Lifespan Development 8Ce
CHAPTER 1: Basic Concepts and Methods
Chapter 1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1. The field of human development is the scientific study of ________ in our bodies, behaviour,
thinking, emotions, social relationships, and personalities.
maturity and stability
age-related changes
social and cultural norms
genetic and biological influences
Learning 1.1.1 Explain the philosophies that are important to the study of human development.
Objective:
Difficulty: 1
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: age-related changes
2. The philosophical approach to development that includes the belief that humans must seek
redemption by leading a disciplined life to reduce the influence of innate tendencies toward acting
immorally is
innate goodness
original sin
empiricism
blank slate
Learning 1.1.1 Explain the philosophies that are important to the study of human development.
Objective:
Difficulty: 1
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: original sin
3. The ideas of the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau would suggest that the basis for human
development is
life experiences and external environmental influences that shape a "blank slate" malleable individual
preprogrammed sequential stages and genetically inherited traits
the struggle between an individual's selfish/sinful nature and redemption
nurturing and protection allow an individual to achieve their full potential
Learning 1.1.1 Explain the philosophies that are important to the study of human development.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: nurturing and protection allow an individual to achieve their full potential
4. The ideas of the English philosopher John Locke would suggest that the basis for human
development is
the struggle between an individual's selfish/sinful nature and redemption
an individual's effort to achieve their inborn potential
preprogrammed sequential stages and genetically inherited traits
environmental influences that shape a "blank slate" malleable individual
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1
,Lifespan Development 8Ce
Learning 1.1.1 Explain the philosophies that are important to the study of human development.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: environmental influences that shape a "blank slate" malleable individual.
5. Which scientist contributed the concept of developmental stages to the scientific study of human
development?
Charles Darwin.
John Watson.
Arnold Gesell.
G. Stanley Hall.
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 1
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: Charles Darwin.
6. ______ are recognized as the first scientific studies of child development.
Darwin's baby biographies.
Gesell's studies of maturation.
Hall's questionnaires and interviews.
Piaget's cognitive theories.
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: Hall’s questionnaires and interviews.
7. Early developmental psychology pioneer G. Stanley Hall believed that developmentalists should
identify ________ to further the field's understanding of child development.
milestones.
norms.
developmental stages.
maturation processes.
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: norms.
8. ________ is the term used to describe the average age at which children reach developmental
milestones.
"Norms"
"Maturation stage"
"Psycho-social developmental stage"
"Phenomenon"
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2
,Lifespan Development 8Ce
Learning 1.2 Describe the contributions of early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: “Norms"
9. Piaget's landmark body of work defined our understanding of cognitive development in children.
Piaget's work convinced him that logical thinking develops in _______ stages between birth and
adolescence.
two
three
four
five
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 1
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: four
10. Arnold Gesell suggested the term ________ to describe genetically programmed sequential
patterns of change such as puberty or menopause.
"stages"
"maturation"
"norms"
"milestones"
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 1
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: “maturation"
11. Genetically programmed sequential patterns of change, such as the changes associated with
puberty, exemplify the developmental process known as
milestone attainment.
maturation.
developmental stages.
individuation.
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Comprehension
Answer: maturation.
Copyright © 2026
3
, Lifespan Development 8Ce
12. Which of the following best describes Arnold Gesell's thoughts on maturation?
Infants are taught how to walk.
Infants do not have to be taught how to walk.
Infants do not have to be taught how to walk.
Infants are taught how to use their fine motor skills.
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: Infants do not have to be taught how to walk.
13. Based on the work of Arnold Gesell, which of the following best describes norm-referenced tests?
Standardized tests that compare an individual’s score to the average score of same-aged peers.
Standardized tests that compare an individual’s score to the average score of older-aged peers.
Standardized tests that compare an individual’s score to the average score of younger-aged peers.
Standardized tests that compare an individual’s score to the average score of same-aged and same
gender peers.
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Comprehension
Answer: Standardized tests that compare an individual’s score to the average score of same-aged peers.
14. How did the threat of war in Europe directly lead to the creation of a formal organization of
practising psychologists in Canada?
Canadian psychologists were ordered to help with the British war effort.
Canadian psychologists wanted to join the war effort.
Canadian psychologists were recruited to help children in Britain.
the military gave Canadian psychologists funding for child and family-related research.
Learning 1.1.3 Describe the contributions made by Canadian developmental psychologists during the
Objective: field’s formative years.
Difficulty: 1
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: Canadian psychologists wanted to join the war effort.
15. Canadian psychologists were very active during World War II, performing numerous consultation
and training functions for the British government and the war effort. Which of the following
solutions did they assist in generating in response to arising child-care problems?
participation in personnel selection.
organization of recruitment.
Establishment of a nursery school teacher’s training school.
development of discipline strategies.
