term _____ to refer to the patterns of physical, cognitive, and socioemotional change occurring throughout life.

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

Question 11

Critical periods suggest that:

A)personality is altered by relationships and experiences during life.
B)there are at least some definite periods or "stages" in development.
C)personality is generally stable over the life span.
D)development is gradual and continuous, without definite stages.

Question 12

Dr. Babineaux asks a sample of 8-year-old children to complete measures of several personality traits. When the same children are 14 years old, she asks them to complete measures of the same traits. Dr. Babineaux then computes correlation coefficients between the two sets of measures. Her results are most relevant to the _____ discussion.

A)stages or continuity
B)environment or heredity
C)stability or change
D)free will or determinism

Question 13

An introductory psychology student expresses an interest in growth and change during childhood and adolescence. Which upper-level psychology course should she consider taking next semester?

A)biological psychology
B)developmental psychology
C)learning
D)cognitive psychology

Question 14

Dr. Towne believes that heredity is primarily responsible for personality traits. Dr. West believes that environmental influences are primarily responsible for personality traits. The two psychologists are on different sides of the _____ debate.

A)stability vs. change
B)mind vs. body
C)stages vs. continuity
D)nature vs. nurture

Question 15

How are critical and sensitive periods related?

A)A sensitive period is a type of critical period.
B)A critical period is the same thing as a sensitive period.
C)A critical period is a type of sensitive period.
D)A critical period is the opposite of a sensitive period.

Question 16

Nature is to nurture as _____ is to _____.

A)stability; change
B)conscious; unconscious
C)heredity; environment
D)stages; continuity

Question 17

Dawn is a graduate student investigating the development of fine motor skills. She selects one group of children and assesses their fine motor skills every 6 months over a 2-year period. In this example, Dawn is using a _____ research design.

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

Question 18

Maturation refers to _____ development.

A)physical
B)emotional
C)cognitive
D)social

Question 19

The animal researcher _____ conducted classic studies of imprinting among goslings.

A)Harry Harlow
B)Lev Vygotsky
C)Konrad Lorenz
D)Jean Piaget

Question 20

Mahalia is 7½ months old. If her development is typical, Mahalia can:

A)sit up unassisted.
B)say her first words.
C)both sit up alone and talk.
D)neither sit up alone nor talk.

Question 21

An individual's complete collection of genes is called his or her:

A)genotype.
B)DNA.
C)phenotype.
D)chromosome.

Question 22

Two weeks after conception, the developing fertilized egg is called a(n):

A)embryo.
B)fetus.
C)zygote.
D)blastocyst.

Question 23

Gavin has brown hair and green eyes. He is outgoing and a risk-taker, and he excels at his job as a financial analyst. All of these observable traits are part of his:

A)genotype.
B)phenotype.
C)dominant gene.
D)epigenetics.

Question 24

The nucleus of a human cell contains _____ chromosomes.

A)23
B)23 pairs of
C)2
D)2 pairs of

Question 25

Chromosomes are molecules of:

A)DNA.
B)genes.
C)genotypes.
D)phenotypes.

Question 26

In a gene pair, the _____ gene overpowers the other member of the pair.

A)phenotype
B)genotype
C)dominant
D)recessive

Question 27

Which sequence represents the units of genetics, from the smallest and most specific to the largest and most inclusive?

A)DNA > gene > chromosome
B)DNA > chromosome > gene
C)gene > DNA > chromosome
D)gene > chromosome > DNA

Question 28

A teratogen is:

A)an environmental agent that can produce a birth defect.
B)a genetic or chromosomal abnormality that may produce a developmental disorder.
C)any physical defect in an unborn child.
D)a fertilized egg that undergoes rapid cell division.

Question 29

As identical twins get older, their observable characteristics become increasingly dissimilar, whereas their genetic makeup remains the same. In other words, their _____ changes, whereas their _____ does not.

A)dominant gene; recessive gene
B)recessive gene; dominant gene
C)genotype; phenotype
D)phenotype; genotype

Question 30

Collectively, an individual's observable characteristics are called his or her:

A)genotype.
B)DNA.
C)phenotype.
D)chromosome.

