Question 1

It is important that scientific findings can be replicated. This means that
A) other scientists must review the research and agree that it was correctly done and that the conclusions are warranted.
B) others have been able to repeat the research with the same or similar results.
C) the results have been able published in a well-respected research journal.
D) the conclusions can be generalized to a large group of people.

Accepted Answer

Replication is about being able to repeat the research with the same or similar results. While peer review (A) and publication in a respected journal (C) are important aspects of the scientific process, they do not necessarily guarantee replication. Generalizability (D) is also important in scientific research, but it is not the main focus of replication.

Question 2

Cross-cultural research
A) has shown that there is nothing in development that is truly universal.
B) finds that stage theories apply equally well in any culture that we study.
C) has shown that early development is very similar across cultures, but that later development shows great diversity.
D) finds both universal processes that apply across cultures as well as important cultural differences.

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural research has found both universal processes that apply across cultures (e.g. language development, attachment) as well as important cultural differences (e.g. parenting practices, values). Therefore, choice D is the best answer. Choice A is incorrect because there are some universal processes in development (e.g. language acquisition). Choice B is incorrect because stage theories have been critiqued for being culturally biased. Choice C is partly true, but it oversimplifies the complexity of cross-cultural research.

Question 3

Among children who suffer early deprivation, we see a variety of developmental outcomes. Some children do quite well, but others are more negatively affected. This is the principle of
A) multifinality.
B) constructivism.
C) determinism.
D) functionality.

Accepted Answer

The principle of multifinality means that individuals who experience the same early developmental experiences can have different outcomes. In this case, some children who suffer early deprivation do well, while others are negatively affected. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer. Constructivism refers to the idea that individuals actively construct their own understanding of the world, while determinism suggests that behavior is determined by past events or experiences. Functionality is not relevant to this principle.

Question 4

Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important context for development because
A) it is related to the amount of resources that a family has to support their children's development.
B) it allows us to easily classify the families that we study.
C) it is a family characteristic that is stable and does not change over time.
D) it has different meanings depending upon the culture in which it occurs.

Accepted Answer

SES is important context for development because it is related to the amount of resources that a family has to support their children's development. This includes access to quality education, health care, and nutrition, which can significantly impact a child's overall development. SES can also influence children's opportunities and experiences, shaping their perspectives and abilities as they grow and develop.

Question 5

The Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky described learning as
A) a collaborative process between the child and more experienced adults or peers.
B) something that others impose upon the child through the use of rewards and punishments.
C) the optimal fit between the characteristics of the child and the demands of the environment.
D) a child-directed process that is motivated by the child's internal drives.

Accepted Answer

Lev Vygotsky emphasized the importance of social interactions and collaborative learning between a child and more experienced adults or peers. He referred to this as the child's "zone of proximal development," where they can accomplish more with the help and guidance of others than they could on their own.

Question 6

You can become a critical thinker about research in child development if you
A) seek out divergent opinions from credible sources on topics that interest you.
B) rely upon your own life experiences because they are your best source of information.
C) reject ideas that are new or different from the way we have thought about a topic in the past.
D) agree with what most people think about a topic.

Accepted Answer

Seeking out divergent opinions from credible sources helps you evaluate the evidence and perspectives across multiple viewpoints, which is essential for critical thinking. Relying only on personal experiences (B) may limit your understanding of the broader research on a topic, and rejecting ideas that are new (C) or conforming to popular opinion (D) do not necessarily lead to informed critical thinking.

Question 7

Teen parents are particularly able to benefit from intervention programs that provide information on child development because they
A) are more open and receptive to new ideas than older parents.
B) usually have larger families than older parents.
C) are less likely to know what to expect of children than older parents.
D) are more impressionable than older parents.

Accepted Answer

Teen parents are less likely to have experience or knowledge about child development compared to older parents. Therefore, intervention programs that provide information on child development can be particularly beneficial for them.

Question 8

We tend to notice things that we expect to see and to disregard things that we aren't expecting. This tendency is called
A) a generalization fallacy.
B) a perceptual bias.
C) niche picking.
D) sample bias.

