PSYC 301 EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
To establish causality, - Answers - All the above
Theories that assume that developmental change occurs in distinct stages that are
qualitatively different from each other, and that unfold in a set, universal sequence
reflect: - Answers - Discontinuous development
Meta-theories are also known as perspectives or paradigms - Answers - true
A researcher is interested in studying toddlers' ability to wait to eat a tasty marshmallow
until the researcher returns (i.e., delay of gratification). They would use:
A. naturalistic laboratory study
b. field experiment
c. naturalistic feel study
d. laboratory experiment - Answers - Naturalistic laboratory study
Studying the long-term development of children who have been adopted, fostered, or
returned to their mothers compared to those who had spend their lives in their biological
families is an example of a:
field experiment
naturalistic laboratory study
laboratory study
natural experiment - Answers - Natural experiment
Research methods are free from meta-theoretical assumptions, which allows for
unbiased perspectives about target phenomena - Answers - false
Quantitative research is based on deductive methodologies - Answers - true
Grounded theory is: - Answers - all the above
Which of the following is NOT a key assumption of meta-theories? - Answers - Lab vs.
naturalistic
The idea that people are born as blank slates (tabula rasa) is associated with: -
Answers - John Locke
An area of research which is focused on studying methods to promote the adoption and
integration of evidence-based practices, interventions, and policies into routine settings
is called: - Answers - implementation science
Infancy is the most crucial period of development, as it sets the stage for the rest of a
person s development - Answers - false
,According to the lifespan perspective, plasticity is: - Answers - The potential to change
and to follow a wide range of developmental pathways
Science is a historically- and culturally-embedded social enterprise - Answers - True
Match the person with their theory.
Albert Bandura
Jean Piaget
Erik Erikson
B.F. Skinner
Lev Vygotsky - Answers - Albert Bandura- Social learning theory
Jean Piaget- cognitive theory
Erik Erikson- psychosocial theory
B.F. Skinner- learning theory
Lev Vygotsky- cognitive theory
Match the meta-theory with the perspective/person
B.F. Skinner
Urie Bronfenbrenner
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean Piaget
Preformationism - Answers - B.F. Skinner-
Mechanistic
Urie Bronfenbrenner-
Contextual
Jean-Jacques Rousseau-
Organismic
Jean Piaget-
,Organismic
Preformationism-
Maturational
According to the lifespan perspective, development is change for the better - Answers
- false
In cross-sectional studies, age is always confounded with cohort - Answers - true
Science is the only way of knowing - Answers - false
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is an example of a: - Answers - field experiment
A student believes that development is solely the product of innate or immutable
characteristics of individuals and is not concerned with environmental contributions.
This student's perspective best fits which meta-theory? - Answers - Maturational
If you are a contextualist, you are most likely to use which of the following descriptive
designs? - Answers - Cross-sequential
Why is it important in science to use a variety of approaches (e.g., observations, self-
reports, and psychophysiological assessments) to collect information? - Answers - We
have more confidence that our results are meaningful when multiple sources of
information converge.
What are teratogens? - Answers - Environmental factors that can lead to birth defects
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of laboratory experiments? - Answers -
Can generalize results to real-world settings
Meta-theories about human nature and development only apply to psychologists -
Answers - false
Which of the following is NOT a strength of science? - Answers - it is inclusive of all
cultures
Which of the following descriptive developmental designs involves data collection at
multiple time points from one cohort? - Answers - longitudinal
What are the three goals of lifespan developmental science? - Answers - Describe,
explain, optimize
A 20-year-old individual who has cognitive impairments with the mental capacity of an
8-year-old is an example of:
, a. psychological age
b. biological age
c. social age
d. chronological age - Answers - Psychological age
What is the role of the person in each meta-theory?
QuestionCorrect Match
Mechanistic
Organismic
Maturational
Contextual - Answers - - Mechanistic is Passive
- Organismic is Active
- Maturational is passive
- Contextual is Active
The results of the Bobo doll experiment illustrate: - Answers - Social learning theory
The idea that more complex mental skills of adults are built from primitive abilities of
children through brain maturation and interactions with the environment exemplifies
which contemporary theory of development?
