Question 1

A method for combining the results from independent studies to determine a general conclusion on the topic is known as:
A) meta-analysis.
B) factor analysis.
C) longitudinal design.
D) cross-sectional design.

Accepted Answer

Meta-analysis is a statistical method used to combine and synthesize the results from multiple independent studies that have investigated the same research question or topic. It allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of the existing evidence, which can increase the precision and reliability of the findings. Factor analysis is a technique used to identify underlying dimensions or factors that explain the pattern of correlations among a set of variables. Longitudinal and cross-sectional designs refer to types of research designs that involve measuring variables at different points in time or at a single point in time, respectively. While these designs can provide valuable information on the relationships between variables, they do not involve the statistical synthesis of multiple studies.

Question 2

Considering the research on preschoolers' ability to provide accurate testimony about past events, which piece of advice would be the MOST important for an interviewer to be told prior to interviewing a young child?
A) Bring a doll to aid the child in answering your questions.
B) Make sure you know the answers to the questions before asking the child.
C) If you do not think the child has answered a question accurately, ask the question again.
D) Ask questions that will help children to testify accurately.

Accepted Answer

Asking questions that will help children to testify accurately is the most important piece of advice for an interviewer to be told prior to interviewing a young child. This involves using open-ended questions, avoiding leading questions, and providing contextual and concrete details to aid the child's memory. The other options (bringing a doll, knowing the answers beforehand, and asking the same question again) may not necessarily contribute to the accuracy of the child's testimony.

Question 3

Who developed the "baby biography"?
A) Darwin
B) Locke
C) Freud
D) Watson

Accepted Answer

Darwin is credited with developing the baby biography, which involved detailed observations and recordings of the development of his own children. This method laid the groundwork for future developmental psychology research.

Question 4

Which statement BEST characterizes the results of research on children from Romanian orphanages?
A) Positive experiences in later childhood cannot counteract the effect of negative early childhood experiences.
B) Positive experiences in later childhood counteract the effect of negative early childhood experiences.
C) The impact of positive experiences on children's resiliency depends on the timing and extent of the neglect.
D) Neglect in infancy always has severe and lasting consequences.

Accepted Answer

Research on children from Romanian orphanages has shown that positive experiences in later childhood can indeed counteract the effect of negative early childhood experiences to some extent. However, the impact of positive experiences on children's resiliency depends on the timing and extent of the neglect. Infants who experienced severe neglect showed more long-lasting effects than those who were neglected for a shorter period or in a less severe manner. Therefore, Choice C is the best option as it recognizes the complexity of the findings on this topic.

Question 5

The emergence of theories such as those of Freud and Watson in the early twentieth century reflected the:
A) increasing influence of early philosophical views of childhood.
B) incorporation of research findings into the study of child development.
C) desire of editors at universities to find suitable articles to print in professional journals.
D) rise of young children as paid laborers in factories and mines.

Accepted Answer

The emergence of theories such as those of Freud and Watson in the early twentieth century reflected the incorporation of research findings into the study of child development. Both Freud and Watson based their theories on observations of children and attempted to explain child behavior based on those observations. Their theories were heavily influenced by the scientific method and were well received by the academic community at the time.

Question 6

Recent research conducted by Ferguson (2015) and Furuya-Kanamori and Doi (2016) concluded what regarding the impact of playing violent video games on childhood and adolescent aggression?
A) Their results indicated a direct link between the two.
B) They found that those who play less violent video games demonstrated increased prosocial behaviours.
C) Their results were inconclusive.
D) They concluded that the effect of playing violent video games on childhood and adolescent aggression were minimal.

Accepted Answer

Both Ferguson (2015) and Furuya-Kanamori and Doi (2016) concluded that the effect of playing violent video games on childhood and adolescent aggression was minimal, suggesting that there is no significant direct link between violent video games and increased aggression.

