Question 1

Handedness is especially interesting to developmentalists because it is intimately linked to:

Accepted Answer

Handedness is linked to language lateralization because most people have language functions primarily located in the left hemisphere of the brain, which controls the right hand. This means that right-handedness is more common than left-handedness, as left-handed individuals may have language functions located in the right hemisphere or be more likely to have mixed language lateralization.

Question 2

Which of the following is the best example of overregularization?

Accepted Answer

Overregularization occurs when a child applies a regular rule of language too broadly, leading to errors like "breaked" instead of "broke." Choice C is the only example that demonstrates overregularization. Choices A, B, and D contain grammatically correct language.

Question 3

Generalizing from research presented in the text, if a 4-year-old was observed speaking to a 2-year-old, what kind of speech would the 4-year-old be most likely to use:

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that when older children speak to younger children, they tend to simplify their language and adjust their speech to the younger child's level of understanding. Therefore, it is most likely that the 4-year-old would use a simpler version of his normal speech when talking to the 2-year-old.

Question 4

When a young child learns to help fold laundry and put clothes away, cultural information is being transmitted. According to Vygotsky's view, this is best considered to be an example of:

Accepted Answer

Guided participation refers to the process by which a child learns from an adult or more knowledgeable peer through shared experiences and tasks. In this example, the child is being guided in how to fold laundry and put clothes away by an adult, which is a form of guided participation. Scaffolding refers to the support provided by an adult to help a child complete a task they cannot do alone, so it is not the best choice in this scenario. Social referencing refers to a child looking to an adult for guidance in unfamiliar situations, while synchrony refers to the matching of emotional states between a caregiver and child during interactions. Neither of these concepts fully captures the learning that occurs in a child helping with household chores.

Question 5

The process by which soft tissue or cartilage is transformed into bone is called:

Accepted Answer

The process of transforming soft tissue or cartilage into bone is called ossification. Calcification refers to the deposition of calcium salts in tissues, grafting is the transplantation of tissues or organs, and cartilogenesis is the formation of cartilage.

Question 6

Larsen states that he likes to give his students just enough "hints" so that they can figure out how to solve a difficult problem with a minimum of guidance. Dr. Larsen's approach best demonstrates the concept of:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Larsen's approach of giving hints to guide his students to solve a difficult problem with a minimum of guidance is an example of scaffolding. Scaffolding refers to the support provided by an adult or a more skilled peer to help a child or less experienced learner solve a problem or complete a task that would be beyond their ability without assistance.

Question 7

Research presented in the text suggests that playing with which of the following types of toys appears to encourage the language development the most?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that playing with dolls encourages language development the most, as it often involves role-playing and storytelling, which stimulate verbal interaction and communication skills.

Question 8

A child who climbs to the top of a staircase for the challenge and fun of the activity has what type of motivation?

Accepted Answer

Intrinsic motivation refers to engaging in an activity for the inherent enjoyment and satisfaction it provides. The child is climbing the stairs for the challenge and fun, rather than for any external reward or pressure. This aligns with the characteristics of intrinsic motivation.

Question 9

According to the text, the most dramatic cognitive difference between infants and 2-year-olds is in their use of:

Accepted Answer

The most dramatic cognitive difference between infants and 2-year-olds is in their use of symbolic representation, which refers to the ability to mentally represent objects and events that are not immediately present. Infants rely mostly on sensorimotor action and perception to understand and interact with the world, while 2-year-olds can use symbols (e.g., words, gestures, pictures) to represent and communicate about objects and actions that are not currently visible or happening. Animism, reification, and automaticity are all cognitive concepts that develop gradually over time and are not specific to the transition from infancy to toddlerhood.

Question 10

Suppose that Bob is a typical 3-year-old child. By age 6, you should expect that his height will have increased by about how many inches?

Accepted Answer

On average, children grow about 2 to 3 inches per year between the ages of 3 and 6. Therefore, over a span of 3 years, a typical child like Bob would be expected to grow about 6 to 9 inches, with 9 inches being a reasonable estimate.