a. sociocultural theory
b. social learning theory
c. information processing theory
d. learning theory - Answers - Information processing theory
What is an example of a non-normative influence? - Answers - Death of a parent
Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory has been widely adopted by psychologists
due to its comprehensiveness and ease of use - Answers - False
What is the dominant meta-theory in the field today? - Answers - Cognitivism
What is cultural relativity? - Answers - An appreciation for cultural differences, and the
understanding that cultural practices are best understood from the standpoint of that
particular culture
All the following are domains of development EXCEPT: - Answers - cultural
A researcher believes that children are innately active, curious, and interested, and
inherently desire to explore, understand, and fit in with their social and physical
To establish causality, - Answers - All the above
Theories that assume that developmental change occurs in distinct stages that are
qualitatively different from each other, and that unfold in a set, universal sequence
reflect: - Answers - Discontinuous development
Meta-theories are also known as perspectives or paradigms - Answers - true
A researcher is interested in studying toddlers' ability to wait to eat a tasty marshmallow
until the researcher returns (i.e., delay of gratification). They would use:
A. naturalistic laboratory study
b. field experiment
c. naturalistic feel study
d. laboratory experiment - Answers - Naturalistic laboratory study
Studying the long-term development of children who have been adopted, fostered, or
returned to their mothers compared to those who had spend their lives in their biological
families is an example of a:
field experiment
naturalistic laboratory study
laboratory study
natural experiment - Answers - Natural experiment
Research methods are free from meta-theoretical assumptions, which allows for
unbiased perspectives about target phenomena - Answers - false
Quantitative research is based on deductive methodologies - Answers - true
Grounded theory is: - Answers - all the above
Which of the following is NOT a key assumption of meta-theories? - Answers - Lab vs.
naturalistic
The idea that people are born as blank slates (tabula rasa) is associated with: -
Answers - John Locke
An area of research which is focused on studying methods to promote the adoption and
integration of evidence-based practices, interventions, and policies into routine settings
is called: - Answers - implementation science
Infancy is the most crucial period of development, as it sets the stage for the rest of a
person s development - Answers - false
,According to the lifespan perspective, plasticity is: - Answers - The potential to change
and to follow a wide range of developmental pathways
Science is a historically- and culturally-embedded social enterprise - Answers - True
Match the person with their theory.
Albert Bandura
Jean Piaget
Erik Erikson
B.F. Skinner
Lev Vygotsky - Answers - Albert Bandura- Social learning theory
Jean Piaget- cognitive theory
Erik Erikson- psychosocial theory
B.F. Skinner- learning theory
Lev Vygotsky- cognitive theory
Match the meta-theory with the perspective/person
B.F. Skinner
Urie Bronfenbrenner
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean Piaget
Preformationism - Answers - B.F. Skinner-
Mechanistic
Urie Bronfenbrenner-
Contextual
Jean-Jacques Rousseau-
Organismic
Jean Piaget-
,Organismic
Preformationism-
Maturational
According to the lifespan perspective, development is change for the better - Answers
- false
In cross-sectional studies, age is always confounded with cohort - Answers - true
Science is the only way of knowing - Answers - false
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is an example of a: - Answers - field experiment
A student believes that development is solely the product of innate or immutable
characteristics of individuals and is not concerned with environmental contributions.
This student's perspective best fits which meta-theory? - Answers - Maturational
If you are a contextualist, you are most likely to use which of the following descriptive
designs? - Answers - Cross-sequential
Why is it important in science to use a variety of approaches (e.g., observations, self-
reports, and psychophysiological assessments) to collect information? - Answers - We
have more confidence that our results are meaningful when multiple sources of
information converge.
What are teratogens? - Answers - Environmental factors that can lead to birth defects
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of laboratory experiments? - Answers -
Can generalize results to real-world settings
Meta-theories about human nature and development only apply to psychologists -
Answers - false
Which of the following is NOT a strength of science? - Answers - it is inclusive of all
cultures
Which of the following descriptive developmental designs involves data collection at
multiple time points from one cohort? - Answers - longitudinal
What are the three goals of lifespan developmental science? - Answers - Describe,
explain, optimize
A 20-year-old individual who has cognitive impairments with the mental capacity of an
8-year-old is an example of:
, a. psychological age
b. biological age
c. social age
d. chronological age - Answers - Psychological age
What is the role of the person in each meta-theory?
QuestionCorrect Match
Mechanistic
Organismic
Maturational
Contextual - Answers - - Mechanistic is Passive
- Organismic is Active
- Maturational is passive
- Contextual is Active
The results of the Bobo doll experiment illustrate: - Answers - Social learning theory
The idea that more complex mental skills of adults are built from primitive abilities of
children through brain maturation and interactions with the environment exemplifies
which contemporary theory of development?
a. sociocultural theory
b. social learning theory
c. information processing theory
d. learning theory - Answers - Information processing theory
What is an example of a non-normative influence? - Answers - Death of a parent
Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory has been widely adopted by psychologists
due to its comprehensiveness and ease of use - Answers - False
What is the dominant meta-theory in the field today? - Answers - Cognitivism
What is cultural relativity? - Answers - An appreciation for cultural differences, and the
understanding that cultural practices are best understood from the standpoint of that
particular culture
All the following are domains of development EXCEPT: - Answers - cultural
A researcher believes that children are innately active, curious, and interested, and
inherently desire to explore, understand, and fit in with their social and physical
