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The Developing Person Through the Life Span Ninth Edition Test Bank

The Developing Person Through the Life Span Ninth Edition Test Bank ensures thorough exam preparation with comprehensive topic coverage and exam-style practice questions.

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    Page 1 1. List in order and explain each of the five basic steps of the scientific method. 2. Define nature and nurture and give an example of each. Also describe the nature – nurture debate. 3. Describe the perspective most modern developmentalists take on the nature – nurture debate and explain epigenetics. 4. Define a critical period and a sensitive period. Explain the difference between the two periods, and give an example of each. 5. Explain Bronfenbrenner's ecological - systems theory and describe his five systems. 6. Define cohort, explain its effects, and give an example of one. 7. Describe culture and explain why researchers interested in human development study different cultures. 8. List at least six factors that have been linked to depression. 9. Define and discuss the term plasticity as it relates to human development. What factors influence plasticity in development? Offer at least one example of plasticity that has operated or is operating in your own life. 10. Imagine you are interested in the relationship between age and reading ability for children at 8 and 12 years old. Briefly define cross - sectional design and summarize how you could test this relationship using that design. 11. What practices must be built into a research study to protect participants? 12. Define correlation and give an example. Can one determine cause and effect from correlations? Explain why or why not.

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    Page 2 13. What are ethics and why are ethical standards so important to scientific research?

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    Page 3 Answer Key 1. Step 1: Begin with curiosity. Pose a question based on a theory, prior research, or personal observation. Step 2: Develop a hypothesis, which is a specific research question that can be tested through research. Step 3: Test the hypothesis. Design and conduct research to gather empirical evidence (data). Step 4: Draw conclusions. Using the evidence gathered in the research, conclude whether the hypothesis is supported or refuted. Step 5: Report the results by sharing the data, conclusions, and alternative ex planations with other scientists. Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts) List steps of scientific method in order States five of the steps in order States three of the steps in order States less than three steps or does not state the steps in order Explain each step Describes the five steps Describes three steps Describes less than three steps or does not describe steps accurately 2. Nature refers to the influence of genes on a person, and nurture refers to environmental influences on a person. Environmental influences include the health and diet of the embryo's mother and continuing lifelong, including family, school, community, and society. An example of nature would be having a gene that predisposes one to addiction. An example of nurture would be having that gene but avoiding addictions as a result of not being exposed to abuse or parental addictions. The debate concerns how much of any person's characteristics, behaviors, or emotions is the result of genes and how much is the result of the person's experiences. Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts) Define nature and nurture Accurately defines both terms and gives an example of both Accurately defines one term and gives at least one accurate example Does not accurately define both terms or supply accurate examples Describe the debate Accurately describes both sides of the debate Accurately describes one side of the debate Does not accurately describe the debate 3. Modern researchers have learned that neither nature alone nor nurture alone can provide a complete way to understand development. Both nature and nurture matter, as both genes and environment affect nearly every characteristic. Epigenetics refers to the factors that surround the genes and actually affect which genes get expressed. This means that one's environment influences the expression of some genes. Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts) Researcher's viewpoint States modern researchers' stance that both matter Is vague about modern researchers' stance Incorrectly states modern researchers' stance

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    Page 4 Epigenetics Defines the term and clearly explains what it means Defines the term without explaining its meaning Does not describe the term or give an explanation 4. A critical period is a time when something must occur to ensure normal development, and a sensitive period is a time when a specific developmental task occurs most easily. An example of a critical period would be the fetus growing arms and legs and hands and feet — this can occur only at a specific time in utero. Language development is an example of a sensitive period. It occurs most easily at a young age but can occur at a later age as well. Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts) Define and differentiate Defines both periods; differentiates between them Defines just one period or is vague about differentiation Fails to define both periods or fails to differentiate Examples Gives a correct example for both periods Gives a correct example of either period Does not give any examples 5. Bronfenbrenner believed that each person is affected by his or her social context. Over the course of his career, he identified five systems. The first is the microsystem (e.g., one's family and peer group), the second is the exosystem (school, clubs, and church), and the third is the macrosystem (larger social setting such as cultural values and economic policies). The fourth system, called the chronosystem, is the role of historical context, and the fifth system, the mesosystem, is the interaction that occurs between a ll of the other systems. Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts) Explain ecological systems theory Clearly states what the theory is Gives a vague explanation of the theory Is unable to describe the theory Identify the systems Identifies the five systems and gives an example of microsystem, exosystem, and macrosystem Identifies three of the systems or gives examples for three of the systems Identifies less than three of the systems or gives less than three examples 6. A cohort is a group of people born within a few years of each other who move through time together. Cohorts travel through life affected by the interaction of their chronological age with the values, events, technologies, and culture of the era. Cohort examples will vary but should show an understanding of a cohort; the baby boom generation is the example given in the text. Other common examples include the Greatest Generation (people who lived through the Depression and WWII) and the Millennials (Generatio n Y, born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s). Another example would be Generation X, born between the early 1960s to the early 1980s. Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts)

