Developmental Psychology Unit 1 Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What are the 3 themes of this course?

The 3 themes of this course are:

We are better at certain things in different phases of life.
A lot depends on the interdependence of domains.
Nature vs Nurture.

What do theories do for us - what good are they?

Theories help us understand the world around us and make sense of it. They organize information into a narrative that makes sense to us.

What makes a theory good?

A good theory is:

Descriptive: It accurately describes the phenomenon being studied.
Parsimonious: It is concise and efficient, explaining the phenomenon in a straightforward manner.
Falsifiable: It is testable, meaning there is a way to potentially disprove it, which is crucial for scientific advancement.

What does it mean if a theory is falsifiable?

It means that a theory can be potentially disproven. There should exist the possibility for someone to find evidence that contradicts the theory, allowing for ongoing scientific investigation and revision. Signup and view all the answers

Which theory is a good example of a falsifiable theory?

Piaget's theory Signup and view all the answers

What 3 issues/questions do developmental theories have to address?

Is it in your genes? Is it innate? Or does it come from the environment around you? Signup and view all the answers

What is a cohort?

A cohort is a group of individuals with similar characteristics, typically age, who share a common experience or are studied at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

Which correlation coefficient is the strongest? -0.8, -0.4, 0.2, 0.7

-0.8 Signup and view all the answers

If r = .99, what can we say about the causal relationship between the variables?

It indicates a strong positive correlation between the two variables. This means there is a strong association between them, but it does not necessarily imply a causal relationship. Signup and view all the answers

What answer does Behaviorism side with on the question of what causes developmental change?

Nurture. Signup and view all the answers

What is the key feature of experimental research that makes it possible to make causal conclusions from the resulting data?

The key feature is manipulating the independent variable to observe its effect on the dependent variable while controlling for other extraneous factors. This allows for a more direct investigation of cause-and-effect relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What does an operational definition tell you?

It defines how a particular variable was measured. Signup and view all the answers

What are confounding variables? Where are you likely to find them?

Confounding variables are extraneous variables that are related to both the independent and dependent variables. They can influence the outcome of an experiment, making it difficult to determine the true causal relationship. Signup and view all the answers

If correlational research can't tell us anything about causation, why do researchers ever use it?

Correlational research can be valuable because it helps researchers identify relationships between variables, even without establishing causation. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if a correlation is positive? What does it mean if it’s negative?

A positive correlation means that variables move in the same direction, as one variable increases so does the other, when one variable decreases so does the other. A negative correlation means that the variables move in opposite directions, as one variable increases the other decreases, Signup and view all the answers

What causes development? Nature vs Nurture

The question of what causes development, Nature vs Nurture, explores the relative contributions of genetics (nature) and environmental influences (nurture). This is a fundamental and ongoing debate in developmental science. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the statements is NOT true about identical twins?

They are raised in the same environment Signup and view all the answers

On my slide I said “Our environments affect our genes.” Does that mean that our genes change during our lifetime?

No, it means that gene expression can be influenced by the environment, leading to epigenetic changes. Signup and view all the answers

What is your epigenome? What does it do?

The epigenome is the collection of chemical compounds that regulate the activity of genes without changing the DNA sequence. Essentially, it tells cells which genes to turn on or off, when, and in what amount. Signup and view all the answers

How is the epigenome related to the nature vs nurture question?

The epigenome highlights the interplay of nature and nurture because it demonstrates how environmental factors can influence gene expression, potentially altering development and health. This adds complexity to the nature vs nurture debate. Signup and view all the answers

Why can't we do experimental research on the effects of poverty?

The effects of poverty are often complex and difficult to isolate from other factors that may be influencing them. It's difficult to control for all the variables that could be contributing to the observed outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

What type of research has been used to try to get closer to finding out if poverty is a causal factor in the effects that are “linked” to poverty?

Longitudinal studies have been used to examine the long-term effects of poverty on development. These studies track individuals over extended periods, allowing researchers to observe the progression of effects and the potential role of poverty. Signup and view all the answers

What are developmental milestones and how are they helpful?

Developmental milestones are age-related markers that indicate typical skills and abilities expected at certain ages, and they are helpful for assessing development, identifying potential delays, and ensuring access to appropriate interventions when needed. Signup and view all the answers

What can’t developmental milestones tell us?

Don't tell the whole story - there is a wide range of what is considered "normal". No info how to “get there” - There’s no instruction guide on how to reach these milestones, they just sorta....happened Signup and view all the answers

How does Dynamic Systems Theory (DST) describe and explain the development of abilities such as reaching or self-locomotion?

DST views development as a self-organizing process where individuals adapt to environmental challenges by using available skills and resources. It emphasizes the interplay of various systems, such as the body, environment, and experience. Signup and view all the answers

According to DST is walking innate?

No Signup and view all the answers

What are two reasons right-handedness is more prevalent than left-handedness in humans?

Brain Lateralization, cultural bias Signup and view all the answers

What are some activities the occupational therapist used in the video to work on gross motor skills?

Rolling around on an exercise ball, throwing games Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of how gross motor skills influence the development of fine motor skills?

