Question 1

Robert is interested in understanding how his pupils acquire the ability to count using their fingers.In order to answer his question,which research design should he use?

Accepted Answer

A microgenetic research design would be the best choice for Robert's question as it allows for in-depth study of a specific developmental process over a short period of time. In this case, Robert could closely observe and document the process of how his pupils learn to count using their fingers, and gain insight into the underlying cognitive mechanisms involved. A longitudinal design, on the other hand, would follow the same participants over a longer period of time and may not be efficient for Robert's question. A sequential design involves studying different groups at different ages with different experiences, which may not be ideal for Robert's specific focus on finger-counting skills. A cross-sectional design involves comparing groups of participants at a single point in time, which may not provide the detailed information that Robert is seeking.

Question 2

According to the ethical guidelines for research outlined in the text,which of the following best describes how children can participate in research?

Accepted Answer

According to the ethical guidelines for research outlined in the text, children can only participate in research with the informed consent of the parent or other adult in charge. This is to ensure that the child's well-being and rights are protected, and that the decision to participate in the research is made by a responsible adult who can weigh the potential risks and benefits.

Question 3

Suppose that a researcher is interested in studying the stability of behaviour over time and the individual differences that are characteristic of that temporal change.Which of the following research designs would he or she most likely use?

Accepted Answer

A longitudinal design would be the best choice to study the stability of behaviour over time and individual differences in that change. This design allows for the observation of the same individuals over an extended period, providing insight into how behaviours evolve and change over time.

Question 4

List three goals of developmentalists.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List three goals of developmentalists....

Question 5

A researcher studied the effects of a preschool enrichment program on the IQ of children starting at 2,3,or 4 years of age.Each age group was assessed at the end of the first year of the program for short-term effects and then again 5 years later for long-term effects.Which research design does this study exemplify?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A researcher studied the effects of a...

Question 6

Isaac is interested in studying the effects of maternal drug use during pregnancy on the developing fetus.He proposes recruiting pregnant volunteers from a local neighbourhood where numerous drug addicts are known to live.He argues that because all participants would be volunteers,it would not be unethical to administer controlled doses of various drugs to the pregnant women.Under current ethical guidelines,would Isaac's research proposal be accepted?

Accepted Answer

Isaac's research proposal would not be accepted under current ethical guidelines because purposely administering controlled doses of drugs to pregnant women could potentially harm the developing fetus. The harm to the unborn infants would be too great, which goes against the ethical principles of not causing harm and protecting the welfare of research participants. Additionally, recruiting pregnant women solely from a neighbourhood known for drug addiction raises concerns of exploiting vulnerable populations. Therefore, Isaac's proposal would not meet current ethical standards for research.

Question 7

Which research design should you choose if you were interested in exploring children's answers to the following questions: "When can children first understand the notion that germs can cause illness?","At what age do children benefit most from drug education?",and "Do the effects of a training program to reduce prejudice persist over time?"

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which research design should you choose if...

Question 8

Inherent in the cross-sectional method is the possibility that age and cohort will be confounded.In addition to the age of the subjects,what other variable could influence the results?

Accepted Answer

Differences between groups in the experiences they had during the time period in which they grew up could influence the results, as this is a key factor in determining cohort effects. Other factors such as ethnic background (A) and observer bias (B) could also potentially influence results, but they are not as directly related to the confounding of age and cohort. Differences between groups in their interpretation of shared experiences (C) could also have an impact, but this is not as relevant to the cross-sectional method itself as it is to the interpretation of results.

Question 9

Caleb is 12 years old and as part of an ongoing research study he has been assessed for "creativity" every six months for the past six years.Now that Caleb understands what is expected on the test,his answers have become more creative and he achieves higher scores.What accounts for Caleb's increased performance?

Accepted Answer

Caleb's increased performance can be attributed to practice effects, as he has been taking the creativity test every six months for the past six years and has become more familiar with what is expected of him, leading to improved scores.

Question 10

Harriet is currently testing children's path finding and other spatial abilities.She is most concerned with defining the details of how children acquire these skills.In order to answer her question,which research design should Harriet use?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Harriet is currently testing children's path finding...

Question 11

List four general observations concerning the character of human development.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List four general observations concerning the character...

Question 12

The confounding of age and cohort effects that occurs with the cross-sectional design is most likely to impact interpretation in a comparison between which of the following age groups?

Accepted Answer

The larger the age range, the more likely it is that confounding of age and cohort effects will occur. Choice C includes individuals who were born in different decades and thus have been exposed to different societal influences and historical events that could impact their development. This makes it more difficult to separate age effects from cohort effects in this group. The other choices have smaller age ranges and are less likely to be impacted by confounding effects.

Question 13

What is one advantage of the longitudinal approach to developmental research?

Accepted Answer

The longitudinal approach to developmental research tracks the same individuals over a period of time, providing insights into how changes occur across different stages of life. This method offers temporal information about development, showing how individuals change or remain the same over time, rather than offering a snapshot of a particular moment or context.

Question 14

Lena wants to know whether young children can be taught to have certain phobias.She argues that previous research has indicated that phobias can be taught and that there is nothing unethical about continuing such research.Do current ethical guidelines support Lena's position?

Accepted Answer

Ethical guidelines prioritize the protection of participants from harm, and intentionally teaching young children to have phobias can cause psychological harm. Therefore, Lena's position goes against current ethical guidelines.

Question 15

Amy wants to determine the optimal age for the introduction of an AIDS education program in her school district.She is also interested in assessing the short- and long-term impact of the program on sexual health.Which research design should she choose?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Amy wants to determine the optimal age...

Question 16

If Gail is interested in studying the timing of changes that occur as children reach puberty,what is the best research method for her to use?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research involves following the same group of individuals over a period of time to observe changes and trends. In the case of studying puberty, it would make sense to observe the same group of children as they go through this process to better understand the timing and patterns of hormonal changes. Cross-sectional research, on the other hand, compares different groups at the same point in time and would not provide the same level of insight into the timing of changes during puberty. Cross-correlational and cross-longitudinal are not recognized research methods.

Question 17

Blair is interested in understanding how children's academic performance changes over long periods of time as a result of the number of friends they have.What would be Blair's best choice of research design and method?

Accepted Answer

Blair's goal is to understand changes in academic performance over a long period of time as a result of the number of friends children have. This requires a longitudinal study, which follows the same group of individuals over a period of time, rather than examining different groups of children at one point in time (cross-sectional design). Blair is also interested in observing relationships between variables over time, rather than manipulating variables (experimental design). Therefore, a longitudinal, observational study would be the best choice for Blair.

Question 18

Sometimes to best answer a research question,the investigator would have to ask children to participate in a potentially harmful situation.In this situation,what would ethical guidelines suggest?

Accepted Answer

Ethical guidelines require that researchers prioritize the well-being and safety of their participants. Asking children to participate in a potentially harmful situation would violate this principle, regardless of the potential benefits of the research. Other means of obtaining the information should be explored or the research should be abandoned. It is not ethical to place children at risk for the sake of research.

Question 19

Provide one example of normative development and one example of ideographic development.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Provide one example of normative development and...

Question 20

Identify the two general ways in which developmental changes can occur and provide examples that illustrate each of these processes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the two general ways in which...

Quiz 1: Introduction to Developmental Psychology and Its Research Strategies