CHAPTER 1: THE SCIENCE OF HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
What is the scientific method? - ANSWER A way to answer questions that requires empirical research
and data-based conclusions
What are the five basic steps to the scientific method? - ANSWER 1. Begin with curiosity
2. Develop a hypothesis
3. Test the hypothesis
4. Draw conclusions
5. Report the results
What is a hypothesis? - ANSWER A specific prediction that can be tested
What is empirical evidence? - ANSWER Evidence based on data from scientific observation or
experiments; not theoretical.
What is replication? - ANSWER The repetition of an experiment using different participants
_______ refers to the influence of the genes that people inherit. ________ refers to environmental
influences, beginning with the health and diet of the embryo's mother and continuing lifelong, including
family, school, community, and society. - ANSWER Nature;
Nurture
Define: Critical Period - ANSWER A time when a particular type of developmental growth (in body or
behavior) must happen if it is ever going to happen.
Define: Sensitive Period - ANSWER When a certain type of development is most likely, although it may
still happen later
What are the 5 characteristics of the life span perspective? - ANSWER Multidirectional
Multicontextual
Multicultural
Multidisciplinary
Plastic
Explain the Multidirectional perspective. - ANSWER Human characteristics change in multiple ways -
increasing, decreasing, or holding steady; in a line (linear), a curve (curvilinear), or up and down (zigzag).
Explain the Multicontextual perspective. - ANSWER It takes place within many contexts, including
physical surroundings (climate, noise, population density, etc.) and family configurations (married
couple, single parent, cohabiting couple, extended family, etc.).
Explain the Multicultural perspective. - ANSWER To study human development, it is essential that people
from all cultures be included.
DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
What is the scientific method? - ANSWER A way to answer questions that requires empirical research
and data-based conclusions
What are the five basic steps to the scientific method? - ANSWER 1. Begin with curiosity
2. Develop a hypothesis
3. Test the hypothesis
4. Draw conclusions
5. Report the results
What is a hypothesis? - ANSWER A specific prediction that can be tested
What is empirical evidence? - ANSWER Evidence based on data from scientific observation or
experiments; not theoretical.
What is replication? - ANSWER The repetition of an experiment using different participants
_______ refers to the influence of the genes that people inherit. ________ refers to environmental
influences, beginning with the health and diet of the embryo's mother and continuing lifelong, including
family, school, community, and society. - ANSWER Nature;
Nurture
Define: Critical Period - ANSWER A time when a particular type of developmental growth (in body or
behavior) must happen if it is ever going to happen.
Define: Sensitive Period - ANSWER When a certain type of development is most likely, although it may
still happen later
What are the 5 characteristics of the life span perspective? - ANSWER Multidirectional
Multicontextual
Multicultural
Multidisciplinary
Plastic
Explain the Multidirectional perspective. - ANSWER Human characteristics change in multiple ways -
increasing, decreasing, or holding steady; in a line (linear), a curve (curvilinear), or up and down (zigzag).
Explain the Multicontextual perspective. - ANSWER It takes place within many contexts, including
physical surroundings (climate, noise, population density, etc.) and family configurations (married
couple, single parent, cohabiting couple, extended family, etc.).
Explain the Multicultural perspective. - ANSWER To study human development, it is essential that people
from all cultures be included.