Copyright © 2026
4
CHAPTER 1: Basic Concepts and Methods
Chapter 1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1. The field of human development is the scientific study of ________ in our bodies, behaviour,
thinking, emotions, social relationships, and personalities.
maturity and stability
age-related changes
social and cultural norms
genetic and biological influences
Learning 1.1.1 Explain the philosophies that are important to the study of human development.
Objective:
Difficulty: 1
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: age-related changes
2. The philosophical approach to development that includes the belief that humans must seek
redemption by leading a disciplined life to reduce the influence of innate tendencies toward acting
immorally is
innate goodness
original sin
empiricism
blank slate
Learning 1.1.1 Explain the philosophies that are important to the study of human development.
Objective:
Difficulty: 1
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: original sin
3. The ideas of the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau would suggest that the basis for human
development is
life experiences and external environmental influences that shape a "blank slate" malleable individual
preprogrammed sequential stages and genetically inherited traits
the struggle between an individual's selfish/sinful nature and redemption
nurturing and protection allow an individual to achieve their full potential
Learning 1.1.1 Explain the philosophies that are important to the study of human development.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: nurturing and protection allow an individual to achieve their full potential
4. The ideas of the English philosopher John Locke would suggest that the basis for human
development is
the struggle between an individual's selfish/sinful nature and redemption
an individual's effort to achieve their inborn potential
preprogrammed sequential stages and genetically inherited traits
environmental influences that shape a "blank slate" malleable individual
Copyright © 2026
1
,Lifespan Development 8Ce
Learning 1.1.1 Explain the philosophies that are important to the study of human development.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: environmental influences that shape a "blank slate" malleable individual.
5. Which scientist contributed the concept of developmental stages to the scientific study of human
development?
Charles Darwin.
John Watson.
Arnold Gesell.
G. Stanley Hall.
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 1
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: Charles Darwin.
6. ______ are recognized as the first scientific studies of child development.
Darwin's baby biographies.
Gesell's studies of maturation.
Hall's questionnaires and interviews.
Piaget's cognitive theories.
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: Hall’s questionnaires and interviews.
7. Early developmental psychology pioneer G. Stanley Hall believed that developmentalists should
identify ________ to further the field's understanding of child development.
milestones.
norms.
developmental stages.
maturation processes.
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: norms.
8. ________ is the term used to describe the average age at which children reach developmental
milestones.
"Norms"
"Maturation stage"
"Psycho-social developmental stage"
"Phenomenon"
Copyright © 2026
2
,Lifespan Development 8Ce
Learning 1.2 Describe the contributions of early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: “Norms"
9. Piaget's landmark body of work defined our understanding of cognitive development in children.
Piaget's work convinced him that logical thinking develops in _______ stages between birth and
adolescence.
two
three
four
five
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 1
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: four
10. Arnold Gesell suggested the term ________ to describe genetically programmed sequential
patterns of change such as puberty or menopause.
"stages"
"maturation"
"norms"
"milestones"
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 1
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: “maturation"
11. Genetically programmed sequential patterns of change, such as the changes associated with
puberty, exemplify the developmental process known as
milestone attainment.
maturation.
developmental stages.
individuation.
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Comprehension
Answer: maturation.
Copyright © 2026
3
, Lifespan Development 8Ce
12. Which of the following best describes Arnold Gesell's thoughts on maturation?
Infants are taught how to walk.
Infants do not have to be taught how to walk.
Infants do not have to be taught how to walk.
Infants are taught how to use their fine motor skills.
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: Infants do not have to be taught how to walk.
13. Based on the work of Arnold Gesell, which of the following best describes norm-referenced tests?
Standardized tests that compare an individual’s score to the average score of same-aged peers.
Standardized tests that compare an individual’s score to the average score of older-aged peers.
Standardized tests that compare an individual’s score to the average score of younger-aged peers.
Standardized tests that compare an individual’s score to the average score of same-aged and same
gender peers.
Learning 1.1.2 Describe the contributions of the early developmental scientists.
Objective:
Difficulty: 2
Skill: Comprehension
Answer: Standardized tests that compare an individual’s score to the average score of same-aged peers.
14. How did the threat of war in Europe directly lead to the creation of a formal organization of
practising psychologists in Canada?
Canadian psychologists were ordered to help with the British war effort.
Canadian psychologists wanted to join the war effort.
Canadian psychologists were recruited to help children in Britain.
the military gave Canadian psychologists funding for child and family-related research.
Learning 1.1.3 Describe the contributions made by Canadian developmental psychologists during the
Objective: field’s formative years.
Difficulty: 1
Skill: Knowledge
Answer: Canadian psychologists wanted to join the war effort.
15. Canadian psychologists were very active during World War II, performing numerous consultation
and training functions for the British government and the war effort. Which of the following
solutions did they assist in generating in response to arising child-care problems?
participation in personnel selection.
organization of recruitment.
Establishment of a nursery school teacher’s training school.
development of discipline strategies.
Copyright © 2026
4
