TCC EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2025-2026
Lifespan development examines patterns of growth, change, and __________ in human behavior across
the life span. - Answers Stability
How are the developmental periods of infancy and adolescence similar? - Answers Both have a fairly
clear-cut boundary for when they begin.
Robin grew up in a public housing project in Chicago. Grant grew up at the same time in an affluent
suburb of Chicago. When Robin and Grant meet in college, we can expect that in general they will
__________. - Answers share history-graded influences but differ in sociocultural-graded influences
Compared to young children, adults have a much harder time learning a new language. Researchers
studying this phenomenon are mainly addressing which key issue in development? - Answers critical
versus sensitive periods
In the nature versus nurture discussion, the term nurture refers to __________. - Answers
environmental influences
Proponents of which major theoretical perspective believe that behavior is largely motivated by
subconscious inner forces and memories? - Answers psychodynamic
Proponents of which major theoretical perspective believe that the keys to understanding development
are observable behavior and outside stimuli in the environment? - Answers behavioral
How are assimilation and accommodation similar? - Answers Both are ways to bring about cognitive
development.
A parent who provides less and less guidance each time a child tries a puzzle is using __________. -
Answers scaffolding
The __________ perspective identifies behaviors that are the result of genetic inheritance. - Answers
evolutionary
The __________ is the process of posing and answering research questions using controlled techniques
that include systematic, orderly observation and the collection of data. - Answers scientific method
If a journalist uses a correlational study to suggest that eating dark chocolate is good for your health,
what mistake is the journalist making - Answers assuming that correlation always equals causation
The strength and direction of a relationship between two factors is represented by a(n) __________. -
Answers correlation coefficient
An investigator is studying the effectiveness of two new types of parenting interventions for children
with disruptive behavior. In this example, the type of intervention would be the __________ variable,
,and the amount of disruptive behavior would be the __________ variable. - Answers independent;
dependent
__________ is designed specifically to test some developmental explanation and expand scientific
knowledge, whereas __________ is meant to provide practical solutions to immediate problems. -
Answers Theoretical research; applied research
Which statement best represents the view of developmentalists? - Answers Growth and change occur in
all aspects of a person's life across their lifespan.
A study that seeks to examine how stable shyness is across the life span is focused on __________
development. - Answers personality
The financial crisis of the 2010s exerted what type of effect on the cohort of children growing up during
this period? - Answers history-graded influences
Shalise believes that child development is a process of continuous change. Her classmate Evan says that
development follows a pattern of discontinuous change. Who is correct? - Answers Both: A child's
development is marked by both continuous and discontinuous change.
Erikson's __________ theory was created as an alternative psychodynamic view emphasizing social
interaction with other people. - Answers psychosocial development
Which statement describes the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning? -
Answers Classical conditioning involves automatic responses and operant conditioning involves
voluntary responses.
Which perspective emphasizes how people internally represent and think about the world? - Answers
cognitive perspective
Which perspective contends that people have a natural capacity to make decisions about their lives? -
Answers humanistic perspective
What is the key factor guiding developmental perspectives that consider the relationship between
individuals and their physical, cognitive, personality, and social worlds? - Answers contextual factors
Which perspective seeks to identify behavior that is the result of our genetic inheritance? - Answers
evolutionary perspective
Some lifespan developmentalists use a(n) __________ approach, drawing on several perspectives
simultaneously. - Answers eclectic
A(n) __________ is a prediction stated in a way that permits it to be tested. - Answers hypothesis
What is the best type of study to determine if daily reading with a parent can increase the speed at
which a child learns to read independently? - Answers experimental
, Alan has decided to conduct a naturalistic observation of children and friendships. Which location would
produce the most accurate results? - Answers a playground
In an experiment, the __________ is exposed to the treatment variable being studied; the __________
is not. - Answers treatment group; control group
A scientist is interested in the processes of cognitive change during childhood and decides to see how
many words children of various ages can remember after one exposure to a list of words. What type of
research is this scientist conducting? - Answers theoretical research
Which type of research design takes the longest amount of time to complete? - Answers longitudinal
Researchers must obtain __________ from participants before their involvement in a study. - Answers
informed consent
The human genetic code, transmitted at the moment of conception and stored in our genes, is
composed of specific sequences of __________. - Answers DNA
Why are males more likely to have red-green color blindness? - Answers They have only one X
chromosome
The field of __________ studies the effects of heredity on psychological characteristics, such as
personality and habits. - Answers behavioral genetics
A pediatrician learns that a child has a limited appetite and a yellowish hue to the eyes. Blood tests show
that the child's blood cells are shaped differently than is typical. Which inherited disorder is the child
most likely to have? - Answers sickle-cell anemia
The prenatal procedure by which a sample of fetal cells is drawn from the fluid surrounding the fetus is
called __________. - Answers amniocentesis
The fact that many human traits are determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors
is referred to as __________. - Answers multifactorial transmission
Because the genetic makeup of __________ twins is nearly identical, researchers can conclude that
variations in their behavior is probably due to environmental factors. - Answers monozygotic
Which of the following can be seen as an indication that intelligence has a strong genetic basis? -
Answers Brianna's IQ scores are nearly the same as those of her identical twin Suzanna.
One major personality trait that has been linked to genetic factors is __________, defined as the degree
to which a person is outgoing and seeks contact with others. - Answers extroversion
Theresa has been described as a "natural athlete." Her room at home is full of soccer balls, basketball
nets, and softball bats. This is an example of how __________ can influence __________. - Answers
genes; the environment
Lifespan development examines patterns of growth, change, and __________ in human behavior across
the life span. - Answers Stability
How are the developmental periods of infancy and adolescence similar? - Answers Both have a fairly
clear-cut boundary for when they begin.