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    Page 5 Explain cohort Correctly defines cohort and explains its importance on members Defines cohort without explaining its affect on members Does not define cohort correctly Give an example Gives an example of a cohort Gives a vague example of cohort Gives an incorrect example or doesn't give an example 7. Culture is a strong social construction, a concept created by a society. Such social constructions affect how people think and act — what they value, praise, ignore, and punish. Different cultures may view the same behaviors or phenomenon as either an asset or a deficit. Therefore, by studying different cultures, researchers can identify which patterns are universal among humans and which occur only in certain cultures. This provides insights into the effects of different environments. Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts) Describe culture Clearly describes culture Gives a definition of culture without describing it Does not define culture Explain why researchers study different cultures Clearly explains why researchers study different cultures Is vague about why researchers study different cultures Does not explain why researchers study different cultures 8. Students should list any six of these 12 factors: - low serotonin level in the brain - low exposure to sunlight, especially in winter - being taken care of by a mother with postpartum depression - malnutrition (low hemoglobin) - a lack of close friends - serious diseases such as Parkinson's or AIDS or drugs to treat diseases - a life crisis (disruptive event) - death of a mother before age 10 - absence of a father during childhood, especially due to divorce - siblings with eating disorders - poverty, especially in places with great disparity between the rich and poor - low cognitive skills Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts) List factors related to depression Gives six factors from list above Gives four factors from list above Gives less than four factors from list above 9. Plasticity is the molding of human traits while simultaneously maintaining some durability of identity. The idea of plasticity is that human development is an ongoing, ever - changing interaction between the body and mind and between the individual and every aspect of his or her environment. Influences that affect plasticity include culture, upbringing, and genes. The example should relate to some aspect of growth in one's life, such as how a high - functioning person on the autism spectrum can eventually earn a college degree. (The autism remains (durability), but with school and other societal interventions, the person can still achieve traditional milestones.)

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    Page 6 Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts) Define and discuss plasticity Defines and discusses plasticity Defines or discusses plasticity Cannot define or discuss plasticity List factors that influence plasticity Lists three factors that influence plasticity Lists two factors that influence plasticity Lists one or no factors that influence plasticity Give plasticity example Gives an example of plasticity Gives an example of plasticity Does not give an example of plasticity 10. A cross - sectional desig n compares groups of people of one age with at least one other group of people of another age at a specific point in time. It is faster than a longitudinal study because all of the data is immediately available. Ideally the participants should be matched at the same socioeconomic level. To implement a cross - sectional design to test reading, first identify a group of children aged 8 and another group aged 12. Second, evaluate each individual child's reading ability. Finally, compare the children of various ages and look for differences. Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts) Define cross - sectional design Describes cross - sectional design and identifies that participants should be of a similar socioeconomic status Describes cross - section design but doesn't elaborate about having similar socioeconomic status for participants Gives a vague or incorrect description of cross - sectional design Summarize how to do the research Identifies the three parts of the research design Identifies two parts of the research design Identifies one part or cannot identify the research design 11. Researchers must ensure that people's participation is 1) voluntary, 2) confidential, and 3) harmless. They must obtain the informed consent of all the participants. Informed consent means that participants must understand and agree to the procedures after being told of any risks involved. If children are involved, consent must be obtained from the children as well as their parents. Participants must also be allowed to end their participation at any time. Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts) Summarize practices to protect participants States all three conditions; describes informed consent and that participants can end participation States two conditions; explains informed consent or that participants can end participation States one condition; fails to explain informed consent 12. A correlation exists between two variables when one variable changes (increases or decreases) as the other variable changes. Examples will vary but should illustrate this concept, such as the number of people who drown increases as the number of ice cream sales increases. It is impossible to determine cause and effect from correlations because even though correlations indicate a connection between two variables, they cannot

