Dev Psych Final Exam - Multiple Choice

Marciano, a 5-year-old, understands that 9 represents more than 8

a) numerical magnitude representations

b) visually based retrieval strategies

c) gesture-speech mismatches

d) decomposition

A

Ashwin consented to having fMRI and CT scans of his brain while performing a series of cognitive tasks to assess his general intelligence (g). Interestingly, the only brain mechanism NOT associated with Ashwin's above-average general intelligence was:

a) increased neural and synaptic transmission

b) increased brain volume

c) accelerated broad auditory perception

d) accelerated information-processing

C

Dr. Zorba is a psychologist interested in various cognitive abilities, and is a proponent of the three-stratum theory of intelligence. Dr. Zorba is particularly focused on analysis of the processes related to likelihood for job promotions. As such, Dr. Zorba would be LEAST likely to investigate which of these?

a) fluid intelligence

b) speech sound discrimination

c) reaction time

d) semantic speed

A

Oli is a whiz at reaction time. Pass me a soccer ball; I'll meet it in mid-air! he brags. Challenge me to a race. I'll beat you off the line when the starter pistol fires! Although no one is doubting Oli's abilities, what should he be told about his rapid, simple, and choice reaction time abilities?

a) the represent the process speed component of the three-stratum theory of intelligence

b) they are an 11th component of Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences

c) they are a form of analytic deficit, according to Robert Sternberg

d) they are unrelated to general intelligence

A

Like most characteristics of a population, WAIS-V-Canadian test scores are distributed in the shape of a normal curve. Which conclusion is an accurate description of those types of distributions?

a) scores are evenly distributed across the population

b) scores are clumped around the midpoint

c) the curve resembles an S

d) scores are more common at the ends of the distribution

B

The fact that intelligence test scores of children of a given age form a normal distribution means that:

a) most children obtain IQ scores that are significantly higher than the mean, with a few children scoring far below the mean

b) most children obtain IQ scores that are fairly close to the mean, with fewer children scoring farther away

c) most children obtain IQ scores significantly below the mean, with a few children scoring far above the mean

d) there is no such thing as average intelligence; everyone scores differently

B

Giovanni has been tested repeatedly over his elementary and middle-school years, and his IQ scores on standardized tests have fallen in the range of 130 to 145 (depending on the test, the year, and his age). Where does Giovanni's intelligence fall in comparison to other test-takers?
a) he is outperforming 2% to 4% of the population of test-takers

b) he is outperforming 10% to 20% of the population of test-takers

c) he is outperforming 85% to 90% of the population of test-takers

d) he is outperforming 97% to 99% of the population of test-takers

D

Compared to the others, which student's achievement test scores will be MOST likely to stay constant or drop over a long summer break from school?

a) Geoff, a 12th-grader attending Weinrib University Preparatory School in Willowdale, a suburb of Toronto

b) Candida, a 3rd-grader at Summerside Regional School on Prince Edward Island, an impoverished neighbourhood populated by low-SES families

c) Clotilde, an 8th-grader at the pricey Montessori Centre in Moosomin, Saskatchewan

d) Fitzhugh, a 7th-grader attending Warren Cromartie Secondary School in an affluent suburb of Montreal

B

According to Robert Sternberg, success in life is the ability to:

a) graduate from college

b) have children and ensure their success

c) build one’s strengths, compensate for one’s weaknesses, and find environments in which one can succeed

d) find a job that provides for oneself and one’s family

C

Gino and Beatrix both scored in the bottom 20% of IQ test takers; however, Gino went on to complete a 4-year university degree, whereas Beatrix only barely completed high school. Which statement is likely to be TRUE regarding their weekly wages?

a) Beatrix and Gino will both have the same (and very low) weekly wages due to their lower than average IQs

b) Gino's wages will be higher than will Beatrix's

c) Beatrix's wages will be higher than will Gino's

d) Gino and Beatrix's wages will have them both living below the poverty line

B

Which statement accurately demonstrates the distinction between fluid and crystallized intelligence in the general population?

a) Children who do well on tests of fluid intelligence also do well on tests of crystallized intelligence

b) Children who do poorly on tests of fluid intelligence also do poorly on tests of crystallized intelligence

c) Children who do well on one test of fluid intelligence tend to do well on other tests of fluid intelligence, but do not necessarily do well on tests of crystallized knowledge

d) Children who do well on tests of crystallized intelligence tend to score higher on scholastic achievement tests

C

The Carolina Abecedarian Project was a program that provided low-income children with specialized day-care services from 6 months to 5 years old. Which outcome has been shown to be an effect of the program?

a) Participants had a mean IQ score 5 points higher than the control group when tested at age 21

b) Participants' achievement scores were the same as the control group

c) At age 30, participants were equally likely as adults from the control group to have graduated from college

d) Participants were more likely to take AP classes in high school than the control group

A

Emphasizing _____ is an intervention that seems to help children who have been diagnosed with dyslexia.

a) visually based retrieval skills

b) the building of content knowledge

c) comprehension monitoring

d) strategies that enhance phonological recoding

D

Lucretia understands the concepts in her statistics class. However, during exams, she spends the entire time on the most difficult problems and never gets to the problems that she can solve easily. Lucretia's inability to adapt her strategy to the testing situation indicates that she has low:

a) closure speed

b) practical abilities

c) fluid reasoning

d) emotional intelligence

B

Gaston and Leijla both went to a 4-year college, but Leijla's IQ score was in the top 20% compared to other test-takers, whereas Gaston's IQ was in the bottom 20%. What would be expected, based on patterns of previous research, regarding their weekly salary wages?

a) Leijla's wages will be higher than will Gaston's

b) Leijla and Gaston will have the same wages due to similar education levels

c) Gaston will have higher wages than will Leijla due to personality differences

d) Leijla's wages will be higher than will Gaston's because she went to an Ivy League university

A

The notion that children have a large variety of strengths on which parents and teachers can build is based on which theory of intelligence?

a) Sternberg’s theory of successful intelligence

b) g theory of intelligence

c) Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences

d) fluid and crystallized intelligence theory

C

One study found that IQ scores of 4- and 5-year-olds correlated 0.80, those of 6- and 7-year-olds correlated 0.87, and those of 8-and 9-year-olds correlated 0.90. These results demonstrate that:

a) IQ scores are more variable at older ages

b) younger children score better on IQ tests than do older children

c) IQ scores are more stable at older ages

d) IQ scores are more stable during preschool than during middle school

C

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V-Canadian) yields:

a) an overall score and five moderately general abilities

b) a score on each of Louis Thurstone’s primary mental abilities

c) three sets of scores for each of Carroll’s strata

d) scores on 12 of Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences

A

Ricardo has experienced math anxiety for as long as he can remember. If he were to be presented with a mathematics problem while having his brain monitored, which regions would likely show activation?

a) increased activity in the amygdala, and decreased responding in working memory areas

b) decreased activation of the parietal and temporal lobes

c) increased activity in the thalamus, hypothalamus, and occipital lobe

d) decreased activity in the medulla, and a general suppression of amygdala responding

A

A benefit of viewing intelligence as many processes is:

a) a better understanding of societal influences on intelligence

b) a better understanding of scholastic achievement

c) a more precise understanding of the mechanisms involved in intelligent behaviour

d) simplified structural and statistical analyses

C

Which of Urie Bronfenbrenner's bioecological levels represents broader influences on an individual, such as societal institutions?

a) macrosystem

b) microsystem

c) mesosystem

d) exosystem

D

Compared to the others, which phrase is MOST likely to motivate a child in an educational setting, based on Carol Dweck's social cognition perspective?

a) don’t bother; with your record

b) if you don’t work harder

c) you were born with a terrific brain; be lucky you’ve got it

d) you’re really using some creative thinking there!

D

You eyeballin' me?! Clarence shouted across the room at his 5th-grade classmate. I don't want you lookin' at me! You look at me once

a) hostile attribution bias

b) reciprocal determinism

c) imprinting

d) incremental/mastery orientation

A

The two-way interaction between aspects of the environment and aspects of the individual in the shaping of behaviour is called:

a) operant conditioning

b) reciprocal determinism

c) classical conditioning

d) congruence

B

According to evolutionary theorists, what is the purpose of play?

a) Play is important for humans because it teaches them how to be competitive

b) Play is important for many animals because it helps to relieve anxiety

c) Play is important for many animals because it helps them to learn skills with minimal consequences for mistakes

d) Play is important for humans because they need time for their large brains to develop