Robin grew up in a public housing project in Chicago. Grant grew up at the same time in an affluent
suburb of Chicago. When Robin and Grant meet in college, we can expect that in general they will
__________. - Answers share history-graded influences but differ in sociocultural-graded influences
Compared to young children, adults have a much harder time learning a new language. Researchers
studying this phenomenon are mainly addressing which key issue in development? - Answers critical
versus sensitive periods
In the nature versus nurture discussion, the term nurture refers to __________. - Answers
environmental influences
Proponents of which major theoretical perspective believe that behavior is largely motivated by
subconscious inner forces and memories? - Answers psychodynamic
Proponents of which major theoretical perspective believe that the keys to understanding development
are observable behavior and outside stimuli in the environment? - Answers behavioral
How are assimilation and accommodation similar? - Answers Both are ways to bring about cognitive
development.
A parent who provides less and less guidance each time a child tries a puzzle is using __________. -
Answers scaffolding
The __________ perspective identifies behaviors that are the result of genetic inheritance. - Answers
evolutionary
The __________ is the process of posing and answering research questions using controlled techniques
that include systematic, orderly observation and the collection of data. - Answers scientific method
If a journalist uses a correlational study to suggest that eating dark chocolate is good for your health,
what mistake is the journalist making - Answers assuming that correlation always equals causation
The strength and direction of a relationship between two factors is represented by a(n) __________. -
Answers correlation coefficient
An investigator is studying the effectiveness of two new types of parenting interventions for children
with disruptive behavior. In this example, the type of intervention would be the __________ variable,
,and the amount of disruptive behavior would be the __________ variable. - Answers independent;
dependent
__________ is designed specifically to test some developmental explanation and expand scientific
knowledge, whereas __________ is meant to provide practical solutions to immediate problems. -
Answers Theoretical research; applied research
Which statement best represents the view of developmentalists? - Answers Growth and change occur in
all aspects of a person's life across their lifespan.
A study that seeks to examine how stable shyness is across the life span is focused on __________
development. - Answers personality
The financial crisis of the 2010s exerted what type of effect on the cohort of children growing up during
this period? - Answers history-graded influences
Shalise believes that child development is a process of continuous change. Her classmate Evan says that
development follows a pattern of discontinuous change. Who is correct? - Answers Both: A child's
development is marked by both continuous and discontinuous change.
Erikson's __________ theory was created as an alternative psychodynamic view emphasizing social
interaction with other people. - Answers psychosocial development
Which statement describes the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning? -
Answers Classical conditioning involves automatic responses and operant conditioning involves
voluntary responses.
Which perspective emphasizes how people internally represent and think about the world? - Answers
cognitive perspective
Which perspective contends that people have a natural capacity to make decisions about their lives? -
Answers humanistic perspective
What is the key factor guiding developmental perspectives that consider the relationship between
individuals and their physical, cognitive, personality, and social worlds? - Answers contextual factors
Which perspective seeks to identify behavior that is the result of our genetic inheritance? - Answers
evolutionary perspective
Some lifespan developmentalists use a(n) __________ approach, drawing on several perspectives
simultaneously. - Answers eclectic
A(n) __________ is a prediction stated in a way that permits it to be tested. - Answers hypothesis
What is the best type of study to determine if daily reading with a parent can increase the speed at
which a child learns to read independently? - Answers experimental
, Alan has decided to conduct a naturalistic observation of children and friendships. Which location would
produce the most accurate results? - Answers a playground
In an experiment, the __________ is exposed to the treatment variable being studied; the __________
is not. - Answers treatment group; control group
A scientist is interested in the processes of cognitive change during childhood and decides to see how
many words children of various ages can remember after one exposure to a list of words. What type of
research is this scientist conducting? - Answers theoretical research
Which type of research design takes the longest amount of time to complete? - Answers longitudinal
Researchers must obtain __________ from participants before their involvement in a study. - Answers
informed consent
The human genetic code, transmitted at the moment of conception and stored in our genes, is
composed of specific sequences of __________. - Answers DNA
Why are males more likely to have red-green color blindness? - Answers They have only one X
chromosome
The field of __________ studies the effects of heredity on psychological characteristics, such as
personality and habits. - Answers behavioral genetics
A pediatrician learns that a child has a limited appetite and a yellowish hue to the eyes. Blood tests show
that the child's blood cells are shaped differently than is typical. Which inherited disorder is the child
most likely to have? - Answers sickle-cell anemia
The prenatal procedure by which a sample of fetal cells is drawn from the fluid surrounding the fetus is
called __________. - Answers amniocentesis
The fact that many human traits are determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors
is referred to as __________. - Answers multifactorial transmission
Because the genetic makeup of __________ twins is nearly identical, researchers can conclude that
variations in their behavior is probably due to environmental factors. - Answers monozygotic
Which of the following can be seen as an indication that intelligence has a strong genetic basis? -
Answers Brianna's IQ scores are nearly the same as those of her identical twin Suzanna.
One major personality trait that has been linked to genetic factors is __________, defined as the degree
to which a person is outgoing and seeks contact with others. - Answers extroversion
Theresa has been described as a "natural athlete." Her room at home is full of soccer balls, basketball
nets, and softball bats. This is an example of how __________ can influence __________. - Answers
genes; the environment
