Chap 01_8e
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
1. Meta-analysis allows researchers to synthesize the results of many studies to estimate relations between variables.
a. True
b. False
2. In a case study, a single person is examined in great detail.
a. True
b. False
3. When a person is asked to write down their responses to a set of questions, this is called a questionnaire.
a. True
b. False
4. Development is said to have plasticity when there is more than one path to successful aging.
a. True
b. False
5. An index variable is a variable that is used to represent the complex interrelated influences on people over time, such as
chronological age.
a. True
b. False
6. Events are characterized as normative if they are important to the individual but do not happen to most people.
a. True
b. False
7. Reliability is an indication that a measure is actually assessing what it was designed to measure.
a. True
b. False
8. Gerontology is the study of aging from maturity through old age.
a. True
b. False
9. When participants begin but do not finish a longitudinal assessment or study, there may be a problem with dropout.
a. True
b. False
10. Culture can be defined as shared basic value orientations, norms, beliefs, and customary habits, and ways of living.
a. True
b. False
11. Secondary aging refers to normal, disease-free development in adulthood.
a. True
b. False
Page 1
,Chap 01_8e
12. When one cannot determine which of two or more variables is responsible for an observed behavior or outcome, the
results are said to be uncorrelated.
a. True
b. False
13. Discrimination against older people simply because they are older is called ageism.
a. True
b. False
14. Informed consent involves gaining permission from the participant before collecting data and telling theparticipant
about any potential risks and benefits.
a. True
b. False
15. Intelligence and memory abilities are examples of your social age.
a. True
b. False
16. A cohort is a collection of people born in the same time period and/or who experience the same historical events.
a. True
b. False
17. When a participant cannot give informed consent, such as in the case of a participant with advanced Alzheimer’s
disease, then a family member may give consent.
a. True
b. False
18. Life-span perspective divides human development into an early phase and a later phase.
a. True
b. False
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
19. Age changes are studied most effectively using a design.
a. cross-sectional
b. longitudinal
c. time-lag
d. sequential
20. In a design, one group of participants is studied repeatedly over a period of time.
a. cross-sectional
b. longitudinal
c. cross-sequential
d. longitudinal-sequential
Page 2
,Chap 01_8e
21. Name the type of investigation design invented by K. Warner Schaie.
a. Sequential design
b. Parallel design
c. Disordered design
d. None of these
22. You recently read a study in which the researchers concluded that after age 60, women’s IQs drop
dramatically. This conclusion was based upon comparisons of women born between 1910 and 1930 and women
born between 1960 and 1980. Based upon this information, the comment you would most likely make is
a. this is not a valid result because men were not included in the study.
b. longitudinal research doesn’t work well when looking at IQ over time.
c. cohort effects likely account for the observed differences.
d. whoever conducted this study is negatively biased against older women.
23. What makes research ethical?
a. When designing a research study, investigators must do so in a way that does not violate the rights of
the people who participate.
b. Local panels of experts and community representatives do not review proposed studies before any
data are collected.
c. Scientists can begin their study without receiving approval from an expert panel.
d. None of these
24. Measuring the functioning of various vital or life-limiting systems, such as the human sensory system, is an
assessment of
a. biological age.
b. chronological age.
c. sociocultural age.
d. psychological age.
25. Developmental researchers are interested in understanding
a. how people change over time.
b. age-related changes.
c. age-related differences or variations.
d. all of these are correct.
26. Meta-analysis is ____________ .
a. a powerful tool as it allows scientists to determine whether a finding generalizes a study.
b. a powerful tool as it allows people to determine whether a finding generalizes across many studies
that used different methods.
c. a confusing tool that does not allow people to determine whether a finding generalizes a study.
d. None of these
Page 3
, Chap 01_8e
27. Graduate student Patty Hope Davis wants to follow the 2017 class of medical school graduates across the
first decade after their graduation. Which research design will Patty most likely use?
a. cross-sectional
b. longitudinal
c. time-lag
d. sequential
28. A researcher decides to investigate whether there are any significant changes in personality from early
adulthood through late adulthood. The researcher begins with a sample of 21-year-olds and plans to follow this
group until they are 80 years old. The type of research design is
a. cross-sectional.
b. longitudinal.
c. time-lag.
d. sequential.
29. Believing that all old people are senile is an example of
a. a stereotype that could lead to ageism.
b. ageism that could lead to discrimination.
c. accurate information about aging gathered from social media discussions.
d. accurate information based on current research.
30. Which variables are manipulated by the researcher(s) in an experiment?
a. dependent variables
b. independent variables
c. codependent variables
d. confounding variables
31. Understanding that development is shaped by biological, psychological, sociocultural, and life-cycle forces
defines which feature of the life-span perspective?
a. multidirectionality
b. plasticity
c. historical context
d. multiple causation
32. Correlations can range from -1.0 to 1.0, reflecting three different types of relations between study time and
number of grocery items from a list that are remembered. Which of the following statement satisfies the
condition “r = 0”?
a. Study time has no relation to remembering grocery items from a list.
b. As study time increases (or decreases), the number of grocery items remembered also increases (or
decreases).
c. When study time increases (or decreases), the number of grocery items remembered decreases (or
increases).
