Question 1

Three of the following should help youngsters acquire more effective learning and study strategies. Which one is least likely to do so?
A) Have them work in pairs to ask one another thought-provoking questions about a topic.
B) Express confidence that with time and effective strategies, they can learn everything there is to know about a topic.
C) Have them experiment with different methods of trying to remember information and then reflect on each method's effectiveness.
D) Give them a general structure to guide their early note-taking efforts.

Accepted Answer

Expressing confidence that students can learn everything there is to know about a topic might set unrealistic expectations and does not directly contribute to acquiring more effective learning and study strategies. The other options (A, C, D) involve active engagement and reflection on learning processes, which are more directly linked to improving study strategies.

Question 2

Imagine you are a high school principal who wants students to develop effective study strategies before they graduate. Which one of the following approaches would be the best one to take?
A) Purchase textbooks that are about two years below students' present reading levels.
B) Have teachers incorporate study skills training into the specific academic courses they teach.
C) Have a one-semester study skills course that all students take in their first year of high school.
D) Have a one-semester study skills course that all students take in their final year of high school.

Accepted Answer

Incorporating study skills training into specific academic courses allows students to directly apply these skills in a relevant context, enhancing their learning and retention of both the content and the study strategies. This approach integrates study skills as a fundamental part of the learning process across subjects, making it more effective than isolated courses or using materials that don't challenge students adequately.

Question 3

Which one of the following statements best describes a theory theory view of cognitive development?
A) Children form general belief systems about how the world operates.
B) The ways in which children organize and integrate their experiences usually have little relevance to physical reality.
C) In the early years, children develop concrete understandings of events; these understandings become increasingly abstract as they reach adolescence.
D) Beginning at around age 3, children form hypotheses about the nature of the world and test those hypotheses in much the same way that a scientist would.

Accepted Answer

Children form general belief systems about how the world operates.

Question 4

Adults often engage young children in discussions about past events. Which one of the following is least likely to result from such discussions?
A) Children learn to interpret events in culturally relevant ways.
B) Children are likely to remember experiences which they have discussed.
C) Children become increasingly able to recall verbatim what the adults have said about the events.
D) Children develop an autobiographical self.

Accepted Answer

Children's ability to recall events verbatim, especially at a young age, is limited by their developing memory and language skills. Discussions with adults more often help in understanding and interpreting events, remembering experiences, and developing a sense of self, rather than enhancing verbatim recall of adult conversations.

Question 5

Which one of the following best describes the nature of conceptual change?
A) Developing new categories to classify objects and events
B) Revising one's beliefs after receiving information that contradicts those beliefs
C) Achieving the instructional objectives that a teacher has established for a lesson or unit
D) Acquiring a more sophisticated vocabulary with which to describe the events in one's life

Accepted Answer

Conceptual change involves revising one's existing beliefs or understanding in light of new evidence or perspectives that contradict the previous beliefs. This process is fundamental in learning and cognitive development, as it reflects the adaptation and restructuring of knowledge based on new information.

Question 6

Which one of the following statements best describes intersubjectivity?
A) Recognizing that one does not, and never can, know everything there is to know about a topic
B) The point at which a teacher understands the nature of a child's existing knowledge about a topic
C) The point at which a child acquires the same knowledge about a topic that a teacher or other expert has
D) A mutual understanding between two people that each one knows what the other one is seeing, thinking, or feeling

Accepted Answer

Intersubjectivity refers to a shared understanding among individuals, where there is a mutual recognition of each other's perspectives, emotions, or thoughts. This concept is often discussed in the context of communication, empathy, and social interaction, emphasizing the common ground or mutual comprehension between people.

Question 7

Which of the following can teachers do that will be most likely to encourage self-regulated learning?
A) Give children praise for work that is done well.
B) Give children frequent feedback.
C) Give children regular homework assignments.
D) Give children frequent opportunities to set goals.

Accepted Answer

Giving children frequent opportunities to set goals encourages them to take ownership of their learning process, fostering self-regulation skills as they plan, monitor, and evaluate their progress towards achieving these goals.

Question 8

Tammy tells Mr. Brookes that she really wants to do well in his government class, but she doesn't seem to study the right things and so always get low scores on quizzes and tests. Before the next test, the two of them meet after school and create a list of questions she should try to answer as she reads and studies. This situation can best be described as:
A) Equilibration
B) A clinical method
C) Social referencing
D) Co-regulated learning

Accepted Answer

This situation is an example of co-regulated learning, where Mr. Brookes is helping Tammy to regulate her learning process by guiding her on what to study and how to prepare for tests, thus they are sharing the regulation of learning.

