,PSYC 140 Module 4 Exam - Developmental
(Lifespan) Psychology - Portage - Latest 26/27
(PDF)
1. Early childhood, according to the Portage Learning PSYC 140 module, encompasses which age
range?
A) Birth to 2 years
B) 2 to 6 or 7 years
C) 6 to 11 years
D) 11 to 18 years
Correct Answer: B) 2 to 6 or 7 years
Rationale: The Module 4 materials define early childhood as the toddler/preschool years extending up
until approximately 6 or 7 years of age. Options A, C, and D correspond to infancy, middle childhood,
and adolescence, respectively.
2. A 4-year-old who insists that her stuffed bear feels sad when she leaves the room is demonstrating
which Piagetian concept?
A) Conservation
B) Animism
C) Centration
D) Reversibility
Correct Answer: B) Animism
Rationale: Animism is the tendency of preoperational children to attribute human-like qualities,
feelings, and intentions to inanimate objects. The child is projecting her own feelings onto the stuffed
bear. Conservation (A) involves understanding that quantity remains the same despite appearance
changes, centration (C) is focusing on one aspect, and reversibility (D) is the ability to mentally reverse
actions.
3. Piaget's preoperational stage spans approximately which age range?
A) Birth to 2 years
B) 2 to 7 years
,C) 7 to 11 years
D) 11 years and older
Correct Answer: B) 2 to 7 years
Rationale: Piaget's preoperational stage occurs from approximately 2 to 7 years of age. The
sensorimotor stage (A) spans birth to 2 years, concrete operational (C) spans 7 to 11 years, and formal
operational (D) begins at 11 years.
4. Which theorist emphasized the role of the teacher and expert in the learning process?
A) Jean Piaget
B) Lev Vygotsky
C) Sigmund Freud
D) Erik Erikson
Correct Answer: B) Lev Vygotsky
Rationale: Vygotsky emphasized the critical role of social interaction and guidance from more
knowledgeable others (teachers, parents, experts) in cognitive development. Piaget (A) focused more
on independent discovery and self-directed learning.
5. According to Vygotsky, the zone of proximal development refers to:
A) What a child can do independently
B) What a child can do with guidance from a more skilled person
C) The gap between independent and guided performance
D) The stage of cognitive development a child has reached
Correct Answer: C) The gap between independent and guided performance
Rationale: The zone of proximal development (ZPD) is the difference between what a child can
accomplish independently and what they can achieve with assistance from a more knowledgeable
person. Option A describes actual developmental level, B describes assisted performance, and D
describes Piagetian stages.
6. In an ideal Vygotskian learning situation, adults provide substantial assistance to young children
initially. As children become more competent, the adult gradually withdraws support. This process is
called:
A) Discovery learning
, B) Scaffolding
C) Conservation
D) Centration
Correct Answer: B) Scaffolding
Rationale: Scaffolding is the process by which a teacher or expert adjusts the level of support provided
based on the learner's current competence, gradually withdrawing assistance as the learner becomes
more capable. Discovery learning (A) is Piagetian, conservation (C) and centration (D) are Piagetian
concepts.
7. A teacher who demonstrates how to tie shoelaces, then guides the child's hands, and finally allows
the child to tie independently is using:
A) Discovery learning
B) Scaffolding
C) Conservation
D) Classical conditioning
Correct Answer: B) Scaffolding
Rationale: This step-by-step progression from full assistance to independence is a classic example of
scaffolding. The teacher adjusts support based on the child's growing competence. Discovery learning
(A) emphasizes independent exploration, conservation (C) is a Piagetian concept of quantity
constancy, and classical conditioning (D) is a behaviorist concept.
8. Which of the following accurately describes discovery learning as an educational approach?
A) Children learn by reading about experiments and observing demonstrations
B) Children learn by actively exploring, with an emphasis on hands-on learning
C) Children learn by traveling to different countries for global perspective
D) Children learn primarily through direct instruction from teachers
Correct Answer: B) Children learn by actively exploring, with an emphasis on hands-on learning
Rationale: Discovery learning, associated with Piaget's theory, emphasizes active exploration and
hands-on experimentation by children to foster understanding. Options A, C, and D do not accurately
describe this approach.