Question 11

At first, Mike has to concentrate very hard when typing, thinking where each letter on the keyboard is. However, after practicing a great deal, he now types without even thinking about how his fingers are moving. The concept that best describes Mike's development is:

Accepted Answer

Automaticity refers to the ability to perform tasks without conscious effort or attention. Mike's ability to type without thinking about the movements of his fingers demonstrates automaticity, which is the best choice to describe his development.

Question 12

Which of the following individuals would be most likely to experience the most severe and permanent disruptions in language abilities following a brain injury?

Accepted Answer

Adults who sustain injuries to the left hemisphere of the brain, which is primarily responsible for language processing in most individuals, are more likely to experience severe and permanent disruptions in language abilities compared to injuries in other areas or in children, who have a greater capacity for neural plasticity and recovery.

Question 13

Laura and Ted like to play "house," a game they invented in which Laura pretends to be the "mother" and Ted the "father." In this game, Laura cooks the food on a pretend stove and Ted takes out the pretend garbage. The ability to play this game relies most directly on which cognitive ability?

Accepted Answer

The ability to engage in pretend play and use objects symbolically is known as symbolic representation. This ability allows children to use objects or actions to represent something else (such as using a toy phone to represent a real phone) and is essential for playing games like "house." Egocentrism, conservation, and reversibility are not directly related to the ability to engage in symbolic play.

Question 14

Suppose you examine an ultrasound image of a fetus, who is sucking her left thumb. Generalizing from research presented in the text, what is the probability that this fetus will be left-handed at age 15?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that fetuses who suck their left thumb are more likely to be left-handed later in life, with a probability of about 67%.

Question 15

A child who believes that objects and people in their thoughts and dreams are real is displaying what?

Accepted Answer

Reification is the cognitive development phenomenon where a child believes that objects and people in their thoughts and dreams have a real, physical existence. This is a common phase in early childhood development, reflecting the difficulty young children have in distinguishing between reality and their internal thoughts or dreams.

Question 16

Generalizing from research conclusions presented in the text, if given the choice, would you recommend that children be raised in bilingual environment?

Accepted Answer

The research presented in the text suggests that being raised in a bilingual environment can have numerous cognitive benefits, such as enhancing working memory, promoting executive functions, and improving cognitive flexibility. Bilingualism does not necessarily limit the size of a child's vocabulary, and there is no evidence to support the claim that it delays learning to talk or makes children more likely to develop reading problems.

Question 17

Jacobs is describing a process by which neurons become insulated so that they can conduct neural impulses more efficiently. The process he is describing would be called:

Accepted Answer

The process described by Jacobs, in which neurons become insulated to conduct neural impulses more efficiently, is called myelination. Myelination involves the formation of a fatty sheath around the axon of a neuron, which increases the speed of neural communication.

Question 18

Generalizing from research presented in the text, which of the following memory strategies would most likely lead a young child to the best recall of a group of common household items:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Generalizing from research presented in the text,...

Question 19

The social and cultural aspects of language use are referred to by the term:

Accepted Answer

Pragmatics refers to the ways in which people use language in context, taking into account social and cultural factors such as context, tone, and nonverbal cues. It is concerned with how language is used to achieve social goals and convey attitudes and emotions, and is therefore closely related to the social and cultural aspects of language use. Grammar acquisition refers to the process of learning the structure and rules of a language, while communication refers to the exchange of information and ideas between individuals. Cultural linguistics is a field of study that examines how language reflects and shapes cultural values and practices. While relevant to the social and cultural aspects of language use, it is not as specific as pragmatics.

Question 20

When he was younger, Tommy stacked blocks for the sheer joy of doing so. Now, Tommy only stacks blocks when he is trying to build something or when he is playing a game. The term that best describes Tommy's development is:

Accepted Answer

Functional subordination refers to the process where an activity that was once done for its own sake becomes a means to an end, as seen in Tommy's shift from stacking blocks for joy to doing it for a purpose.

Quiz 6: Early Childhood: Physical, Cognitive, and Language Development