Question 1

Which of the following is the basis of fine motor development?

Accepted Answer

Fine motor development is the ability to use small muscles in the hands and fingers for precise movements. The opposable thumb is critical in fine motor development because it allows for grasp and manipulation of small objects with precision.

Question 2

Jean Piaget proposed that a person's cognitive abilities are organised into coherent mental structures. Which of the following best describes his approach?

Accepted Answer

Piaget's approach is known as the cognitive-developmental approach, which focuses on how children actively construct their own understanding of the world through their experiences and interactions. This includes the development of mental structures, or schemas, which help individuals organize and interpret information.

Question 3

The ability to combine the images of each eye into one image is called ____.

Accepted Answer

Binocular vision is the ability of an organism to combine the images from two eyes to produce a single, fused image. This allows for depth perception, or the ability to judge distances and perceive the world in three dimensions. Distance vision and far-sightedness refer to the clarity of vision at different distances, but do not specifically relate to combining images from both eyes.

Question 4

From research that compares gross motor development of infants from various cultures, it is clear that environment has _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of From research that compares gross motor development...

Question 5

The integration and coordination of sensory information is called ____.

Accepted Answer

Intermodal perception is the integration and coordination of sensory information from multiple modalities (such as vision, hearing, and touch) to form a single perception. Binocular vision refers specifically to the ability to use both eyes together to perceive depth. Depth perception refers to the ability to perceive the three-dimensional spatial layout of the environment. Gross motor skills refer to the ability to control large movements of the body, such as crawling, walking, or running.

Question 6

The ability to discern the relative distance of objects in the environment is called ____.

Accepted Answer

Depth perception refers to the ability to perceive the relative distance of objects in the environment. Binocular vision refers to the ability to use both eyes together to perceive depth, but it is not the same as depth perception. Distance vision refers to the ability to see objects clearly from a distance, but it does not necessarily involve perceiving depth. Far-sightedness is a visual condition that affects the ability to see close objects clearly, but it is not directly related to depth perception.

Question 7

You have an infant who is 11 months old. She can hold small objects between her thumb and forefinger, such as marbles, coins and crayons. You are surprised at this ability and believe that she is highly advanced. What is your paediatrician likely to say?

Accepted Answer

The ability to hold small objects between the thumb and forefinger, called the pincer grasp, is a typical developmental milestone that most infants achieve around 9-12 months of age. It is not considered highly advanced and is expected at this age.

Question 8

Ache babies are carried nearly every minute of the day and do not walk until around age 2. This is partly because Ache children prefer to be carried. What are the differences in gross motor development at age 6 between Ache children and children who are not carried exclusively for so long?

Accepted Answer

There have been no identified differences in gross motor development at age 6 between Ache children and children who are not carried exclusively for so long.

Question 9

According to Piaget, what is the driving force behind development from one state to the next?

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that maturation, or the natural unfolding of biological processes, is the driving force behind cognitive development, allowing children to progress through different stages.

Question 10

Piaget's work, and that of the individuals who followed in his tradition, is known as the ____.

Accepted Answer

Piaget's work and those who followed in his tradition were known as the cognitive-developmental approach. This approach emphasized that children actively construct knowledge as they manipulate and explore their world, and that cognitive development occurs in a predictable sequence of stages.

Question 11

____ is the basis of fine motor development, the deft movements of our hands that enable us to make a tool, pick up a small object, throw a weapon or thread a needle.

Accepted Answer

The opposable thumb allows us to grasp and manipulate objects with precise movements, and is essential for fine motor development. Binocular vision, bipedal motion, and the vertical stance may also have contributed to the evolution of fine motor skills, but none are as directly related as the opposable thumb.

Question 12

A childless couple interviewed on TV is just about to pick up their 3-year-old toddler from an orphanage in Romania known for its terrible conditions. They comment: 'love conquers all,' and go on to say, 'by the time he goes to kindergarten, people will think he has grown up here all his life.' Based on the research, is this an accurate prediction? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A childless couple interviewed on TV is...

Question 13

By 9 to 12 months of age, infants can hold a small object between their thumb and forefinger, such as marbles, coins and crayons. What is the name of this ability?

Accepted Answer

The ability to hold a small object between the thumb and forefinger is called the pincer grasp. The other options refer to different types of grasping skills, but do not specifically apply to this ability. The plantar grasp involves the toes curling around an object, the drawing grasp involves manipulating a pencil or crayon, and the palmar grasp involves grasping an object with the entire palm and fingers.

Question 14

____ in infants was first demonstrated in a classic experiment by Eleanor Gibson and James Walk (1960) with their use of a table called the 'visual cliff'.

Accepted Answer

The visual cliff experiment conducted by Eleanor Gibson and James Walk in 1960 was aimed at measuring depth perception in infants. The experiment involved a glass table, with one half of the table appearing to have a deep drop below it. Infants were placed on the shallow side of the table and encouraged to crawl towards their mothers who were standing on the deep side of the table. The results of the experiment showed that infants who had developed depth perception would not cross on the deep side of the table, while those who haven't would do so without any hesitation.

Question 15

What is meant by plasticity? Give an example.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is meant by plasticity? Give an...

Question 16

The key to depth perception is ____, the ability to combine the images of each eye into one image.

Accepted Answer

Depth perception comes from the difference in images seen by each eye. Binocular vision allows the brain to merge these two images into one, creating the perception of depth. Retinal disparity (A) refers to the difference in the position of the same item on the retina of each eye, which helps the brain create depth perception through binocular vision. Myopic vision (B) refers to nearsightedness and does not relate to depth perception. Monocular vision (C) refers to seeing with only one eye and does not allow for depth perception.

Question 17

____ describes a genetically based timetable that individuals are born with.

Accepted Answer

Ontogenetic refers to the development of an individual organism from its earliest stages to its mature form. A genetically based timetable, or developmental schedule, is an example of ontogenetic development. The other choices do not specifically refer to this concept.

Question 18

In cultures where medical remedies for infant illness are scarce, parents and caregivers go to great lengths to protect them. Describe at least one of these practices used to ensure survival that is based on magic rather than medical evidence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In cultures where medical remedies for infant...

Question 19

What is the term that describes the actions that neonates take when they extend their arms awkwardly towards an interesting object?

Accepted Answer

Pre-reaching is the term used to describe the actions of neonates when they extend their arms awkwardly towards an interesting object. Primordial grasping refers to the instinctual grasping action of newborns, usually with their whole hand, while the plantar reflex refers to the curling or flexing of the toes when the bottom of the foot is stimulated. The palmar reflex occurs when pressure is applied to the palm of the newborn's hand, causing them to grasp firmly.

Question 20

One of the evolutionary developments that make humans anatomically distinctive among animals is the _____.

Accepted Answer

The opposable thumb allows humans to grasp objects with precision and dexterity, which is a unique ability among animals. The other options are not specific to humans and can also be found in other animal species.

Quiz 4: Infancy