Question 1

The major turning point in most adults' lives is ________.

Accepted Answer

One of the most significant events in most adults' lives is having and raising children. This experience can bring about changes in priorities, lifestyle, and responsibilities, and have a long-lasting impact on their lives. The other options, while important milestones, may not have the same level of significance and impact as having and raising children.

Question 2

Dr. Halk is studying the influence of getting older on intelligence. He tests a group of first graders, a group of third graders, and a group of sixth graders. They are all tested in one day. This is an example of _______ research.

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional research involves comparing different age groups at one point in time, which is what is happening in this scenario. Longitudinal research would involve testing the same group of individuals over a longer period of time to see how they change as they age. Mixed design research involves combining different research methods, and fixed effects research is a statistical method used to control for individual differences in a study.

Question 3

According to Erikson, a conflict of identity vs. role confusion occurs during:

Accepted Answer

Erikson proposed that the conflict of identity vs. role confusion occurs during adolescence, specifically between the ages of 12 to 18 years old. During this stage, adolescents are trying to figure out who they are and what their place is in society. They may try out different roles and experiment with different behaviors, leading to a period of confusion and uncertainty. Successful resolution of this conflict results in a clear sense of identity, while failure can lead to role confusion and a sense of aimlessness.

Question 4

Erikson saw the major challenge of young adulthood as that of ________.

Accepted Answer

According to Erikson, the major challenge of young adulthood is the development of intimate relationships versus isolation. This stage is characterized by the need to form close, committed relationships with others, whether it be through friendships, romantic partnerships, or starting a family. Failure to successfully navigate this stage may result in feelings of loneliness and a lack of connections to others.

Question 5

An audience of 20-year-olds finds a series of off-color jokes highly amusing. A group of 50-year-olds finds the same jokes highly offensive. It is concluded that, as people age, their senses of humor become more rigid and narrow. The major difficulty in drawing conclusions of this sort is that ________.

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional studies, which involve comparing different age groups at one point in time, cannot distinguish whether age or generation is responsible for the observed differences in sense of humor. It is possible that the 20-year-olds and 50-year-olds grew up in different cultural and social contexts, which may have influenced their sense of what is funny or offensive. Longitudinal studies, which follow the same individuals over time, may be better able to distinguish between age and generational differences if they control for cohort effects. However, longitudinal studies still cannot distinguish between age differences and differences in the time at which measurements are taken (e.g., people might be more cheerful in the summer than in the winter).

Question 6

A researcher tries to reconstruct a person's past by interviewing the person and by consulting various other sources that relate to the person's life. This method of conducting research is called the ________ approach.

Accepted Answer

The biographical approach involves using multiple sources, including interviews with the person, to reconstruct their life story and gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and perspectives. The longitudinal approach involves following a group of individuals over time, while the cross-sectional approach compares different groups at one point in time. The convergent approach involves using multiple methods to study a single research question, but does not necessarily involve reconstructing a person's past.

Question 7

Erikson's theory of social development viewed the ages of two to three, his second stage, as being characterized by the major challenge of ________.

Accepted Answer

Erikson's theory of social development viewed the ages of two to three, his second stage, as being characterized by the major challenge of autonomy versus shame and doubt. This stage is also known as the "toddler stage" where children start to gain independence and assert their will, but also experience self-doubt and shame if their attempts at autonomy fail.

Question 8

Which of the following is a weakness associated with longitudinal research?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research can be time-consuming and costly as it requires tracking participants over an extended period. However, options A, B, and D are not actual weaknesses of longitudinal research. Longitudinal research can measure the stability of behavior, account for cultural experiences, and control for historical influence.

Question 9

Erikson's intimacy vs. isolation crisis would most likely be associated with which event in the family cycle?

Accepted Answer

Erikson's intimacy vs. isolation crisis occurs during early adulthood, which is often associated with marriage or forming intimate romantic relationships. Therefore, choice C, marrying, would be the most likely event in the family cycle associated with this crisis.

