Ch01
Student: ___________________________________________________________________________
1. Define development and state why the study of child development is important.
________________________________________
2. Summarize each of the "themes" of child development, and describe the controversies underlying each
theme.
________________________________________
3. Describe each of the theoretical perspectives presented in Chapter 1. Understand relevant terminology
associated with each theory. Comment on the unique contributions each theory makes to the study of
child development.
________________________________________
4. Understand the importance of sample selection.
________________________________________
5. Describe the methods of gathering data given in Chapter 1, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of
each.
________________________________________
6. Compare correlational and experimental methods. Discuss when each method is appropriate to use and
provide examples.
________________________________________
7. Discuss the reasons for choosing either a field or a laboratory setting and designs that incorporate
both.
________________________________________
8. Describe the research designs for studying change over time discussed in Chapter 1, and list advantages
and disadvantages of each.
________________________________________
9. Explain why it is important to protect children's rights when conducting research. Discuss special ethical
issues that should be considered (e.g. informed consent) and what precautions are taken to ensure that
children are protected.
________________________________________
10. The field of child development seeks to
A. predict the outcome of development.
B. uncover the processes that underlie developmental changes.
C. describe individual differences between children.
D. identify the stages of childhood.
11. The term used to describe the genetic or biological processes that lead to the naturally unfolding course of
growth is
A. heredity.
B. predestination.
C. maturation.
D. nature.
,12. In trying to understand influences on development, today's developmental psychologists focus on
A. the interplay between biology and environment.
B. the interplay between predetermination and predestination.
C. the environment exclusively.
D. the ways in which biological factors are the primary cause of children's behavior.
13. When development is viewed as consisting of a series of discrete, distinct steps, it is said to be
A. continuous.
B. discontinuous.
C. atypical.
D. active.
14. Research by Michael Rutter and colleagues found that children who were raised in deprived settings, but
were later adopted into healthy families, showed positive changes in their adjustment. This demonstrates
that
A. development is continuous.
B. development is discontinuous.
C. a disruption in behavioral continuity can be a positive.
D. disruptions in behavioral continuity only occur under extreme conditions.
15. The interactionist viewpoint stresses the idea that
A. parents shape their children's behavior during parent-child interactions.
B. the context is more important than individual characteristics.
C. interactions between contextual factors are what shape development.
D. individual characteristics interact with contextual factors during development.
16. Erin initially appeared to cope with her parents' divorce well. Later she exhibited problems with school
and in her friendships. Her response to risk is an example of
A. a coping factor.
B. denial.
C. aftershock.
D. the sleeper effect.
17. In addition to helping organize and integrate existing information into a meaningful whole,
developmental theories also
A. prove which issues are factual.
B. are unchanging, thereby serving as a standard for comparison purposes.
C. are always global in nature as opposed to being concerned with specific areas of development.
D. lead to testable predictions about behavior.
18. Which of the following statements does NOT describe the structural-organismic perspectives of
development of Freud and Piaget?
A. The stages that occur during development are universal.
B. Psychological structures and processes within the child are critical to development.
C. Objective reality is central in the child's development.
D. Development is discontinuous.
19. The ego is the component of the personality that
A. operates on the pleasure principle.
B. attempts to gratify the needs of the person through appropriate socially constructive mechanisms.
C. is equivalent to the conscience.
D. results from an internalization of societal values.
20. When Antonia grabs a handful of candy from a bowl on the table, her brother Leonard yells, "No! You're
only supposed to take one piece!" According to Freudian theory, Leonard's reaction represents the
A. id.
B. ego.
C. superego.
D. sibling rivalry.
,21. At dinner one night, your 4-year-old announces that she knows the difference between boys and girls.
