PSYC 140 Module 1 | Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Exam Q&A | Portage Learning
1. The scientific study of patterns of growth, change, and stability in behavior that occur
throughout the entire life span is known as:
A) Lifespan development
B) Maturation
C) Aging
D) Evolutionary psychology
Correct Answer: Lifespan development
Rationale: Lifespan development is the field of study that examines patterns of growth,
change, and stability in behavior that occur throughout the entire life span. Maturation
refers to the process of becoming more developed, while aging is the process of growing
old.
2. According to the lifespan perspective, development is considered lifelong. This means
that:
A) Most major changes occur only in childhood
B) Development stops after adolescence
C) Major changes occur during every period of life
D) Development is complete by early adulthood
Correct Answer: Major changes occur during every period of life
Rationale: The principle that development is lifelong means that no single age period
dominates development. Major changes occur at every stage of life, from infancy
through late adulthood.
3. Which of the following is NOT one of the four features of lifespan development?
,A) Lifelong
B) Multidirectional
C) Unidimensional
D) Multidisciplinary
Correct Answer: Unidimensional
Rationale: The four features of lifespan development are lifelong, multidirectional,
multidisciplinary, and multidimensional. Development is multidimensional, not
unidimensional, meaning it consists of biological, cognitive, social, and emotional
elements.
4. The belief that development is influenced by both genetic inheritance (nature) and
environmental factors (nurture) is central to which major controversy in developmental
psychology?
A) The continuity vs. discontinuity debate
B) The stability vs. change debate
C) The nature vs. nurture debate
D) The active vs. passive debate
Correct Answer: The nature vs. nurture debate
Rationale: The nature vs. nurture controversy is the debate over whether genetics
(nature) or environmental factors (nurture) contribute more to a person's being and
behavior. It is a central and enduring issue in developmental psychology.
5. A researcher is interested in studying how memory changes from childhood to old
age. She recruits participants of different ages (5, 10, 15, 20, and 65 years old) and tests
their memory once. This is an example of which research design?
A) Longitudinal design
B) Cross-sectional design
C) Sequential design
,D) Case study design
Correct Answer: Cross-sectional design
Rationale: A cross-sectional design compares different age groups (cohorts) at a single
point in time. This is an efficient way to study age-related differences, but it can be
affected by cohort effects.
6. A researcher follows the same group of 5-year-old children, testing them every two
years until they are 25. This is an example of which research design?
A) Longitudinal design
B) Cross-sectional design
C) Sequential design
D) Experimental design
Correct Answer: Longitudinal design
Rationale: A longitudinal design follows the same group of participants over an
extended period, repeatedly measuring the same variables to track developmental
changes. This design is powerful for tracking individual developmental trajectories.
7. Which of the following is an advantage of a longitudinal research design?
A) It is quick and inexpensive to conduct
B) It can distinguish true developmental change from cohort effects
C) It is not affected by participant dropout
D) It is efficient for comparing many age groups simultaneously
Correct Answer: It can distinguish true developmental change from cohort effects
, Rationale: Longitudinal designs track individual change trajectories and can separate
true age-related change from cohort effects by observing the same individuals mature.
They are, however, time-consuming and vulnerable to participant attrition.
8. A researcher is interested in the effects of a new teaching method on reading
comprehension. She randomly assigns half the students to the new method and half to
the traditional method. This is an example of which research design?
A) Correlational design
B) Experimental design
C) Naturalistic observation
D) Case study
Correct Answer: Experimental design
Rationale: An experimental design involves manipulating one variable (the
independent variable) to determine its effect on another variable (the dependent
variable), while controlling for other factors. Random assignment is a key feature of
experimental designs.
9. According to Freud's psychosexual theory, the stage in which pleasure is focused on
the mouth, and behaviors such as sucking, biting, and chewing are prominent, is the:
A) Anal stage
B) Phallic stage
C) Oral stage
D) Genital stage
Correct Answer: Oral stage
Rationale: Freud's oral stage occurs from birth to approximately 18 months, during
which pleasure is centered on the mouth. The anal stage focuses on bowel and bladder
control, the phallic stage on the genitals, and the genital stage on mature sexual
interests.