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    Page 7 determine the reason for the connection since no other variables are controlled. In the example above, people drowning and ice cream sales both increase during hot weather, so the correlation is caused by neither variable. Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts) Define correlation Gives a strong definition for correlation Gives an adequate definition for correlation Gives inaccurate or no definition of correlation Give example of a correlation Offers a good example of a correlation Offers a vague or weak example of a correlation Offers an incorrect or no example of a correlation Explain relationship between causation and correlation States that causation cannot be determined from a correlation Implies that causation can be determined from a correlation States that causation can be determined from a correlation 13. Ethics are a set of moral principles and specific practices that protect both participants and the integrity of research. Ethical standards provide study participants with the assurance of informed consent and knowing that their participation is voluntary, confidential, and that they will not be harmed. Ethics are also a vital part of the reporting process after the research has been conducted. Reports of findings should be accurate, and the study should be able to be replicated under the same conditions. Collaboration, replication, and transparency are essential ethical safeguards for all scientists. Good (5 pts) Fair (3 pts) Weak (1 - 0 pts) Define ethics Defines ethics Defines ethics only as they apply to participants or the reporting process Does not define ethics Explain the importance of ethics States several ways in which ethics protect participants and how ethics protect findings and replication Identifies only how ethics are important for participants or their importance on the reporting process and replication Does not explain why ethical standards are important

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    Page 1 1. The science of human development seeks to understand _____ people — all kinds of people, everywhere, of every age — change over time. 2. In order to minimize subjective opinions and personal biases when conducting research, it is important to employ the _____ method. 3. A hypothesis is an idea generated by a question that can be _____ by various research methods. 4. Empirical evidence refers to _____. 5. In scientific research, collecting additional evidence by studying a different population than that used in the original project is known as _____. 6. The term that refers to the traits inherited at conception is _____. 7. Tim told his friend that he is tall because he inherited “tall” genes from his dad. Tim was claiming that _____, but not _____, was responsible for his height. 8. _____ refers to environmental influences on traits. 9. The combination of all environmental influences that affect a developing person is called _____. 10. The _____ takes into account all phases of life, from conception through death. 11. A _____ period of development is a time in which a particular development must occur if it is to occur at all. 12. A _____ period of development is a time in which a particular development occurs easily.

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    Page 2 13. Thalidomide only caused birth defects if a pregnant woman ingested the drug during the _____ period of prenatal development. 14. Tanner's friends do well in school, but Tanner has never really done well in school. They decide to meet once a week to study and soon Tanner is doing better in school. Within the ecological - systems perspective, the influence of Tanner's friends on Tanner's school performance comes from the _____. 15. A(n) _____ is a group of people born at about the same time that experience the same historical events and cultural shifts. 16. A person's income and level of education is part of his or her _____ status. 17. The system of shared beliefs, conventions, norms, expectations, and symbolic representations that persist over time and prescribe social rules of conduct is known as _____. 18. Two people from different cultures may value the need for achievement or success differently because of the _____ of each culture. 19. The human tendency to assume that people unlike us are inferior is called the _____ error. 20. People of a specific _____ group share certain attributes such as religion and language. 21. _____ refers to the environmental factors that affect the expression of genes. 22. Afton is seeking therapy for depression. At the first therapy session the therapist informs her that depression is caused by many factors, including genes, neurology, and development. Afton's therapist is referring to the _____ nature of depression, as many areas of study are needed to understand depression. 23. The approach called _____ refers to the idea that human development is ongoing and ever - changing.

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    Page 3 24. _____ observation requires researchers to record behaviors systematically and objectively. 25. Researchers who want to establish a causal relationship between two variables must use a research design called a(n) _____. 26. When differences between the experimental group and the _____ are so large that they could not have occurred simply by chance, they are considered to be significant. 27. A _____ is a quick way to collect data from a large number of people. 28. Cohort - sequential research can be thought of as a mix between a cross - sectional design and a _____ design. 29. As children age, they tend to sleep fewer hours. This relationship is an example of a(n) ____ correlation.

