PSYCH 302 MIDTERM 1 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Define development - ANSWER-Growth and change that makes an individual better
adapted to their environment. A lifelong process that ranges from simple to complex
behaviours.
Discuss 2 common reasons for studying development - ANSWER-To better
understand human nature and to improve the lives of children and adolescents
through parenting, schooling and social policy
What are the 5 major themes in development? - ANSWER-o Nature and nurture
o The child's role in development (passive vs active)
o Developmental change (mechanisms of change, continuous vs discontinuous)
o Individual change (genetic differences, differences in treatment, differences in
reactions, different choice of environments)
o Resilience (the ability to overcome hardship)
Describe naturalistic observation - ANSWER-observing behaviour of interest in the
natural environment
Describe structured observation - ANSWER-set up in a situation to evoke behaviour
of interest
Describe self/other reports - ANSWER-individuals asked to provide information on
their perceptions, thoughts, experiences
Describe standardized tests - ANSWER-measures generally accepted by other
scientists as reliable and valid
Describe psychophysiological methods - ANSWER-measures physiological
processes/reactions
contrast correlational and experimental designs - ANSWER-o Correlational: examine
relationships between variables; dorrelational coefficient: measures direction and
strength of association between 2 variables (+/- 1 Is strong positive/negative)
o Experimental: allows inference about cause and effect; independent/dependent
variables
differentiate between longitudinal, cross-sectional, and sequential research deigns -
ANSWER-o Longitudinal designs: test the same group of participants at different
ages, across time
o Cross-sectional designs: test different groups of participants at different ages, at
the same time
o Sequential designs: test multiple groups of participants (of different ages) across
time
, what are some of the difficulties of conducting research with infants? - ANSWER-
little language ability, varying states of arousal (awake, asleep, fussy), short attention
span
what are some common methods used to study infants? - ANSWER-preferential
looking, habituation, violation of expectation, reaching, high amplitude sucking,
psychophysiological methods
describe preferential looking - ANSWER-showed 2 items. the amount of time spent
looking is measured.
describe habituation - ANSWER-repeat presentation of same stimulus until they get
bored. used to examine what infants learn in a controlled situation. if the infant
learned during habituation, they should increase their attention to the new stimulus
describe violation of expectation - ANSWER-infants look more at things when they
don't fit their expectations. Present them with one situation that is consistent with
their reality/beliefs and another that is not. Which one do thy look at more?
describe high amplitude sucking - ANSWER-newborns trained that when they
produce a hard suck, a sound plays
define epigenetics - ANSWER-study of changes in gene expression caused by
mechanisms other than the gene sequence
list the 4 major processes of brain development - ANSWER-neurulation, myelination,
synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning
What is neurulation? - ANSWER-neural tube formation. Lack of folic acid causes the
neural tube to not fully form, leading to spina bifida
what is myelination - ANSWER-the process of forming a myelin sheath around a
nerve to allow nerve impulses to move more quickly
positively affected by breastfeeding
what is synaptogenesis? - ANSWER-the creation of new connections between
neurons
what is synaptic pruning? - ANSWER-elimination of weaker synapses. Makes our
brain more efficient. One peak in infancy and another in adolescence in prefrontal
cortex for emotion.
contrast experience-expectant and experience-dependent processes - ANSWER-o
Experience-expectant: based on general human experience; brain expects certain
input. If this input doesn't occur within the sensitive periods, the brain may not
develop in the regular way.
o Experience-dependent: unique to individual, shaped by specific experience
AND ANSWERS
Define development - ANSWER-Growth and change that makes an individual better
adapted to their environment. A lifelong process that ranges from simple to complex
behaviours.
Discuss 2 common reasons for studying development - ANSWER-To better
understand human nature and to improve the lives of children and adolescents
through parenting, schooling and social policy
What are the 5 major themes in development? - ANSWER-o Nature and nurture
o The child's role in development (passive vs active)
o Developmental change (mechanisms of change, continuous vs discontinuous)
o Individual change (genetic differences, differences in treatment, differences in
reactions, different choice of environments)
o Resilience (the ability to overcome hardship)
Describe naturalistic observation - ANSWER-observing behaviour of interest in the
natural environment
Describe structured observation - ANSWER-set up in a situation to evoke behaviour
of interest
Describe self/other reports - ANSWER-individuals asked to provide information on
their perceptions, thoughts, experiences
Describe standardized tests - ANSWER-measures generally accepted by other
scientists as reliable and valid
Describe psychophysiological methods - ANSWER-measures physiological
processes/reactions
contrast correlational and experimental designs - ANSWER-o Correlational: examine
relationships between variables; dorrelational coefficient: measures direction and
strength of association between 2 variables (+/- 1 Is strong positive/negative)
o Experimental: allows inference about cause and effect; independent/dependent
variables
differentiate between longitudinal, cross-sectional, and sequential research deigns -
ANSWER-o Longitudinal designs: test the same group of participants at different
ages, across time
o Cross-sectional designs: test different groups of participants at different ages, at
the same time
o Sequential designs: test multiple groups of participants (of different ages) across
time
, what are some of the difficulties of conducting research with infants? - ANSWER-
little language ability, varying states of arousal (awake, asleep, fussy), short attention
span
what are some common methods used to study infants? - ANSWER-preferential
looking, habituation, violation of expectation, reaching, high amplitude sucking,
psychophysiological methods
describe preferential looking - ANSWER-showed 2 items. the amount of time spent
looking is measured.
describe habituation - ANSWER-repeat presentation of same stimulus until they get
bored. used to examine what infants learn in a controlled situation. if the infant
learned during habituation, they should increase their attention to the new stimulus
describe violation of expectation - ANSWER-infants look more at things when they
don't fit their expectations. Present them with one situation that is consistent with
their reality/beliefs and another that is not. Which one do thy look at more?
describe high amplitude sucking - ANSWER-newborns trained that when they
produce a hard suck, a sound plays
define epigenetics - ANSWER-study of changes in gene expression caused by
mechanisms other than the gene sequence
list the 4 major processes of brain development - ANSWER-neurulation, myelination,
synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning
What is neurulation? - ANSWER-neural tube formation. Lack of folic acid causes the
neural tube to not fully form, leading to spina bifida
what is myelination - ANSWER-the process of forming a myelin sheath around a
nerve to allow nerve impulses to move more quickly
positively affected by breastfeeding
what is synaptogenesis? - ANSWER-the creation of new connections between
neurons
what is synaptic pruning? - ANSWER-elimination of weaker synapses. Makes our
brain more efficient. One peak in infancy and another in adolescence in prefrontal
cortex for emotion.
contrast experience-expectant and experience-dependent processes - ANSWER-o
Experience-expectant: based on general human experience; brain expects certain
input. If this input doesn't occur within the sensitive periods, the brain may not
develop in the regular way.
o Experience-dependent: unique to individual, shaped by specific experience
