Question 1

The Vygotskian zone of proximal development refers to __________.

Accepted Answer

The Vygotskian zone of proximal development refers to a range of tasks that the child cannot yet handle alone but can do with the help of more skilled partners.

Question 2

Mental tests __________.

Accepted Answer

Mental tests measure variations in developmental progress, which includes but is not limited to cognitive development. Mental tests are not accurate indicators of what babies and toddlers understand, and while they may provide insight into environmental influences on intelligence, they do not solely focus on this aspect.

Question 3

__________ is related to advanced play, language, and problem solving in toddlerhood and early childhood.

Accepted Answer

Scaffolding, a concept introduced by Lev Vygotsky, involves providing support to children to help them achieve a task just beyond their current ability level. This support, which can be gradually reduced as the child becomes more competent, is crucial for developing advanced play, language, and problem-solving skills during early childhood.

Question 4

Dr. Smirnov is interested in measuring infant intelligence as a predictor of preschool mental test performance. He should use __________.

Accepted Answer

The Bayley-III Cognitive and Language Scales are specifically designed for measuring the intelligence of infants and toddlers. The other options are not appropriate for measuring infant intelligence. A standard adult IQ test is not suitable for infants and would not provide accurate results. An older version of the Bayley Scales may not be up-to-date and may not have the same validity and reliability as the latest version. The Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment is a tool for measuring the quality of the environment, rather than infant intelligence.

Question 5

The extent to which parents __________ contributes strongly to early language progress.

Accepted Answer

The best choice is C, as talking to infants and toddlers is a crucial aspect of early language development. This allows children to hear language in context and to learn the rhythms and patterns of language. Providing toys or activities can be beneficial, but it is not as essential as direct verbal interaction. Actively teaching letters and sounds may be more relevant for older children, as infants and toddlers are still building their foundational understanding of language. Speaking to each other and to other adults can also be useful, but it is not as critical as direct communication with the child.

Question 6

Infant intelligence tests are somewhat better at making long-term predictions for __________ babies.

Accepted Answer

Infant intelligence tests tend to be better at predicting long-term outcomes for extremely low-scoring babies, as they are more likely to have significant developmental delays or disabilities that will have lasting effects on their intelligence and cognitive abilities. Babies who score within the average to high range on infant intelligence tests may not show significant differences in intelligence or cognitive abilities in the long-term, making predictions less reliable.

Question 7

According to Vygotsky, make-believe, like other complex mental activities, is __________.

Accepted Answer

According to Vygotsky, make-believe is first learned under the guidance of experts, such as parents or teachers, who provide support and assist children in developing their play skills. This occurs during the sociocultural theory of development.

Question 8

Two-year-old Carmen is trying to fit pieces into a wooden puzzle form. Carmen's father helps her turn the pieces so they fit snuggly in place. As Carmen's skill improves, her father steps back, letting her try on her own. This example illustrates the concept of __________.

Accepted Answer

The example given perfectly describes the concept of scaffolding. Carmen's father provides support and guidance at first but gradually steps back as Carmen's skills improve, allowing her to work more independently towards solving the puzzle. This process is known as scaffolding, which refers to the support provided by an adult or a more skilled peer during a child's learning process.

Question 9

When intelligence tests are standardized, the mean IQ is set at __________.

Accepted Answer

The mean IQ is always set at 100 when intelligence tests are standardized. Other answer choices are incorrect because they do not reflect the standardization process of intelligence tests.

Question 10

The IQs of 96 percent of individuals fall between __________ and __________.

Accepted Answer

The IQs of 96 percent of individuals fall between 70 and 130. This range encompasses two standard deviations above and below the mean IQ score, which is set at 100.

Question 11

An intelligence quotient (IQ) __________.

Accepted Answer

An IQ score is a standardized measure of intelligence based on a comparison of an individual's performance on a test with the typical performance of same-age individuals. The score is expressed as a deviation from the mean, with 100 being the average score. This means that an IQ score of 115 indicates that the individual performed better than 84% of same-age individuals, while a score of 85 indicates that the individual performed worse than 84% of same-age individuals. IQ scores can fluctuate over time, particularly during childhood and adolescence, as a result of changes in the individual's environment, experiences, or educational opportunities. IQ scores cannot be used to determine whether a child is ahead, behind, or on time in average mental development, as intelligence is a complex and multifaceted trait that cannot be fully captured by a single test score.

Question 12

The Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) is a checklist for __________.

Accepted Answer

The HOME checklist is designed to gather information about the quality of a child's home life, including factors like parental responsiveness, stimulation, and warmth. It is not intended to measure a child's cognitive skills or predict their intelligence. While some researchers may use HOME scores to compare groups of children with different mental development levels, the checklist itself does not make these determinations.

Question 13

Herb and Nyla value make-believe as a developmentally beneficial activity. They would like to promote their 18-month-old daughter's play. You can tell them that toddlers' make-believe is more elaborate when __________.

Accepted Answer

When adults participate in toddlers' make-believe play, they provide cues and ideas for the child to build upon, leading to more elaborate play scenarios.

Question 14

In contrast to the United States, most European countries __________.

Accepted Answer

The passage states that most European countries nationally regulate and fund child care to ensure its quality, which is not the case in the United States. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. Options A, C, and D are incorrect based on the information provided in the passage.

Question 15

__________ sustains the benefits of growing up in an economically advantaged family and can reduce the negative impact of a stressed, poverty-stricken home life.

Accepted Answer

Good child care, even if it is not of high quality, can provide children with a nurturing and stimulating environment that can help offset the negative effects of poverty and stress at home, and sustain the advantages of growing up in an economically stable family. Authoritarian or permissive parenting styles, though they may have other impacts on child development, do not necessarily mitigate the adverse effects of poverty or enhance the benefits of economic advantage.

Question 16

Most infant tests predict __________.

Accepted Answer

Most infant tests do not accurately predict later intelligence.

Question 17

Research consistently shows that infants and young children exposed to __________ child care score lower on measures of __________ skills during the preschool, elementary, and secondary school years.

Accepted Answer

Research consistently shows that infants and young children exposed to poor-quality child care score lower on measures of cognitive, language, academic, and social skills during the preschool, elementary, and secondary school years. Full-time/part-time and developmentally appropriate child care are not necessarily indicators of quality, hence options A and C are incorrect. Option D pertains to only part-time child care, which is not a determining factor in the quality of care.

Question 18

In cultures where play is viewed as solely a child's activity and sibling caregiving is common, make-believe is more frequent and complex with __________ than with __________.

Accepted Answer

In cultures where play is considered primarily a child's activity and sibling caregiving is prevalent, make-believe play tends to be more frequent and complex with older siblings than with mothers. This is because older siblings are more likely to engage in imaginative play activities with younger siblings, as they are closer in age and often take on caregiving roles that involve play.

Question 19

Most infant intelligence tests emphasize __________.

Accepted Answer

The question asks about infant intelligence tests, which typically focus on measuring perceptual and motor responses, rather than advanced concepts or memory. Attention and categorization can also be important components of infant intelligence tests, but not as consistently emphasized as perceptual and motor responses.

Question 20

Middle-income parents are especially likely to place their children in __________ child-care settings, where quality tends to be lowest.

Accepted Answer

Middle-income parents are more likely to place their children in for-profit child-care settings, which tend to have lower quality than nonprofit settings. Nonprofit settings often have higher standards for staff qualifications, program quality, and safety regulations than for-profit settings. Family-based and rural settings do not necessarily correspond with lower quality.

Quiz 5: Cognitive Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood