Question 1

Believing that all old people are senile is an example of
A) a stereotype that could lead to ageism.
B) ageism that could lead to discrimination.
C) accurate information about aging gathered from social media discussions.
D) accurate information based on current research.

Accepted Answer

Believing that all old people are senile is a common stereotype that portrays older adults as incompetent, unproductive, and burdensome. This belief could lead to ageism, which is defined as prejudice or discrimination against people based on their age. Ageism can lead to discrimination in various areas of life, such as employment, housing, and healthcare.

Question 2

For most gerontologists, whether stability or change is the rule depends on:
A) what traits you have in your childhood
B) what other aspects are being considered
C) what practical perspective one is adopting
D) what personal aspect is being considered

Accepted Answer

The answer of For most gerontologists, whether stability or change...

Question 3

Describe why adult development and aging is best examined from a multiple forces perspective.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe why adult development and aging is...

Question 4

The reason that most research on aging is not truly experimental is because
A) age cannot be measured accurately in most people.
B) most statistical techniques are not able to use age as a variable.
C) age cannot be manipulated, so it cannot be an independent variable.
D) it is hard to get large enough samples to represent different age groups.

Accepted Answer

The statement that age cannot be manipulated means that it cannot be an independent variable, which is necessary for experiments. Therefore, most research on aging is not truly experimental.

Question 5

Normative age-related developmental changes, such as the slowing of one's reaction time and the loss of family members and friends, are considered
A) primary aging.
B) secondary aging.
C) tertiary aging.
D) quaternary aging.

Accepted Answer

Normative age-related developmental changes are considered primary aging, which refers to the normal, inevitable changes that occur as people get older. These changes are influenced by biological, genetic, and environmental factors. Secondary aging refers to changes that result from disease, lifestyle factors, or environmental influences, while tertiary aging refers to the rapid decline that occurs shortly before death. Quaternary aging refers to the concept of adding life to years, rather than just years to life, by promoting healthy aging and maintaining independence.

Question 6

Which type of commitment is not possible for most researchers?
A) Generating sequential designs.
B) Following many people over long periods of time, generating new samples, and conducting complex data analyses.
C) Fixing the development issues while creating sequential designs.
D) None of these

Accepted Answer

Following many people over long periods of time, generating new samples, and conducting complex data analyses is a type of commitment that is often not possible for most researchers due to various constraints such as funding, time, and resources. While generating sequential designs and fixing the development issues while creating sequential designs require a different type of commitment, they are still feasible for most researchers.

Question 7

involves a rapid loss that occurs just before death.
A) Primary aging
B) Secondary aging
C) Tertiary aging
D) Pathological aging

Accepted Answer

Tertiary aging involves a rapid decline in physical and cognitive function that occurs shortly before death.

Question 8

Differentiate among age, cohort, and time-of-measurement effects. Provide an example of each.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Differentiate among age, cohort, and time-of-measurement effects....

Question 9

The advent of social media internet technology is an example of a
A) normative age-graded event.
B) normative history-graded event.
C) normative individual-graded event.
D) nonnormative event.

Accepted Answer

The advent of social media internet technology is an example of a normative history-graded event because it is a significant event that has affected and influenced the lives of a whole generation or cohort of people who have grown up during the age of social media.

Question 10

When conducting research, what ethical considerations should be taken into account?

Accepted Answer

The answer of When conducting research, what ethical considerations should...

Question 11

Define and explain how a first marriage could be an example of a normative age-graded event, a normative history-graded event, and a nonnormative event.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define and explain how a first marriage...

Question 12

Explain why there is very little research on how culture and ethnicity affects how people experience old age.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why there is very little research...

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of a normative age-graded influence on development?
A) entering kindergarten
B) living during the 9/11 attacks
C) winning the lottery
D) becoming addicted to methamphetamine

Accepted Answer

Entering kindergarten is a normative age-graded influence on development because it is a common and expected event that occurs at a specific age for most children.

Question 14

You recently read a study in which the researchers concluded that after age 60, women's IQs drop dramatically. This conclusion was based upon comparisons of women born between 1910 and 1930 and women born between 1960 and 1980. Based upon this information, the comment you would most likely make is
A) this is not a valid result because men were not included in the study.
B) longitudinal research doesn't work well when looking at IQ over time.
C) cohort effects likely account for the observed differences.
D) whoever conducted this study is negatively biased against older women.