C

The first necessary step in order for observational learning to occur is:

a) remembering what a model did

b) being reinforced for imitating a model

c) doing what a model did

d) paying attention to what a model does

D

In Albert Bandura's classic research investigating observational learning, the term Bobo refers to:

a) Bandura’s name for the dog used in the study

b) Bandura’s loyal but strange assistant who carried out the experiment

c) the inflatable clown doll that was used in the study

d) Bandura’s nickname that his graduate students had given him

C

Three-year-old Nishta watches as his older brother Binja impishly reaches up to put his hand on the hot burner of a stove. Nishta sees Binja recoil in terror, and hears his frightened screams as he plunges his injured hand into cold water. For the rest of his life, Nishta never put his hand on a stovetop burner, never got reinforced for not doing so, and in fact never had any direct experience with singed flesh or dangerous kitchen equipment, yet clearly some learning had taken place. What kind of learning did Nishta experience?

a) operant conditioning

b) contingency theory

c) observational learning

d) classical conditioning

C

According to Robert Selman, which concept describes the ability to think about something from another person's point of view?

a) theory of mind

b) role taking

c) interpersonal intelligence

d) introspection

B

Atticus really enjoys learning about science. He doesn't really care what his grade in a science class is, as long as he feels like he really mastered the materials and gained a new understanding of scientific concepts. He is motivated by _____ goals, according to Carol Dweck

a) performance

b) self-fulfilling

c) maintenance

d) learning

D

Sheerah is beginning to walk easily on her own and is starting to explore her house, therefore requiring her parents to pay much closer attention to her movements in order to keep her safe. She has begun to express her desires and choices via language. According to Erik Erikson, in which psychosocial stage is Sheerah?

a) autonomy versus shame and doubt

b) basic trust versus mistrust

c) identity versus role confusion

d) initiative versus guilt

A

Compared to the others, which statement BEST describes Sigmund Freud's legacy in modern psychological science?

a) Freud's influence continues to be very important, but there are a number of criticisms of his theory

b) Freud's theories have generated specific and testable predictions about children's behaviour that continue to be very accurate today

c) Freud's theories are largely ignored in modern psychological science

d) Freud's views on the quest for identity during adolescence have had a lasting impact

A

A primary weakness of the learning approach is its lack of attention to:

a) environmental influences

b) biological influences

c) spirituality

d) philosophy

B

Compared to the others, which scenario BEST illustrates the concept of intermittent reinforcement?

a) Nisha scolds her dog every time he barks

b) Biyu learns that every time she turns on the light switch, the light turns on

c) When 3-year-old Amina bangs her metal spoon on the table, her parent sometimes tells her to stop

d) Sibonakaliso never bothers to correct her 2-year-old child's language errors when they speak

C

The primary contribution of ethology and evolutionary psychology comes from an emphasis on:

a) children’s biological nature including genetic tendencies

b) parents’ happiness and satisfaction

c) environmental effects on children’s development

d) children’s happiness and satisfaction

A

According to evolutionary theorists, what is the purpose of play?

a) Play is important for many animals because it helps them to learn skills with minimal consequences for mistakes

b) Play is important for many animals because it helps to relieve anxiety

c) Play is important for humans because it teaches them how to be competitive

d) Play is important for humans because they need time for their large brains to develop

A

Children who are more skilled at _____ than are their peers also tend to be higher in _____

a) understanding emotion; behaviour problems

b) taking standardized tests; social competence

c) understanding emotion; social competence

d) solving puzzles; social competence

C

Ursula, a 3-year-old child, has recently begun to express feelings of disgust. Based on age, Ursula is most likely to express disgust in response to what type of stimulus?

a) food

b) other children

c) ideas that she does not like

d) moral transgressions

A

Which concept is partially described in terms of activity level, adaptability, and persistence?

a) types of infant personalities

b) dimensions of temperament

c) characteristics of self-concept

d) attachment styles

B

Ten-month-old Rashida is in her high chair at one end of the dining room table. At the other end, her parents are bickering and quarreling, their voices getting louder, and their tone getting more hostile. Rashida looks away from her parents and stares intently at Petey, her dog, who is lying on the floor below her. Rashida is engaging in:

a) co-regulation

b) co-rumination

c) rumination

d) self-distraction

D

During adolescence, _____ contribute(s) to self-regulation

a) peer friendships and relationships

b) increasing independence from parents

c) physiological changes in heart rate and hormone levels

d) neurological changes in the cortex

D

Momoko describes one child as fussy and rarely sleeping through the night, whereas the other child is calm and adapts very easily to any situation. Momoko is describing which aspect of the children's differing characteristics?