Gross motor skills provide the foundation for fine motor skills. As children develop control over larger movements, they gain the ability to refine and coordinate smaller, more precise movements. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Unit 1 Themes

There are three key themes in this course:
- Different life phases have unique strengths.
- Domains (e.g., social, physical, cognitive, emotional) are interdependent and influence each other.
Nature vs nurture is a central factor in developmental science.
Predictable milestones and individual variations are crucial concepts.

Theories

Theories organize information and provide a narrative of the world.
A good theory accurately describes events, explains why they happen, is concise and efficient, is falsifiable, and expresses a universal truth.
Falsifiability means a theory should be testable, allowing for a different interpretation.

Developmental Theories

Developmental theories address issues like innate qualities versus environmental influence.
Possible answers include genetic influence, innate abilities, or environmental influences.

Research Methods

Experimental research establishes cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating variables.
Confounding variables are extraneous factors potentially influencing outcomes.
Operational definitions precisely quantify the aspects being studied.
Correlational studies measure relationships between variables and don't establish cause-and-effect.

Sequential Designs

Sequential designs combine aspects of both cross-sectional and longitudinal research approaches to help pinpoint cohort or generational effects versus age effects.

Cohort

A cohort is a group of people born in a similar time period. Identifying a cohort allows researchers to examine whether differences in circumstances, trends, and external pressures affect the outcomes for a particular generational grouping.

Twin Studies

Twin studies offer a way to look at genetic and environmental influences (separately) and similarities between individuals.
Identical twins have similar genetic makeup.
Separating identical twins at birth allows for researchers to collect data about how environments affect similar genetic individuals.

Epigenome

The epigenome refers to chemical compounds that regulate gene activity and do not change the DNA sequence itself.
Environmental factors like diet affect expression patterns, which can affect health and behavior.

Unit 2 - Infant Mortality and NJ

Infant mortality is deaths occurring between birth and 1 year of age.
The U.S. has much higher infant mortality rates than other developed nations. High U.S. rates may be due to poverty, access to healthcare, and income inequality.
Research exploring infant mortality rates over time should look at factors such as teen pregnancies, prematurity, and postnatal care.
New Jersey infant mortality rates are often compared to those of other U.S. states.

Unit 2 - Long-Term Effects of Poverty

Long-term effects of growing up in poverty include brain differences, cognitive impairments, and higher obesity rates.

Unit 2 - Developmental Milestones

Developmental milestones are behaviors or physical skills that children typically achieve at various ages.
Milestones help researchers identify typical development, but they are not diagnostic of issues in individual children; individual development varies.
No perfect timetable - but ranges of expected achievement for various milestones do exist.

Unit 2 - Dynamic Systems Theory

Dynamic Systems Theory (DST) describes how changes in one part of a system affect the entire system.
Development is a self-organizing process of interacting parts where adaptation occurs.
DST is applicable to topics including reaching and self-locomotion where skill acquisition is impacted by changes in physical and cognitive capacity, allowing for flexibility.

Unit 3 - HPG Axis

The HPG (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal) axis controls hormone production, influencing development.
The hypothalamus releases hormones that signal the pituitary gland, which then works on the gonads (testes or ovaries).
Negative feedback is used to regulate hormone levels, ensuring homeostasis in the body.

Unit 3 - Puberty

Puberty is the time when the body matures to reproductive capacity; it is triggered by hormonal changes in the HPG axis, influencing physical and social development.
Several factors influence the timing of puberty.
Differences in maturity affect the likelihood of sexual activity in different cultures.

Unit 3 - Secular Trend

The secular trend refers to the decrease in age at puberty observed across generations.
Factors like nutrition, healthcare, and environmental conditions have influenced the changes in the timing of puberty across generations.

Unit 4 - Cognitive Development Across the Lifespan

Cross-sectional studies compare different age groups at one time point.
Longitudinal studies follow the same group over time.
Cohort effects can confound results in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, as they capture experience differences that can influence the results for a particular cohort.

Unit 4 - Crystallized vs. Fluid Intelligence

Crystallized intelligence involves knowledge and skills developed over time.
Fluid intelligence refers to abstract reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Generally, crystallized intelligence increases over time, while fluid intelligence typically decreases.
Specific types of intelligence and their trajectories across the lifespan differ depending on both genetics and environment.

Unit 4 - The Big 5 Personality Traits

The "Big 5" traits are: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Research shows these traits are stable and relatively consistent across the lifespan, but they do show some change over time.
Environmental impacts affect individual expression rather than altering the underlying structure or traits.

Unit 4 - Aging and the Lifespan

Wear-and-tear theories are often examined alongside theories like Hayflick's to examine the decline that occurs over time.
Apoptosis, telomeres, and telomerase are important physiological concepts for understanding aging and development in cells.
Research regarding aging examines how these biological processes influence behaviors and the overall lifespan.

Unit 4 - Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

This theory suggests that as people age, their goals and priorities shift, leading to differences in how they view time and social interactions.
Older adults prioritize emotional closeness and quality of the existing social relationships.
Younger adults often value future growth, and as they get older, their desire transitions towards emotional stability and meaning in life.

Summary of Remaining Notes

Additional study notes available for Unit 5.

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Description

Test your understanding of key themes, theories, and research methods in developmental psychology. This quiz covers concepts like nature vs nurture, milestones, and how different domains of development interact with each other. Assess your knowledge of foundational developmental theories and their applicability.