Question 1

A developing child is most likely to be severely affected if the mother contracts rubella ________.

Accepted Answer

Rubella contracted during the first three months of pregnancy can cause congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) which can lead to severe birth defects such as blindness, deafness, heart defects, and brain damage.

Question 2

A problem with longitudinal studies is that they ________.

Accepted Answer

A

Question 3

The term used by psychologists to describe the characteristic patterns of emotional reactions and emotional self-regulation in the newborn child and young infant is ________.

Accepted Answer

The term used by psychologists to describe the characteristic patterns of emotional reactions and emotional self-regulation in the newborn child and young infant is temperament.

Question 4

From the second month after conception until birth, the developing organism is known as a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

From the second month after conception until birth, the developing organism is referred to as a fetus. Before this period, it is called an embryo.

Question 5

A group of people born during the same period in historical time is a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

A cohort is a group of people who were born in the same period of time and who experience certain social and historical events at the same points in their lives. This term is commonly used in studying social and psychological development, as cohorts may have shared experiences and perspectives that differ from those of other age groups. The other choices, peer group, developmental group, and age group, are not as specific to a shared birth period and may include individuals of different ages or backgrounds.

Question 6

Which of the following is a true statement?

Accepted Answer

Toxic agents can cross the placenta and affect the developing fetus, leading to congenital disabilities, developmental issues, and other health problems. This is why pregnant women are advised to avoid substances like alcohol, nicotine, and certain medications. Option B is incorrect because some viruses, like the Zika virus, can cross the placental barrier and affect fetal development. Option C is incorrect because the mother's and baby's blood supplies do not mix in the placenta, but instead exchange gases, nutrients, and wastes through specialized membranes. Option D is incorrect because the placenta also allows certain hormones, antibodies, and other signaling molecules to pass through to the fetus.

Question 7

A condition characterized by facial deformities, heart defects, stunted growth, and cognitive impairments, is called ________ spectrum disorder.

Accepted Answer

The condition described corresponds to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which is caused by exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. None of the other options listed match the symptoms described.

Question 8

It has been reported that average scores on national exams, such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), have declined in recent years. Researchers interested in exploring this intensively interview students who have just taken the exam, those who will take it next year, and those who took it five years ago. This method is ________.

Accepted Answer

This method is cross-sectional because it examines different groups (students who have just taken the exam, those who will take it next year, and those who took it five years ago) at one point in time, rather than following the same group over a period of time.

Question 9

The period of development from conception to birth is called the ________ period.

Accepted Answer

The period of development from conception to birth is commonly known as the prenatal period. This period includes three distinct stages: the germinal stage, the embryonic stage, and the fetal stage.

Question 10

The reflex that causes a newborn to turn its head toward something touching its cheek and grope around with its mouth is the ________ reflex.

Accepted Answer

The rooting reflex is the reflex that causes a newborn to turn its head toward something touching its cheek and grope around with its mouth. The sucking reflex is another common reflex in newborns but it does not involve turning the head and searching with the mouth. The comfort contact and grasping reflexes are also present in newborns but are unrelated to the described reflex.

Question 11

Greta is a heavy drinker. While her newborn baby could be quite healthy, it could also have several health problems related to her drinking. If her baby has health problems, it is most likely to ________.

Accepted Answer

Heavy drinking during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which often result in cognitive impairments in the child.

Question 12

A psychologist spends her entire career studying how and why changes occur in people as they get older. This psychologist is most likely a(n) ________ psychologist.

Accepted Answer

A developmental psychologist specifically focuses on studying how people change and develop throughout their lifespan, including the physical, cognitive, and social changes that occur as people age.

Question 13

A researcher decides to study cognitive changes in children by simultaneously studying groups of 3-year-olds, 6-year-olds, 9-year-olds, and 12-year-olds. This researcher is conducting a ________ study.

Accepted Answer

A cross-sectional study involves studying different groups of people at the same time, rather than following one group over a period of time. In this case, the researcher is studying different age groups simultaneously, making it a cross-sectional study.

Question 14

A research study finds that 40-year-olds are better able to solve math problems than 80-year-olds. It is suspected that the differences in problem-solving ability result from the fact that 80-year-olds had fewer opportunities to study math and did not have access to calculators or computers. If true, the study has revealed ________.

Accepted Answer

The study has revealed cohort differences, as it suggests that the differences in math problem-solving ability are due to the different experiences and opportunities that 40-year-olds and 80-year-olds have had throughout their respective lifetimes.

Question 15

A newborn baby is called a ________.

Accepted Answer

A newborn baby is called a neonate, as it has just been born and entered into the world. Fetus refers to the stage of development in the womb, and zygote refers to the initial cell resulting from fertilization. Bionate is not a word in the English language.

Question 16

The embryo stage ends ________ after conception.

Accepted Answer

The embryo stage ends two months after conception, transitioning into the fetal stage.

Question 17

A method of studying developmental changes by reconstructing subjects' pasts, through interviews and investigating the effects of events that occurred in the past on current behaviors is called a ________ study.

Accepted Answer

The correct term is "retrospective" study, which involves reconstructing subjects' pasts through interviews and investigating the effects of past events on current behaviors. However, since "retrospective" is not an option, the closest match given the description is "bibliographical," although it is not a standard term used in psychology for this type of study. The other options (cross-sectional, naturalistic observation, and longitudinal) refer to different research methodologies that do not specifically involve reconstructing past events through interviews.

Question 18

Matteo was born in 1953 and grew up in the relative affluence of 1950s "baby boom" America. Antonio was born in 1986 and is a part of the "millennial" generation, finding it more difficult to get a job after college with full time employment, as he graduated during the 2008 recession. To the extent that their ideas about life are tied to their time and culture of birth, the differences that exist between Matteo and Antonio's attitudes and values can be largely attributed to ________ differences.

Accepted Answer

The differences between Matteo and Antonio can be largely attributed to cohort differences, which refer to the common experiences, values, and attitudes shared by people who were born and grew up during the same historical period. Matteo belongs to the baby boomer cohort, which experienced a period of economic growth and expansion, while Antonio belongs to the millennial cohort, which faced economic challenges and uncertainty due to the recession. Age, reference group, and idiosyncratic differences may also play a role, but cohort differences are the most relevant in this context.

Question 19

The major problem with biographical studies is that they ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The major problem with biographical studies is...

Question 20

A researcher who studies a fixed group of people over a long period of time is, by definition, using the ________ method.

Accepted Answer

A researcher who studies a fixed group of people over a long period of time is using the longitudinal method. Biographical studies may also involve the tracking of individuals over time, but they typically focus on a single individual or a group of individuals who share a common trait or experience. Cross-sectional studies involve comparing different groups of people at a single point in time, while correlational methods involve examining the relationship between two or more variables.

Quiz 9: Life-Span Development