a) mood

b) temperament

c) attachment patterns

d) patterns of sociability

B

In his famous marshmallow test

a) eat as many marshmallows as possible

b) delay gratification

c) identify other people’s emotions

d) describe the reasons for other people’s emotions

B

Which aspect of lying do children come to understand with age?

a) people who are lying often scratch their heads

b) people who are lying often use too many words

c) people who are lying say um too often

d) people who are lying often break eye contact and avert their gaze

D

Fei Fei is watching her siblings as she plays in her playpen. Her siblings begin to squabble and shove each other. Fei Fei looks towards her parent and notices that her parent is smiling as she watches the other children, so Fei Fei begins to smile, too. Fei Fei is engaged in:

a) social competence

b) differential susceptibility

c) social referencing

d) co-coaching

C

Display rules involve:

a) displaying facial expressions that are true to what one is feeling at the moment

b) social or cultural guidelines that regulate when, how, and where a person may express emotion

c) emotions that are displayed, as a rule, only by certain cultures

d) universal, biologically based emotional displays evoked by particular emotional situations

B

Genes related to the functioning of _____ that affect voluntary attentional processes appear to be especially relevant for self-regulation

a) testosterone

b) dopamine and other neurotransmitters

c) cortisol

d) serotonin

B

Piotr stubs a toe on the playground slide and begins to whimper and cry. Looking at the injury, Piotr's caregiver makes a silly face, then looks away. The caregiver repeats this, makes a goofy smile the second time, and on the third, grins and grimaces. Piotr is giggling and has forgotten all about the minor injury. Piotr's caregiver has successfully used _____ to help Piotr cope

a) co-regulation

b) multifinality

c) self-comforting

d) co-rumination

A

Kira tends to avoid stressful situations altogether. Raj faces stressful situations by seeking social support. Zane tends to break down in stressful situations and express his negative emotions forcefully. Who might be expected to be the BEST adjusted of these three children?

a) Zane

b) Kira

c) Kira, Raj, and Zane are equally well adjusted

d) Raj

D

Chiyo is a 10-year-old girl who has recently come home very upset from school. She did not do well on a math test, and at lunch she felt that other children did not want to sit with her. Chiyo's parent spends the next hour discussing feelings with Chiyo and giving some strategies to help think about the problems in constructive ways. Chiyo's parent is engaging in which behaviour with Chiyo?

a) equifinality

b) emotion coaching

c) self-soothing

d) co-regulation

D

Enzo is growing up in a home where happiness is frequently and openly expressed. As a result, what else is likely to be TRUE about Enzo?

a) Enzo is likely to be highly socially skilled

b) Enzo is likely to have high levels of depression as an adolescent

c) Enzo is likely to have high levels of anxiety as an adult

d) Enzo is likely to be especially attentive to expressions of sadness in other people

A

Compared to the others, which emotion are children first able to label?

a) disgust

b) happiness

c) fear

d) guilt

B

Ngozi's eyes are wide open; his brows are raised in the middle, making a triangle shape; the corners of his mouth are pulled back into a grimace, with his lips pressed together. Which prototypical facial display of a basic emotion is Ngozi expressing?

a) anger

b) surprise

c) disgust

d) fear

D

What is the goal of the Roots of Empathy (ROE) project originally developed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada?

a) It helps parents of children who have physical and developmental delays to cope with the stress of raising a special needs child with little to no federal funding support

b) It is an intervention targeted at children in kindergarten through grade 8 to promote emotional intelligence and reduce aggressive and antisocial behaviour

c) It is a program mandated in all public high schools in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, instituted to foster greater civic responsibility and volunteerism

d) It is an early-development program aimed at 4- to 6-month-old infants to enhance their ability to decode the facial expressions of their caregivers

B

Dr. Sardonicus is a social psychologist with a particular interest in emotional expression. Dr. Sardonicus believes that anger results when someone is impeded and they are unable to achieve their goal. Dr. Sardonicus would likely be a proponent of which theoretical approach to understanding emotions?

a) behaviourist

b) discrete emotions theory

c) functionalist

d) constructivist

C

During adolescence, _____ contribute(s) to self-regulation

a) peer friendships and relationships

b) physiological changes in heart rate and hormone levels

c) increasing independence from parents

d) neurological changes in the cortex

D

What was Mary Ainsworth trying to determine when she devised an experimental method called the Strange Situation?