Question 10

Comparing the same group of people on the same measure(s) over a lengthy time period defines ________ research.

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research involves observing and measuring the same group of people over a period of time. This allows for the study of changes or development in individuals or groups. Cross-sectional research, on the other hand, compares different groups of individuals at the same point in time, making it less useful for studying development over time. Basic and applied research are not relevant categories for this question as they refer to the purpose or goal of the research, rather than the methodology.

Question 11

Cultural and historical influences are BEST controlled using ________ research.

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research is the best choice when studying cultural and historical influences because it allows researchers to observe changes over time and control for historical and cultural factors. Cross-sectional research only captures a snapshot of a particular point in time and does not account for changes over time. Basic and applied research focus on different goals and outcomes and do not specifically address cultural and historical influences.

Question 12

Dr. Halk is studying a group of 25 youngsters from the time they are born until they reach school age. This is known as ________ research.

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research involves studying a group or individual over a period of time to see how they change or develop. In this case, Dr. Halk is studying the same group of 25 youngsters from birth to school age, making it a longitudinal study. Cross-sectional research involves studying different groups of people at the same time, mixed design involves combining longitudinal and cross-sectional methods, and historical research involves studying past events.

Question 13

A weakness of longitudinal studies is that they ________.

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal studies involve collecting data from the same subjects over a long period, which can be time-consuming.

Question 14

Which of the following theorists believe that people go through stages, each of which has a "crisis" associated with it?

Accepted Answer

Erikson's theory of psychosocial development suggests that individuals go through eight stages, and within each stage, there is a crisis or conflict that the person must overcome to develop a healthy sense of self.

Question 15

Erikson's theory of social development viewed the ages of three to six, his third stage, as being characterized by the major challenge of ________.

Accepted Answer

Erikson's theory of social development states that the major challenge of ages three to six, which is his third stage, is initiative versus guilt. During this stage, children develop a sense of purpose and the ability to initiate activities, but they may also feel guilt when they overstep limits set by adults.

Question 16

Collecting the responses of different people at different ages all at the same time characterizes ________ research.

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional research involves collecting data from individuals at different ages at the same time. Longitudinal research involves collecting data from the same individuals over a period of time, while basic and applied research refer to the specific goals and applications of the research.

Question 17

Erik is a newborn. According to Erikson, his main task will be to develop a sense of ________.

Accepted Answer

According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, the first stage is trust vs mistrust. During this stage (birth to 18 months), the primary task for the infant is to develop a sense of trust in their caregivers and the world around them. If their basic needs are met and they receive consistent, responsive care, they will develop a sense of trust and security. If not, they may become fearful, mistrustful, and insecure.

Question 18

A researcher who studies a fixed group of people over a long period of time is, by definition, using the ________ method.

Accepted Answer

A longitudinal study involves observing the same group of individuals over an extended period of time, making it the most appropriate choice based on the given scenario. Cross-sectional studies involve observing different groups of individuals at one point in time, while correlational studies focus on relationships between variables rather than individuals. Biographical studies typically involve studying the life histories of individuals rather than observing them over time.

Question 19

A developmental psychologist believes that increased TV watching by young children is responsible for a decline in reading scores when these children enter school. To explore her hypothesis, she records the TV watching habits of toddlers in a suburban community. She examines these habits again when the children enter kindergarten and once more when they complete first grade. This method is _______.

Accepted Answer

The method described in the scenario involves following a group of individuals over time, which is characteristic of a longitudinal study. This allows the researcher to examine changes in behavior or development over the course of multiple assessments. Cross-sectional studies involve examining different groups of individuals at a single point in time, while convergent studies involve combining findings from multiple sources. Experimental studies involve manipulating variables to test causal relationships, and there is no mention of such manipulation in this scenario.

Question 20

Which of the following is an advantage of longitudinal research?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research allows for the measurement of stability of behavior over time. This is because the same group of individuals are followed over an extended period, allowing insights into patterns of behavior that may not be identifiable in shorter-term studies.

Quiz 8: Development Across the Life Span