Question 7

Research has determined that this brain area is involved in emotional reactions.
A) the amygdala
B) the hippocampus
C) the hypothalamus
D) the pons

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure located deep within our brain's temporal lobe. It is responsible for the processing and regulation of emotions, particularly fear and aggression. Research has consistently shown its involvement in emotional reactions.

Question 8

Freud based his theory of child development in large part on:
A) analysis of dreams and childhood memories.
B) a systematic daily diary of a single child's growth.
C) experiments of the effects of reward and punishment on rats and other animals.
D) study of children working in coal mines.

Accepted Answer

Freudian theory was based heavily on the interpretation of dreams and the analysis of childhood memories through psychoanalysis. He believed that these could reveal underlying unconscious conflicts and motives that influenced behavior, particularly in early childhood development.

Question 9

The study of stable changes in gene expression that are mediated by the environment is referred to as:
A) epigenetics.
B) evolutionary psychology.
C) neuroscience.
D) genometrics.

Accepted Answer

The study of stable changes in gene expression that are mediated by the environment is known as epigenetics.

Question 10

Which factor is NOT an enduring theme in the study of child development?
A) nature and nurture
B) continuity and discontinuity
C) stress and adaptation
D) individual differences in development

Accepted Answer

While stress and adaptation are important topics in child development, they are not an enduring theme. The enduring themes include nature and nurture, continuity and discontinuity, and individual differences in development.

Question 11

This major group of philosophers and psychologists has argued that infants possess general learning mechanisms that allow them to learn a great deal quite quickly but that infants and young children lack the specialized capabilities that nativists attribute to them.
A) nativists
B) evolutionary psychologists
C) empiricists
D) Freudians

Accepted Answer

Empiricists argue that infants possess general learning mechanisms that allow them to learn quickly, but lack the specialized capabilities attributed to them by nativists. Evolutionary psychologists, on the other hand, believe that many of the specialized capabilities are biologically innate. Freudians are a school of psychology focused on the role of the unconscious in shaping behavior and beliefs.

Question 12

Which statement is NOT a general reason to learn about child development, as outlined in the text?
A) Knowledge regarding child development can help caregivers raise children.
B) Research on child development can aid social policy development and adoption.
C) Knowledge of child development can provide a more thorough understand of human nature.
D) Research on child development can assist court orders regarding child custody.

Accepted Answer

The statement about research assisting court orders regarding child custody is a specific reason to learn about child development, not a general reason. The other three choices provide general reasons for why learning about child development is important.

Question 13

One of the earliest examples of research conducted for the benefit of children was:
A) Watson's experiments on the effects of reward and punishment.
B) the Earl of Shaftesbury's effort to reform child labor practices.
C) Freud's dream analysis.
D) Locke's advocacy of early discipline and later freedom.

Accepted Answer

The Earl of Shaftesbury's effort to reform child labor practices in the 19th century is considered one of the earliest examples of research conducted for the benefit of children. His work led to the passing of laws that protected children in the workforce, improving their overall well-being and safety. The other options listed are not focused specifically on research for the benefit of children.

Question 14

Which person is MOST likely to develop schizophrenia, based on current research findings?
A) Stacey, whose first cousin suffers from the disorder
B) Margaret, whose grandfather suffers from the disorder
C) Brandon, whose father suffers from the disorder
D) Michael, whose sister suffers from the disorder

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that having a first-degree relative (parent, sibling) with schizophrenia increases an individual's risk of developing the disorder to about 10%. Having a second-degree relative (grandparent, cousin) with schizophrenia increases the risk to about 2%. Therefore, Brandon, whose father suffers from the disorder, is the most likely to develop schizophrenia.

Question 15

This major group of contemporary philosophers and psychologists argues that evolution has created many remarkable capabilities that are present, even in early infancy, particularly in areas of special importance, such as understanding basic properties of physical objects, plants and animals, and other people.
A) nativists
B) evolutionary psychologists
C) empiricists
D) Freudians

Accepted Answer

Nativists are a major group of contemporary philosophers and psychologists who argue that many remarkable capabilities are present even in early infancy due to evolutionary factors. They argue that the mind is not a blank slate at birth, but rather has innate structures and capacities that are developed through experience.