Page 4
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
1. Meta-analysis allows researchers to synthesize the results of many studies to estimate relations between variables.
a. True
b. False
2. In a case study, a single person is examined in great detail.
a. True
b. False
3. When a person is asked to write down their responses to a set of questions, this is called a questionnaire.
a. True
b. False
4. Development is said to have plasticity when there is more than one path to successful aging.
a. True
b. False
5. An index variable is a variable that is used to represent the complex interrelated influences on people over time, such as
chronological age.
a. True
b. False
6. Events are characterized as normative if they are important to the individual but do not happen to most people.
a. True
b. False
7. Reliability is an indication that a measure is actually assessing what it was designed to measure.
a. True
b. False
8. Gerontology is the study of aging from maturity through old age.
a. True
b. False
9. When participants begin but do not finish a longitudinal assessment or study, there may be a problem with dropout.
a. True
b. False
10. Culture can be defined as shared basic value orientations, norms, beliefs, and customary habits, and ways of living.
a. True
b. False
11. Secondary aging refers to normal, disease-free development in adulthood.
a. True
b. False
Page 1
,Chap 01_8e
12. When one cannot determine which of two or more variables is responsible for an observed behavior or outcome, the
results are said to be uncorrelated.
a. True
b. False
13. Discrimination against older people simply because they are older is called ageism.
a. True
b. False
14. Informed consent involves gaining permission from the participant before collecting data and telling theparticipant
about any potential risks and benefits.
a. True
b. False
15. Intelligence and memory abilities are examples of your social age.
a. True
b. False
16. A cohort is a collection of people born in the same time period and/or who experience the same historical events.
a. True
b. False
17. When a participant cannot give informed consent, such as in the case of a participant with advanced Alzheimer’s
disease, then a family member may give consent.
a. True
b. False
18. Life-span perspective divides human development into an early phase and a later phase.
a. True
b. False
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
19. Age changes are studied most effectively using a design.
a. cross-sectional
b. longitudinal
c. time-lag
d. sequential
20. In a design, one group of participants is studied repeatedly over a period of time.
a. cross-sectional
b. longitudinal
c. cross-sequential
d. longitudinal-sequential
Page 2
,Chap 01_8e
21. Name the type of investigation design invented by K. Warner Schaie.
a. Sequential design
b. Parallel design
c. Disordered design
d. None of these
22. You recently read a study in which the researchers concluded that after age 60, women’s IQs drop
dramatically. This conclusion was based upon comparisons of women born between 1910 and 1930 and women
born between 1960 and 1980. Based upon this information, the comment you would most likely make is
a. this is not a valid result because men were not included in the study.
b. longitudinal research doesn’t work well when looking at IQ over time.
c. cohort effects likely account for the observed differences.
d. whoever conducted this study is negatively biased against older women.
23. What makes research ethical?
a. When designing a research study, investigators must do so in a way that does not violate the rights of
the people who participate.
b. Local panels of experts and community representatives do not review proposed studies before any
data are collected.
c. Scientists can begin their study without receiving approval from an expert panel.
d. None of these
24. Measuring the functioning of various vital or life-limiting systems, such as the human sensory system, is an
assessment of
a. biological age.
b. chronological age.
c. sociocultural age.
d. psychological age.
25. Developmental researchers are interested in understanding
a. how people change over time.
b. age-related changes.
c. age-related differences or variations.
d. all of these are correct.
26. Meta-analysis is ____________ .
a. a powerful tool as it allows scientists to determine whether a finding generalizes a study.
b. a powerful tool as it allows people to determine whether a finding generalizes across many studies
that used different methods.
c. a confusing tool that does not allow people to determine whether a finding generalizes a study.
d. None of these
Page 3
, Chap 01_8e
27. Graduate student Patty Hope Davis wants to follow the 2017 class of medical school graduates across the
first decade after their graduation. Which research design will Patty most likely use?
a. cross-sectional
b. longitudinal
c. time-lag
d. sequential
28. A researcher decides to investigate whether there are any significant changes in personality from early
adulthood through late adulthood. The researcher begins with a sample of 21-year-olds and plans to follow this
group until they are 80 years old. The type of research design is
a. cross-sectional.
b. longitudinal.
c. time-lag.
d. sequential.
29. Believing that all old people are senile is an example of
a. a stereotype that could lead to ageism.
b. ageism that could lead to discrimination.
c. accurate information about aging gathered from social media discussions.
d. accurate information based on current research.
30. Which variables are manipulated by the researcher(s) in an experiment?
a. dependent variables
b. independent variables
c. codependent variables
d. confounding variables
31. Understanding that development is shaped by biological, psychological, sociocultural, and life-cycle forces
defines which feature of the life-span perspective?
a. multidirectionality
b. plasticity
c. historical context
d. multiple causation
32. Correlations can range from -1.0 to 1.0, reflecting three different types of relations between study time and
number of grocery items from a list that are remembered. Which of the following statement satisfies the
condition “r = 0”?
a. Study time has no relation to remembering grocery items from a list.
b. As study time increases (or decreases), the number of grocery items remembered also increases (or
decreases).
c. When study time increases (or decreases), the number of grocery items remembered decreases (or
increases).
Page 4