Question 9

Which one of the following examples illustrates conceptual change?
A) As a Boy Scout, Andy has learned how to cook a wide variety of foods over an open fire.
B) Brad misinterprets the scientific explanation of fire to fit what he believes: that fire is an object with substance and weight.
C) Charlotte used to think that fire was an actual substance, but now she knows it's a chemical change.
D) Danielle wasn't aware of how much damage fire could really do until the house next door burned down.

Accepted Answer

Conceptual change involves a shift in understanding, and Charlotte's previous belief that fire was a substance has been replaced with a more informed understanding of it as a chemical change. The other options do not involve such a shift in understanding.

Question 10

Children's misconceptions about the world may come from a variety of sources. Which one of the following is not a likely source that theorists have identified?
A) Textbooks and other media sometimes provide misinformation.
B) Children willingly accept the stories that younger children make up.
C) Children form their own ideas based on how the world appears to be.
D) Common expressions in language (e.g., the sun "sets" in the west) sometimes misrepresent reality.

Accepted Answer

Theorists generally do not identify the stories made up by younger children as a significant source of misconceptions in children. Misconceptions are more commonly attributed to sources like textbooks, media, personal interpretations of the world, and language expressions that misrepresent reality.

Question 11

Three of the following teachers are using strategies that should promote self- regulated learning. Which teacher, while almost certainly helping students learn more effectively, is probably not promoting self-regulated learning?
A) Mr. Isaacs gives his students several criteria they can use to evaluate their own research papers.
B) Mr. Jankowski has his students set specific, individually chosen goals they should try to accomplish as they study.
C) Ms. Lin gives her students a list of questions they should try to answer as they read an assigned textbook chapter at home.
D) Ms. Henry recruits several parents to provide one-on-one tutoring for students who are having difficulty in a particular subject.

Accepted Answer

Ms. Henry's approach of providing one-on-one tutoring does not directly engage students in self-regulation strategies such as goal setting, self-assessment, or planning. Instead, it involves external assistance to help students learn, which does not necessarily promote their ability to regulate their own learning.

Question 12

Which one of the following statements best describes a nativist perspective of child development?
A) Children are naturally disposed to think about their environment in particular ways; in a sense, some basic knowledge about the world is "pre-wired."
B) Children actively construct their own view of the world from their experiences with the environment.
C) Initially, children unconsciously develop a rather complex and confused view of the world, but this view becomes simpler and more straightforward as time goes on.
D) Children repeatedly parrot their parents' and teachers' beliefs, eventually adopting these beliefs as their own "knowledge."

Accepted Answer

The nativist perspective posits that children are born with some innate knowledge or predispositions, which means they come into the world "pre-wired" to think about their environment in certain ways. This contrasts with theories that emphasize learning from experience or socialization as primary in development.

Question 13

Epistemic beliefs can best be described as youngsters' views about:
A) What instructional techniques are most likely to help them learn classroom material
B) How long they are likely to remember the things they learn in school
C) Which careers are most suitable for their abilities and talents
D) What knowledge is and how it is acquired

Accepted Answer

Epistemic beliefs refer to individuals' beliefs about the nature of knowledge and the process of learning. This includes how they understand what knowledge is and how they believe it is acquired or constructed.

Question 14

Each of the teachers below has students with misconceptions about the material they are studying. Three of the teachers are using strategies that should help their students correct these misconceptions. Which teacher is not using a recommended strategy for changing misconceptions?
A) Ms. Andersen gives corrective feedback when students make statements that reflect misconceptions.
B) Mr. Bissette presents a situation that students cannot adequately explain using their current beliefs about the topic.
C) Mr. Caro shows students how the true explanation of something is different from, and more plausible than, their existing beliefs.
D) Ms. Darren reminds her students that she will be testing them on the material they are studying.

Accepted Answer

Ms. Darren's strategy of reminding students about testing does not directly address or correct misconceptions. It may increase anxiety or motivate study, but it doesn't guide students in revising their incorrect beliefs.

Question 15

A high school student who studies primarily by memorizing textbook definitions word for word is most likely to have which one of the following epistemic beliefs?
A) Knowledge is a collection of discrete facts.
B) Some things about the world may ultimately be unknowable.
C) Knowledge doesn't just come from experts, it can also be self-constructed.
D) Experts' understanding of a topic continues to change as new research results come in.

Accepted Answer

This student's approach to studying by memorizing textbook definitions word for word aligns with the belief that knowledge consists of discrete, unconnected facts that can be learned individually. This perspective does not accommodate the complexity, uncertainty, or evolving nature of knowledge, as suggested in the other options.

Question 16

Three of the following statements about epistemic beliefs are true. Which one is false?
A) Children's beliefs about the nature of knowledge influence how they study.
B) Children with more advanced epistemic beliefs are more likely to struggle with academic subject matter.
C) As students progress through the grade levels they discover that learning involves acquiring a cohesive set of ideas.
D) Young children may be more motivated to learn about a topic when they know that some things are definitely true or false.