Accepted Answer

The observed differences in IQ between the two groups of women can likely be explained by cohort effects, such as changes in education and societal attitudes towards women's intelligence and education over time. It is not appropriate to assume that women's IQs drop dramatically after age 60 based solely on this study. Additionally, the study does not mention anything about men, so option A is not relevant. Option B is incorrect as longitudinal research can be effective when studying developmental changes over time. Option D is also not supported by any evidence in the study.

Question 15

Explain the universal versus context-specific development controversy. Cite an example to support your analysis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the universal versus context-specific development controversy....

Question 16

is extremely important in gerontology because it shapes how people define core concepts such as age, old age, and normative life course.
A) The age of the individual
B) Ethnicity
C) Culture
D) Socialization

Accepted Answer

Culture shapes how people view aging, including what is considered old age and how older adults are valued in society. It also influences expectations for the aging process and what is considered a typical life course. Ethnicity and socialization can also play a role, but culture has the broadest impact on these important concepts in gerontology. Age of the individual is a biological factor that does not necessarily impact how these concepts are defined in society.

Question 17

Characteristics that make us individuals, such as perception and emotional factors, are the result of
A) life-cycle forces.
B) psychological forces.
C) biological forces.
D) histological forces.

Accepted Answer

Perception and emotional factors are psychological forces, which are influenced by our thoughts, feelings, and experiences rather than solely being determined by biological or histological factors. Life-cycle forces, while they may have an impact on our development, do not necessarily make us individuals in the same way that psychological forces do.

Question 18

When a researcher manipulates a key factor that he thinks is responsible for specific behavior and allocates testing participants according to which factor is tested, the resulting groups are called _______ groups.
A) ethnic
B) research
C) experimental
D) None of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

The description best matches the definition of experimental groups, which are created by manipulating a key factor (independent variable) and allocating participants accordingly to test its effect on behavior. Ethnic groups refer to divisions based on cultural or racial characteristics, while research groups are a general term that could refer to any group involved in a research study.

Question 19

Thinning and graying of hair is an example of which force of development?
A) life-cycle forces
B) psychological forces
C) biological forces
D) histological forces

Accepted Answer

Thinning and graying of hair are biological changes that occur naturally as a person ages. Biological forces are the physical changes that occur in a person's body over time, including growth, development, and decline.

Question 20

If you are using a questionnaire to assess memory in older individuals, and each time you administer the questionnaire it produces different results, it can then be said that the measure has low
A) representativeness.
B) utility.
C) validity.
D) reliability.

Accepted Answer

If the same measure produces different results each time it is administered, it means that it lacks reliability. Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure over time, so if it is not reliable, it cannot be relied upon to accurately measure memory in older individuals. Representativeness refers to the degree to which a sample accurately represents a population, utility refers to usefulness, and validity refers to how well a measure actually measures what it is intended to measure. While these factors can also impact the effectiveness of a measure, the inconsistency in results suggests a reliability issue.

Quiz 1: Studying Adult Development and Aging

Believing that all old people are senile is an example of

For most gerontologists, whether stability or change is the rule depends on:

Describe why adult development and aging is best examined from a multiple forces perspective.

The reason that most research on aging is not truly experimental is because

Normative age-related developmental changes, such as the slowing of one's reaction time and the loss of family members and friends, are considered

Which type of commitment is not possible for most researchers?

involves a rapid loss that occurs just before death.

Differentiate among age, cohort, and time-of-measurement effects. Provide an example of each.

The advent of social media internet technology is an example of a

When conducting research, what ethical considerations should be taken into account?

Define and explain how a first marriage could be an example of a normative age-graded event, a normative history-graded event, and a nonnormative event.

Explain why there is very little research on how culture and ethnicity affects how people experience old age.

Which of the following is an example of a normative age-graded influence on development?

You recently read a study in which the researchers concluded that after age 60, women's IQs drop dramatically. This conclusion was based upon comparisons of women born between 1910 and 1930 and women born between 1960 and 1980. Based upon this information, the comment you would most likely make is

Explain the universal versus context-specific development controversy. Cite an example to support your analysis.

is extremely important in gerontology because it shapes how people define core concepts such as age, old age, and normative life course.

Characteristics that make us individuals, such as perception and emotional factors, are the result of

When a researcher manipulates a key factor that he thinks is responsible for specific behavior and allocates testing participants according to which factor is tested, the resulting groups are called _______ groups.

Thinning and graying of hair is an example of which force of development?

If you are using a questionnaire to assess memory in older individuals, and each time you administer the questionnaire it produces different results, it can then be said that the measure has low