Question 1

Which of the following is true of cross-sectional research?

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional research compares people of different ages at the same point in time. It does not track behavior over time, which is the focus of longitudinal research.

Question 2

One baby receives an X chromosome from its mother and an X chromosome from its father;it will develop as a _____.A second baby receives an X chromosome from its mother and a Y chromosome from its father;it will develop as a _____.

Accepted Answer

The first baby, with two X chromosomes (XX), will develop as female. The second baby, with one X and one Y chromosome (XY), will develop as male.

Question 3

A researcher raises a sample of unrelated macaque monkeys in identical laboratory environments.He finds large differences among these monkeys in their preference for novel visual stimuli.What might the researcher legitimately conclude concerning the relative contributions of nature and nurture to the preference for visual novelty?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the monkeys were raised in identical laboratory environments suggests that differences in their preference for visual novelty may be due to genetic factors, indicating the contribution of nature. This conclusion is supported by the fact that unrelated monkeys were used, meaning that the variations in the preference for visual novelty could not be explained by shared environmental factors. However, it is important to note that environmental factors could still play a role, as the monkeys could have experienced different levels of stimulation even in the same laboratory environment.

Question 4

The difference between cross-sectional research design and longitudinal research designs is that:

Accepted Answer

The key difference between cross-sectional and longitudinal research designs is that cross-sectional studies assess differences among different groups of people at a single point in time, while longitudinal studies track changes in behavior or outcomes over time among a single group of participants. Therefore, option A is the correct answer. Option B is incorrect, as longitudinal studies are typically more time-consuming than cross-sectional studies, as they require multiple assessments over time. Option C is also incorrect, as both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies can involve comparisons among multiple participants or groups. Option D is incorrect, as there is no such thing as a "combination" of longitudinal and sequential research designs - these are two distinct types of research designs with different purposes and methods.

Question 5

The sequential research design can be seen as:

Accepted Answer

The sequential research design is a combination of the cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. It involves studying different age groups at one point in time (cross-sectional) and then following those groups over time (longitudinal). This allows for both the study of development across the lifespan and the examination of age-related differences at specific points in time.

Question 6

Which of the following statements CORRECTLY identifies an advantage or a disadvantage of the developmental researchers' research designs?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research designs allow researchers to track changes in behavior over time, which can provide valuable insights into development.

Question 7

A normal fertilized egg,or zygote,contains _____ pairs of chromosomes.

Accepted Answer

A normal fertilized egg contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, or a total of 46 chromosomes.

Question 8

Maria is studying the effects of calcium on the development of children.So she administers varying levels of calcium to two groups of children,one group consisting of children aged five and the other group consisting of children aged ten.She studies the growth rate of these two groups regularly over a period of one year.On the basis of the given evidence,it would be most accurate to say that Maria is using _____ research design.

Accepted Answer

Maria is using a sequential research design because she is studying different age groups (cross-sectional) over a period of time (longitudinal).

Question 9

Which of the following sequences correctly orders the units of genetics,from the smallest and most specific to the largest and most inclusive?

Accepted Answer

DNA is the smallest and most specific unit of genetics, followed by genes which are regions of DNA that code for specific traits or proteins. Chromosomes consist of both DNA and proteins and contain many genes. Thus, the correct sequence is DNA → gene → chromosome.

Question 10

_____ are rod-shaped structures that contain all basic hereditary information.

Accepted Answer

Chromosomes are rod-shaped structures found in the nucleus of a cell that carry genetic information in the form of DNA. Spleens are organs involved in the immune system, while serotonin and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters involved in the nervous system.

Question 11

Which of the following primarily studies the patterns of growth and change that occur throughout life?

Accepted Answer

Developmental psychology focuses on studying the patterns of growth and change that occur throughout life, including physical, cognitive, and social development. Oncology is the study of cancer, cytology is the study of cells, and parapsychology is the study of paranormal phenomena, none of which focus on human development.

Question 12

Dona is a graduate student investigating the development of fine motor skills.She selects a group of children and assesses their fine motor skills every six months over a two-year period.In this example,Dona is using a(n)_____ research design.

Accepted Answer

Dona is using a longitudinal research design because she is following the same group of children and assessing their development over time. Cross-sectional research design involves comparing different groups of people at the same point in time, while transversal research design involves assessing the same group of people at different points in time but with no overlap in participants. Single case experimental design involves studying a single individual over time with repeated measurements.

Question 13

Which of the following is true about longitudinal research?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research involves studying the same group of people over a period of time, tracking changes and development as the participants age.

Question 14

Dr.Edward is testing the same individuals repeatedly over time as part of a research study,while Dr.Janice 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.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Edward is using a longitudinal design, which involves studying the same individuals over a period of time. Dr. Janice is using a cross-sectional design, which involves comparing different individuals of various ages at one point in time.

Question 15

Max is a graduate student who wants to find a relation between identity formation and the influence of the environment.For this purpose,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(n)_____ research design.

Accepted Answer

Mark is comparing different age groups at the same point in time, so he is using a cross-sectional research design. A longitudinal design would involve following the same group of children over time and observing changes in their identity formation. A single case experimental design would involve studying a single individual, rather than groups of children. A sequential design involves combining both longitudinal and cross-sectional approaches, which Mark is not doing in this case.

Question 16

Dr.Agnew remarks that cross-culturally,rites of passage may be more common for young males than for young females because males have higher status than do females in most cultures.Dr.Blaine counters by suggesting that rites of passage may be more common for young males than for young females because unlike females,males do not experience the onset of menstruation,a well-defined event marking the end of childhood.How might you characterize the views of the two professors on the nature vs.nurture issue?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Agnew's view is based on cultural status differences, which is a "nurture" perspective, while Dr. Blaine's view is based on biological events like menstruation, which is a "nature" perspective.

Question 17

Which of the following is a disadvantage associated with longitudinal research designs?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research designs require tracking the same individuals over a longer period of time, which is time-consuming and may lead to issues such as attrition (participants dropping out), which could affect the validity of results. However, the other options listed are inaccurate or incomplete: A is incorrect because longitudinal research can and often does deal with cohort groups; C is incorrect because assessing change over time is one of the main benefits of longitudinal research; and D is incorrect because longitudinal research can track the behavior of any number of participants, not just two.

Question 18

Cross-sectional research designs provide information about age _____ in development between different age groups.Longitudinal research designs provide information concerning _____ in behavior over time.

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional research designs compare different age groups at one point in time to identify age differences. Longitudinal research designs follow the same group over time to observe changes in behavior.

Question 19

Laura and Celia are identical twins.They were adopted at birth by different families and raised in different environments.However,there are a lot of behavioral similarities between them.In the context of developmental psychology,which of the following best explains this phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is best explained by the influence of nature on development, as identical twins share the same genetic makeup.

Question 20

Which of the following is true about sequential research?

Accepted Answer

Sequential research combines both cross-sectional and longitudinal research, which allows for the assessment of both differences among groups of people and changes in behavior over time.

Quiz 9: Intelligence