Question 1

With respect to theories of mind,which statement most directly captures the viewpoint of contemporary researchers who suggest that children develop foundational theories to explain their experiences of the world?

Accepted Answer

This statement reflects the perspective of constructivist theories of mind, which suggest that children actively construct their understanding of the world by building and refining foundational theories based on their experiences. A central tenet of constructivism is that new experiences are incorporated into existing cognitive structures, resulting in ongoing refinement and adaptation of theories.

Question 2

Piaget suggested that the most important cognitive acquisition of the infancy period of cognitive development is the ability to form mental representations of absent objects-those objects with which the infant is not in direct sensorimotor contact.Which term refers to this ability?

Accepted Answer

Object permanence is the ability to understand that an object still exists even if it is no longer visible or present in the environment. This is considered a major milestone in cognitive development during infancy, as it allows infants to form mental representations of objects and people even when they are not directly perceivable through the senses.

Question 3

James loves to read science fiction.He particularly likes works in which alternative worlds are described and he has begun writing his own story set in a world where good triumphs over evil,and cunning wins out over treachery.What stage of cognitive development is being described?

Accepted Answer

James' ability to think abstractly and create hypothetical situations, such as a world where good triumphs over evil, is a hallmark of the formal operational stage of cognitive development. This stage typically begins around age 12 and continues through adulthood.

Question 4

What would one expect a 3- or 4-year-old to say if asked the question,"What will happen if you removed everything that is inside a cat?"

Accepted Answer

A 3- or 4-year-old is likely to believe that removing everything inside a cat would significantly alter its identity and cause it to no longer be a cat.

Question 5

Preoperational children tend to be captivated by the more perceptually striking features of objects.Which Piagetian concept is being described?

Accepted Answer

This description matches the concept of centration, which refers to the tendency of preoperational children to focus on one aspect of a situation or object and ignore other important features. In this case, the perceptually striking features are capturing the child's attention, leading them to center their focus on those aspects.

Question 6

Which scenario is likely the result of egocentrism?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which scenario is likely the result of...

Question 7

A child has two favourite glasses: a tall,skinny one with a picture of a giraffe on it and a short,fat one with a picture of a hippopotamus on it.When her mother pours her some milk using the "hippo" glass,the girls asks that the milk be moved into the "giraffe" glass because she is really thirsty.If the girl believes that simply transferring the milk into the taller glass increases the amount,what can be concluded about her cognitive development?

Accepted Answer

The child's belief that transferring the milk into a taller glass increases the amount suggests that she has not yet reached the concrete operational stage. Specifically, she has not developed the concept of conservation, which is the understanding that changing the appearance of an object does not change its properties (in this case, the amount of milk). The child's thinking is still preoperational, characterized by egocentrism and a focus on appearance over function.

Question 8

A child is in the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development.If Piaget's model is correct,which stage will the child experience next?

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's model of cognitive development, the sensorimotor stage is followed by the preoperational stage, which typically occurs between the ages of 2-7 years. During this stage, children's thinking becomes more symbolic and they develop language, but they still have difficulty with logical and concrete thinking.

Question 9

A great deal of research supports the conclusion that the brain works differently as one ages.What do the changes in function reflect with respect to day-to-day cognitive activities?

Accepted Answer

As one ages, the brain may experience changes in function, such as declines in certain areas or abilities. However, compensation can occur, which involves the brain finding new ways to complete tasks or use different, unaffected areas to compensate for those that have declined. This allows for continued cognitive functioning in day-to-day activities.

Question 10

According to Piaget,which process restructures existing schemes so that new information is accounted for more completely?

Accepted Answer

Accommodation is the process by which existing schemas (mental frameworks) are modified or expanded to account for new information that cannot fit into existing schemas. This process involves changing one's mental representation of the world to incorporate new experiences, rather than simply assimilating the new experience into an existing schema.

