Question 1

Many people often assume that old age is generally an unhappy stage in life.It is also assumed that mental ability inevitably decline with age.Does the research support these beliefs? Provide specific research findings to support your argument.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many people often assume that old age...

Question 2

A developmental psychologist's research suggests that coordination improves gradually over time rather than in short bursts of rapid change.These results reflect a _____ view of developmental change.

Accepted Answer

The statement that coordination improves gradually over time suggests a continuous view of developmental change, in which development is seen as a gradual and incremental process rather than occurring in distinct stages or short bursts of change.

Question 3

Which of the following is a factor that would be least likely to be a cohort effect for a study on cognitive development in healthy people?

Accepted Answer

Differences in genes between individuals are not affected by time or external factors and therefore would not be considered a cohort effect. Cohort effects are typically related to external factors that change over time and can affect groups of people born in the same time period.

Question 4

In which stage do the skeletal,organ,and nervous systems become more developed and specialized?

Accepted Answer

The fetal stage is the stage of prenatal development that begins at 9 weeks and lasts until birth. During this stage, the skeletal, organ, and nervous system become more developed and specialized. The organs begin to function and the skeleton starts to harden in preparation for birth. The nervous system also becomes more complex and developed, allowing for more advanced movements and behaviors.

Question 5

Research on newborns indicates that they have a sense of number and quantity.What does this finding suggest about Piaget's theory of cognitive development?

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that infants and young children have limited cognitive abilities and that they gradually develop more complex abilities as they mature. However, research on newborns suggests that they may have more advanced cognitive abilities than Piaget proposed. Specifically, the finding that newborns have a sense of number and quantity suggests that they may be capable of more complex cognitive processing than Piaget believed. Therefore, the finding suggests that Piaget may have underestimated some cognitive abilities of infants and children.

Question 6

Parents who attend to their children's psychological abilities and guide them through the learning process are using: _____.

Accepted Answer

Scaffolding refers to providing supportive assistance to children as they learn and develop new skills. This type of guidance might involve breaking a task down into smaller parts, providing examples or models, and adjusting the level of support as the child gains more competence. Scaffolding is an important part of helping children achieve their goals and develop their abilities.

Question 7

A child in the sensorimotor stage may quit looking or reaching for a toy if you move it out of sight.This behavior reflects the fact that the child has not developed _____.

Accepted Answer

Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible or sensed. In the sensorimotor stage, children have not yet developed this concept and may stop looking for a toy if it is moved out of sight. Core knowledge refers to infants' innate understanding of certain concepts like space, time, and causality. Conservation is the understanding that the quantity of a substance remains the same even if it changes in appearance. Preoperations refer to the second stage of cognitive development described by Piaget, during which children begin to use symbols to represent objects and ideas. This stage occurs after the sensorimotor stage.

Question 8

A researcher has only one year to complete a study on a topic that spans the entire range of childhood.To complete the study she should use a _____ design.

Accepted Answer

A cross-sectional design allows the researcher to collect data from different age groups at one point in time, making it possible to complete the study within a year and cover the entire range of childhood efficiently.

Question 9

What is the correct order of Piaget's stages of cognitive development?

Accepted Answer

The correct order of Piaget's stages of cognitive development is sensorimotor (birth to 2 years), preoperational (2 to 7 years), concrete operational (7 to 12 years), and formal operational (12 years and up). Choice C lists the stages in the correct order.

Question 10

Temperament refers to:

Accepted Answer

Temperament refers to a person's general emotional reactivity, including their tendencies towards positive or negative emotions, their level of sensitivity, and their ability to regulate their emotions. It is not related to body temperature at birth or a child's ability to recognize themselves in a mirror. While anger may be a component of temperament, it is just one aspect of a person's overall emotional makeup.

Question 11

Two-year-old Sarah talks to her brother,who is wearing headphones and looking away,and becomes frustrated that he is (or seems to be)ignoring her.Sarah's misunderstanding is likely to do the fact that she has yet to develop: _____.