Question 16

Of Aristotle, Locke, and Plato, which philosopher(s) believed that all knowledge comes from experience, meaning that infants are born without innate knowledge?
A) Locke only
B) Plato only
C) Aristotle and Locke only
D) Plato and Aristotle only

Accepted Answer

The answer of Of Aristotle, Locke, and Plato, which philosopher(s)...

Question 17

One main conclusion based on the Romanian adoption study is that:
A) development is a direct result of sociocultural experiences.
B) there is no impact of social experiences on the developmental process.
C) the timing of experiences influences their effect on development.
D) development is a general result of biological influences.

Accepted Answer

The Romanian adoption study showed that children who experienced institutional care before being placed with adoptive families had negative developmental outcomes, but those who were placed with families before 6 months of age had fewer negative outcomes. This suggests that the timing of the social experiences (in this case, being placed with a family) influences their effect on development. Therefore, choice C is the best answer.

Question 18

Evidence for the enduring epigenetic impact of early experiences and behaviours on development comes from what type of research?
A) research on methylation
B) meta-analysis
C) longitudinal studies
D) cross-sectional designs

Accepted Answer

The answer of Evidence for the enduring epigenetic impact of...

Question 19

Which philosopher offered the argument that children should be provided with maximum freedom and no formal education prior to the age of reason at approximately age 12?
A) Rousseau
B) Plato
C) Aristotle
D) Locke

Accepted Answer

Rousseau was the philosopher who proposed the idea that children should be given maximum freedom and no formal education prior to the age of reason. He believed that children should have the opportunity to explore and learn about the world around them at their own pace, without being restricted by formal schooling. He also argued that children should be taught primarily through experience and observation rather than through rote memorization of facts and information.

Question 20

Romanian-born children who were adopted by British families _____ fared BEST in weight gain after adoption.
A) before age 6 months
B) between the ages of 6 and 24 months
C) between the ages of 24 and 42 months
D) after 42 months

Accepted Answer

Children adopted before the age of 6 months tend to fare best in terms of weight gain after adoption, as early intervention is crucial for recovery and development.

Quiz 1: An Introduction to Child Development

A method for combining the results from independent studies to determine a general conclusion on the topic is known as:

Considering the research on preschoolers' ability to provide accurate testimony about past events, which piece of advice would be the MOST important for an interviewer to be told prior to interviewing a young child?

Who developed the "baby biography"?

Which statement BEST characterizes the results of research on children from Romanian orphanages?

The emergence of theories such as those of Freud and Watson in the early twentieth century reflected the:

Recent research conducted by Ferguson (2015) and Furuya-Kanamori and Doi (2016) concluded what regarding the impact of playing violent video games on childhood and adolescent aggression?

Research has determined that this brain area is involved in emotional reactions.

Freud based his theory of child development in large part on:

The study of stable changes in gene expression that are mediated by the environment is referred to as:

Which factor is NOT an enduring theme in the study of child development?

This major group of philosophers and psychologists has argued that infants possess general learning mechanisms that allow them to learn a great deal quite quickly but that infants and young children lack the specialized capabilities that nativists attribute to them.

Which statement is NOT a general reason to learn about child development, as outlined in the text?

One of the earliest examples of research conducted for the benefit of children was:

Which person is MOST likely to develop schizophrenia, based on current research findings?

Of Aristotle, Locke, and Plato, which philosopher(s) believed that all knowledge comes from experience, meaning that infants are born without innate knowledge?

One main conclusion based on the Romanian adoption study is that:

Evidence for the enduring epigenetic impact of early experiences and behaviours on development comes from what type of research?

Which philosopher offered the argument that children should be provided with maximum freedom and no formal education prior to the age of reason at approximately age 12?

Romanian-born children who were adopted by British families _____ fared BEST in weight gain after adoption.