Question 11

Much of a child's behaviour is based on inborn schemes,but,as her parents can attest,she is learning that her actions have an effect on external events.According to Piaget's theory,which stage of cognitive development is being described?

Accepted Answer

The description of a child learning that her actions have an effect on external events indicates the sensorimotor stage, which typically occurs from birth to age 2. During this stage, a child's cognitive development is focused on learning through sensory experiences and actions.

Question 12

A child is 4 years old.According to Piaget,what should the child be capable of doing?

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, children at the age of 4 are capable of mental representation, which means they can create mental images of objects that are not physically present. This ability is called symbolic thought or symbolic function. The other options listed require more advanced cognitive development and are typically acquired later in childhood.

Question 13

A group of adults is asked to learn a new set of postal codes for different areas of the country within a limited period of time.What type of intelligence does this type of learning require?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A group of adults is asked to...

Question 14

A 3-year-old loves sports.Her mom recently taught her how to catch a big beach ball and her dad is now teaching her how to catch a small tennis ball.At first,she tries to "surround" the tennis ball with her arms,the way she did the beach ball.Slowly,she learns to use just her hands.Which Piagetian concept best captures the girl's attempt to restructure her scheme?

Accepted Answer

Accommodation is the Piagetian concept that refers to the process of adapting existing mental schemes (assimilation) to fit new information that does not fit within those schemes. The girl's attempt to restructure her scheme of catching a small tennis ball by using just her hands instead of surrounding it with her arms demonstrates accommodation.

Question 15

A boy can provide directions from home to the neighbourhood store and,if asked,he can also state how to return home.Which Piagetian term best captures this ability?

Accepted Answer

Reversibility is the ability to mentally reverse a sequence of events or thought processes. In the given scenario, the boy can provide directions to the neighbourhood store and then mentally reverse the sequence of directions to provide the route back home. This demonstrates the ability of reversibility. Conservation refers to the understanding that the amount of a substance remains the same even if its appearance or arrangement changes. Egocentrism refers to the inability to take another person's perspective into account. Centration refers to the tendency to focus on only one aspect of a situation and ignore other relevant aspects. None of these terms are applicable to the given scenario.

Question 16

According to the view of Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky,children absorb knowledge from their social context.Which term refers to this process?

Accepted Answer

Lev Vygotsky's view of child development emphasizes the importance of social interaction in learning. He believed that children learn through a process of internalizing knowledge from their social context. This process is referred to as internalization. Therefore, the term that refers to this process is B) internalization.

Question 17

On which of the following types of memory tests would elderly individuals be most likely to show the greatest performance deficits?

Accepted Answer

Acquiring new information is typically more challenging for elderly individuals due to declines in cognitive processing speed and working memory capacity. The other types of memory tests may be more reliant on previously learned information or recognition, which may be less affected by aging.

Question 18

In a study that is described in the textbook,researcher Renée Baillargeon showed 3-month-old infants a possible physical event and an impossible physical event.How did the infants respond?

Accepted Answer

The study showed that the infants showed more surprise when witnessing the impossible event, indicating that they were able to differentiate between possible and impossible physical events.

Question 19

A baby is learning about his world.He already knows about the value of sucking and grasping in helping him to adapt to his world and he is now working on understanding pushing and pulling.Which Piagetian term best characterizes these mental structures?

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that children build mental structures called schemes to help them understand and navigate their world. Initially, these schemes are based on reflexes (such as sucking and grasping), but as the child develops, they start to create new schemes by observing and experimenting with their environment. Learning about pushing and pulling, and how they impact the world around them, would fall under the development of new schemes.

Question 20

Steve is role-playing the part of French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in a debate with a classmate who is playing the role of British philosopher John Locke.Which view of development should Steve promote?

Accepted Answer

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a nativist who believed that humans are born with innate goodness and natural impulses towards growth and development. Therefore, Steve should promote a nativist view of development.

Quiz 11: A: Human Development Across the Life Span