Question 1

Any relatively permanent change in thought or behavior that occurs as a result of experience is called:

Accepted Answer

Learning is defined as a relatively permanent change in thought or behavior due to experience. Canalization, fixation, and maturation refer to different concepts in psychology and development.

Question 2

Piaget's theory is based on the premise of

Accepted Answer

C

Question 3

Upon what are most of the differences in various cognitive theories based?

Accepted Answer

Most differences in cognitive theories stem from how theorists conceptualize key concepts, leading to varied interpretations and models of cognitive processes.

Question 4

Mental patterns of organization that influence our ways of dealing with the world.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive structures are the mental patterns or frameworks that help individuals organize and interpret information, influencing how they perceive, think about, and interact with the world around them.

Question 5

Ms. McCarthy is concerned about one of her students, Kelly. Kelly is doing well in her academic subjects in school, but she can't seem to relate to her peers in an appropriate manner. Ms. McCarthy will be better able to help Kelly if she realizes:

Accepted Answer

Social skills are considered weakly canalized abilities, meaning they are significantly influenced by the environment and can be taught and improved with intervention and practice, unlike highly canalized abilities that are strongly genetically determined and less influenced by the environment.

Question 6

Coach Daniels teaches the skill of throwing a ball first. Then he teaches catching skills. Finally, he teaches his little league baseball players how to hit the ball. Which type of theorist does Coach Daniels most resemble?

Accepted Answer

Coach Daniels focuses on specific skills (throwing, catching, hitting) in a sequential manner, which aligns with the domain-specific approach that emphasizes the development of specific areas or skills rather than a broad, general development across all areas.

Question 7

Why is it important for teachers to understand the difference between learning and maturation?

Accepted Answer

Understanding the difference between learning and maturation helps teachers plan lessons that are appropriate for the developmental stage of their students, ensuring that the content and teaching methods are suitable for what students are capable of understanding and doing at a certain age.

Question 8

According to Piaget, this is the main mechanism by which cognitive development occurs.

Accepted Answer

Equilibration is the primary mechanism of cognitive development according to Piaget, as it drives the movement from one stage of thought to the next, balancing assimilation and accommodation.

Question 9

Any relatively permanent change occurring due to biological aging, regardless of personal experience is called:

Accepted Answer

Maturation refers to the process of development in which an individual matures or reaches full functionality, influenced primarily by the aging process rather than learning or experience.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT one of the three key concepts that describe specific mechanisms of Piaget's cognitive theory?

Accepted Answer

Canalization is not a concept described in Piaget's cognitive theory. Piaget's theory primarily revolves around the concepts of accommodation, equilibration, and assimilation, which explain how children adapt to and learn from their environments. Canalization, on the other hand, refers to the degree to which the expression of a genotype is influenced by the environment, a concept more closely associated with developmental biology and genetics.

Question 11

Equilibration can be achieved by which of the two following processes?

Accepted Answer

Equilibration is achieved through the processes of assimilation, where new information is incorporated into existing schemas, and accommodation, where existing schemas are modified to incorporate new information.

Question 12

Three-year-old Rodney is playing with the neighbor's pet. Rodney is surprised when his mother uses the word "cat" to describe the pet he thought was a dog. Piaget would say that Rodney is experiencing

Accepted Answer

Rodney is experiencing disequilibrium because he is encountering new information (the pet being a cat, not a dog) that does not fit into his existing schema, causing cognitive imbalance.

Question 13

Ms. Coleman is an elementary school teacher who sees her student, Danique, struggling in math. Ms. Coleman expects a sudden burst in Danique's ability to understand the math concepts. Ms. Coleman is most like which theorist?

Accepted Answer

Ms. Coleman's expectation aligns with Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which suggests that children go through stages of development and experience sudden bursts in understanding as they transition from one stage to another.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a major assumption of stage theory about development?

Accepted Answer

Stage theories, such as Piaget's theory of cognitive development, typically assume that development progresses through distinct stages that are qualitatively different from each other, not gradually in increments. This means that each stage involves a unique way of thinking and understanding the world, rather than a simple quantitative increase in skills or knowledge.

Question 15

This concept refers to the extent to which a behavior or an underlying ability develops without respect to the environment.

Accepted Answer

Canalization refers to the degree to which the development of a behavior or trait is due to genetics and thus unfolds in a similar way regardless of the environment.

Question 16

If development occurs at different rates in different areas, then which developmental theory is most correct?

Accepted Answer

Domain-specific theories of development argue that development occurs at different rates in different areas or domains (e.g., physical, cognitive, social-emotional), which aligns with the scenario described.

Question 17

Which of the following describes theories that assume cognitive abilities are acquired gradually, with each new accomplishment building directly on those that came before it?

Accepted Answer

Continuous development theories posit that development is a gradual, ongoing process without distinct stages, where new abilities build directly on previous ones.

Question 18

If development occurs more or less simultaneously in multiple areas, then which developmental theory is most correct?

Accepted Answer

Domain-general theories of development suggest that changes occur across broad areas of development simultaneously, rather than in specific, isolated domains. This contrasts with domain-specific theories, which propose that development happens in distinct areas independently.

Question 19

The temporary difference in levels of performance that a child shows between various cognitive domains or activities within a given stage of development.

Accepted Answer

Horizontal décalage refers to the concept in developmental psychology where a child shows different levels of understanding or ability across different cognitive tasks or domains, even within the same stage of development. This term is often associated with Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Question 20

The changes in mental skills that occur through increasing maturity and experience.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive development refers to the changes in mental skills that occur through increasing maturity and experience, encompassing the development of thinking, problem-solving, and memory abilities.

Quiz 2: The Development of Cognitive, Learning, and Language Skills