Question 1

Contemporary theory proposes that the representation of nonsymbolic quantities is performed by the approximate number system, an intuitive, nonsymbolic system for thinking about quantities.

Accepted Answer

The approximate number system (ANS) is a cognitive system that enables humans and other animals to estimate and reason about quantities without using symbols, supporting the idea that nonsymbolic quantity representation is intuitive and foundational to mathematical cognition.

Question 2

Siegler and Lortie-Forgues (2014) propose that numerical development involves four major acquisitions according to their integrative theory of numerical development. Which of the following is not one of the four major acquisitions:

Accepted Answer

Siegler and Lortie-Forgues (2014) propose that numerical development involves representing non-symbolic numbers with increasing precision, linking non-symbolic and symbolic numerical representations, and extending the range of numbers that can be accurately represented. Representing only whole numbers is not mentioned as a major acquisition in their integrative theory of numerical development, as the theory encompasses a broader understanding of numbers beyond just whole numbers.

Question 3

Mothers and fathers who read to their children have:

Accepted Answer

Reading to children has been shown to improve their language, cognitive, and reading abilities. This activity exposes children to a broader vocabulary, enhances their understanding of complex language structures, and fosters cognitive skills such as memory and attention, contributing to overall better academic and intellectual development.

Question 4

Phonemic awareness is the knowledge that words consists of separable sounds.

Accepted Answer

Phonemic awareness refers to the understanding that spoken words can be broken down into individual sounds, known as phonemes, which are the smallest units of sound that can differentiate meaning.

Question 5

English uses 60 phonemes, but 2,000 different letter combinations are needed to completely represent these sounds.

Accepted Answer

English uses around 44 phonemes, and the number of letter combinations (or graphemes) needed to represent these sounds is far fewer than 2,000.

Question 6

English has what is called a low ornithography, meaning the spelling system for converting letters into sounds it irregular, with there being 1-2 ways in which some letters combinations can be sounded out.

Accepted Answer

The term should be "orthography," not "ornithography." English has a complex orthography, meaning its spelling system for converting letters into sounds is irregular, with many letters or combinations of letters having multiple possible pronunciations.

Question 7

Procedural knowledge refers to the use of basic operations involved in solving a math problem, such as the strategies used in addition and subtraction.

Accepted Answer

Procedural knowledge involves knowing how to perform various operations and procedures, such as those used in solving math problems, including addition and subtraction strategies.

Question 8

According to Diane Halpern (1997), it was concluded that females, on average:

Accepted Answer

Diane Halpern concluded that females, on average, perform better than males on tasks that require rapid access to and use of phonological and semantic information in long-term memory.

Question 9

The Matthew effect is an effect in which the difference between good and poor readers increases over time. The name comes from the New Testament's Book of Matthew, which makes the observation that the rich get rich and the poor get poorer.

Accepted Answer

The Matthew effect, indeed named after a verse in the Book of Matthew, refers to the phenomenon where "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer," applied in various contexts including reading skills, where it describes how initial advantages or disadvantages in reading ability tend to compound over time, leading to increasingly divergent skill levels.

Question 10

The American Academy of Pediatrics (2014) advises that all parents should read age-appropriate books aloud to their children, beginning in infancy, to promote language and preliteracy skills.

Accepted Answer

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents read aloud to their children from infancy to promote language acquisition, literacy skills, and to strengthen parent-child relationships.

Question 11

According to Maccoby and Jacklin (1974), female superiority on verbal tasks has been one of the more solidly established generalizations in the field of gender differences.

Accepted Answer

Maccoby and Jacklin's 1974 research is often cited for establishing that one of the more consistent findings in the study of gender differences is female superiority in verbal tasks.

Question 12

The results of a 2011 longitudinal study of nearly 4,000 students revealed that children who had not become proficient readers by the end of the third grade were

Accepted Answer

Children who are not proficient readers by the end of third grade are 4 times more likely to drop out of school than those who are proficient.

Question 13

With regard to RAN it has been determined that speed really doesn't matter and children in general who can articulate series of individual items display greater reading fluency than other children.

Accepted Answer

Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) speed is important; studies have shown that children who can quickly name series of items (like letters, numbers, or colors) tend to have better reading fluency, indicating that speed in RAN tasks is correlated with reading skills.

Question 14

Siegler's and Lortie-Forgues's (2014) integrative theory of numerical development suggests that mathematical development can be explained by the continuing growth of understanding of numerical magnitudes, beginning with intuitive and nonsymbolic representations of numbers through are advanced mathematics including fractions and negative numbers.

Accepted Answer

Siegler's and Lortie-Forgues's integrative theory of numerical development indeed posits that mathematical development is a continuous process that starts with an intuitive understanding of numbers and numerical magnitudes. This theory suggests that the foundation of mathematical understanding begins with nonsymbolic representations of numbers and evolves into more complex concepts, including fractions and negative numbers, through the interaction of various cognitive processes.

Question 15

Hulme and Snowling (2013) examined the cognitive processes underlying early reading skills in alphabetic languages using evidence from all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Hulme and Snowling (2013) did not specifically examine comprehension related studies of 1st graders in their research on the cognitive processes underlying early reading skills. Their work focused on comparisons of children with and without reading disabilities, training studies, and longitudinal studies related to reading abilities.

Question 16

Rapid automatized naming (RAN) refers to the ability to rapidly name as many familiar items (words, numbers, colors, digits) as possible. Many studies have reported significant relations between RAN all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Rapid automatized naming (RAN) performance is positively correlated with reading fluency, differences between children with and without reading disabilities, and shows that faster children tend to have better reading abilities. There is no evidence to suggest that faster children do not display any significant change in reading abilities; in fact, faster RAN speeds are generally associated with better reading performance.

Question 17

The American Academy of Pediatrics (2014) advises that all parents should read age-appropriate books aloud to their children to promote language and pre literacy skills beginning:

Accepted Answer

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that reading aloud to children should begin in infancy. This early start supports the development of language and pre-literacy skills from a very young age.

Question 18

Hulme and Snowling (2013) examined the cognitive processes underlying early reading skills in alphabetic languages and identified the following three "cognitive foundation" skills for early reading except for:

Accepted Answer

Hulme and Snowling (2013) identified letter knowledge, phonemic awareness, and rapid automatized naming as cognitive foundation skills for early reading in alphabetic languages, but numeral awareness is not mentioned as a foundational skill for reading. Numeral awareness is related to mathematics, not early reading skills.

Question 19

The relationship between working memory and reading comprehension was demonstrated in a longitudinal study that followed children ages 8-11 years (Cain et al., 2004). The researchers reported that:

Accepted Answer

The study by Cain et al. (2004) found that individual differences in working memory were predictive of subsequent levels of reading comprehension, and this relationship was independent of the children's vocabulary and general reading abilities. This indicates that working memory plays a distinct role in reading comprehension beyond just vocabulary knowledge or basic reading skills.

Question 20

Which three levels of children who receive instruction in phonemic awareness show enhanced early reading ability relative to children not given such instruction?

Accepted Answer

Preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade children who receive instruction in phonemic awareness tend to show enhanced early reading abilities compared to those who do not receive such instruction. This is because phonemic awareness is a critical foundational skill for reading that involves recognizing and manipulating the sounds in words, which is best developed during these early educational stages.

Quiz 11: Schooling and Cognitive Development