Psyc101 Exam #3 Questions and Answers
Psyc101 Exam #3 Questions and Answers
Question 1
What do information processing theories focus on?
a. Describing the cognitive processes that underlie thinking at any one age and
cognitive growth over time
b. Describing development that occurs sequentially and discontinuously that allows
for strict quantitative measures when observing changes
c. Development that occurs through a sequence of discontinuous stages: the
sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages
d. Emphasizing how other people and the attitudes, values, and beliefs of the
surrounding culture influence children's development
Correct Answer
a
Question 2
If a boy believed that the only variable that affected the distance a ball traveled when
thrown was the force with which it was thrown and then conducted a biased
"experiment" that proved his assumption which developmental phenomenon
according to Piaget is involved?
a. Object permanence
b. Conservation
c. Concrete operations
d. Formal operations
Correct Answer
c
Page 1 of 19
, Psyc101 Exam #3 Questions and Answers
Question 3
The idea that on the object permanence task, infants perform better when the waiting
period is shorter at just six months of age supports which of the following problems
with Piaget's theory?
a. Life experiences/culture play a role on cognitive development
b. Piaget underestimated children's cognitive abilities
c. Many adults do not reach formal operations
d. Cognitive development is more continuous than Piaget thought
Correct Answer
d
Question 4
Adam is upset that his twin brother Ryan has two pieces of pie while he only has one.
His Mom rightly states that it's the same amount of pie it's just that Ryan's piece fell
apart into two pieces as it was transferred onto the plate. Still not satisfied, Adam
begins to throw a temper tantrum. In a moment of desperation, Adam's Mom cuts his
piece in half saying: "There, Adam, now you have two pieces!" This worked. Adam is
now happy. What Piagetian Stage is Adam in?
a. Sensorimotor
b. Preoperational
c. Concrete operational
d. Formal operational
Correct Answer
Preoperational
Page 2 of 19
, Psyc101 Exam #3 Questions and Answers
Question 5
Eight-month old Jonathan was left by his mother at the baby-sitter's place. The
minute his mother left and he could not see her, Jonathan started to cry. According to
Piaget's theory of cognitive development which concept would explain Jonathan's
behavior?
a. Egocentrism
b. Conservation
c. Object permanence
d. Transformation
Correct Answer
c. Object permanence
Question 6
What resolution have developmental psychologists come to when it comes to the
nature vs. nurture debate?
a. Our biological endowments have a much larger effect on our growth and behavior
than our current environment
b. Our social and physical worlds cannot match the developmental factors preset by
our heritable characteristics
c. Our environments and genes are still under investigation to resolve the debate of
which is more influential in our development
d. Our biological endowment, along with our social and physical environments,
interact to determine developmental outcomes
Correct Answer
d. Our biological endowment, along with our social and physical environments,
interact to determine developmental outcomes
Page 3 of 19
Psyc101 Exam #3 Questions and Answers
Question 1
What do information processing theories focus on?
a. Describing the cognitive processes that underlie thinking at any one age and
cognitive growth over time
b. Describing development that occurs sequentially and discontinuously that allows
for strict quantitative measures when observing changes
c. Development that occurs through a sequence of discontinuous stages: the
sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages
d. Emphasizing how other people and the attitudes, values, and beliefs of the
surrounding culture influence children's development
Correct Answer
a
Question 2
If a boy believed that the only variable that affected the distance a ball traveled when
thrown was the force with which it was thrown and then conducted a biased
"experiment" that proved his assumption which developmental phenomenon
according to Piaget is involved?
a. Object permanence
b. Conservation
c. Concrete operations
d. Formal operations
Correct Answer
c
Page 1 of 19
, Psyc101 Exam #3 Questions and Answers
Question 3
The idea that on the object permanence task, infants perform better when the waiting
period is shorter at just six months of age supports which of the following problems
with Piaget's theory?
a. Life experiences/culture play a role on cognitive development
b. Piaget underestimated children's cognitive abilities
c. Many adults do not reach formal operations
d. Cognitive development is more continuous than Piaget thought
Correct Answer
d
Question 4
Adam is upset that his twin brother Ryan has two pieces of pie while he only has one.
His Mom rightly states that it's the same amount of pie it's just that Ryan's piece fell
apart into two pieces as it was transferred onto the plate. Still not satisfied, Adam
begins to throw a temper tantrum. In a moment of desperation, Adam's Mom cuts his
piece in half saying: "There, Adam, now you have two pieces!" This worked. Adam is
now happy. What Piagetian Stage is Adam in?
a. Sensorimotor
b. Preoperational
c. Concrete operational
d. Formal operational
Correct Answer
Preoperational
Page 2 of 19
, Psyc101 Exam #3 Questions and Answers
Question 5
Eight-month old Jonathan was left by his mother at the baby-sitter's place. The
minute his mother left and he could not see her, Jonathan started to cry. According to
Piaget's theory of cognitive development which concept would explain Jonathan's
behavior?
a. Egocentrism
b. Conservation
c. Object permanence
d. Transformation
Correct Answer
c. Object permanence
Question 6
What resolution have developmental psychologists come to when it comes to the
nature vs. nurture debate?
a. Our biological endowments have a much larger effect on our growth and behavior
than our current environment
b. Our social and physical worlds cannot match the developmental factors preset by
our heritable characteristics
c. Our environments and genes are still under investigation to resolve the debate of
which is more influential in our development
d. Our biological endowment, along with our social and physical environments,
interact to determine developmental outcomes
Correct Answer
d. Our biological endowment, along with our social and physical environments,
interact to determine developmental outcomes
Page 3 of 19
