Question 1

According to Carol Dweck, which of the following statements represents the MOST effective way to praise a child:
A) "You are a very, very smart little girl."
B) "You are so cute, who could think you wouldn't do well in school?"
C) "You have a natural ability in mathematics; no wonder you do so well."
D) "You did a nice job in writing that story. I especially like the way you described the clown."

Accepted Answer

Dweck argues that praise should be given for performance and persistence, not for having an innate ability that the child cannot change. She also argues that praise should be specific and directed to a particular achievement, not be general and global.
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Question 2

Today, in developed economies about _______ of adolescents can read; in sub-Saharan Africa, this percentage is about _______:
A) 99%; 70%
B) 90%; 60%
C) 95%; 40%
D) 95%; 33%

Accepted Answer

In developed economies, literacy rates among adolescents are very high, often around 99%. In sub-Saharan Africa, the literacy rate for adolescents is significantly lower, around 70%.

Question 3

Generalizing from conclusions drawn in the text, if you were to advise a new elementary school teacher about how she would spend her time, you would suggest that she try to ________ her time spent on classroom management and __________ her time spent on teaching and learning activities.
A) maximize; maximize
B) minimize; minimize
C) maximize; minimize
D) minimize; maximize

Accepted Answer

The text states that children learn more in classes where the time spent on teaching and learning activities is maximized and the times spent on classroom management is minimized.

Question 4

Based on average school performance of boys and girls, if you knew that a student was especially interested and talented in mathematics, you would conclude that this student is more likely to be a _______; if you knew that a student was especially interested and talented in literature and language, you would conclude that this student is more likely to be a ________.
A) boy; girl
B) girl; boy
C) boy; boy
D) girl; girl

Accepted Answer

Although it is not possible to generalize group findings to individual students, in general boys do better and are more interested in mathematics; girls do better and are more interested in literature and language. Because this question gives no information about the specific individuals described, the best answer is to generalize from group data, in which the gender differences noted are obtained.

Question 5

Which of the following statements best summarizes the findings about gender differences in school success:
A) Girls outperform boys in quantitative and spatial tasks; boys outperform girls in verbal skills.
B) Girls outperform boys in verbal skills and boys outperform girls in quantitative and spatial tasks.
C) Girls outperform boys in verbal skills and quantitative and spatial tasks.
D) Boys outperform girls in verbal skills and quantitative and spatial tasks.

Accepted Answer

Multiple large-scale studies have consistently found that girls outperform boys in verbal skills, while boys outperform girls in quantitative and spatial tasks. However, it is important to note that there is significant variation within gender groups and these findings do not apply to every individual.

Question 6

The text concludes that group learning has been found to positively affect students' self-esteem, especially when the students are:
A) boys
B) girls
C) younger
D) older

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that group learning has a stronger positive effect on girls' self-esteem compared to boys. Additionally, younger students tend to benefit more from group learning than older students.

Question 7

Tommy appears to not care at all about the quality of the school work he does. When asked, he says things like: "School is stupid. No one should try hard. Learning is useless." Using the terms identified by David McClelland, you would conclude that Tommy has:
A) very low achievement motivation
B) very high need for excellence
C) very low autonomy
D) a low "pride" quotient

Accepted Answer

According to McClelland, the basic concept involved in achievement motivation is the desire for success and excellence. Tommy's comments reflect the lack of achievement motivation.

Question 8

Lynn tells the teacher, "I don't care if I learn anything; I just want to get an A." According to research conducted by Carol Dweck, you should conclude that Lynn has what type of motivation:
A) learning motivation
B) performance motivation
C) social motivation
D) anti-learning motivation

Accepted Answer

According to Dweck, a performance motivation involves the emphasis of success (performance) over learning. A learning motivation emphasizes learning over performance. Dweck does not discuss either a "social" motivation or an "anti-learning" motivation.

Question 9

Little Maria believes that if she just works hard enough, she can learn anything she sets her mind to. According to Carol Dweck, Maria has:
A) low self-efficacy
B) an unrealistic self-concept
C) a learning orientation
D) a performance orientation

Accepted Answer

Children with a learning orientation view their lack of success as the result of too little effort. Thus, when they fail, they respond by trying harder. Children with a performance orientation view their lack of success as the result of too little ability. Because they view ability as a fixed characteristic, they oftentimes give up trying when they fail at a task.

