,Chapter 1—The Study of Human Development
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Who is most likely interested in the study of human development?
a. Dr. Harvey, who studies the brain cells of infants
b. Dr. Hatfield, who studies eating disorders
c. Dr. Deal, who studies how political attitudes change with age
d. Dr. Hersh, who studies elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease
ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
2. Which most accurately reflects the nature of the scientific study of human development?
a. Multidisciplinary
b. Focus on groups, not individuals
c. Nontheoretical
d. Emphasis on stability over change
ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Conceptual
3. Which question best captures the spirit of most individuals who study human development
with regard to the nature/nurture question?
a. How do genes and environmental factors interact in the development of memory
processes?
b. Which human behaviors are determined genetically, and which are determined by
environmental factors?
c. At what age do environmental factors surpass genetic factors as most important in
human development?
d. Which genes are responsible for childhood behavior, and which genes are
responsible for adult behavior?
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
MSC: Conceptual
4. Which term does not belong in this group?
a. Experiential
b. Nurture
c. Environmental
d. Hereditary
ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Conceptual
5. Since Dr. Kim takes a strong nature position concerning the origins of mental
retardation, she would most likely hypothesize that her son’s mental retardation is due to
a. her parenting style.
b. his genes.
c. his exposure to a toxic chemical prior to birth.
, d. random chance.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
6. The notion that development is best described in terms of a series of abrupt shifts in
behavior best fits with the _____ approach.
a. Nature
b. Nurture
c. continuity
d. discontinuity
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Factual
7. When discussing child development, Olaf uses terms like the “terrible 2s” and the “tranquil
3s.” These ideas are most compatible with a ____ view.
a. context-specificity
b. hereditary
c. continuity
d. discontinuity
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
8. Dr. Fletcher is attempting to determine whether adult criminals were rule breakers
throughout their childhood, or whether they suddenly turned to a life of crime. Her research
is most concerned with which issue of human development?
a. Nature versus nurture
b. Universal versus context-specific development
c. Biological versus sociocultural forces
d. Continuity versus discontinuity
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
9. Yacef is interested in determining whether children develop virtually the same way in
Algeria as they do in other parts of the world. Yacef’s research deals primarily with the
____________ issue of human development.
a. psychological versus biological forces
b. universal versus context-specific development
c. nature versus nurture
d. continuity versus discontinuity
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
10. Sara believes that memory processes develop the same way in all children. Sara is most
likely to support a _____ position regarding human development.
a. universal
b. nurture
, c. discontinuous
d. non-normative
ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
11. When Kayla says “It doesn’t matter if they are French, Swedish, or Chinese, kids are kids,”
she is espousing a ____ position concerning human development.
a. discontinuous
b. universal
c. nurture
d. context-specific
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
12. Sophia notices that children seem to mature socially much faster in Argentina than in the
United States. Sophia is most likely to support a ________ position regarding human
development.
a. nature
b. discontinuous
c. context-specific
d. continuous
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
13. Lotte is listening to a lecture in which her professor states, “Genetic and cultural factors are
important, but they alone cannot explain the development of human beings.” Lotte’s
professor seems to be supporting
a. the biopsychosocial framework.
b. the position that development is continuous.
c. the notion of universality.
d. discontinuity.
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
14. Dr. Arantes uses a biopsychosocial framework for understanding human development.
Which position is she most likely to endorse on the nature versus nurture issue?
a. Nature is most important.
b. Nurture is most important.
c. Nature and nurture both play important roles in human development.
d. Neither nature nor nurture is important in the study of human development.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
15. Because Dr. Jefferson is interested in researching how people of different ages are affected
by events, it would be most accurate to say that Dr. Jefferson is most interested in studying
_____ forces.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Who is most likely interested in the study of human development?
a. Dr. Harvey, who studies the brain cells of infants
b. Dr. Hatfield, who studies eating disorders
c. Dr. Deal, who studies how political attitudes change with age
d. Dr. Hersh, who studies elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease
ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
2. Which most accurately reflects the nature of the scientific study of human development?
a. Multidisciplinary
b. Focus on groups, not individuals
c. Nontheoretical
d. Emphasis on stability over change
ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Conceptual
3. Which question best captures the spirit of most individuals who study human development
with regard to the nature/nurture question?
a. How do genes and environmental factors interact in the development of memory
processes?
b. Which human behaviors are determined genetically, and which are determined by
environmental factors?
c. At what age do environmental factors surpass genetic factors as most important in
human development?
d. Which genes are responsible for childhood behavior, and which genes are
responsible for adult behavior?
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
MSC: Conceptual
4. Which term does not belong in this group?
a. Experiential
b. Nurture
c. Environmental
d. Hereditary
ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Conceptual
5. Since Dr. Kim takes a strong nature position concerning the origins of mental
retardation, she would most likely hypothesize that her son’s mental retardation is due to
a. her parenting style.
b. his genes.
c. his exposure to a toxic chemical prior to birth.
, d. random chance.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
6. The notion that development is best described in terms of a series of abrupt shifts in
behavior best fits with the _____ approach.
a. Nature
b. Nurture
c. continuity
d. discontinuity
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Factual
7. When discussing child development, Olaf uses terms like the “terrible 2s” and the “tranquil
3s.” These ideas are most compatible with a ____ view.
a. context-specificity
b. hereditary
c. continuity
d. discontinuity
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
8. Dr. Fletcher is attempting to determine whether adult criminals were rule breakers
throughout their childhood, or whether they suddenly turned to a life of crime. Her research
is most concerned with which issue of human development?
a. Nature versus nurture
b. Universal versus context-specific development
c. Biological versus sociocultural forces
d. Continuity versus discontinuity
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
9. Yacef is interested in determining whether children develop virtually the same way in
Algeria as they do in other parts of the world. Yacef’s research deals primarily with the
____________ issue of human development.
a. psychological versus biological forces
b. universal versus context-specific development
c. nature versus nurture
d. continuity versus discontinuity
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
10. Sara believes that memory processes develop the same way in all children. Sara is most
likely to support a _____ position regarding human development.
a. universal
b. nurture
, c. discontinuous
d. non-normative
ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
11. When Kayla says “It doesn’t matter if they are French, Swedish, or Chinese, kids are kids,”
she is espousing a ____ position concerning human development.
a. discontinuous
b. universal
c. nurture
d. context-specific
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
12. Sophia notices that children seem to mature socially much faster in Argentina than in the
United States. Sophia is most likely to support a ________ position regarding human
development.
a. nature
b. discontinuous
c. context-specific
d. continuous
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
13. Lotte is listening to a lecture in which her professor states, “Genetic and cultural factors are
important, but they alone cannot explain the development of human beings.” Lotte’s
professor seems to be supporting
a. the biopsychosocial framework.
b. the position that development is continuous.
c. the notion of universality.
d. discontinuity.
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
14. Dr. Arantes uses a biopsychosocial framework for understanding human development.
Which position is she most likely to endorse on the nature versus nurture issue?
a. Nature is most important.
b. Nurture is most important.
c. Nature and nurture both play important roles in human development.
d. Neither nature nor nurture is important in the study of human development.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1 OBJ: 1.1
KEY: Key Term MSC: Application
15. Because Dr. Jefferson is interested in researching how people of different ages are affected
by events, it would be most accurate to say that Dr. Jefferson is most interested in studying
_____ forces.
