Question 1

In Pavlov's experiment what type of stimulus or response is the food?

Accepted Answer

In Pavlov's experiment, food is an unconditioned stimulus because it naturally and automatically triggers a response (salivation) without any prior learning.

Question 2

Changes in rate of habituation with age have been attributed to which of the following factors?

Accepted Answer

Maturation of the brain is the primary factor responsible for changes in rate of habituation with age.

Question 3

Which of the following results was obtained using the high-amplitude sucking method?

Accepted Answer

The high-amplitude sucking method is a technique used in developmental psychology to study infants' preferences and perceptual abilities. It relies on the observation that infants will suck more vigorously on a pacifier when they are interested in a stimulus. Choice B, which states that babies attended more closely to speech sounds that resembled speech they heard in utero versus nonspeech sounds, is an example of a result that could be obtained using this method, as it reflects an interest in certain sounds over others, measurable through changes in sucking behavior.

Question 4

What is the goal of the information-processing approach to disciplinary punishment?

Accepted Answer

The information-processing approach to disciplinary punishment aims to encourage the child to be motivated to behave properly by understanding the consequences of their actions and how to make better choices in the future.

Question 5

For punishment to be effective, what should it be?

Accepted Answer

For punishment to be effective, it needs to be consistent. Consistency helps the individual understand the connection between their behavior and the consequence, making it more likely for the behavior to be modified.

Question 6

In general, how would most people feel if they received negative reinforcement and positive punishment for their actions?

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior, which is generally liked because it leads to a relief from something unpleasant. Positive punishment involves adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior, which is generally disliked because it introduces something unpleasant.

Question 7

Which statement best summarizes the nativist and empiricist views of the development of intermodal perception?

Accepted Answer

Nativists believe that intermodal perception is innate, while empiricists believe that it is learned through experience. Differentiation theory states that intermodal perception develops through a process of differentiation, in which the brain learns to distinguish between different sensory modalities. Enrichment theory states that intermodal perception develops through a process of enrichment, in which the brain learns to associate different sensory modalities with each other.

Question 8

In this example, what is the whirring sound?

Accepted Answer

The whirring sound is a conditioned stimulus if it has been associated with a specific response through conditioning. This means that the sound, originally neutral, has been paired with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

Question 9

Which statement best summarizes the results of research studies regarding depth perception using the visual cliff apparatus?

Accepted Answer

Research using the visual cliff apparatus has shown that infants as young as 2 months old exhibit a physiological response, such as a change in heart rate, when placed on the deep side of the cliff, indicating an early development of depth perception.

Question 10

When can infants group colours of similar shades into basic categories (e.g., reds, greens, blues) as adults do?

Accepted Answer

Infants can group colours of similar shades into basic categories around the age of 4 months, showing early cognitive and perceptual abilities related to color categorization.

Question 11

Daphne Maurer and colleagues demonstrated a developmental progression in the ability to use different pieces of information for face recognition.According to their research findings, what is the correct developmental sequence?

Accepted Answer

Daphne Maurer and colleagues found that the developmental sequence for face recognition begins with the use of contours, followed by features, and finally configural processing.

Question 12

Parents are often puzzled when a child fails to show appropriate behaviours despite scolding and punishment for inappropriate behaviours.Why are operant conditioning experts not surprised?

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning experts understand that punishment alone is not effective in teaching appropriate behavior. Reinforcement of desired behavior is crucial for behavior modification.

Question 13

In this example, what is automatically reaching for the power adapter?

Accepted Answer

Reaching for the power adapter has become a conditioned response because it is a learned reaction to a specific stimulus (e.g., a laptop's low battery notification), rather than a natural, unlearned behavior.

Question 14

Which of the following would be the most likely response of a newborn infant to his or her mother singing?

Accepted Answer

Newborn infants typically respond to their mother's voice with orientation and attention, as it is a familiar and comforting stimulus from their time in the womb. This response demonstrates early social and auditory engagement.

Question 15

Which statement best describes current research findings regarding the auditory capacity of the neonate?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that newborns have a surprisingly good ability to discriminate among a variety of auditory stimuli, indicating that their auditory capacity is more developed than previously thought.

Question 16

Which of the following best characterizes the phenomenon of classical conditioning?

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning involves a neutral stimulus becoming associated with a response that it did not originally produce, as described in option C. This is exemplified by learning to associate a previously neutral sound (the whirring) with the computer shutting down, leading to a preemptive response (reaching for the power cord).

Question 17

Suppose you allow an infant several minutes to "study" a complex pattern.Then you present a second face and assess whether the infant's heart rate changes when the second face appears.Which research method are you using?

Accepted Answer

The described research method is habituation, which involves reducing a response to a stimulus after repeated exposure. In this scenario, the infant's change in heart rate to a new pattern is measured after becoming habituated to the first pattern, indicating recognition of novelty.

Question 18

Most mothers claim that their 1-week-old infants recognize their voices.Does research evidence support this claim?

Accepted Answer

Research supports the claim that infants as young as 1 week old can discriminate their mother's voice from other female voices and show a preference for it. This indicates an early auditory recognition ability that helps in bonding and emotional development.

Question 19

When you become bored because your surroundings remain stable over time, which type of learning are you demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

Habituation is the process by which an individual becomes accustomed to a particular stimulus or environment over time, leading to a decrease in response. When you become bored because your surroundings remain stable, it indicates that you have habituated to those surroundings, as the novelty has worn off and your response (interest or engagement) decreases.

Question 20

In this example, what is your surprise at the automatic shutdown?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In this example, what is your surprise...

Quiz 7: Early Cognitive Foundations: Sensation, Perception, and Learning