Test Bank Chapter 1 Basic Concepts and Methods
Multiple Choice Questions
1) The field of __________________ is the scientific study of age-related changes in behavior, thinking, emotion,
and personality.
A) biology
B) psychology
C) human development
D) sociology
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 2
Topic: An Introduction to Human Development
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
2) The Christian doctrine of ________ is the basis for the theory that human development occurs as a result of how
well or how poorly someone does at overcoming their innately sinful nature.
A) original sin
B) blank slate
C) behaviorism
D) innate goodness
Answer: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
3) Which of the following believed that humans are selfish by nature and must seek spiritual rebirth through
religious training?
A) St. Jean Rousseau
B) Augustine
C) John Locke
D) St. Mary
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
4) Who was the philosopher who believed that children are born with a mind which is a blank slate?
A) John Luc
B) Darwin
C) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
D) John Locke
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
2
,5) The ideas of the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau would suggest that the basis for human development is
A) a result of the struggle between an individual's original sin nature and the Holy Spirit.
B) an individual's response to external, environmental influences.
C) empiricism.
D) an individual's effort to overcome his or her inborn potential.
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
6) As a developmental psychologist I believe that humans possess no inborn abilities and that a child's parents can
mold them into whatever they want them to be. Which of the following would best describe my beliefs?
A) Empiricism
B) Innate goodness
C) Original sin
D) Darwinism
Answer: A
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Applied
Objective: 1.1
7) The idea that the earth contains a wide variety of life forms and that humans have developed as a result of the
interaction of heredity and environment was proposed by
A) John Locke.
B) Charles Darwin.
C) Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
D) John Hall.
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
8) Which of the following assertions regarding lifespan development can be attributed to both G. Stanley Hall and
Charles Darwin?
A) Humans evolved from other animals.
B) Biology dictates human personality.
C) Environment dictates healthy development.
D) Norms should be identified for each developmental stage.
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Conceptual
Objective: 1.1
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
3
,9) What is the term that Arnold Gesell used to describe genetically programmed sequential patterns of change such
as puberty or menopause?
A) Maturation
B) Growth
C) Social clock
D) Age norms
Answer: A
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
10) What term is used to describe standardized tests that compare an individual child’s score to the average score of
others her age?
A) Empirical tests
B) Norm-referenced tests
C) Content normed tests
D) Normative metric tests
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 4
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
11) Which of the following best describes your text's approach to human development?
A) Human development begins at birth and continues throughout the lifespan.
B) Human development begins at birth and becomes relatively stable by adolescence.
C) Human development begins slowly at birth and accelerates as we age.
D) Human development begins with the onset of puberty.
Answer: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 4
Topic: The Lifespan Perspective
Skill: Conceptual
Objective: 1.2
12) If you are born in the 21st century, which of the following statements might apply to you?
A) You may well live to be 100 years old.
B) You are likely to live 30 or more years longer than your parents.
C) If you are the average person you will live to be 76 years old.
D) Your life expectancy will likely be double that of your grandparents.
Answer: A
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 4
Topic: The Lifespan Perspective
Skill: Conceptual
Objective: 1.2
13) Because of our increasing lifespan, theorists have to include many types of information gathering to complete
their research. Which of the following is one of the key elements emphasized in the newer approaches to lifespan
development?
A) The unidimensional nature of development
B) Interdisciplinary research
C) Extra-generational implications
D) Rigidity
Answer: B
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 4
Topic: The Lifespan Perspective
Skill: Conceptual
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
4
, Objective: 1.2
14) Which of the following theorists is known for his emphasis on the positive aspects of aging?
A) John Locke
B) Paul Baltes
C) Jean Piaget
D) Sigmund Freud
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 4
Topic: The Lifespan Perspective
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.2
15) What term is used to describe changes in size, shape, and characteristics of the body?
A) Psychological domain
B) Physical domain
C) Cognitive domain
D) Social domain
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 4
Topic: The Domains and Periods of Development
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.3
16) What term is used to describe changes in thinking, memory, problem solving, and other intellectual skills?
A) Psychological domain
B) Physical domain
C) Cognitive domain
D) Social domain
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 5
Topic: The Domains and Periods of Development
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.3
17) What term is used to describe changes in variable that are associated with the relationship of an individual to
others?
A) Psychological domain
B) Physical domain
C) Cognitive domain
D) Social domain
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 5
Topic: The Lifespan Perspective
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.3
18) Michael, age 16, has recently gained a considerable amount of weight but has not grown any taller.
Developmentalists would suggest that there is a problem in which of the following domains of developmental
psychology?
A) Physical
B) Cultural
C) Cognitive
D) Social
Answer: A
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 5
Topic: The Domains and Periods of Development
Skill: Applied
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
5
Multiple Choice Questions
1) The field of __________________ is the scientific study of age-related changes in behavior, thinking, emotion,
and personality.