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    Page 4 Answer Key 1. how and why 2. scientific 3. tested (evaluated) (examined) 4. data 5. replication 6. nature 7. nature; nurture 8. Nurture 9. nurture 10. life - span perspective 11. critical 12. sensitive 13. critical 14. microsystem 15. cohort 16. socioeconomic 17. culture 18. social construction 19. difference - equals - deficit 20. ethnic 21. Epigenetics 22. multidisciplinary 23. dynamic systems 24. Scientific 25. experiment 26. comparison group (control group) 27. survey 28. longitudinal 29. negative

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    Page 1 1. What does the science of human development seek to understand? A) the meaning of life B) theories that have not been subjected to scientific testing C) the works of Freud, Piaget, and Erikson D) how and why people change over time 2. Dr. Furth wonders if a specific brain chemical can be suppressed if a patient is given a large dose of vitamin E. Dr. Furth has just demonstrated the _____ step in the scientific method. A) first B) second C) third D) fourth 3. Dr. Hernandez predicts that a certain drug will help patients with schizophrenia. Her prediction is called _____. A) a conclusion B) empirical evidence C) a hypothesis D) a result 4. A researcher designed and conducted an experiment to learn if 350 mg of a certain drug would help patients with bipolar disorder. By designing and conducting this experiment the researcher was able to _____. A) draw conclusions B) demonstrate proof C) test the hypothesis D) confirm the results 5. Dr. Henderson is curious to know more about how children develop over time. To gain an understanding of this subject not based on opinion or personal bias, Dr. Henderson should _____. A) use the scientific method to collect data and establish facts B) have the children undergo psychoanalysis C) talk with many children's parents D) read Dr. Spock's book, Baby and Child Care

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    Page 2 6. The first step in the scientific method involves _____. A) posing a question B) conducting research C) supporting or refuting a hypothesis D) developing a hypothesis 7. The second step in the scientific method involves _____. A) posing a question B) conducting research C) developing a hypothesis D) sharing the results 8. The third step in the scientific method involves _____. A) posing a question B) conducting research C) sharing the results D) developing a hypothesis 9. The fourth step in the scientific method involves _____. A) posing a question B) conducting research C) developing a hypothesis D) supporting or refuting a hypothesis 10. Empirical evidence is based on _____. A) theories and speculation B) observation, experience, or experiment C) inferences based on personal biases D) opinions generated by several groups of people 11. After posing a question, a researcher using the scientific method _____. A) draws conclusions B) runs an experiment C) selects a group of participants D) develops a hypothesis

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    Page 3 12. The fi nal step in the five steps of the scientific method is to _____. A) test a hypothesis B) pose a question C) conduct research D) report the results 13. What is a researcher's first step when designing a research study on children's language acquisition? A) recruit children and their parents as participants in the study B) develop a hypothesis on the way language is acquired in children C) pose a research question about language acquisition D) draw conclusions on the way children acquire language 14. A hypothesis is a(n) _____. A) experiment B) prediction that can be tested C) conclusion drawn from research D) replication of a scientific study 15. What is replication of a study? A) the repetition of a study using different participants B) the repetiti on of a study using the same participants C) designing a new study based on information from a previous study D) designing a new study using new ideas and information 16. Dr. Kong does a study in which he finds that smoking is correlated to an increased risk of high blood pressure. He publishes his results. Then Dr. Meco does the same study using different participants in another city. Dr. Meco's work is an example of _____. A) scientific controversy B) replication C) ethics D) observation

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    Page 4 17. Dr. Seldor does a study in which she finds that alcohol consumption is correlated to an increased risk of diabetes. She publishes her results. Then Dr. Al - Jaher does the same study using different participants in another nation. Dr. Al - Jaher's work is an example of _____. A) scientific controversy B) replication C) empirical evidence D) a hypothesis 18. Parents who spend a great deal of time and money trying to find the best school for their children believe in the importance of _____ as it relates to development. A) nurture B) replication C) nature D) classical conditioning 19. The term for all the environmental influences that affect development after conception is _____. A) proteins B) nurture C) nature D) amino acids 20. In the science of human development, “nature” refers to _____. A) the genes that people inherit B) environmental influences C) patterns of development D) developmental differences 21. In the science of human development, “nurture” refers to _____. A) universal traits B) biological traits C) environmental influences D) unique traits 22. Most developmental psychologists believe that development is the result of _____. A) nature and nurture acting separately B) primarily nature C) nature and nurture acting together D) primarily nurture

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