PSYC 140 Developmental Psychology Comprehensive Exam
Portage Learning Actual Exam 2026/2027 – Complete 80
Questions with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
SECTION A: Foundations & Research Methods in Lifespan Development
(Q1–Q8)
Q1: Dr. Alvarez recruits 200 children and measures their reading ability at ages 6, 9, and
12, following the SAME children over the entire period. This research design is BEST
classified as:
A. Cross-sectional
B. Cross-sequential
C. Correlational
D. Longitudinal [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A longitudinal design repeatedly measures the same individuals across time,
revealing individual developmental change. Cross-sectional designs compare different
age groups at one time, and cross-sequential combines both approaches.
Q2: A researcher compares memory performance among 20-, 40-, and 60-year-olds in a
single testing session. The primary DISADVANTAGE of this design is that:
A. It takes too many years to complete
B. It cannot detect age differences
C. Differences between groups may reflect cohort effects — generational experiences —
rather than true aging [CORRECT]
D. Participants are tested repeatedly and drop out
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cross-sectional designs test different ages at one time, so generational
differences (education, technology, nutrition) can be mistaken for age effects. Attrition
and long duration are limitations of longitudinal designs, and cross-sectional studies
clearly CAN detect group differences.
,Q3: A cross-sectional study finds that 75-year-olds score far below 25-year-olds on an
arithmetic test. The researcher later realizes the older cohort attended school during an
era of limited formal education. This confound is known as a:
A. Practice effect
B. Cohort effect [CORRECT]
C. Maturation effect
D. Selection bias from attrition
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A cohort effect occurs when a generation's shared experiences (education,
historical events) produce group differences unrelated to aging itself. Practice effects
come from repeated testing, and attrition refers to participants dropping out of
longitudinal studies.
Q4: A study finds a strong correlation between hours of television watched and
aggression in 8-year-olds. The researcher should conclude that:
A. Television causes aggression
B. Aggression causes television watching
C. The two variables are related, but the study cannot establish which causes which — a
third variable (e.g., parenting) may explain both [CORRECT]
D. The correlation is a research error
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correlational designs establish that variables covary but cannot prove
causation or directionality, and unmeasured third variables may drive the relationship.
Neither variable can be labeled the cause, and a correlation is a legitimate finding, not
an error.
Q5: A researcher wants to study coping skills in 10-year-olds whose parents have
cancer. Ethically, the researcher must FIRST:
A. Obtain informed consent from the parents and the assent of the children [CORRECT]
B. Begin data collection and explain the study afterward
C. Obtain consent from the children alone
D. Avoid telling participants the study's purpose to prevent bias
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Minors cannot legally consent, so parents/guardians provide informed
consent while children provide assent — a core research ethics requirement. Collecting
data before consent, relying on child consent alone, or deceiving participants violates
informed-consent protections.
, Q6: Identical twins raised in separate families from birth show remarkably similar
personality traits and intelligence scores in adulthood. This finding provides the
STRONGEST support for the influence of:
A. Nature (heredity) [CORRECT]
B. Nurture (environment)
C. Cohort effects
D. Critical periods
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Identical twins share 100% of their genes, so similarities despite different
environments point to genetic influence. Environmental effects would produce
differences between the twins, and cohort/critical-period concepts do not explain twin
resemblance.
Q7: A theorist who argues that development occurs through a series of distinct,
qualitatively different stages — like climbing a staircase — is emphasizing:
A. Continuity
B. Nurture
C. Discontinuity [CORRECT]
D. Universality of quantitative growth
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Discontinuity views describe development as abrupt, qualitatively distinct
stage changes (e.g., Piaget, Erikson), whereas continuity views describe gradual,
cumulative quantitative change. Nurture concerns sources of development, not its
pattern.
Q8: A 7-year-old adopted from another country acquires fluent English within two years,
while her 45-year-old adoptive father struggles despite years of classes. This BEST
illustrates the concept of a:
A. Cohort effect
B. Critical/sensitive period — a window when the developing person is especially
responsive to particular experiences [CORRECT]
C. Longitudinal design
D. Nature effect
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Language acquisition proceeds far more readily during childhood sensitive
periods than in adulthood. Cohort effects concern generational differences, and neither
research designs nor heredity alone explain the age advantage in language learning.
