Question 1

Who is most likely to display dualistic thinking where knowledge is viewed as either right or wrong?
A) Beginning college students
B) Individuals in their mid- to late-20s
C) People in their mid-30s
D) Individuals in their late-30s

Accepted Answer

Dualistic thinking is most commonly observed in individuals who are in the early stages of cognitive development, such as beginning college students. As they progress in their education and gain more exposure to diverse perspectives, they are more likely to adopt more complex ways of thinking that acknowledge shades of grey and multiple perspectives.

Question 2

Pragmatic thought entails acceptance of inconsistency and ambiguity; therefore, it is most like:
A) autonomous judgment.
B) reflective judgment.
C) dualistic thinking.
D) relativistic thinking.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Pragmatic thought entails acceptance of inconsistency and...

Question 3

Who is most at risk of dropping out of college?
A) Juanita, a Hispanic student who is from a wealthy family where her father attended college.
B) Derrick, a first generation college student who is African American.
C) Anne, a college student attending a 2-year institution.
D) Jeff, a college student attending a 4-year institution.

Accepted Answer

Research shows that first generation college students and students of color are at a higher risk of dropping out of college due to factors such as lack of academic preparation, financial constraints, and a feeling of not belonging on campus. The other answer choices do not provide information that suggests a higher risk of dropping out.

Question 4

If an institution wanted to retain first-generation and minority students, which of the following would be least beneficial?
A) The institution should facilitate interactions between students and faculty; for instance, assign each student a faculty mentor.
B) The institution should create a support network to help develop study skills for students.
C) The institution should encourage participation in campus events, possibly even requiring participation in the students' first year on campus.
D) The institution should treat first-generation and minority students exactly the same as other students on campus in order to not alienate them and make them feel different.

Accepted Answer

Treating first-generation and minority students the same as other students on campus without providing any additional support or resources may not address any unique challenges they may face, and may not help with retention efforts. It is important for institutions to recognize and address the specific needs of first-generation and minority students in order to create a supportive and inclusive environment.

Question 5

Which statement is true regarding postformal thought?
A) Postformal reasoning is universal across cultures.
B) Ultimately, few adults demonstrate reflective judgment.
C) Social interaction is not related to postformal thought.
D) Beginning college students are more likely to use reflective judgment.

Accepted Answer

Reflective judgment, a component of postformal thought, is not commonly demonstrated by all adults, as it requires advanced cognitive skills and experience.

Question 6

Compared to the type of the institution (2-year, 4-year), what is the most important aspect of attending college for developmental outcomes?
A) The size of the institution
B) The rigorousness of the curriculum
C) Student involvement
D) Diversity of the institution

Accepted Answer

Student involvement is the most important aspect of attending college for developmental outcomes, as it has been found to positively impact academic achievement, social integration, and overall well-being. While the other factors mentioned may also have an impact, research consistently shows that student involvement is the key predictor of positive outcomes in college.

Question 7

What percentage of college students are considered to be nontraditional?
A) 54%
B) 10%
C) 27%
D) 6%

Accepted Answer

The answer of What percentage of college students are considered...

Question 8

David, a 15-year-old boy, smokes marijuana on a daily basis. He thinks that it helps him to talk to friends. Most of his peer group smokes marijuana. What can we predict will happen when David is in his 20s?
A) David will become a heavy drinker with potential alcoholism in his 20s.
B) David will continue using marijuana at the same rate in his 20s as he does in his teens.
C) David will most likely increase to daily use and dependence on marijuana in his 20s.
D) David will most likely quit because he mainly uses it for conformity, and that isn't important in the 20s.

Accepted Answer

Research shows that individuals who start using marijuana during their teenage years are more likely to develop a dependence on it as adults. Additionally, David's peer group's continued use of marijuana is likely to reinforce his own use and make it more difficult for him to quit. Therefore, it is likely that David will increase his use and dependence on marijuana in his 20s.

Question 9

Jeannie only smokes cigarettes when she goes out to a bar with friends. According to the data on smokers, when asked if she is a smoker, her response most likely would be:
A) Yes, a person is a smoker if they smoke cigarettes at any time.
B) No, I don't consider myself a smoker because I only smoke occasionally.
C) Yes, but I would only be considered a semi-smoker because it isn't every day.
D) I would be a smoker if I couldn't quit, but I could quit anytime I want.

Accepted Answer

Jeannie's smoking behavior is sporadic and limited to specific situations, so she might not consider herself a smoker. Option A is not accurate as it implies that anyone who smokes at any point is a smoker. Option C is not a common term, and option D is not a valid criterion for defining a smoker.

Question 10

What do nontraditional college students report as their number-one reason to return to college?
A) They are looking to be eligible for higher-paying careers.
B) Mid-life crisis.
C) Children are grown so they have time for college.
D) Interest in learning something new.

Accepted Answer

Nontraditional college students typically return to college to be eligible for higher-paying jobs and advance their careers, which is the number-one reason they report.

Question 11

Which type of thinking is most likely to involve the acceptance of inconsistency and ambiguity?
A) Pragmatic thought
B) Dualistic reasoning
C) Relativistic thinking
D) Autonomous judgment

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which type of thinking is most likely...

Question 12

What type of thinking does this question illustrate: "When approaching a problem, there are probably several ways to do it. What are they? Which one's most efficient? Which one will give us the most accurate results?"
A) Autonomous judgment
B) Reflective judgment
C) Dualistic thinking
D) Relativistic thinking

Accepted Answer

The question demonstrates reflective judgment as it involves considering multiple options, evaluating their efficiency and accuracy, and making a decision based on critical analysis. Autonomous judgment involves relying solely on personal beliefs and biases, dualistic thinking involves seeing situations in black and white terms, and relativistic thinking involves considering multiple perspectives without making a firm decision.

Question 13

Thinking that is dependent on the situation and thinker is called:
A) Autonomous thinking
B) Reflective thinking
C) Dualistic thinking
D) Relativistic thinking

Accepted Answer

Relativistic thinking is the type of thinking that recognizes the situational and personal nature of knowledge and acknowledges that what is considered true can shift based on context and individual perspective. Autonomous thinking implies that thinking is wholly independent of outside factors, reflective thinking is thinking that involves self-examination and evaluation, and dualistic thinking refers to thinking that is black and white or simplistic in nature.

Question 14

Which statement illustrates pragmatic thought?
A) Annie works at a job where she is an assistant to a clothing designer. She is told what to do and is not allowed to make any decisions on her own. At home, she has freedom to come and go and makes all the decisions.
B) Adrian is really good at coming up with several ways to solve a problem, so his coworkers like to have him on their team.
C) Jennifer gets very frustrated in class when the professor asks her what she thinks about an issue. She just wants to be told what idea is correct.
D) Hannah's friend asks her if she should break up with her boyfriend. Hannah tells her that she can't answer that because it all depends on how her friend looks at the situation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement illustrates pragmatic thought?
A) Annie works...

Question 15

Which of the following is not an advancement in social development that is influenced by college attendance?
A) Tolerance of diversity
B) Expanded worldview
C) Interest in art and literature
D) Easier time making friends

Accepted Answer

College attendance can certainly influence tolerance of diversity, expanded worldview, and interest in art and literature, but there is no guarantee that it will result in an easier time making friends. Making friends in college can still be challenging for some people, depending on their individual social skills and experiences.

Question 16

What is epistemic cognition?
A) The ways in which individuals understand how they arrive at ideas, beliefs, and conclusions.
B) Polar reasoning in which knowledge and accounts of phenomena are viewed as either right or wrong with no in-between.
C) Knowledge is viewed as relative, dependent on the situation and thinker.
D) reasoning that synthesizes contradictions among perspectives.

Accepted Answer

Epistemic cognition refers to an individual's understanding of how they arrive at ideas, beliefs, and conclusions. It involves their awareness of the sources of knowledge and their ability to evaluate information critically.

Answer: B 
 This statement describes black-and-white thinking, which is not a component of epistemic cognition.

Answer: C 
 This statement describes relativistic thinking, which is a component of epistemic cognition.

Answer: D 
 This statement describes integrative thinking, which is not necessarily a component of epistemic cognition but could be a related cognitive process.

Question 17

If a person says, "I really can't [choose a point of view] on this issue. It depends on your beliefs since there is no way of proving either one . . . I believe they're both the same as far as accuracy," they are demonstrating:
A) autonomous judgment.
B) reflective judgment.
C) dualistic thinking.
D) relativistic thinking.

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests that the person acknowledges that different people can have different beliefs and perspectives, and that both sides of the issue might have equal validity depending on one's point of view. This reflects relativistic thinking, which recognizes the subjectivity and diversity of human perspectives and the limitations of absolute truth claims.

Question 18

With respect to family and peer factors, why do first-generation and minority students find it difficult to succeed in college?
A) They don't receive positive support from their family and peers.
B) They are criticized for "selling out" and attending college.
C) They have too much pressure to work and help support the family.
D) They have few family and peer models of how to succeed in college.

Accepted Answer

First-generation and minority students often lack family and peer models who have successfully navigated college, which can make it difficult for them to know how to succeed. This lack of role models can lead to a lack of knowledge and confidence in navigating college, which can hinder their success.

Question 19

Why do nontraditional students have strengths that traditional students may not?
A) They have more social support than the traditional college student.
B) They tend to show a readiness to learn and a problem-centered orientation toward learning.
C) They are more likely to have financial stability.
D) They are more driven, so they tend to graduate earlier than traditional students.

Accepted Answer

Nontraditional students often have more life experience and practical skills, which can lead to a readiness to learn and a problem-centered orientation toward learning. They may also be more motivated to succeed and overcome challenges, given that they often have other responsibilities outside of school. However, social support and financial stability can vary greatly among nontraditional students and cannot be assumed as universal strengths. Graduating earlier than traditional students is not necessarily a strength and should not be the sole measure of academic success.

Question 20

Who is more likely to engage in postformal reasoning?
A) Students from cultures such as China, who are guided by elders in terms of decision making.
B) Students in graduate school who are challenged to think both philosophically and practically.
C) Students with older siblings that model different forms of reasoning.
D) Students in a high school with a focus on reading, writing, science, and math.

Accepted Answer

Postformal reasoning involves the ability to think abstractly, reflectively, and flexibly, and to integrate various perspectives into a solution. Students in graduate school are more likely to engage in postformal reasoning as they are challenged to think both philosophically and practically in their coursework and research. Students from cultures such as China may be less likely to engage in postformal reasoning as they are guided by elders in terms of decision making, which may prioritize tradition and conformity over critical analysis. The presence of older siblings or a high school with a focus on academics does not necessarily indicate greater engagement in postformal reasoning.

Quiz 13: Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood

Who is most likely to display dualistic thinking where knowledge is viewed as either right or wrong?

Pragmatic thought entails acceptance of inconsistency and ambiguity; therefore, it is most like:

Who is most at risk of dropping out of college?

If an institution wanted to retain first-generation and minority students, which of the following would be least beneficial?

Which statement is true regarding postformal thought?

Compared to the type of the institution (2-year, 4-year) , what is the most important aspect of attending college for developmental outcomes?

What percentage of college students are considered to be nontraditional?

David, a 15-year-old boy, smokes marijuana on a daily basis. He thinks that it helps him to talk to friends. Most of his peer group smokes marijuana. What can we predict will happen when David is in his 20s?

Jeannie only smokes cigarettes when she goes out to a bar with friends. According to the data on smokers, when asked if she is a smoker, her response most likely would be:

What do nontraditional college students report as their number-one reason to return to college?

Which type of thinking is most likely to involve the acceptance of inconsistency and ambiguity?

What type of thinking does this question illustrate: "When approaching a problem, there are probably several ways to do it. What are they? Which one's most efficient? Which one will give us the most accurate results?"

Thinking that is dependent on the situation and thinker is called:

Which statement illustrates pragmatic thought?

Which of the following is not an advancement in social development that is influenced by college attendance?

What is epistemic cognition?

If a person says, "I really can't [choose a point of view] on this issue. It depends on your beliefs since there is no way of proving either one . . . I believe they're both the same as far as accuracy," they are demonstrating:

With respect to family and peer factors, why do first-generation and minority students find it difficult to succeed in college?

Why do nontraditional students have strengths that traditional students may not?

Who is more likely to engage in postformal reasoning?