(Lifespan) Psychology - Portage - Latest 26/27
(PDF)
1. Early childhood, according to the Portage Learning PSYC 140 module, encompasses which age
range?
A) Birth to 2 years
B) 2 to 6 or 7 years
C) 6 to 11 years
D) 11 to 18 years
Correct Answer: B) 2 to 6 or 7 years
Rationale: The Module 4 materials define early childhood as the toddler/preschool years extending up
until approximately 6 or 7 years of age. Options A, C, and D correspond to infancy, middle childhood,
and adolescence, respectively.
2. A 4-year-old who insists that her stuffed bear feels sad when she leaves the room is demonstrating
which Piagetian concept?
A) Conservation
B) Animism
C) Centration
D) Reversibility
Correct Answer: B) Animism
Rationale: Animism is the tendency of preoperational children to attribute human-like qualities,
feelings, and intentions to inanimate objects. The child is projecting her own feelings onto the stuffed
bear. Conservation (A) involves understanding that quantity remains the same despite appearance
changes, centration (C) is focusing on one aspect, and reversibility (D) is the ability to mentally reverse
actions.
3. Piaget's preoperational stage spans approximately which age range?
A) Birth to 2 years
B) 2 to 7 years
,C) 7 to 11 years
D) 11 years and older
Correct Answer: B) 2 to 7 years
Rationale: Piaget's preoperational stage occurs from approximately 2 to 7 years of age. The
sensorimotor stage (A) spans birth to 2 years, concrete operational (C) spans 7 to 11 years, and formal
operational (D) begins at 11 years.
4. Which theorist emphasized the role of the teacher and expert in the learning process?
A) Jean Piaget
B) Lev Vygotsky
C) Sigmund Freud
D) Erik Erikson
Correct Answer: B) Lev Vygotsky
Rationale: Vygotsky emphasized the critical role of social interaction and guidance from more
knowledgeable others (teachers, parents, experts) in cognitive development. Piaget (A) focused more
on independent discovery and self-directed learning.
5. According to Vygotsky, the zone of proximal development refers to:
A) What a child can do independently
B) What a child can do with guidance from a more skilled person
C) The gap between independent and guided performance
D) The stage of cognitive development a child has reached
Correct Answer: C) The gap between independent and guided performance
Rationale: The zone of proximal development (ZPD) is the difference between what a child can
accomplish independently and what they can achieve with assistance from a more knowledgeable
person. Option A describes actual developmental level, B describes assisted performance, and D
describes Piagetian stages.
6. In an ideal Vygotskian learning situation, adults provide substantial assistance to young children
initially. As children become more competent, the adult gradually withdraws support. This process is
called:
A) Discovery learning
, B) Scaffolding
C) Conservation
D) Centration
Correct Answer: B) Scaffolding
Rationale: Scaffolding is the process by which a teacher or expert adjusts the level of support provided
based on the learner's current competence, gradually withdrawing assistance as the learner becomes
more capable. Discovery learning (A) is Piagetian, conservation (C) and centration (D) are Piagetian
concepts.
7. A teacher who demonstrates how to tie shoelaces, then guides the child's hands, and finally allows
the child to tie independently is using:
A) Discovery learning
B) Scaffolding
C) Conservation
D) Classical conditioning
Correct Answer: B) Scaffolding
Rationale: This step-by-step progression from full assistance to independence is a classic example of
scaffolding. The teacher adjusts support based on the child's growing competence. Discovery learning
(A) emphasizes independent exploration, conservation (C) is a Piagetian concept of quantity
constancy, and classical conditioning (D) is a behaviorist concept.
8. Which of the following accurately describes discovery learning as an educational approach?
A) Children learn by reading about experiments and observing demonstrations
B) Children learn by actively exploring, with an emphasis on hands-on learning
C) Children learn by traveling to different countries for global perspective
D) Children learn primarily through direct instruction from teachers
Correct Answer: B) Children learn by actively exploring, with an emphasis on hands-on learning
Rationale: Discovery learning, associated with Piaget's theory, emphasizes active exploration and
hands-on experimentation by children to foster understanding. Options A, C, and D do not accurately
describe this approach.
