PSYC 140 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY COMPLETE TEST | 250
EXAM Q&A | PORTAGE LEARNING MODULES 1-8 | VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026
1. What is developmental psychology? The scientific study of how and why
people change across the lifespan, from conception to death.
2. What are the three domains of development? Physical, cognitive, and
psychosocial development.
3. Define physical development. Changes in body size, proportions,
appearance, motor skills, health, and physical capabilities.
4. Define cognitive development. Changes in thinking, memory, problem-
solving, language, and intelligence.
5. Define psychosocial development. Changes in emotions, personality,
relationships, and social contexts.
6. What is the nature vs. nurture debate? The debate about whether
development is primarily influenced by genetics (nature) or environment and
experience (nurture).
7. What is the continuity vs. discontinuity debate? Whether development is a
gradual, continuous process or occurs in distinct stages with qualitative changes.
8. What is the stability vs. change debate? Whether personality traits and
characteristics remain stable over time or can change throughout life.
9. What are critical periods? Specific time frames when certain developments
must occur or they will never occur properly.
10. What are sensitive periods? Times when individuals are particularly
responsive to certain experiences, but development can still occur outside these
periods.
11. What is a cohort? A group of people born around the same time who share
historical experiences.
12. What is a cross-sectional research design? A study comparing different
age groups at the same point in time.
,13. What is a longitudinal research design? A study following the same
individuals over an extended period of time.
14. What is a sequential research design? A study combining cross-sectional
and longitudinal approaches by following multiple cohorts over time.
15. What are the advantages of cross-sectional designs? Quick, cost-
effective, and can compare many age groups simultaneously.
16. What are disadvantages of cross-sectional designs? Cannot measure
individual change and may confuse cohort effects with age effects.
17. What are advantages of longitudinal designs? Can measure individual
change and developmental patterns over time.
18. What are disadvantages of longitudinal designs? Time-consuming,
expensive, subject to attrition, and may have practice effects.
19. What is the scientific method in developmental psychology? A
systematic approach involving observation, hypothesis formation, testing, and
conclusion drawing.
20. What is correlation? A relationship between two variables that does not
prove causation.
21. What is an experiment? A research method that manipulates an
independent variable to measure its effect on a dependent variable.
22. What is the independent variable? The variable manipulated or controlled
by the researcher.
23. What is the dependent variable? The variable measured to see if it
changes in response to the independent variable.
24. What is a control group? The group that does not receive the experimental
treatment, used for comparison.
25. What is random assignment? Assigning participants to groups by chance
to reduce bias.
26. What are ethical considerations in developmental research? Informed
consent, confidentiality, minimizing harm, debriefing, and special protections
for vulnerable populations.
27. What is informed consent? Agreement to participate in research after
being fully informed about the study's purpose and procedures.
, 28. What is assent in research with children? A child's agreement to
participate in research, though legal consent comes from parents/guardians.
29. What is ecological validity? The extent to which research findings can be
generalized to real-world settings.
30. What is the lifespan perspective? The view that development is lifelong,
multidimensional, multidirectional, plastic, and contextual.
MODULE 2: Prenatal Development and Birth (Questions 31-60)
31. What are the three stages of prenatal development? Germinal,
embryonic, and fetal stages.
32. How long does the germinal stage last? Approximately 2 weeks, from
conception to implantation.
33. What happens during the germinal stage? Rapid cell division, formation
of the blastocyst, and implantation in the uterine wall.
34. How long does the embryonic stage last? From week 3 to week 8 of
pregnancy.
35. What happens during the embryonic stage? Formation of major organs
and structures; the organism is most vulnerable to teratogens.
36. How long does the fetal stage last? From week 9 until birth (around 38-40
weeks).
37. What happens during the fetal stage? Continued growth and refinement
of organs and systems; dramatic increase in size.
38. What is a teratogen? Any environmental agent that can cause damage
during prenatal development.
39. Name three common teratogens. Alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, certain
medications, and infections like rubella.
40. What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)? A cluster of birth defects caused
by maternal alcohol consumption, including facial abnormalities, growth
deficiencies, and brain damage.
41. What is the age of viability? Around 22-26 weeks when a fetus has a
chance of survival outside the womb with medical intervention.
