Psychology Chapter 1: Developmental Psychology

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Questions and Answers

What does a longitudinal research design primarily provide insights into?

Instantaneous gains in knowledge.

Short-term fluctuations only.

Stability and change over time. (correct)

Differences across various age groups.

What is the primary genetic composition of a gamete?

Complete fertilized egg.

Half of the genetic material. (correct)

Full set of chromosomes.

Two separate sperm cells.

What condition of the embryo does the inner cell mass develop into after successful implantation?

Fetus.

Embryo. (correct)

Zygote.

Amniotic sac.

Which of the following best describes monozygotic twins?

Twins resulting from one sperm and one egg cell. Signup and view all the answers

Which method of research design is typically prone to participant dropout?

Longitudinal. Signup and view all the answers

Which feature of language indicates that it is unique to humans?

Only humans can speak language. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the time when language learning occurs most rapidly in children?

Well-timed exposure. Signup and view all the answers

What does categorical perception in language allow humans to do?

Distinguish between different sounds. Signup and view all the answers

At what age do infants typically begin to show perceptual narrowing in language sounds?

6 months. Signup and view all the answers

What role does Infant Directed Speech (IDS) play in language acquisition?

It enhances contrast in phonemes. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Kanzi the Bonobo significant in studies of language?

He understands verbal symbols but cannot produce language. Signup and view all the answers

What is perceptual narrowing in relation to language learning?

A reduction in sensitivity to non-native phonemes. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of language indicates that it can create new phrases and sentences?

Generativity. Signup and view all the answers

What is internal validity in research?

Confidence that observed effects are due to the variable being tested. Signup and view all the answers

Which method involves predetermined questions asked to all participants?

Structured interviews Signup and view all the answers

What is a key disadvantage of using naturalistic observation?

It cannot capture infrequent behaviors effectively. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a feature of correlational designs?

Identifying associations between two variables. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary advantage of structured observation?

It allows for direct comparison of behaviors across children. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant disadvantage of questionnaires as a data collection method?

They may be subject to biases, such as social desirability. Signup and view all the answers

What does external validity refer to in research?

The ability to generalize findings beyond the specific study. Signup and view all the answers

What describes a core characteristic of variables in research?

They are attributes that vary among individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the ability to count objects in any order?

Order irrelevance Signup and view all the answers

Which type of intelligence involves working with prior knowledge and relies on long-term memory?

Crystallized intelligence Signup and view all the answers

According to Raymond Cattell, which aspect of intelligence peaks in early adulthood and decreases thereafter?

Fluid intelligence Signup and view all the answers

Louis Thurstone proposed how many primary mental abilities?

Seven Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is linked to improved counting ability according to cultural influences?

Language abilities Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic unit of heredity in all living things?

Gene Signup and view all the answers

How many pairs of chromosomes are found in humans?

23 pairs Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of DNA codes for proteins in humans?

1% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the phenotype of an organism?

The physical and behavioral expression of the genotype Signup and view all the answers

What effect do environmental factors have on regulator genes?

They can influence whether a gene is expressed Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the MAO-A gene is correct?

It has several alleles affecting mood regulation Signup and view all the answers

What is a genome?

The complete set of genes in an organism Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean when traits are described as polygenic?

They are governed by more than one gene Signup and view all the answers

At what age do infants begin integrating visual and auditory information?

4 months Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of infants in Cameron can sit up on their own by 5 months?

92% Signup and view all the answers

Which reflex involves an infant throwing back their head and extending their arms in response to a sudden noise?

Moro reflex Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the current theorists' viewpoint on motor development?

Environmental influence Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a reflex that occurs when the roof of an infant's mouth is stimulated?

Sucking and swallowing reflex Signup and view all the answers

Which age range corresponds to infants starting to stand and walk independently?

9.5-14 months Signup and view all the answers

What developmental challenge do infants face when learning new motor skills, such as crawling or walking?

Integration of perceptual information Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the visual cliff example is correct regarding infants learning to crawl?

Infants display hesitation when first encountering a ledge. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lecture 1, Chap 1: Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology studies how people change throughout life, from infancy to late adulthood.
Studying how children think, act, and feel (often very different from adults) contributes to our understanding of adult behavior and language development
The "A-not-B error" shows that a child's ability to mentally represent objects is developing
Understanding child development helps us be better parents, teachers, and policymakers, leading to a better society.
Lloyd Morrisett researched providing high-quality home education to disadvantaged preschool children.

Scientific Method

Choosing a question and hypothesis, testing, and drawing a conclusion
Measurable methods directly relating to the hypothesis
Consistent measurements (reliability) are crucial for the scientific method.
Key types of reliability include interrater reliability, which measures agreement between different observers.

Gathering Data: Interviews and Questionnaires

Interviews can be structured (using predetermined questions for all participants) or clinical (flexible questions adapting to the participants' responses).
Questionnaires are standardized printed questions for large groups.
Benefits include quick data gathering and in-depth understanding.
Drawbacks can include subject bias and limited predictive accuracy.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing children in their natural environments (home, school) to capture authentic behavior.
Strengths include capturing real-world behavior and highlighting social interaction processes; limitations include difficulty isolating influencing factors.

Structured Observation

Observing children in controlled identical situations (e.g., requesting compliance in children)
Benefits include direct comparisons of behaviors and establishment of behavioral consistency; limitations include artificial environments affecting responses.

Correlation and Causation

Variables are characteristics that vary among people (e.g., age, gender, activity level).
Correlational studies identify associations between variables.
Correlation does not imply causation. (Other factors or chance may be impacting the study results).

Limitations of Correlation Studies

Does not clarify direction of causation (Which factor impacts the other?)
Third-variable problem: Unseen factors may be influencing the observed correlation.

Misinterpretations of Correlation Studies

Studies might misattribute causality (mistakenly assuming one factor causes another).

Types of Correlation

Positive correlation: both variables increase together.
Negative correlation: one variable increases as the other decreases.
Correlation coefficients range from -1.00 (strong negative) to +1.00 (strong positive).

The Role of Correlational Studies

Correlational studies are important for examining variables that can't be practically manipulated.

Experimental Designs

Random assignment to experimental and control groups to mitigate preexisting differences.
Experimental control: researchers carefully control experiences to isolate the effect of the independent variable.

Cross-Sectional Designs

Comparing different age groups on a specific characteristic at one point in time.

Longitudinal Designs

Tracking the same group of individuals over a period of time to observe changes in development.

Microgenetic Designs

Observing children intensively over a short period.
Tracking changes during a specific developmental transition.

Other Relevant Information

Different types of data collection methods have different advantages and disadvantages.

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts in developmental psychology, focusing on how individuals change throughout their lives. It emphasizes understanding child development, the significance of the A-not-B error, and the implications for parenting and education. Additionally, the scientific method and reliability in measurements are discussed.