AP Psychology P1 M14 Pre-Quiz

How could practice effects in a longitudinal study influence the validity of the findings?

Participants may improve performance just from repeated testing

What is the primary focus of developmental psychology?

Understanding how people grow and change throughout their lives

A researcher compares language development in 5-year-olds and 10-year-olds at the same time. What research method is being used?

Cross-sectional study

Why might a longitudinal study be better than a cross-sectional study for understanding personal growth?

It tracks the same individuals over time

A study finds that individuals born during a time of war lower emotional resilience than those born after. What is the most likely explanation?

Cohort effects influence emotional development

A child slowly learns vocabulary over time rather than in sudden bursts. Which concept does this best illustrate?

Continuous development

If a psychologist wants to know whether personality traits in early childhood predict adult behavior, which theme does this relate to?

Stability and change

What is meant by the term continuous development?

Development that happens gradually over time

A researcher observes that aggressive behavior in children is more common among those raised in high-conflict homes. This finding supports which side of the nature vs nurture debate?

Nurture, because environment influences behavior

Why might one child walk at 10 months and another at 15 months without concern?

The timing of motor milestones varies naturally

A baby cries and flings out its arms when a loud noise occurs. Which reflex is this?

Moro (startle) reflex

Why do reflexes like the grasping or rooting reflex disappear over time?

The nervous system matures, allowing voluntary control

What is the rooting reflex in newborns?

Turning the head and opening the mouth when the cheek is touched

What is a teratogen?

A harmful agent that can disrupt prenatal development

What behavior indicates that depth perception has developed in an infant during the visual cliff experiment?

The baby avoids crossing the “deep” side of the table

Which category includes activities like walking and crawling?

Gross motor skills

Which of the following is an example of fine motor skill in toddlers?

Picking up small cereal pieces with fingers

What is the Babinski reflex a sign of in infants?

An immature nervous system

How does menopause affect a woman’s body?

Menstruation stops and estrogen levels decline

Why are adolescents more likely to engage in risky behavior?

Their brain’s reward system develops faster than impulse control systems

What physical change is typical in older adulthood?

Decreased muscle strength and slower reaction time

What is menarche?

A girl’s first menstrual period

Why do many teenagers experience mood swings?

Hormonal shifts during adolescence intensify emotions

Which term refers to physical traits like body hair and voice changes that indicate sx maturity, but are not part of reproduction?

Secondary sx characteristics

What typically happens to male fertility during adulthood?

Sperm count and testosterone levels decline

How does cognitive ability typically shift in adulthood?

Processing speed slows, but emotional regulation and decision-making improve

What does the adolescent growth spurt involve?

A period of rapid increase in height and weight