Question 1

Which of the following statements is true of the development of posture?
A) Postural control is a static process that is linked with sensory information in the skin, joints, and muscles.
B) Newborn infants can voluntarily control their posture.
C) Postural control is required for gross motor skills to develop.
D) Locomotion and postural control are independent of each other.

Accepted Answer

Postural control is essential for the development of gross motor skills. As infants develop postural control, they are able to sit upright, crawl, stand, and eventually walk. Without postural control, these movements would be impossible. A and D are incorrect statements. Postural control is a dynamic process that involves the integration of sensory information from the skin, joints, and muscles, and locomotion and postural control are closely linked processes. B is also incorrect; while newborn infants have some innate reflexes that assist with postural control, they are not able to voluntarily control their posture until later stages of development.

Question 2

Fantz believes that we directly perceive information that exists in the world around us and that perception is designed for action. He most likely holds a(n) ________ perspective with regard to sensory and perceptual development.
A) ethological
B) ecological
C) evolutionary
D) genetic

Accepted Answer

Fantz's belief that perception is designed for action aligns with the ecological approach to sensory and perceptual development, which emphasizes the role of the environment and the organism's interactions with it in shaping perception. The ethological approach places more emphasis on innate, genetically-determined behaviors, while the evolutionary approach focuses on how adaptations have developed over time. While genetics do play a role in sensory and perceptual development, it is not the primary perspective held by Fantz.

Question 3

Whenever baby Beth hears a loud noise, she responds with the ________ reflex, where she arches her back, throws back her head, flings out her arms and legs, and then rapidly closes her arms and legs.
A) Moro
B) rooting
C) grasping
D) fencing

Accepted Answer

The described reflex of arching the back, throwing back the head, flinging out the arms and legs, and rapidly closing the arms and legs is known as the Moro reflex. This reflex is typically observed in infants up to around three or four months of age and is elicited by a sudden, unexpected noise or movement.

Question 4

In the context of the milestones in motor skills development in infants, which of the following is true of the first year?
A) A smaller size at birth is the aspect of pregnancy and delivery with the strongest link to reaching motor milestones earlier.
B) Some infants do not follow the standard sequence of motor accomplishments.
C) Breast feeding has no link to reaching the milestones earlier.
D) In the first year of life, infants are motorically skilled and mobile.

Accepted Answer

While there is a general sequence of motor developments, some infants may deviate from this sequence and accomplish milestones in a different order or at a different pace. Option A is incorrect because birth size is not a reliable predictor of motor development. Option C is incorrect because breast feeding has been linked to faster motor skill acquisition. Option D is incorrect because while infants do gain motor skill abilities, they are not yet fully mobile and require assistance and supervision.

Question 5

Kyle and Amy want their baby to walk early. In order to accomplish that, they take the baby's favorite toy and place it where the child cannot reach it from a crawling position. Kyle and Amy believe that this will motivate the baby to stand upright to retrieve the toy and will, thus, result in him walking sooner. Their belief is most consistent with the ________ systems view of development.
A) maturational
B) evolutionary
C) static
D) dynamic

Accepted Answer

The dynamic systems view of development emphasizes that development is an ongoing, ever-changing interaction between physical, cognitive, and social systems. This scenario reflects this view by suggesting that the baby's desire to reach the toy and the development of their physical abilities (standing upright) are dynamic and influenced by one another. The maturational view (A) suggests that development is driven solely by genetics and predetermined timelines, whereas the evolutionary view (B) emphasizes the role of natural selection in shaping development. The static view (C) suggests that development is fixed and unchanging.

Question 6

In the context of fine motor skills, which of the following is true of reaching by infants?
A) Initially, infants reach by moving their wrists and coordinating their thumb and forefinger.
B) Initially, infants reach by seeing their own hands and then swinging their arms toward an object.
C) Cues from muscles, tendons, and joints guide reaching by 4-month-old infants.
D) Sight of the limb guides reaching by 4-month-old infants.

Accepted Answer

According to research, reaching in infants is guided by cues from muscles, tendons, and joints by the age of 4 months. Infants do not rely on visual guidance for reaching until they are around 6 or 7 months old. Therefore, option A and D are incorrect. Option B is also not entirely accurate as visual guidance is not the primary factor in reaching at an early age.