EXAM Q&A | PORTAGE LEARNING MODULES 1-8 | VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026
1. What is developmental psychology? The scientific study of how and why
people change across the lifespan, from conception to death.
2. What are the three domains of development? Physical, cognitive, and
psychosocial development.
3. Define physical development. Changes in body size, proportions,
appearance, motor skills, health, and physical capabilities.
4. Define cognitive development. Changes in thinking, memory, problem-
solving, language, and intelligence.
5. Define psychosocial development. Changes in emotions, personality,
relationships, and social contexts.
6. What is the nature vs. nurture debate? The debate about whether
development is primarily influenced by genetics (nature) or environment and
experience (nurture).
7. What is the continuity vs. discontinuity debate? Whether development is a
gradual, continuous process or occurs in distinct stages with qualitative changes.
8. What is the stability vs. change debate? Whether personality traits and
characteristics remain stable over time or can change throughout life.
9. What are critical periods? Specific time frames when certain developments
must occur or they will never occur properly.
10. What are sensitive periods? Times when individuals are particularly
responsive to certain experiences, but development can still occur outside these
periods.
11. What is a cohort? A group of people born around the same time who share
historical experiences.
12. What is a cross-sectional research design? A study comparing different
age groups at the same point in time.
,13. What is a longitudinal research design? A study following the same
individuals over an extended period of time.
14. What is a sequential research design? A study combining cross-sectional
and longitudinal approaches by following multiple cohorts over time.
15. What are the advantages of cross-sectional designs? Quick, cost-
effective, and can compare many age groups simultaneously.
16. What are disadvantages of cross-sectional designs? Cannot measure
individual change and may confuse cohort effects with age effects.
17. What are advantages of longitudinal designs? Can measure individual
change and developmental patterns over time.
18. What are disadvantages of longitudinal designs? Time-consuming,
expensive, subject to attrition, and may have practice effects.
19. What is the scientific method in developmental psychology? A
systematic approach involving observation, hypothesis formation, testing, and
conclusion drawing.
20. What is correlation? A relationship between two variables that does not
prove causation.
21. What is an experiment? A research method that manipulates an
independent variable to measure its effect on a dependent variable.
22. What is the independent variable? The variable manipulated or controlled
by the researcher.
23. What is the dependent variable? The variable measured to see if it
changes in response to the independent variable.
24. What is a control group? The group that does not receive the experimental
treatment, used for comparison.
25. What is random assignment? Assigning participants to groups by chance
to reduce bias.
26. What are ethical considerations in developmental research? Informed
consent, confidentiality, minimizing harm, debriefing, and special protections
for vulnerable populations.
27. What is informed consent? Agreement to participate in research after
being fully informed about the study's purpose and procedures.
, 28. What is assent in research with children? A child's agreement to
participate in research, though legal consent comes from parents/guardians.
29. What is ecological validity? The extent to which research findings can be
generalized to real-world settings.
30. What is the lifespan perspective? The view that development is lifelong,
multidimensional, multidirectional, plastic, and contextual.
MODULE 2: Prenatal Development and Birth (Questions 31-60)
31. What are the three stages of prenatal development? Germinal,
embryonic, and fetal stages.
32. How long does the germinal stage last? Approximately 2 weeks, from
conception to implantation.
33. What happens during the germinal stage? Rapid cell division, formation
of the blastocyst, and implantation in the uterine wall.
34. How long does the embryonic stage last? From week 3 to week 8 of
pregnancy.
35. What happens during the embryonic stage? Formation of major organs
and structures; the organism is most vulnerable to teratogens.
36. How long does the fetal stage last? From week 9 until birth (around 38-40
weeks).
37. What happens during the fetal stage? Continued growth and refinement
of organs and systems; dramatic increase in size.
38. What is a teratogen? Any environmental agent that can cause damage
during prenatal development.
39. Name three common teratogens. Alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, certain
medications, and infections like rubella.
40. What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)? A cluster of birth defects caused
by maternal alcohol consumption, including facial abnormalities, growth
deficiencies, and brain damage.
41. What is the age of viability? Around 22-26 weeks when a fetus has a
chance of survival outside the womb with medical intervention.