When you ask her what it is, she proudly states that girls sit when they go potty and boys stand, and
she knows this because she was able to see into the boys' bathroom at preschool today. Your daughter's
interest in differences between boys and girls probably indicated that she is in the
A. oral stage of development.
B. anal stage of development.
C. phallic stage of development.
D. genital stage of development.
22. One of Freud's primary contributions to developmental psychology is that his theory brought attention
to
A. the role that fathers play in a child's early development.
B. sexual desires that individuals unconsciously harbor for towards their parents.
C. the ways in which development occurs gradually and incrementally.
D. the impact of early experiences on later development.
23. Your 2-year-old nephew is very proud of his abilities to do things his new baby sister cannot. He is
pleased that he can feed himself and play with blocks and make his tricycle go without help. According to
Erikson's theory, which stage of development is he in?
A. trust vs. mistrust
B. autonomy vs. shame and doubt
C. initiative vs. guilt
D. industry vs. inferiority
24. Jordan is 17 years old and has been searching for an identity since he was about 13. He has joined—and
quit—various school organizations and tried several after-school jobs in his attempt to find out what kind
of a career would interest him. According to Erikson's theory, what might Jordan be at risk for if he does
not eventually develop a stable definition of the self?
A. the mistrust of others
B. shame and doubt over his own competence
C. role confusion
D. stagnation
25. A cognitive process through which children acquire new information by modifying their existing
knowledge and understanding is
A. accommodation.
B. reinforcement.
C. egocentrism.
D. concentration.
26. According to Piaget, infants learn about the world with their
A. mental structures and symbols
B. sensory and motor abilities
C. parents' encouragement
D. emotional templates
27. Miguel and his family recently returned from a vacation. On the airplane ride home, Miguel became sick
with the flu. Ever since, Miguel says he will never fly in an airplane again because airplanes make him
sick. Which theoretical notion can best account for Miguel's feelings?
A. classical conditioning
B. operant conditioning
C. vicarious learning
D. accommodation
28. According to learning theorists, adults can reinforce aggression in children simply by
A. telling children to fight back.
B. ignoring the aggression.
C. paying attention to the aggression.
D. rewarding passive children.
, 29. Yvonne is arguing with Thomas over a toy while Pat watches. The toy is one that Pat loves to play
with. Yvonne pushes Thomas to the ground and runs off with the toy. According to Bandura's (1989)
experiments with the bobo doll, Pat is likely to
A. give Yvonne any toy that she wants.
B. behave aggressively towards other children who are playing with toys that Pat wants.
C. help Thomas to his feet.
D. retrieve the toy for Thomas.
30. Which of the following is NOT one of the processes that govern how well a child will learn a new
behavior according to Bandura's cognitive social learning theory?
A. motivation to reproduce the behavior
B. association of the behavior with emotion
C. attention to the behavior
D. retention of the behavior in memory
31. Information-processing theory emphasizes
A. the relationship between cognition and personality.
B. cognitive processes related to the nervous system.
C. cognitive processes that occur between the input of a stimulus and the response to that stimulus.
D. the effects of rewards on cognitive processes.
32. Theorists who employ computer analogies and flowcharts to explain development are operating from
which theoretical perspective?
A. behavioral
B. organismic
C. cognitive
D. information processing
33. Dynamic systems theory emphasizes that developmental changes result from
A. influence exerted from adults to children.
B. the coordination of elements of a complex, integrated system.
C. growth of the nervous system.
D. maturation of the ego-identity.
34. According to dynamic systems theory, the principle of complexity involves
A. large systems.
B. the whole being more than the sum of its parts.
C. the number of individuals in a system.
D. the interrelatedness of the parts of the system.
35. Morphogenesis refers to the principle that
A. most individuals reach essentially the same developmental milestones.
B. a system has the ability to adapt to internal and external changes.
C. a system has the capacity to remain stable.
D. a system is organized and contains more than just the sum of its parts.
36. Vygotsky proposed that child development is
A. due to genetic components of a culture.
B. a product of social and cultural experience.
C. a product of formal education.
D. a product of assimilation and accommodation.
37. According to Vygotsky, higher order cognitive functions are influenced by
A. one's memory.
B. the child being able to solve problems independently.
C. interactions with those persons more skilled than the child.
D. cultural invariants.
Student: ___________________________________________________________________________
1. Define development and state why the study of child development is important.
________________________________________
2. Summarize each of the "themes" of child development, and describe the controversies underlying each
theme.