Accepted Answer

Children with more advanced epistemic beliefs are generally better equipped to handle complex and challenging academic material, not more likely to struggle. These beliefs help them understand that knowledge can be complex, evolving, and interconnected, which aids in deeper learning and comprehension.

Question 17

Mary Adams takes care of several toddlers and preschoolers while their parents work during the day. One warm spring day, she has the children in a fenced-in area behind her home. A large dog comes running up to the fence. As the dog approaches, 2-year-old Todd looks at Mary. When he sees that she appears frightened, he immediately starts to cry. What phenomenon is Todd displaying in this situation?
A) automatization
B) social referencing
C) metacognitive awareness
D) comprehension monitoring

Accepted Answer

Todd is displaying social referencing, which is the process of looking to others to gauge how to react in unfamiliar or ambiguous situations. Seeing Mary's frightened expression, Todd uses her reaction as a cue for how he should feel and respond to the presence of the dog.

Question 18

Which one of the following pairs of students best illustrates a difference in epistemic beliefs?
A) Irene thinks that doing well in high school is important for getting into a good college, but Isabelle thinks that she can get into college with mediocre grades as long as she has high SAT scores.
B) Julie likes going to school because that's where she sees her friends every day, but Janette likes going to school because of all the new things she learns there.
C) Keith thinks that learning geography means memorizing place names, but Kareem thinks that learning geography means understanding migration and settlement patterns.
D) Loren is well aware of the criteria that his teacher is using to evaluate his classroom performance, but Luke is clueless about why he is doing poorly in the same teacher's class.

Accepted Answer

Epistemic beliefs refer to beliefs about the nature of knowledge and learning. Keith and Kareem have different views on what it means to learn geography, illustrating a difference in their epistemic beliefs.

Question 19

A third grade teacher gives examples of questions that will encourage his students to elaborate upon existing knowledge. Which of the following terms most closely describes what this teacher is doing?
A) Modeling
B) Encouraging
C) Strategizing
D) Scaffolding

Accepted Answer

Scaffolding is a teaching method that involves providing support to students to help them learn more effectively. By asking questions that encourage students to elaborate upon existing knowledge, the teacher is helping to build upon what they already know, which is a key aspect of scaffolding.

Question 20

Which one of the following examples best illustrates the use of a personally constructed theory as a child learns the concept spider?
A) Julian assumes that spiders must give birth to baby spiders, just as people give birth to baby people.
B) Ian learns that spiders have eight legs, whereas insects have only six.
C) Rudy learns that spiders, along with scorpions and ticks, are members of the arachnid class.
D) Duc remembers what happened when his cousin was bitten by a black widow spider.

Accepted Answer

Julian is using his own logic or personally constructed theory (based on his understanding of how humans reproduce) to infer how spiders reproduce, which illustrates the concept of a personally constructed theory in learning.

Quiz 7: Cognitive Development: Cognitive Processes

Three of the following should help youngsters acquire more effective learning and study strategies. Which one is least likely to do so?

Imagine you are a high school principal who wants students to develop effective study strategies before they graduate. Which one of the following approaches would be the best one to take?

Which one of the following statements best describes a theory theory view of cognitive development?

Adults often engage young children in discussions about past events. Which one of the following is least likely to result from such discussions?

Which one of the following best describes the nature of conceptual change?

Which one of the following statements best describes intersubjectivity?

Which of the following can teachers do that will be most likely to encourage self-regulated learning?

Which one of the following examples illustrates conceptual change?

Children's misconceptions about the world may come from a variety of sources. Which one of the following is not a likely source that theorists have identified?

Three of the following teachers are using strategies that should promote self- regulated learning. Which teacher, while almost certainly helping students learn more effectively, is probably not promoting self-regulated learning?

Which one of the following statements best describes a nativist perspective of child development?

Epistemic beliefs can best be described as youngsters' views about:

Each of the teachers below has students with misconceptions about the material they are studying. Three of the teachers are using strategies that should help their students correct these misconceptions. Which teacher is not using a recommended strategy for changing misconceptions?

A high school student who studies primarily by memorizing textbook definitions word for word is most likely to have which one of the following epistemic beliefs?

Three of the following statements about epistemic beliefs are true. Which one is false?

Which one of the following pairs of students best illustrates a difference in epistemic beliefs?

A third grade teacher gives examples of questions that will encourage his students to elaborate upon existing knowledge. Which of the following terms most closely describes what this teacher is doing?

Which one of the following examples best illustrates the use of a personally constructed theory as a child learns the concept spider?