Psy 2305 – Developmental Psychology | Exam Questions And Correct Answers | Lifespan Development, Cognitive Growth And Human Behavior

PSY 2305 – DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS | LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT, COGNITIVE
GROWTH AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR




PSY 2305: Developmental Psychology




1. What is developmental psychology?

A. The study of mental disorders only
B. The scientific study of changes across the lifespan
C. The study of economic behavior
D. The study of physical illnesses

ANSWER : B. The scientific study of changes across the lifespan.

Explanation: Developmental psychology examines physical, cognitive,
emotional, and social changes from conception through old age.

2. Which three major domains are commonly studied in developmental
psychology?

A. Political, economic, and historical
B. Physical, cognitive, and psychosocial
C. Chemical, geological, and biological
D. Legal, cultural, and commercial

ANSWER : B. Physical, cognitive, and psychosocial.

Explanation: Physical development involves the body and brain, cognitive
development concerns thinking and learning, and psychosocial
development concerns emotions, personality, and relationships.

,3. What does the lifespan perspective emphasize?

A. Development ends during childhood
B. Development occurs only during adolescence
C. Development continues throughout life
D. Development is exclusively genetic

ANSWER : C. Development continues throughout life.

Explanation: People continue to experience changes in abilities,
relationships, roles, and adaptation throughout adulthood and old age.

4. Which researcher is closely associated with the theory of cognitive
development?

A. Jean Piaget
B. Ivan Pavlov
C. Wilhelm Wundt
D. Carl Rogers

ANSWER : A. Jean Piaget.

Explanation: Piaget proposed that children's thinking develops through a
sequence of stages involving increasingly sophisticated ways of
understanding the world.

5. What is meant by nature in the nature–nurture debate?

A. School experiences
B. Genetic and biological influences
C. Parenting practices only
D. Cultural traditions

ANSWER : B. Genetic and biological influences.

Explanation: Nature refers to inherited and biological contributions to
development, while nurture refers to environmental experiences. Most
developmental outcomes reflect their interaction.

6. What does nurture refer to in developmental psychology?

,A. Hereditary characteristics only
B. Environmental influences and experiences
C. Chromosome structure only
D. Reflexes present at birth only

ANSWER : B. Environmental influences and experiences.

Explanation: Nurture includes family relationships, education, nutrition,
culture, social interactions, and other environmental conditions.

7. Which research method follows the same individuals over an extended
period?

A. Cross-sectional study
B. Longitudinal study
C. Case-control experiment only
D. Laboratory observation only

ANSWER : B. Longitudinal study.

Explanation: Longitudinal research tracks the same participants over time,
allowing researchers to examine individual developmental changes.

8. What is a cross-sectional study?

A. A study that follows one person for decades
B. A study comparing different age groups at one point in time
C. A study that never measures behavior
D. A study involving only identical twins

ANSWER : B. A study comparing different age groups at one point in
time.

Explanation: Cross-sectional studies compare age groups relatively
quickly, although differences may reflect generational experiences as well
as age.

9. What is a cohort effect?

A. A change caused exclusively by aging

, B. An influence associated with belonging to a particular generation
C. A reflex that disappears during infancy
D. A temporary emotional response

ANSWER : B. An influence associated with belonging to a particular
generation.

Explanation: People born around the same time may share historical,
technological, educational, or cultural experiences that influence their
development.

10. What is a developmental milestone?

A. A guaranteed achievement at an exact age
B. A commonly expected developmental skill or achievement
C. A medical diagnosis
D. A measure of intelligence alone

ANSWER : B. A commonly expected developmental skill or achievement.

Explanation: Milestones describe skills commonly acquired within age
ranges. Individual variation is normal, and milestones are not exact
deadlines.

11. What does maturation mean?

A. Development resulting from biological growth and unfolding processes
B. Learning exclusively through punishment
C. Forgetting previously learned information
D. Changes caused only by school attendance

ANSWER : A. Development resulting from biological growth and
unfolding processes.

Explanation: Maturation includes biologically guided changes, such as
aspects of brain development and reproductive development, although
experience also influences their course.

12. Which term describes development that proceeds from the head
toward the feet?