Accepted Answer

Theory of mind refers to the ability to understand the mental states of others, such as their thoughts, intentions, beliefs, and desires. Children typically develop this ability around the age of 4, so Sarah may not yet understand that her brother is not intentionally ignoring her but rather occupied with something else. This lack of understanding may cause her frustration and confusion. Choice B (self-awareness) and Choice D (stranger anxiety) are not directly related to Sarah's misunderstanding in this scenario, while choice C (egocentrism) may contribute to her difficulty in understanding her brother's perspective, but it is less central to the issue than theory of mind.

Question 12

Recognizing that the quantity of an object does not change despite changes in physical arrangement or appearance is referred to as: _____.

Accepted Answer

Conservation refers to children's ability to understand that even though the appearance of an object may change, its quantity or volume remains the same. This concept is important in mathematical understanding and reasoning. A classic example is the conservation of liquid, where a child might think that pouring the same amount of liquid from a wide container to a narrow one changes the amount of liquid.

Question 13

Which of the following statements best summarizes the effects of preterm birth?

Accepted Answer

Preterm birth can lead to a range of physical and cognitive problems, such as breathing difficulties, impaired brain development, and vision or hearing impairments. However, with proper treatment and support, many of these problems may eventually be reduced or eliminated as the child develops. It is important to monitor and address any issues that arise as early as possible to maximize the child's potential.

Question 14

A developing human is called a(n)_____ during the time between weeks 2 and 8.

Accepted Answer

During the time between weeks 2 and 8, the developing human is called an embryo. The zygote refers to the fertilized egg, the fetus refers to the developing human from week 9 until birth, and the germinal period refers to the first two weeks after conception.

Question 15

Internet use by adolescents can have both positive and negative consequences.In what ways can internet use increase social connectedness? What are some of the potential dangers for adolescents?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Internet use by adolescents can have both...

Question 16

Which of the following would not qualify as a teratogen?

Accepted Answer

All of the options given could potentially be teratogens, as they have all been linked to negative effects on fetal development.

Question 17

The cerebral cortex continues thickening and developing after birth.Which of the following best describes the pattern of this process?

Accepted Answer

Research shows that regions of the cortex devoted to sensory and motor skills develop earlier than those involved in higher-order thinking. This is consistent with the idea that the brain's development is influenced by the need to coordinate and control basic physical movements before more sophisticated thinking can occur. It is also worth noting that while the cortex continues to develop after birth, it is not fully mature until well into adulthood.

Question 18

The effects of language deprivation during infancy and childhood can be irreversible.This fact is best explained by which concept?

Accepted Answer

The concept that best explains the irreversible effects of language deprivation during infancy and childhood is the sensitive period. This refers to a specific period of time during a child's development when they are particularly susceptible to learning certain skills and abilities. In the case of language, the sensitive period occurs during infancy and early childhood. If a child does not receive adequate language stimulation during this period, it can lead to long-term language deficits that are difficult to overcome later in life.

Question 19

An enduring emotional bond characterized by a strong motivation for physical and psychological comfort is referred to as: _____.

Accepted Answer

Empathy refers to the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Object permanence refers to the concept that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. Theory of mind refers to the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others. Attachment, on the other hand, describes a strong emotional bond between individuals, typically between a caregiver and a child. This bond is characterized by a strong motivation for physical and psychological comfort, and it plays a crucial role in the social and emotional development of the child.

Question 20

The development of infant motor skills is best described as:

Accepted Answer

The development of infant motor skills is a combination of biological maturation and learning. While genetic factors play a role in determining the trajectory of development, environmental factors such as parental encouragement and physical opportunities provided can also impact the rate and extent of skill acquisition. Development of motor skills also tends to occur in a continuous rather than a stage-like fashion, with skills building upon each other over time.

Quiz 10: Life Span Development