Exam Q&A | Portage Learning
1. The scientific study of patterns of growth, change, and stability in behavior that occur
throughout the entire life span is known as:
A) Lifespan development
B) Maturation
C) Aging
D) Evolutionary psychology
Correct Answer: Lifespan development
Rationale: Lifespan development is the field of study that examines patterns of growth,
change, and stability in behavior that occur throughout the entire life span. Maturation
refers to the process of becoming more developed, while aging is the process of growing
old.
2. According to the lifespan perspective, development is considered lifelong. This means
that:
A) Most major changes occur only in childhood
B) Development stops after adolescence
C) Major changes occur during every period of life
D) Development is complete by early adulthood
Correct Answer: Major changes occur during every period of life
Rationale: The principle that development is lifelong means that no single age period
dominates development. Major changes occur at every stage of life, from infancy
through late adulthood.
3. Which of the following is NOT one of the four features of lifespan development?
,A) Lifelong
B) Multidirectional
C) Unidimensional
D) Multidisciplinary
Correct Answer: Unidimensional
Rationale: The four features of lifespan development are lifelong, multidirectional,
multidisciplinary, and multidimensional. Development is multidimensional, not
unidimensional, meaning it consists of biological, cognitive, social, and emotional
elements.
4. The belief that development is influenced by both genetic inheritance (nature) and
environmental factors (nurture) is central to which major controversy in developmental
psychology?
A) The continuity vs. discontinuity debate
B) The stability vs. change debate
C) The nature vs. nurture debate
D) The active vs. passive debate
Correct Answer: The nature vs. nurture debate
Rationale: The nature vs. nurture controversy is the debate over whether genetics
(nature) or environmental factors (nurture) contribute more to a person's being and
behavior. It is a central and enduring issue in developmental psychology.
5. A researcher is interested in studying how memory changes from childhood to old
age. She recruits participants of different ages (5, 10, 15, 20, and 65 years old) and tests
their memory once. This is an example of which research design?
A) Longitudinal design
B) Cross-sectional design
C) Sequential design
,D) Case study design
Correct Answer: Cross-sectional design
Rationale: A cross-sectional design compares different age groups (cohorts) at a single
point in time. This is an efficient way to study age-related differences, but it can be
affected by cohort effects.
6. A researcher follows the same group of 5-year-old children, testing them every two
years until they are 25. This is an example of which research design?
A) Longitudinal design
B) Cross-sectional design
C) Sequential design
D) Experimental design
Correct Answer: Longitudinal design
Rationale: A longitudinal design follows the same group of participants over an
extended period, repeatedly measuring the same variables to track developmental
changes. This design is powerful for tracking individual developmental trajectories.
7. Which of the following is an advantage of a longitudinal research design?
A) It is quick and inexpensive to conduct
B) It can distinguish true developmental change from cohort effects
C) It is not affected by participant dropout
D) It is efficient for comparing many age groups simultaneously
Correct Answer: It can distinguish true developmental change from cohort effects
, Rationale: Longitudinal designs track individual change trajectories and can separate
true age-related change from cohort effects by observing the same individuals mature.
They are, however, time-consuming and vulnerable to participant attrition.
8. A researcher is interested in the effects of a new teaching method on reading
comprehension. She randomly assigns half the students to the new method and half to
the traditional method. This is an example of which research design?
A) Correlational design
B) Experimental design
C) Naturalistic observation
D) Case study
Correct Answer: Experimental design
Rationale: An experimental design involves manipulating one variable (the
independent variable) to determine its effect on another variable (the dependent
variable), while controlling for other factors. Random assignment is a key feature of
experimental designs.
9. According to Freud's psychosexual theory, the stage in which pleasure is focused on
the mouth, and behaviors such as sucking, biting, and chewing are prominent, is the:
A) Anal stage
B) Phallic stage
C) Oral stage
D) Genital stage
Correct Answer: Oral stage
Rationale: Freud's oral stage occurs from birth to approximately 18 months, during
which pleasure is centered on the mouth. The anal stage focuses on bowel and bladder
control, the phallic stage on the genitals, and the genital stage on mature sexual
interests.