Portage Learning Actual Exam 2026/2027 – Complete 80
Questions with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
SECTION A: Foundations & Research Methods in Lifespan Development
(Q1–Q8)
Q1: Dr. Alvarez recruits 200 children and measures their reading ability at ages 6, 9, and
12, following the SAME children over the entire period. This research design is BEST
classified as:
A. Cross-sectional
B. Cross-sequential
C. Correlational
D. Longitudinal [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A longitudinal design repeatedly measures the same individuals across time,
revealing individual developmental change. Cross-sectional designs compare different
age groups at one time, and cross-sequential combines both approaches.
Q2: A researcher compares memory performance among 20-, 40-, and 60-year-olds in a
single testing session. The primary DISADVANTAGE of this design is that:
A. It takes too many years to complete
B. It cannot detect age differences
C. Differences between groups may reflect cohort effects — generational experiences —
rather than true aging [CORRECT]
D. Participants are tested repeatedly and drop out
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cross-sectional designs test different ages at one time, so generational
differences (education, technology, nutrition) can be mistaken for age effects. Attrition
and long duration are limitations of longitudinal designs, and cross-sectional studies
clearly CAN detect group differences.
,Q3: A cross-sectional study finds that 75-year-olds score far below 25-year-olds on an
arithmetic test. The researcher later realizes the older cohort attended school during an
era of limited formal education. This confound is known as a:
A. Practice effect
B. Cohort effect [CORRECT]
C. Maturation effect
D. Selection bias from attrition
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A cohort effect occurs when a generation's shared experiences (education,
historical events) produce group differences unrelated to aging itself. Practice effects
come from repeated testing, and attrition refers to participants dropping out of
longitudinal studies.
Q4: A study finds a strong correlation between hours of television watched and
aggression in 8-year-olds. The researcher should conclude that:
A. Television causes aggression
B. Aggression causes television watching
C. The two variables are related, but the study cannot establish which causes which — a
third variable (e.g., parenting) may explain both [CORRECT]
D. The correlation is a research error
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correlational designs establish that variables covary but cannot prove
causation or directionality, and unmeasured third variables may drive the relationship.
Neither variable can be labeled the cause, and a correlation is a legitimate finding, not
an error.
Q5: A researcher wants to study coping skills in 10-year-olds whose parents have
cancer. Ethically, the researcher must FIRST:
A. Obtain informed consent from the parents and the assent of the children [CORRECT]
B. Begin data collection and explain the study afterward
C. Obtain consent from the children alone
D. Avoid telling participants the study's purpose to prevent bias
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Minors cannot legally consent, so parents/guardians provide informed
consent while children provide assent — a core research ethics requirement. Collecting
data before consent, relying on child consent alone, or deceiving participants violates
informed-consent protections.
, Q6: Identical twins raised in separate families from birth show remarkably similar
personality traits and intelligence scores in adulthood. This finding provides the
STRONGEST support for the influence of:
A. Nature (heredity) [CORRECT]
B. Nurture (environment)
C. Cohort effects
D. Critical periods
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Identical twins share 100% of their genes, so similarities despite different
environments point to genetic influence. Environmental effects would produce
differences between the twins, and cohort/critical-period concepts do not explain twin
resemblance.
Q7: A theorist who argues that development occurs through a series of distinct,
qualitatively different stages — like climbing a staircase — is emphasizing:
A. Continuity
B. Nurture
C. Discontinuity [CORRECT]
D. Universality of quantitative growth
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Discontinuity views describe development as abrupt, qualitatively distinct
stage changes (e.g., Piaget, Erikson), whereas continuity views describe gradual,
cumulative quantitative change. Nurture concerns sources of development, not its
pattern.
Q8: A 7-year-old adopted from another country acquires fluent English within two years,
while her 45-year-old adoptive father struggles despite years of classes. This BEST
illustrates the concept of a:
A. Cohort effect
B. Critical/sensitive period — a window when the developing person is especially
responsive to particular experiences [CORRECT]
C. Longitudinal design
D. Nature effect
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Language acquisition proceeds far more readily during childhood sensitive
periods than in adulthood. Cohort effects concern generational differences, and neither
research designs nor heredity alone explain the age advantage in language learning.