Accepted Answer

This tendency is called a perceptual bias, where our expectations and beliefs influence our perception and interpretation of sensory information.

Question 9

What can you correctly conclude when you read that research has found that playing violent video games is associated with aggressive behavior in children?
A) As a group, children who play violent video games are more likely to behave aggressively than children who don't play violent video games.
B) Children should not be allowed to play violent video games.
C) Boys should not be allowed to play violent video games.
D) Children who play violent video games will behave aggressively.

Accepted Answer

The conclusion that can be drawn from the research is that there is a correlation between playing violent video games and aggressive behavior in children. However, it is important to note that correlation does not equal causation, meaning that playing violent video games may not necessarily cause aggressive behavior in children. Therefore, completely prohibiting children from playing these games may not be the best solution.

Question 10

You can have confidence in information that you find in scientific journals because
A) all of the information is new.
B) a lot of people believe the information.
C) articles typically go through a peer review process before they are published.
D) the people who write scientific articles have university degrees.

Accepted Answer

Scientific journals typically require articles to go through a peer review process, where experts in the field evaluate the research and its methods for accuracy and validity. This rigorous process helps to ensure that the information presented in the journal is trustworthy and accurate. The other options are not necessarily indications of reliable information - just because information is new or believed by many people, or written by people with degrees, does not automatically make it reliable.

Question 11

When we consider how a child's characteristics, such as their age, gender, or ethnicity, impact on their development, we are
A) searching for universal patterns of behavior.
B) examining the resiliency that children bring to their development.
C) looking at how individual differences modify general patterns of development.
D) identifying the predictable stages of development that children move through.

Accepted Answer

Examining how individual differences modify general patterns of development involves considering how a child's unique characteristics, such as their age, gender, or ethnicity, can alter the typical course of development for children. This approach recognizes that while there are general patterns of development, individual differences can greatly impact a child's development.

Question 12

The field of developmental psychopathology
A) searches for the genetic cause of the problems we see in development.
B) sees behavioral and emotional disorders as distortions of normal development.
C) identifies the source of problem behavior in children's early learning experiences.
D) focuses on the consequences of maladaptive behavior.

Accepted Answer

The field of developmental psychopathology views behavioral and emotional disorders as distortions of normal development, which means that it looks at how typical development can be disrupted and lead to maladaptive behavior.

Answer: B and D 
 Along with seeing disorders as distortions of normal development, the field of developmental psychopathology also focuses on the consequences of maladaptive behavior. It does not solely search for genetic causes or early learning experiences as sources of problems.

Question 13

The importance of the peer review process is that
A) everyone has an equal chance of getting their research published in a journal.
B) the research has been reviewed by professionals who are knowledgeable about the topic before the research is published.
C) research findings are published in multiple journals so that the results are widely disseminated.
D) only well-established ideas will appear in the research literature.

Accepted Answer

The peer review process involves having professionals in the field review and provide feedback on research before it is published. This helps ensure that the research is sound and credible before it is disseminated to a wider audience. This also helps weed out any flawed or poorly conducted studies. Therefore, choice B is the best option.

Question 14

A child who is very active and enjoys the challenge of competing with others will be more likely to join an athletic team at school than to join the chorus or the French Club. This is an example of
A) scaffolding.
B) cultural transmission.
C) multifinality.
D) active niche-picking.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of active niche-picking, which refers to the process by which individuals intentionally seek out environments and activities that match their interests and abilities. The child in this scenario is actively seeking out an athletic team because it aligns with their personal preferences for competition and physical activity.

Question 15

Because a science is an organized body of knowledge
A) there must be consensus about the accuracy of new information before it can be added to that body of knowledge.
B) we should only trust new information that comes from people who have a great deal of experience in the field.
C) all information that enters that body of knowledge must apply across the board to everyone.
D) it changes over time as new and more accurate information is added to our understanding.

Accepted Answer

Science is constantly evolving and improving as new information and technologies become available. This means that our understanding of the natural world is constantly changing, making it necessary to revise and update scientific theories and concepts over time. Therefore, a science is not a static field of knowledge but rather an ever-evolving one that incorporates new information as it becomes available.

Question 16

When incarcerated parents took part in the The Family Nurturing Program, a parent education program, they showed all of the following benefits except which of the following?
A) They spent more time with their infants upon release from prison.
B) They became more empathic.
C) They became less punitive.
D) They developed more realistic expectations for their children.

Accepted Answer

The Family Nurturing Program is designed to improve parenting skills and emotional connections, not specifically to increase the amount of time parents spend with their children upon release. Choices B, C, and D are direct outcomes of the program's focus on enhancing emotional understanding, reducing harsh disciplinary practices, and setting appropriate expectations for children's behavior.

Question 17

We should not generalize the findings from a study to the general population unless
A) the research agrees with your personal experiences.
B) the findings apply to every individual who was in the study.
C) longitudinal research has tracked the individuals over time.
D) the sample is representative of the group we want to understand.

Accepted Answer

The sample needs to be representative of the population we want to understand in order to generalize the findings to that population. Option A is incorrect because personal experiences may not reflect the experiences of others. Option B is incorrect because findings from a study cannot apply to every individual in the population. Option C may improve the validity of the findings but is not necessary for generalization if the sample is representative.

Question 18

When we talk about the impact of culture or socioeconomic status on child development, we are looking at the _________ of development.
A) contexts
B) domains
C) variables
D) content

Accepted Answer

Contexts refer to the various environmental influences on child development, including cultural and socioeconomic factors. Domains refer to different areas of development, such as physical or cognitive development. Variables refer to specific factors that may affect development, such as genetics or parenting style. Content refers to the specific knowledge or skills being learned. Therefore, the best choice is A, as it specifically addresses cultural and socioeconomic factors as important contexts for child development.

Question 19

The theory of behaviorism views the child as
A) an active explorer of the environment who creates his or her own understanding of the world.
B) a passive recipient of the attempts of others to control the child's behavior.
C) an active participant in the process of producing his or her own development.
D) a force that actively shapes the behavior of the adults in the child's life.

Accepted Answer

The theory of behaviorism holds that the child is a passive recipient of conditioning and reinforcement from the environment, with little agency in shaping their own behavior or understanding of the world.

Question 20

Most of your life you have heard people say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. When you hear this you should remember that
A) you shouldn't expect too much from older people.
B) there are enough anecdotal stories to support this statement so we can believe it.
C) this is a bit of folk wisdom that needs to be tested scientifically before we accept it.
D) people would only say this if the idea had been supported by a substantial amount of scientific evidence.

Accepted Answer

Just because something is a commonly held belief or proverb does not necessarily make it true. It is important to approach such statements with a critical eye and evaluate them scientifically before accepting them as fact.

Quiz 1: Introduction: Issues and Themes in Child Development

It is important that scientific findings can be replicated. This means that

Cross-cultural research

Among children who suffer early deprivation, we see a variety of developmental outcomes. Some children do quite well, but others are more negatively affected. This is the principle of

Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important context for development because

The Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky described learning as

You can become a critical thinker about research in child development if you

Teen parents are particularly able to benefit from intervention programs that provide information on child development because they

We tend to notice things that we expect to see and to disregard things that we aren't expecting. This tendency is called

What can you correctly conclude when you read that research has found that playing violent video games is associated with aggressive behavior in children?

You can have confidence in information that you find in scientific journals because

When we consider how a child's characteristics, such as their age, gender, or ethnicity, impact on their development, we are

The field of developmental psychopathology

The importance of the peer review process is that

A child who is very active and enjoys the challenge of competing with others will be more likely to join an athletic team at school than to join the chorus or the French Club. This is an example of

Because a science is an organized body of knowledge

When incarcerated parents took part in the The Family Nurturing Program, a parent education program, they showed all of the following benefits except which of the following?

We should not generalize the findings from a study to the general population unless

When we talk about the impact of culture or socioeconomic status on child development, we are looking at the _________ of development.

The theory of behaviorism views the child as

Most of your life you have heard people say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. When you hear this you should remember that