Question 31

When Tara states that she is fascinated by the way the environment affects the expression of genetic characteristics, Devin suggests she explore the field of:

A)genetics.
B)development psychology.
C)epigenetics.
D)biopsychology.

Question 32

The first 2 weeks of a pregnancy, from conception to implantation, are termed the _____ period.

A)embryonic
B)germinal
C)fetal
D)zygotic

Question 33

Dizygotic twins share _____% of their genetic material.

A)25
B)50
C)75
D)100

Question 34

The field of _____ explores how the environment affects the expression of genetic attributes.

A)genetics
B)development psychology
C)biopsychology
D)epigenetics

Question 35

The cross-sequential research design may be seen as: 

A)essentially the same thing as a longitudinal design.
B)the opposite of the cross-sectional design.
C)unrelated to either the longitudinal or the cross-sectional design.
D)a combination of the cross-sectional and longitudinal designs.

Question 36

Which sequence reflects the stages of prenatal development from conception to birth?

A)germinal > embryonic > fetal
B)fetal > embryonic > germinal
C)germinal > fetal > embryonic
D)fetal > germinal > embryonic

Question 37

Mrs. Allen is pregnant. Her baby's legs and arms have started to grow, and its intestinal system is beginning to develop. The baby is in the _____ stage of prenatal development.

A)zygotic
B)fetal
C)embryonic
D)germinal

Question 38

An individual's _____ is comprised of his or her 23 pairs of chromosomes.

A)DNA
B)genotype
C)dominant gene
D)phenotype

Question 39

Lily is investigating variables potentially associated with bullying among school-aged children. In 2013, she selected three samples of children: a group of 9-year-olds, a group of 11-year-olds, and a group-of 13-year-olds. She interviewed the children and asked them to complete several questionnaires. Lily anticipates repeating the procedure with the same children in 2015 and in 2017. Lily's study exemplifies a _____ research design. 

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

Question 40

Ken and Kendra are fraternal twins. Lara and Lonnie are non-twin siblings. Ken and Kendra share _____% of their genes. Lara and Lonnie share _____% of their genes.

A)50; 25
B)50; 50
C)100; 25
D)100; 50

Question 41

Tina is 2 months old, Vincenzo is 5 months old, and Wayne is 20 months old. Which choice pairs each child with the appropriate language acquisition stage?

A)Tina - babbling; Vincenzo - holophrase; Wayne - telegraphic speech
B)Tina - cooing; Vincenzo - babbling; Wayne - telegraphic speech
C)Tina - cooing; Vincenzo - babbling; Wayne - babbling
D)Tina - babbling; Vincenzo - cooing; Wayne - telegraphic speech

Question 42

Which language acquisition stage is matched with its example?

A)babbling - "Goo goo, ga ga."
B)cooing - "Kitty sleep."
C)holophrase - "Aaaaah"
D)telegraphic speech - "Cookie!"

Question 43

According to the textbook, the creation of new neurons is mostly complete by the fifth month in utero. In other words, neurogenesis is completed during the _____ period of prenatal development.

A)germinal
B)embryonic
C)fetal
D)uterine

Question 44

Clea is 3 months old; Darius is 7 months old; and Enid is 15 months old. Which baby is LEAST likely to perform the action with which he or she is paired?

A)Clea; rolls over
B)Darius; stands alone
C)Enid; walks easily
D)Each of these infants can probably perform the task with which he or she is matched.

Question 45

Baby Hannah automatically turns her head in the direction of a touch on the cheek. This is the _____ reflex; it helps an infant to _____.

A)rooting; notice danger
B)rooting; obtain food
C)sucking; notice danger
D)sucking; obtain food

Question 46

Between the ages of 3 and 6, the number of neural connections increases most dramatically in the ______ lobe.