Question 10

According to research conducted by Carol Dweck, boys are more motivated by an orientation that emphasizes __________, whereas girls are more motivated by an orientation that emphasizes _________.
A) achievement; learning
B) learning; performance
C) performance; learning
D) social success; academic success

Accepted Answer

According to Carol Dweck's research, boys are more motivated by a "performance" orientation that emphasizes demonstrating their abilities and succeeding, while girls are more motivated by a "learning" orientation that emphasizes acquiring new knowledge and skills.

Question 11

If a child has a performance motivation and fails at a task, what is the most likely result, according to Carol Dweck:
A) The child will persist until success is achieved.
B) The child will become emotionally unstable and probably have a tantrum.
C) The child will quit trying and self-esteem will suffer.
D) The child will persist, even when persistence continues to result in failure.

Accepted Answer

A child with a performance orientation values success over learning. When the child is not successful, the most likely result is that the child will quit trying, and oftentimes the child's self-esteem suffers. Self-esteem is at risk because the child comes to believe that he or she can't perform successfully.

Question 12

According to Carol Dweck, which of the following statements represents the LEAST effective way to praise a child:
A) "You are very, very smart child."
B) "You worked very hard on that project and it turned out very well."
C) "That problem was difficult and even though you didn't solve it the first time, you learned a lot."
D) "You did a good job picking up your toys."

Accepted Answer

Dweck argues that praise should be given for performance and persistence, not for having an innate ability that the child cannot change. Thus, she would argue that praising a child for intelligence is less effective, making "a" the correct answer. Dweck also argues that praise should be specific and directed to a particular achievement, not be general and global.

Question 13

The best way of understanding the relationship between genetic and environmental influences on the development of intelligence is to conclude that:
A) genes are much more important than environment
B) the environment is much more important than genes
C) genetic and environmental factors interact and influence each other
D) genetic and environmental factors operate independently, but both influence intelligence development

Accepted Answer

Genetic and environmental factors interact, which is to say they influence each other. There is no clear evidence that either is much more important than the other in determining intelligence, although in a particular individual's case, one might be especially important. The question asks about a general conclusion, not the case of a specific individual.
Learning and Thinking in School

Question 14

According to David McClelland, all children seek to be successful. He referred to this need for success and excellence as:
A) excellence orientation
B) achievement motivation
C) persistence motivation
D) the need for success

Accepted Answer

David McClelland referred to the need for success and excellence as "achievement motivation." This means that people are motivated to achieve success in their pursuits and strive for excellence in their endeavors. This drive for achievement is said to be a universal human trait, which means that all people, regardless of culture or background, are motivated to achieve success in their lives.

Question 15

In a study investigating the time public school teachers spend in various classroom activities, teachers were found to spend about ____ % of the time in a 30-minute lesson on academic work.
A) 10-15
B) 30-40
C) 55-70
D) 85-90

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a study investigating the time public...

Question 16

If you were interested in increasing the self-esteem of grade school students, and you wanted to promote effective learning, you should recommend using all of the following techniques EXCEPT:
A) creating a highly competitive environment, so that children had to perform or they would fail
B) using cooperative learning strategies, where students had to work together
C) assigning small-group projects and activities
D) assigning projects that require in-depth inquiry, where students have to persist in the learning task in order to complete it successfully

Accepted Answer

When children are placed in a competitive environment, their self-esteem sometimes suffers. Also, critical thinking skills are best advanced when cooperative, group learning projects are assigned and when these projects require in-depth inquiry.

Question 17

Which of the following is the primary goal of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA):
A) to train teachers to deal with children who have mental retardation and behavioral disorders
B) to fund special schools that provide education to children with disabilities
C) to raise the public's awareness of the unfairness being done to individuals with disabilities
D) to provide all children with a free and appropriate education

Accepted Answer

The primary goal of Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) is to provide all children with a free and appropriate education. This includes children with disabilities who require specialized instruction and services to meet their individual needs. The act also ensures that these children are educated in the least restrictive environment possible.