Question 7

In the "sticky mittens" research project, it was found that
A) the infants in the mitten group developed grasping skills earlier.
B) the infants in the group without mittens developed grasping skills faster.
C) both groups developed grasping skills at the same pace.
D) the group without mittens developed better object manipulation skills.

Accepted Answer

The "sticky mittens" research project found that infants in the mitten group developed grasping skills earlier. This means that choice A is the correct answer. Option B is incorrect as it suggests that the group without mittens developed grasping skills faster, which is not true according to the research. Option C is also not correct as the study found differences in the development of grasping skills between the two groups. Option D is not supported by the study as it did not measure object manipulation skills.

Question 8

Clara, a one-year-old baby, recently started walking. According to research, we would also expect her to
A) show an increase in language development due to interaction with more objects.
B) be safer because she is more in control of her relationship with her environment.
C) make life easier for her parents now that she can walk.
D) show less egocentrism since she is now able to get around on her own.

Accepted Answer

Walking is often accompanied by an increase in language development because the child is able to interact with more objects in their environment and explore their surroundings with greater ease. This can lead to a boost in cognitive and language skills. Safety, parent convenience, and egocentrism are not directly related to the act of walking.

Question 9

________ are built-in reactions to stimuli; they govern a newborn's movements, which are automatic and beyond the newborn's control.
A) Instincts
B) Reflexes
C) Impulses
D) Urges

Accepted Answer

Reflexes are built-in reactions to stimuli that are automatic and beyond the newborn's control. Instincts, impulses, and urges refer to more complex and intentional behaviors or drives.

Question 10

________ occurs when information interacts with sensory receptors-the eyes, ears, tongue, nostrils, and skin.
A) Sensation
B) Perception
C) Reception
D) Transition

Accepted Answer

Sensation is the process by which sensory receptors receive and detect stimuli from the environment. This includes sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch.

Question 11

When Martha wants to feed her newborn son, she gently brushes her nipple against his cheek and, in the ________ reflex, he turns his head toward the side that was touched and immediately latches onto her breast.
A) Moro
B) sucking
C) rooting
D) grasping

Accepted Answer

The rooting reflex is the automatic turning of the head and opening of the mouth in the direction of a touch on the cheek, in preparation for breastfeeding.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about reflexes is true?
A) Reflexive behavior is identical among babies.
B) Some reflexes persist through life.
C) All reflexes have survival value today.
D) All newborn reflexes disappear a few months after birth.

Accepted Answer

Some reflexes such as the blink reflex, cough reflex, and gag reflex persist through life. The other statements are false - reflexive behavior is unique to each individual, not all reflexes have survival value today, and not all newborn reflexes disappear after a few months.

Question 13

________ motor skills are skills that involve large-muscle activities, such as moving one's arms and walking.
A) Fine
B) Gross
C) Learned
D) Major

Accepted Answer

Gross motor skills involve large muscle movements, such as crawling, walking, and jumping, while fine motor skills involve small muscle movements, such as picking up small objects or writing with a pencil. Options C and D are not applicable.

Question 14

Melanie, a 4-year-old child, ties her shoelaces on her own and skillfully uses a fork and a spoon. In the context of motor development, which of the following is most likely involved in this scenario?
A) rooting reflexes
B) fine motor skills
C) moro reflexes
D) gross motor skills

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes the child's ability to tie her shoelaces and use utensils skillfully, indicating the development of fine motor skills. Rooting reflexes and moro reflexes are primitive reflexes that occur in newborns and young infants, while gross motor skills involve larger movements such as crawling or walking.

Question 15

Which of the following reflexes is most likely to occur when something touches an infant's palms?
A) the grasping reflex
B) the rooting reflex
C) the sucking reflex
D) the Moro reflex

Accepted Answer

The grasping reflex is most likely to occur when something touches an infant's palms. This reflex is characterized by the infant's fingers curling around and grasping tightly onto the object or finger that touched their palm.

Question 16

In the context of grasping, which of the following statements is true of infants?
A) At different stages of development, infants use different perceptual systems to coordinate grasping.
B) Newborn infants rely greatly on vision to determine how they will grasp an object.
C) Experience plays a minor role in reaching and grasping in infants.
D) Infants grasp small objects with all of the fingers of one hand or both hands.

Accepted Answer

Infants use different perceptual systems to coordinate grasping at different stages of development. For example, newborns primarily use the tactile system, while older infants rely more on vision to guide their grasping movements.

Question 17

________ is a dynamic process that is linked with sensory information in the skin, joints, and muscles, which tell us where we are in space; in vestibular organs in the inner ear that regulate balance and equilibrium; and in vision and hearing.
A) Posture
B) Cognitive development
C) Alignment
D) Reflexive behavior

Accepted Answer

Posture involves a complex interplay between sensory information from multiple sources, including those mentioned in the question such as skin, joints, muscles, vestibular organs, vision, and hearing. These inputs are integrated and processed by the nervous system in order to maintain balance, stability, and control over movements and posture. This process is constantly adjusted and updated based on feedback from the environment and the body's own movements.

Question 18

The interpretation of sensory information is called
A) sensation.
B) reception.
C) perception.
D) transition.

Accepted Answer

The interpretation of sensory information is called perception. Sensation refers to the initial process of detecting and receiving sensory information, while reception refers to the physical process of receiving the sensory input. Transition is not a term commonly used in the context of sensory processing.

Question 19

Jake, age 11 months, is able to pick up cereal and bits of fruit off the tray of his high chair by grasping them with his thumb and forefinger. Jake has developed the
A) palmar grasp.
B) pincer grip.
C) Moro reflex.
D) fencing reflex.

Accepted Answer

The pincer grip involves using the thumb and forefinger to pick up small objects, which is what Jake is doing with cereal and bits of fruit. The palmar grasp involves grasping objects with the whole hand, while the Moro reflex and fencing reflex both involve involuntary movements and are not related to voluntary grasping.

Question 20

Nadine is a 1-year-old infant. Her doctor wants to assess the development of her fine motor skills. In this scenario, which of Nadine's abilities is the doctor most likely to focus on?
A) the ability to coordinate large-muscle activity like walking
B) the ability to move the arm
C) the ability to reach and grasp
D) the ability to perform reflexive behavior like stepping

Accepted Answer

The ability to reach and grasp is a key indicator of the development of fine motor skills, which involve the coordination of small muscles in the hands and fingers. As an infant, Nadine is likely still developing these skills, and her doctor may want to assess her ability to reach for objects and grasp them with her fingers. This can indicate whether she is on track with her motor development, or if there are any areas where she may need additional support.

Quiz 3: Physical and Cognitive Dvelopment in Infancy

Which of the following statements is true of the development of posture?

Fantz believes that we directly perceive information that exists in the world around us and that perception is designed for action. He most likely holds a(n) ________ perspective with regard to sensory and perceptual development.

Whenever baby Beth hears a loud noise, she responds with the ________ reflex, where she arches her back, throws back her head, flings out her arms and legs, and then rapidly closes her arms and legs.

In the context of the milestones in motor skills development in infants, which of the following is true of the first year?

In the context of fine motor skills, which of the following is true of reaching by infants?

In the "sticky mittens" research project, it was found that

Clara, a one-year-old baby, recently started walking. According to research, we would also expect her to

________ are built-in reactions to stimuli; they govern a newborn's movements, which are automatic and beyond the newborn's control.

________ occurs when information interacts with sensory receptors-the eyes, ears, tongue, nostrils, and skin.

When Martha wants to feed her newborn son, she gently brushes her nipple against his cheek and, in the ________ reflex, he turns his head toward the side that was touched and immediately latches onto her breast.

Which of the following statements about reflexes is true?

________ motor skills are skills that involve large-muscle activities, such as moving one's arms and walking.

Melanie, a 4-year-old child, ties her shoelaces on her own and skillfully uses a fork and a spoon. In the context of motor development, which of the following is most likely involved in this scenario?

Which of the following reflexes is most likely to occur when something touches an infant's palms?

In the context of grasping, which of the following statements is true of infants?

________ is a dynamic process that is linked with sensory information in the skin, joints, and muscles, which tell us where we are in space; in vestibular organs in the inner ear that regulate balance and equilibrium; and in vision and hearing.

The interpretation of sensory information is called

Jake, age 11 months, is able to pick up cereal and bits of fruit off the tray of his high chair by grasping them with his thumb and forefinger. Jake has developed the

Nadine is a 1-year-old infant. Her doctor wants to assess the development of her fine motor skills. In this scenario, which of Nadine's abilities is the doctor most likely to focus on?