A)frontal
B)parietal
C)temporal
D)occipital

Question 47

"All gone milk," says 2-year-old Wesley, placing the empty glass on the table. Wesley's remark exemplifies the language acquisition phenomenon called:

A)cooing.
B)babbling.
C)telegraphic speech.
D)a holophrase.

Question 48

Close vision is well-established by the time an infant is _____ months of age.

A)2
B)4
C)6
D)12

Question 49

_____ is the weakest sense in newborns.

A)Sight
B)Hearing
C)Touch
D)Smell

Question 50

From two months after conception until birth, the developing fertilized egg is called a(n):

A)zygote.
B)neonate.
C)embryo.
D)fetus.

Question 51

The longest part of a pregnancy, from the 8ᵗʰ week to birth, is called the _____ period.

A)germinal
B)embryonic
C)critical
D)fetal

Question 52

Rosenzweig and his colleagues provided _____ evidence of the influence of the environment on brain development.

A)observational
B)case study
C)correlational
D)experimental

Question 53

As compared to the adult brain, the newborn's brain has _____ neurons.

A)many fewer
B)somewhat fewer
C)about the same number of
D)more

Question 54

The number of words young children hear at home is _____ correlated with family income.

A)not
B)negatively
C)positively
D)perfectly

Question 55

Children speak their first words at approximately _____ months of age.

A)4
B)6
C)12
D)18

Question 56

Which of these psychologists would agree most strongly with the assertion that language is learned through association, reinforcement, and observation?

A)Skinner
B)Chomsky
C)Piaget
D)Kohlberg

Question 57

How does the language of the average 5-year-old differ from that of the typical adult?

A)The average 5-year-old has yet to acquire the basic rules of language.
B)The average 5-year-old's vocabulary is smaller than that of the average adult.
C)The average 5-year-old has yet to acquire the basic rules of language, and his or her vocabulary is smaller than that of the average adult.
D)The average 5-year-old's language is no different from that of an adult.

Question 58

In a process called ______, the number of neural connections in a child's brain decreases by _____% by puberty.

A)neurogenesis; 20-30
B)neurogenesis; 40-50
C)synaptic pruning; 20-30
D)synaptic pruning; 40-50

Question 59

Samantha is creating a language development timeline for a class presentation. Along the top of a display board, she writes the following ages in sequence:?2 months > 4 months > 12 months > 18 months How should she label these ages, from youngest to oldest?

A)babbling > first words > telegraphic speech > cooing
B)babbling > cooing > first words > telegraphic speech
C)babbling > first words > cooing > telegraphic speech
D)cooing > babbling > first words > telegraphic speech

Question 60

The language acquisition device (LAD) is associated with:

A)Skinner.
B)Piaget.
C)Chomsky.
D)Erikson.

Question 61

A 4-year-old child is shown a row of seven red checkers. He is asked to place a black checker immediately above each red one. By doing so, the child agrees that there are as many red as black checkers. The experimenter then spreads out the black checkers so that the line they form is longer than the one formed by the red checkers. The experimenter asks whether there are more red checkers or more black checkers in order to determine whether the child understands:

A)object permanence.
B)reversibility.
C)conservation.
D)abstract thinking.

Question 62

Which age range is NOT correctly labeled with the corresponding Piagetian stage?

A)0-2 years - sensorimotor stage
B)2-7 years - preoperational stage
C)7-11 years - concrete operational stage
D)11 years to adulthood - postoperational stage

Question 63

The text reports the case of a girl named Genie, who was exposed to virtually no language from the age of 20 months until the age of 13. In what way does Genie's case offer support for the notion of a critical period in language acquisition?

A)With intensive instruction, Genie acquired a sizeable vocabulary; moreover, she eventually mastered the rules of syntax.
B)Even with intensive instruction, Genie never mastered the complexities of language.
C)Once she was no longer isolated, Genie acquired a sizeable vocabulary and mastered the rules of syntax, even without intensive formal instruction.
D)Genie never learned to speak.

Question 64

During the sensorimotor period:

A)children begin to understand reversibility.
B)understanding is based mainly on basic sensory and motor abilities.
C)mental operations are tied to actual objects in the real world.
D)children can consider hypothetical outcomes and make logical deductions.

Question 65

Dawn is a newborn. Ellis is 5. Fritzi is 9. Girard is 15. Which individual is correctly matched with his or her Piagetian stage?

A)Dawn - sensorimotor
B)Ellis - concrete operational
C)Fritzi - formal operational
D)Girard - postoperational

Question 66

A 4-year-old looks at a picture of a dragon while on the telephone with her grandfather. If Piaget's claims of egocentrism are correct, the child is likely to:

A)describe the dragon picture to her grandfather.
B)ignore her grandfather when he asks her about her day.
C)tell her grandfather to look at the dragon.
D)ask her grandfather if he would like to see the picture the next time they are together.

Question 67

When an infant recognizes that objects continue to exist even when they are no longer in sight, the infant has attained what Piaget termed:

A)object permanence.
B)conservation.
C)formal operations.
D)reversibility.

Question 68

Four-year-old Hope thought her next-door neighbor's new pet rabbit was a kitty-cat until she noticed it hopped instead of walked, and it didn't purr at all. The change in Hope's understanding of her neighbor's new pet illustrates Piaget's process of:

A)conservation.
B)assimilation.
C)reversibility.
D)accommodation.

Question 69

Four-year-old Darlene is exploring one day when she finds a bottle of vitamins in a cupboard. They look just like the candies she got for Halloween so she eats them all. Darlene's error illustrates Piaget's process of:

A)conservation.
B)accommodation.
C)assimilation.
D)egocentrism.

Question 70

Piaget used the word _____ to refer to a collection of ideas that functions as a basic unit of understanding.

A)concept
B)construct
C)schema
D)structure

Question 71

Rhonda is currently attending preschool. According to Piaget, Rhonda is in the ______ stage of cognitive development.

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

Question 72

A child demonstrates object permanence, egocentrism, and a failure to conserve. She is MOST likely in which Piagetian stage?

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

Question 73

The field of cognitive development is greatly indebted to the seminal work of the Swiss scholar:

A)Piaget.
B)Freud.
C)Vygotsky.
D)Pavlov.

Question 74

A vocabulary explosion occurs when children are _____ of age.

A)12 months
B)18 months
C)2-3 years
D)4-5 years

Question 75

Mrs. Weston asks Colin if he wants his sandwich in one piece, or cut into two pieces. Colin asks her to keep it in one piece, because he isn't hungry enough to eat two pieces. Colin's answer suggests that he:

A)has not achieved object permanence.
B)does not understand reversibility.
C)does not yet understand conservation.
D)has mastered the concept of egocentrism.

Question 76

Jay complains to his father that he does not have enough juice. There is no more juice in the house, so his father takes the juice Jay has in his glass and pours it into a taller, narrower glass. Jay believes that he has more juice because he has not yet developed an understanding of:

A)object permanence.
B)formal operations.
C)reversibility.
D)conservation.

Question 77

To stop baby Rudy from repeatedly reaching for a sharp knife on the kitchen table, Rudy's mother put it into her apron pocket. "Out of sight, out of mind," she thought, and it worked. Rudy's mother capitalized on his lack of:

A)conservation.
B)egocentric thought.
C)object permanence.
D)reversibility.

Question 78

Children are considered to be fluent in their native language by the time they are _____ years of age.

A)2-3
B)4-5
C)5-6
D)7-8

Question 79

Which sequence accurately reflects the order of Piaget's stages of cognitive development, from birth through adolescence?

A)sensorimotor > concrete operational > preoperational > formal operational
B)preoperational > concrete operational > preoperational > formal operational
C)sensorimotor > preoperational > concrete operational > formal operational
D)nonoperational > preoperational > operational > postoperational

Question 80

In Piaget's theory, the process of fitting new experiences into existing schemas is called _____. The process of restructuring ideas to make room for new information is called _____.

A)accommodation; assimilation
B)assimilation; accommodation
C)assimilation; conservation
D)conservation; accommodation