,South College NSG 5905 Quiz 1 | Models of Care Across
Lifespan (2026) Q&A
1. Which developmental framework is most directly concerned with psychosocial conflicts
that occur across successive stages of life?
A) Piaget's cognitive-developmental theory
B) Erikson's psychosocial theory
C) Skinner's operant-conditioning theory
D) Kohlberg's moral-development theory
Correct Answer: Erikson's psychosocial theory
Rationale: Erikson's theory organizes development around psychosocial conflicts that
unfold across the lifespan, from trust versus mistrust in infancy to integrity versus despair
in late adulthood. Piaget focused on cognitive stages, Skinner on learned behavior through
consequences, and Kohlberg on moral reasoning. Recognizing the theoretical domain being
assessed prevents confusing overlapping developmental concepts.
2. According to Erikson, which developmental task is most characteristic of adolescence?
A) Trust versus mistrust
B) Industry versus inferiority
C) Identity versus role confusion
D) Intimacy versus isolation
Correct Answer: Identity versus role confusion
,Rationale: Adolescence is characterized by identity versus role confusion, during which
the individual explores values, relationships, and future roles to establish a coherent sense
of self. Trust versus mistrust occurs in infancy, industry versus inferiority in school age, and
intimacy versus isolation in young adulthood.
3. A child who is beginning to use logical reasoning about concrete objects is demonstrating
which Piagetian stage?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Formal operational
D) Concrete operational
Correct Answer: Concrete operational
Rationale: Concrete operational thinking, typically emerging around age 7 and
continuing to about age 11, allows logical reasoning about tangible situations, including
conservation and classification. Sensorimotor development centers on sensory and motor
experiences, preoperational thinking is symbolic but limited in logic, and formal
operational thinking involves abstract hypothetical reasoning.
4. Which observation most clearly reflects formal operational reasoning?
A) Sorting objects according to color
B) Understanding that quantity remains constant after shape changes
C) Using hypothetical reasoning to consider several possible outcomes
D) Learning primarily through sensory exploration
Correct Answer: Using hypothetical reasoning to consider several possible outcomes
, Rationale: Formal operational thinking permits abstract, hypothetical, and systematic
reasoning about multiple possibilities. Conservation reflects concrete operational thought,
sorting by color reflects preoperational categorization, and sensory exploration reflects
sensorimotor learning.
5. In Vygotsky's theory, the zone of proximal development describes abilities that a child:
A) Has permanently mastered without assistance
B) Can accomplish with appropriate guidance
C) Cannot learn regardless of instruction
D) Develops only after formal schooling ends
Correct Answer: Can accomplish with appropriate guidance
Rationale: The zone of proximal development represents the range between what a
learner can accomplish independently and what can be achieved with assistance.
Scaffolding within this zone allows the learner to progress toward independent mastery,
emphasizing social interaction and guided learning.
6. Which developmental theorist emphasized that children progress through stages of
cognitive development, moving from concrete to abstract thinking?
A) Erik Erikson
B) Jean Piaget
C) Lawrence Kohlberg
D) Lev Vygotsky
Lifespan (2026) Q&A
1. Which developmental framework is most directly concerned with psychosocial conflicts
that occur across successive stages of life?
A) Piaget's cognitive-developmental theory
B) Erikson's psychosocial theory
C) Skinner's operant-conditioning theory
D) Kohlberg's moral-development theory
Correct Answer: Erikson's psychosocial theory
Rationale: Erikson's theory organizes development around psychosocial conflicts that
unfold across the lifespan, from trust versus mistrust in infancy to integrity versus despair
in late adulthood. Piaget focused on cognitive stages, Skinner on learned behavior through
consequences, and Kohlberg on moral reasoning. Recognizing the theoretical domain being
assessed prevents confusing overlapping developmental concepts.
2. According to Erikson, which developmental task is most characteristic of adolescence?
A) Trust versus mistrust
B) Industry versus inferiority
C) Identity versus role confusion
D) Intimacy versus isolation
Correct Answer: Identity versus role confusion
,Rationale: Adolescence is characterized by identity versus role confusion, during which
the individual explores values, relationships, and future roles to establish a coherent sense
of self. Trust versus mistrust occurs in infancy, industry versus inferiority in school age, and
intimacy versus isolation in young adulthood.
3. A child who is beginning to use logical reasoning about concrete objects is demonstrating
which Piagetian stage?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Formal operational
D) Concrete operational
Correct Answer: Concrete operational
Rationale: Concrete operational thinking, typically emerging around age 7 and
continuing to about age 11, allows logical reasoning about tangible situations, including
conservation and classification. Sensorimotor development centers on sensory and motor
experiences, preoperational thinking is symbolic but limited in logic, and formal
operational thinking involves abstract hypothetical reasoning.
4. Which observation most clearly reflects formal operational reasoning?
A) Sorting objects according to color
B) Understanding that quantity remains constant after shape changes
C) Using hypothetical reasoning to consider several possible outcomes
D) Learning primarily through sensory exploration
Correct Answer: Using hypothetical reasoning to consider several possible outcomes
, Rationale: Formal operational thinking permits abstract, hypothetical, and systematic
reasoning about multiple possibilities. Conservation reflects concrete operational thought,
sorting by color reflects preoperational categorization, and sensory exploration reflects
sensorimotor learning.
5. In Vygotsky's theory, the zone of proximal development describes abilities that a child:
A) Has permanently mastered without assistance
B) Can accomplish with appropriate guidance
C) Cannot learn regardless of instruction
D) Develops only after formal schooling ends
Correct Answer: Can accomplish with appropriate guidance
Rationale: The zone of proximal development represents the range between what a
learner can accomplish independently and what can be achieved with assistance.
Scaffolding within this zone allows the learner to progress toward independent mastery,
emphasizing social interaction and guided learning.
6. Which developmental theorist emphasized that children progress through stages of
cognitive development, moving from concrete to abstract thinking?
A) Erik Erikson
B) Jean Piaget
C) Lawrence Kohlberg
D) Lev Vygotsky