Question 18

Generalizing from research cited in the text, if a high-achieving child suddenly began to focus on social popularity rather than academic achievement, the best guess is that this child was:
A) a second grade boy
B) a second grade girl
C) a sixth grade boy
D) a sixth grade girl

Accepted Answer

Fitting in socially becomes an especially important goal for girls during the preadolescent and adolescent years.

Question 19

Suppose that a friend tells you that he is concerned about "gender bias" in his daughter's classroom. Which of the following is the best description of what is typically meant by this term:
A) Boys and girls are treated too much the same, and real gender differences are being ignored.
B) Too many of the teachers are of one gender (in grade school, usually there are more women teachers).
C) School policies encourage too much segregation based on gender, with groups usually divided into "girls" and "boys."
D) Boys and girls are treated differently, oftentimes with different expectations placed on boys compare to girls.

Accepted Answer

The term gender bias typically refers to the concern that children are treated differently, based on their gender. Thus, girls are treated differently than are boys, and oftentimes different types of expectations are placed on girls as compared to boys.

Question 20

Joshua tries to learn to solve a mathematics problem, but he does not get the correct answer on his first attempt. He tells his teacher, "I just can't do math. Can I go play now?" According to Carol Dweck, Joshua has:
A) a performance orientation
B) a learning orientation
C) high self-efficacy
D) a strong defense mechanism

Accepted Answer

Children with a learning orientation view their lack of success as the result of too little effort. Thus, when they fail, they respond by trying harder. Children with a performance orientation view their lack of success as the result of too little ability. Because they view ability as a fixed characteristic, they oftentimes give up trying when they fail at a task.

Quiz 8: Middle Childhood: Physical and Cognitive Development

According to Carol Dweck, which of the following statements represents the MOST effective way to praise a child:

Today, in developed economies about _ of adolescents can read; in sub-Saharan Africa, this percentage is about _:

Generalizing from conclusions drawn in the text, if you were to advise a new elementary school teacher about how she would spend her time, you would suggest that she try to her time spent on classroom management and __ her time spent on teaching and learning activities.

Which of the following statements best summarizes the findings about gender differences in school success:

The text concludes that group learning has been found to positively affect students' self-esteem, especially when the students are:

Tommy appears to not care at all about the quality of the school work he does. When asked, he says things like: "School is stupid. No one should try hard. Learning is useless." Using the terms identified by David McClelland, you would conclude that Tommy has:

Lynn tells the teacher, "I don't care if I learn anything; I just want to get an A." According to research conducted by Carol Dweck, you should conclude that Lynn has what type of motivation:

Little Maria believes that if she just works hard enough, she can learn anything she sets her mind to. According to Carol Dweck, Maria has:

According to research conducted by Carol Dweck, boys are more motivated by an orientation that emphasizes __, whereas girls are more motivated by an orientation that emphasizes _.

If a child has a performance motivation and fails at a task, what is the most likely result, according to Carol Dweck:

According to Carol Dweck, which of the following statements represents the LEAST effective way to praise a child:

The best way of understanding the relationship between genetic and environmental influences on the development of intelligence is to conclude that:

According to David McClelland, all children seek to be successful. He referred to this need for success and excellence as:

In a study investigating the time public school teachers spend in various classroom activities, teachers were found to spend about ____ % of the time in a 30-minute lesson on academic work.

If you were interested in increasing the self-esteem of grade school students, and you wanted to promote effective learning, you should recommend using all of the following techniques EXCEPT:

Which of the following is the primary goal of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) :

Generalizing from research cited in the text, if a high-achieving child suddenly began to focus on social popularity rather than academic achievement, the best guess is that this child was:

Suppose that a friend tells you that he is concerned about "gender bias" in his daughter's classroom. Which of the following is the best description of what is typically meant by this term:

Joshua tries to learn to solve a mathematics problem, but he does not get the correct answer on his first attempt. He tells his teacher, "I just can't do math. Can I go play now?" According to Carol Dweck, Joshua has: