Deck 1: Learning, Teaching, and Educational Psychology

Question 1

Considering the recent statistics on Canadian student diversity presented in the Woofolk et al. text, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) Participation of children in religions other than Christianity has decreased since 2006.
B) Children who are regular users of food banks are on the decline.
C) Children may live with family members other than just a mom and dad.
D) Children with disabilities spend the majority of their day in a Special Education class.

Answer 1

Children may live with family members other than just a mom and dad.

Question 2

A correlation is a statistical description indicating the

A) direction but not the strength of a relationship.
B) direction and strength of a relationship.
C) strength and direction of a treatment effect.
D) strength but not the direction of a relationship.

Answer 2

direction and strength of a relationship.

Question 3

A researcher participates in a class over a two-month period and analyzes the strategies the teacher employs to maintain discipline. This research is an example of what specific type of research study?

A) Cross-sectional
B) Ethnography
C) Experimental
D) Longitudinal

Answer 3

Ethnography

Question 4

What size or direction of correlation coefficient is likely to be obtained between children's ages (from five to 13 years) and the distance that they can long jump?

A) Close to zero
B) Either +1.00 or -1.00
C) Negative
D) Positive

Question 5

The use of the "common sense" approach to teaching is viewed by educational psychologists as

A) appropriate in most circumstances.
B) inappropriate unless supported by research.
C) more reliable than scientific judgments.
D) the main factor that differentiates experts from novices.

Question 6

Lily Wong (1987) indicated that when individuals read a research result, they tended to

A) become resistant toward using the strategy involved.
B) find the results more obvious than originally thought.
C) put the results into practice immediately.
D) seek more information on the subject.

Question 7

A correlation study indicates that teachers' interest in teaching and the amount of the day their students are engaged in learning correlate at +0.46. This coefficient would indicate that

A) as teacher interest decreases, engaged time increases.
B) as teacher interest increases, engaged time tends to increase.
C) interest in teaching leads to a large increase in engaged time.
D) there is virtually NO relationship between the two variables.

Question 8

When a correlation coefficient of -0.80 is found between factor A and factor B, the most accurate interpretation is that

A) a decrease in factor A is strongly related to a decrease in factor B.
B) a decrease in factor A is strongly related to an increase in factor B.
C) there is NO significant relationship between the two factors.
D) there is a very weak relationship between the two factors.

Question 9

According to the Woolfolk et al. text, which would be the biggest limitation facing student teachers?

A) Student teaching does not allow prospective teachers to be as reflective about their teaching as they could be.
B) Student teaching often occurs during periods when prospective teachers are busy with their own coursework.
C) Student teaching does not prepare prospective teachers very well for starting off a school year with a new class.
D) Student teaching is often carried out in classrooms that utilize classroom management strategies that a prospective teacher may not believe in.

Question 10

Research by Ogden, Brophy, and Evertson (1977) on selecting primary-grade students to read aloud suggests that the best method is to

A) ask for volunteers to read.
B) call on students in a prescribed order.
C) call on students at random.
D) have students read as a group (choral response).

Question 11

The concerns of educational psychology are distinctive in that they

A) are limited to the classroom.
B) do not overlap those of other fields of study.
C) have no place in the laboratory.
D) relate to improving learning and instruction.

Question 12

A positive correlation between two factors indicates that the factors

A) are NOT necessarily related.
B) are strongly related.
C) decrease proportionately.
D) tend to increase or decrease together.

Question 13

Research on acceleration for bright children suggests that acceleration is generally

A) beneficial for these children at all age/grade levels.
B) beneficial for younger children but detrimental for older children.
C) detrimental for younger children but beneficial for older children.
D) harmful for children at all age/grade levels.

Question 14

When studies are based only on observations, the results should be expressed as

A) cause-and-effect relationships.
B) descriptions.
C) principles.
D) theories.

Question 15

Which one of the following correlation coefficients indicates the strongest relationship?

A) -0.03
B) -0.78
C) +0.56
D) +0.70

Question 16

A researcher concludes from his study that, on a typical school day, students spend only 50 percent of their time engaged in learning. What specific type of research must have been conducted in order for this conclusion to be valid?

A) Single-subject design
B) Participant-observer
C) Descriptive
D) Experimental

Question 17

What type of correlation coefficient is likely to be obtained between reading ability and running ability of high-school students?

A) Close to zero
B) Either +1.00 or -1.00
C) Strong positive
D) Weak negative

Question 18

According to the research by Stanovich & Jordan (1998) at the University of Toronto (OISE/UT), which of the following is the most important teacher characteristic in reducing behaviour problems in the early years?

A) teacher engagement
B) teacher enthusiasm
C) teacher clarity
D) teacher knowledge

Question 19

A case study is an investigation of

A) a small group of people with similar backgrounds.
B) different groups of people over a period of time.
C) one person or group over a specific period of time.
D) people from one geographic area.

Question 20

Which relationship BEST describes the impact of teacher preparation and quality of teaching?

A) There is no relationship between teacher preparation and quality of teaching.
B) Teacher preparation and certification were the strongest predictors of student engagement.
C) A teacher teaching outside of their major in their teaching field has no significant relationship with student achievement in math and in reading.
D) The higher the percentage of teachers teaching outside their field, the lower students' achievement tends to be.

Question 21

Social Cognitive Theory is most closely associated with which theorist?

A) Piaget
B) Bandura
C) Freud
D) Skinner

Question 22

Which of the following psychologists did NOT describe a stage theory?

A) Piaget
B) Freud
C) Erikson
D) Vygotsky

Question 23

An explanation of how we remember things that we have learned is called a

A) construct.
B) correlation.
C) principle.
D) theory.

Question 24

Which is usually established first?

A) theory
B) principle
C) scientific explanation
D) consistent findings

Question 25

When a result from a research project involving an experimental design is reported in the literature as significant, this result

A) contradicts the prevailing theoretical views.
B) is unrelated to theory development.
C) is unlikely to have occurred by chance.
D) will indicate its practical importance.

Question 26

Dr. Patterson concludes from her research that using a systematic study strategy CAUSED good grades for students assigned to a particular group. For this conclusion to be valid, the type of research that was performed must have been what type of study?

A) Correlational
B) Descriptive
C) Experimental
D) Observational

Question 27

What type of research participants should researchers use for studies of cause-and-effect relationships?

A) Controlled samples
B) Random samples
C) Related samples
D) Skilled samples

Question 28

A researcher reports that students who have the highest test scores in school tend to be more involved in extracurricular activities than are other students. What specific type of research study must have been conducted?

A) Correlational
B) Descriptive
C) Ethnographic
D) Experimental

Question 29

Which of the following statements are TRUE of longitudinal studies?

A) They are time consuming and expensive.
B) They are more commonly used than experimental and cross-sectional studies.
C) They involve researchers following students over the course of a few days.
D) They utilize teachers directly in the research process.

Question 30

A researcher finds that students who were given computers to use at home demonstrated greater independent learning skills than a comparable group that was not selected to receive home computers. What type of research study was probably designed for this conclusion to be valid?

A) Correlational
B) Descriptive
C) Experimental
D) Observation

Question 31

Which of the following statements best captures the current criticisms around the application of experimental research in schools?

A) Rigorous data analyses and experimentation enhances the usefulness of educational research.
B) Educational trials can be considered analogous to clinical trials in medicine.
C) Classroom context cannot be easily controlled, and could simplify the complexity of interactions.
D) Experimental study is the most prestigious form of research and therefore should solely be promoted.

Question 32

According to Woolfolk et al., good theories

A) explain and predict perfectly.
B) are less scientific compared to ten years ago.
C) give you a new way of thinking about problems
D) offer all the answers.

Question 33

Which one of the following instances is MOST like a random sample for a class of thirty students?

A) A coin is tossed in order to select students alternately one by one into the experimental and control groups.
B) The first ten students who enter the classroom are placed into the experimental group and the next ten into the control group.
C) The first twenty volunteers are selected from the physics class and alternately placed into experimental and control groups.
D) The twenty students with the highest GPAs are selected and alternately placed into experimental and control groups.

Question 34

Microgenetic studies:

A) intensively study cognitive processes in the midst of change.
B) apply a ABAB experiment design.
C) are employed to assess cause and effect relationships.
D) typically utilize many children as study participants.

Question 35

Which of the following concepts are most related to behaviourism?

A) storage and retrieval
B) beliefs and motivation
C) antecedents and consequences
D) unconscious and dream analysis

Question 36

Which of the following was NOT one of the criticisms made of Freud's theory?

A) overemphasizing of the role of sex and aggression
B) basing theories on the memories of wealthy, female, European women
C) creating stages of development in childhood without ever studying children
D) limiting his theory to four specific stages of cognitive development

Question 37

Action research:

A) is a form of research that puts an observed behavior "under a microscope."
B) is a form of research that employs teachers as researchers.
C) is a form of research that studies development by observing subjects over many years.
D) is a form of research that focuses on groups of subjects at different ages.

Question 38

A correlation coefficient of 0.90 indicates that

A) one event has been caused by another event.
B) one event is strongly related to another event.
C) the two events are related 10 percent of the time.
D) the two events are related 90 percent of the time.

Question 39

Jean Piaget:

A) described a stage theory of cognitive development.
B) developed a psychosocial theory of development.
C) described a "developmental crisis" during stages of development.
D) emphasized the role of sex and aggression in his theory.

Question 40

Random assignments would be most critical in what type of research?

A) Case study
B) Correlational
C) Descriptive
D) Experimental

Question 41

An individual who participates in a research study as a member of the treatment group is called a

A) subject.
B) guinea pig.
C) participant observer.
D) case study.

Question 42

Dr. Wood conducted an experiment that examined the effect of teaching enthusiasm on student learning. Which is the biggest advantage of this type of study?

A) Students who participated in this study were randomly selected and assigned to groups.
B) The results of this study are likely more statistically significant than other studies.
C) Dr. Wood may conclude, more justifiably, that students learn better when teachers are more enthusiastic in the classroom.
D) A clear association between teacher enthusiasm and student learning is more likely to be found.

Question 43

Compared to experimental studies, descriptive studies are usually conducted in settings that are more realistic.

Question 44

Each time a student gets up, the teacher should remind the students to remain in their seats.

Question 45

Sandra describes her development in terms of the social contexts she finds herself in. Her immediate family consists of number of siblings and supportive parents who are community leaders and advocates for social reform. She participates in many activities at school and in the community, often gets involve in social justice projects at the city and national levels through organizations she participates in. Which theorist would be most interested in this description of Sandra's development?

A) Vygotsky
B) Freud
C) Bandura
D) Bronfenbrenner

Question 46

A researcher reports that students who have the highest achievement in school tend to be more involved in extracurricular activities compared to students with lower achievement. What specific type of research was most likely conducted to inform this finding?

A) descriptive
B) correlational
C) ethnographic
D) experimental

Question 47

Random means that each subject has an equal chance to be in any group.

Question 48

In comparing Canada and the United States around issues of diversity in education, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) Ministries of Education across Canada describe policies of inclusion that reflect commitment to all students.
B) Canada adheres to legislation described under the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the No Child Let Behind Act (NCLB).
C) Schools in the United States have more flexibility in developing locally responsive programs for children.
D) Adequate Yearly Progress goals are not set and tested for children in the United States who come from low-income homes.

Question 49

At Greendale Public School, four teachers each set out to conduct a research study in his or her classroom. Which study would be LEAST likely to involve the use of a correlational analysis?

A) Mrs. Tang, who studied amount of reading and spelling test scores
B) Mr. Lacroix, who studied activity level in gym and degree of academic self-concept
C) Mr. Nucci, who studied frequency of praise and rate of homework completion
D) Miss Gann, who studied types of seating arrangements and number of disruptions

Question 50

An ethnography:

A) is a personalized account on either teaching or learning experiences.
B) involves studying naturally occurring events in the life of a group.
C) involves studying cause and effect relationships.
D) involves examining the relationships between variables.

Question 51

According to the research by Stanovich & Jordan (1998) at the University of Toronto (OISE/UT), teacher age is the most important teacher characteristic in reducing behaviour problems in the early years.

Question 52

The zone of proximal development:

A) is a stage of development described by Jean Piaget.
B) stems from a bioecological model of development.
C) is a phase which a child can master a task if given appropriate help.
D) is a crisis in development experienced by an adolescent seeking their identity.

Question 53

When an experimental result is described as significant in a research article, this result

A) contradicts the prevailing theoretical views.
B) has major theoretical implications.
C) is unlikely to have been observed by chance.
D) has substantial practical importance.

Question 54

Correlations provide the basis for interpretations about cause and effect.

Question 55

Educational Psychology involves the study of learning and teaching, while striving to improve educational practice.

Question 56

Principles are the product of consistency in research findings over time.

Question 57

The major concern of new teachers is that they do not know the subject material they have to teach.

Question 58

Correlations may be included within a descriptive study.

Question 59

As teachers' experience grows, they tend to become more likely to judge their success by their students' successes.

Question 60

Dr. Mosima had conducted some descriptive research to explore why some students are more motivated to learn grade 6 math than other students. What is the biggest limitation of this type of research?

A) None of the variables were controlled, leaving many possible explanations.
B) There are too many variables to examine in the study making too difficult to conduct.
C) The results seldom reflect what actually occurs in classrooms.
D) Subjects often respond in ways the researcher did not expect.

Question 61

When beginning teachers confront everyday classroom life, they often experience ________________.

Question 62

The type of research that attempts to establish cause and effect relationships is a(n) ________ study.

Question 63

E. L. Thorndike wrote the first educational psychology text and founded the Journal of Educational Psychology.

Question 64

Theories explain and predict all occurrences in a given field.

Question 65

They study of the processes of teaching and learning is the focus of the discipline of ________________.

Question 66

Erikson's theory describes individuals at each stage facing a developmental crisis.

Question 67

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) describes Canadian legislation on inclusion in schools.

Question 68

If a statistically significant difference is found between the math scores of two groups, we can conclude the difference was due to a chance occurrence.

Question 69

Microgenetic studies intensively study cognitive processes in the midst of change.

Question 70

The type of research that attempts to record what happens in classrooms without attempting to manipulate any variables is called ________ research.

Question 71

A researcher who becomes a working member of a class over a period of time in order to record and gain understanding of the class dynamics is a(n) ________.

Question 72

Research that is designed to determine the relations between two variables is a(n) ________ study.

Question 73

Negative correlations are typically weaker than positive correlations.

Question 74

Each person is given an equal opportunity to be in a treatment or control group by means of ________ sampling.

Question 75

Broad frameworks that attempt to explain relationships between sets of variables are called ________.

Question 76

The information processing theories of learning describe beliefs about personal capabilities.

Question 77

A theory can be characterized as a guess or a hunch.

Question 78

Findings considered statistically unlikely to have occurred by chance are described as ________.

Question 79

When findings in a given area repeatedly support the same conclusion, a(n) ________ can be derived.

Question 80

Action research is a form of educational research typically conducted by anthropologists.