________________________________________
3. Describe each of the theoretical perspectives presented in Chapter 1. Understand relevant terminology
associated with each theory. Comment on the unique contributions each theory makes to the study of
child development.
________________________________________
4. Understand the importance of sample selection.
________________________________________
5. Describe the methods of gathering data given in Chapter 1, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of
each.
________________________________________
6. Compare correlational and experimental methods. Discuss when each method is appropriate to use and
provide examples.
________________________________________
7. Discuss the reasons for choosing either a field or a laboratory setting and designs that incorporate
both.
________________________________________
8. Describe the research designs for studying change over time discussed in Chapter 1, and list advantages
and disadvantages of each.
________________________________________
9. Explain why it is important to protect children's rights when conducting research. Discuss special ethical
issues that should be considered (e.g. informed consent) and what precautions are taken to ensure that
children are protected.
________________________________________
10. The field of child development seeks to
A. predict the outcome of development.
B. uncover the processes that underlie developmental changes.
C. describe individual differences between children.
D. identify the stages of childhood.
11. The term used to describe the genetic or biological processes that lead to the naturally unfolding course of
growth is
A. heredity.
B. predestination.
C. maturation.
D. nature.
,12. In trying to understand influences on development, today's developmental psychologists focus on
A. the interplay between biology and environment.
B. the interplay between predetermination and predestination.
C. the environment exclusively.
D. the ways in which biological factors are the primary cause of children's behavior.
13. When development is viewed as consisting of a series of discrete, distinct steps, it is said to be
A. continuous.
B. discontinuous.
C. atypical.
D. active.
14. Research by Michael Rutter and colleagues found that children who were raised in deprived settings, but
were later adopted into healthy families, showed positive changes in their adjustment. This demonstrates
that
A. development is continuous.
B. development is discontinuous.
C. a disruption in behavioral continuity can be a positive.
D. disruptions in behavioral continuity only occur under extreme conditions.
15. The interactionist viewpoint stresses the idea that
A. parents shape their children's behavior during parent-child interactions.
B. the context is more important than individual characteristics.
C. interactions between contextual factors are what shape development.
D. individual characteristics interact with contextual factors during development.
16. Erin initially appeared to cope with her parents' divorce well. Later she exhibited problems with school
and in her friendships. Her response to risk is an example of
A. a coping factor.
B. denial.
C. aftershock.
D. the sleeper effect.
17. In addition to helping organize and integrate existing information into a meaningful whole,
developmental theories also
A. prove which issues are factual.
B. are unchanging, thereby serving as a standard for comparison purposes.
C. are always global in nature as opposed to being concerned with specific areas of development.
D. lead to testable predictions about behavior.
18. Which of the following statements does NOT describe the structural-organismic perspectives of
development of Freud and Piaget?
A. The stages that occur during development are universal.
B. Psychological structures and processes within the child are critical to development.
C. Objective reality is central in the child's development.
D. Development is discontinuous.
19. The ego is the component of the personality that
A. operates on the pleasure principle.
B. attempts to gratify the needs of the person through appropriate socially constructive mechanisms.
C. is equivalent to the conscience.
D. results from an internalization of societal values.
20. When Antonia grabs a handful of candy from a bowl on the table, her brother Leonard yells, "No! You're
only supposed to take one piece!" According to Freudian theory, Leonard's reaction represents the
A. id.
B. ego.
C. superego.
D. sibling rivalry.
,21. At dinner one night, your 4-year-old announces that she knows the difference between boys and girls.