A) biology
B) psychology
C) human development
D) sociology
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 2
Topic: An Introduction to Human Development
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
2) The Christian doctrine of ________ is the basis for the theory that human development occurs as a result of how
well or how poorly someone does at overcoming their innately sinful nature.
A) original sin
B) blank slate
C) behaviorism
D) innate goodness
Answer: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
3) Which of the following believed that humans are selfish by nature and must seek spiritual rebirth through
religious training?
A) St. Jean Rousseau
B) Augustine
C) John Locke
D) St. Mary
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
4) Who was the philosopher who believed that children are born with a mind which is a blank slate?
A) John Luc
B) Darwin
C) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
D) John Locke
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
2
,5) The ideas of the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau would suggest that the basis for human development is
A) a result of the struggle between an individual's original sin nature and the Holy Spirit.
B) an individual's response to external, environmental influences.
C) empiricism.
D) an individual's effort to overcome his or her inborn potential.
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
6) As a developmental psychologist I believe that humans possess no inborn abilities and that a child's parents can
mold them into whatever they want them to be. Which of the following would best describe my beliefs?
A) Empiricism
B) Innate goodness
C) Original sin
D) Darwinism
Answer: A
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Applied
Objective: 1.1
7) The idea that the earth contains a wide variety of life forms and that humans have developed as a result of the
interaction of heredity and environment was proposed by
A) John Locke.
B) Charles Darwin.
C) Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
D) John Hall.
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
8) Which of the following assertions regarding lifespan development can be attributed to both G. Stanley Hall and
Charles Darwin?
A) Humans evolved from other animals.
B) Biology dictates human personality.
C) Environment dictates healthy development.
D) Norms should be identified for each developmental stage.
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Conceptual
Objective: 1.1
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
3
,9) What is the term that Arnold Gesell used to describe genetically programmed sequential patterns of change such
as puberty or menopause?
A) Maturation
B) Growth
C) Social clock
D) Age norms
Answer: A
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 3
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
10) What term is used to describe standardized tests that compare an individual child’s score to the average score of
others her age?
A) Empirical tests
B) Norm-referenced tests
C) Content normed tests
D) Normative metric tests
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 4
Topic: Philosophical and Scientific Roots
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.1
11) Which of the following best describes your text's approach to human development?
A) Human development begins at birth and continues throughout the lifespan.
B) Human development begins at birth and becomes relatively stable by adolescence.
C) Human development begins slowly at birth and accelerates as we age.
D) Human development begins with the onset of puberty.
Answer: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 4
Topic: The Lifespan Perspective
Skill: Conceptual
Objective: 1.2
12) If you are born in the 21st century, which of the following statements might apply to you?
A) You may well live to be 100 years old.
B) You are likely to live 30 or more years longer than your parents.
C) If you are the average person you will live to be 76 years old.
D) Your life expectancy will likely be double that of your grandparents.
Answer: A
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 4
Topic: The Lifespan Perspective
Skill: Conceptual
Objective: 1.2
13) Because of our increasing lifespan, theorists have to include many types of information gathering to complete
their research. Which of the following is one of the key elements emphasized in the newer approaches to lifespan
development?
A) The unidimensional nature of development
B) Interdisciplinary research
C) Extra-generational implications
D) Rigidity
Answer: B
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 4
Topic: The Lifespan Perspective
Skill: Conceptual
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
4
, Objective: 1.2
14) Which of the following theorists is known for his emphasis on the positive aspects of aging?
A) John Locke
B) Paul Baltes
C) Jean Piaget
D) Sigmund Freud
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 4
Topic: The Lifespan Perspective
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.2
15) What term is used to describe changes in size, shape, and characteristics of the body?
A) Psychological domain
B) Physical domain
C) Cognitive domain
D) Social domain
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 4
Topic: The Domains and Periods of Development
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.3
16) What term is used to describe changes in thinking, memory, problem solving, and other intellectual skills?
A) Psychological domain
B) Physical domain
C) Cognitive domain
D) Social domain
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 5
Topic: The Domains and Periods of Development
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.3
17) What term is used to describe changes in variable that are associated with the relationship of an individual to
others?
A) Psychological domain
B) Physical domain
C) Cognitive domain
D) Social domain
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 5
Topic: The Lifespan Perspective
Skill: Factual
Objective: 1.3
18) Michael, age 16, has recently gained a considerable amount of weight but has not grown any taller.
Developmentalists would suggest that there is a problem in which of the following domains of developmental
psychology?
A) Physical
B) Cultural
C) Cognitive
D) Social
Answer: A
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 5
Topic: The Domains and Periods of Development
Skill: Applied
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
5