When you ask her what it is, she proudly states that girls sit when they go potty and boys stand, and
she knows this because she was able to see into the boys' bathroom at preschool today. Your daughter's
interest in differences between boys and girls probably indicated that she is in the
A. oral stage of development.
B. anal stage of development.
C. phallic stage of development.
D. genital stage of development.
22. One of Freud's primary contributions to developmental psychology is that his theory brought attention
to
A. the role that fathers play in a child's early development.
B. sexual desires that individuals unconsciously harbor for towards their parents.
C. the ways in which development occurs gradually and incrementally.
D. the impact of early experiences on later development.
23. Your 2-year-old nephew is very proud of his abilities to do things his new baby sister cannot. He is
pleased that he can feed himself and play with blocks and make his tricycle go without help. According to
Erikson's theory, which stage of development is he in?
A. trust vs. mistrust
B. autonomy vs. shame and doubt
C. initiative vs. guilt
D. industry vs. inferiority
24. Jordan is 17 years old and has been searching for an identity since he was about 13. He has joined—and
quit—various school organizations and tried several after-school jobs in his attempt to find out what kind
of a career would interest him. According to Erikson's theory, what might Jordan be at risk for if he does
not eventually develop a stable definition of the self?
A. the mistrust of others
B. shame and doubt over his own competence
C. role confusion
D. stagnation
25. A cognitive process through which children acquire new information by modifying their existing
knowledge and understanding is
A. accommodation.
B. reinforcement.
C. egocentrism.
D. concentration.
26. According to Piaget, infants learn about the world with their
A. mental structures and symbols
B. sensory and motor abilities
C. parents' encouragement
D. emotional templates
27. Miguel and his family recently returned from a vacation. On the airplane ride home, Miguel became sick
with the flu. Ever since, Miguel says he will never fly in an airplane again because airplanes make him
sick. Which theoretical notion can best account for Miguel's feelings?
A. classical conditioning
B. operant conditioning
C. vicarious learning
D. accommodation
28. According to learning theorists, adults can reinforce aggression in children simply by
A. telling children to fight back.
B. ignoring the aggression.
C. paying attention to the aggression.
D. rewarding passive children.
, 29. Yvonne is arguing with Thomas over a toy while Pat watches. The toy is one that Pat loves to play
with. Yvonne pushes Thomas to the ground and runs off with the toy. According to Bandura's (1989)
experiments with the bobo doll, Pat is likely to
A. give Yvonne any toy that she wants.
B. behave aggressively towards other children who are playing with toys that Pat wants.
C. help Thomas to his feet.
D. retrieve the toy for Thomas.
30. Which of the following is NOT one of the processes that govern how well a child will learn a new
behavior according to Bandura's cognitive social learning theory?
A. motivation to reproduce the behavior
B. association of the behavior with emotion
C. attention to the behavior
D. retention of the behavior in memory
31. Information-processing theory emphasizes
A. the relationship between cognition and personality.
B. cognitive processes related to the nervous system.
C. cognitive processes that occur between the input of a stimulus and the response to that stimulus.
D. the effects of rewards on cognitive processes.
32. Theorists who employ computer analogies and flowcharts to explain development are operating from
which theoretical perspective?
A. behavioral
B. organismic
C. cognitive
D. information processing
33. Dynamic systems theory emphasizes that developmental changes result from
A. influence exerted from adults to children.
B. the coordination of elements of a complex, integrated system.
C. growth of the nervous system.
D. maturation of the ego-identity.
34. According to dynamic systems theory, the principle of complexity involves
A. large systems.
B. the whole being more than the sum of its parts.
C. the number of individuals in a system.
D. the interrelatedness of the parts of the system.
35. Morphogenesis refers to the principle that
A. most individuals reach essentially the same developmental milestones.
B. a system has the ability to adapt to internal and external changes.
C. a system has the capacity to remain stable.
D. a system is organized and contains more than just the sum of its parts.
36. Vygotsky proposed that child development is
A. due to genetic components of a culture.
B. a product of social and cultural experience.
C. a product of formal education.
D. a product of assimilation and accommodation.
37. According to Vygotsky, higher order cognitive functions are influenced by
A. one's memory.
B. the child being able to solve problems independently.
C. interactions with those persons more skilled than the child.
D. cultural invariants.