a) parental discipline styles in the first year of life

b) the nature of attachment between caregivers and babies

c) aspects of purposeful exploration as the baby investigates a strange environment

d) the nature of gestural communication between parents and babies

B

The research conducted by Harry Harlow demonstrated a need for _____ in young rhesus monkeys

a) a peer group

b) maternal sensitivity

c) contact comfort

d) adequate nutrition

C

According to John Bowlby, which of these is NOT one of the purposes of a primary caregiver functioning as a child's secure base?

a) it makes the infant “needy and dependent”

b) it provides the infant with emotional support

c) it increases the infant’s chances of survival

d) it serves as a form of co-regulation

A

According to Dr. Nussbaum, children's attachment to their primary caregivers is predominantly based on the child's having been conditioned that the caregiver provides food and safety. Dr. Nussbaum MOST likely is a proponent of which approach to understanding attachment?

a) behaviourism

b) Erikson’s theory of identity

c) Bowlby’s theory of attachment

d) Ainsworth’s Strange Situation

A

Mary Ainsworth argued that insecure attachment results primarily from the way caregivers treat their children during the _____ of life

a) first month

b) first year

c) first week

d) first three years

B

Which piece of evidence from Harry Harlow's studies with infant monkeys demonstrated that the monkeys desire (and likely require) comfort from a caregiver?

a) infants fed on the wire mother ended up spending more time with the cloth mother

b) infants fed on the wire mother spent more time with the wire mother

c) infants fed on the cloth mother ended up spending more time with the wire mother

d) infants fed on the cloth mother spent more time with the cloth mother

A

Recent research indicates that infants' _____ affects the degree to which their rearing environment alters their adjustment and social functioning

a) intelligence

b) gender

c) genetic makeup

d) attitude

C

Eight-month-old Heroon often leaves their parent to explore and survey new environments. During exploration, Heroon will glance back at their parent or bring them something they found. When Heroon's parent leaves the room, Heroon is upset, but upon their return, Heroon is comforted and visibly happy to see their parent. Heroon likely has what type of attachment to their parent?

a) disorganized

b) secure

c) insecure/resistant

d) insecure/avoidant

B

Compared with infants who are insecurely attached, securely attached 12-month-olds exhibit more enjoyment, are less fussy or difficult, and are better able to use their mothers

a) children's behaviour in the Strange Situation is not related to their behaviour at home

b) the Strange Situation is not a valid research method

c) children's behaviour in the Strange Situation is similar to their behaviour at home

d) girls but not boys are more likely to be securely attached

C

Parents who had been reported for maltreatment were provided with a short-term home visiting intervention, which resulted in:

a) improved parental sensitivity and greater child attachment security

b) brief immediate positive change, but no lasting benefits

c) little to no change in parental or child behaviour; attachment patterns had already solidified

d) retribution enacted against their children

A

Family dynamic refers to how:

a) different families interact with each other

b) family units ensure the survival of children

c) family members interact with another

d) families affect the culture of which they are a part

C

Parents who teach their children strategies for how to interact with an unfamiliar group of peers are engaging in:

a) modeling

b) withdrawing

c) coaching

d) gatekeeping

C

Patty, Maxine, and Laverne, three preschool children, are working to complete puzzles, and they all take turns fitting in the pieces. This is an example of _____ play.

a) unoccupied

b) parallel

c) associative

d) cooperative

D

The parent of a socially competent child would MOST likely NOT engage in which action?

a) monitoring where and with whom a child is spending their time

b) carefully controlling all of the child's peer interactions

c) allowing a child to deal with peers in their own way

d) arranging opportunities for the child to interact with peers

B

Which observation is correct regarding Canadian children under age 14 who live with a grandparent?

a) the grandparents tend to be older, with most of them in their early 80s

b) the majority of children in this situation live in multigenerational households

c) for most of these children, a lone grandparent is the sole parental figure in the household

d) the children are likely to excel academically and have strong friendship networks

B

A group that involves at least one adult who is related to the child by birth

a) the chronosystem

b) a child’s social support network

c) a family

d) the social environment

C

Recent data compiled by Statistics Canada indicates that _____% of families include two non-step parents.

a) less than 40

b) about 16

c) 63

d) more than 82

A

Which statement is TRUE of adolescents who were securely attached to their parents as infants?

a) they have fewer positive emotional experiences with their peers

b) they are likely to be less confident in their friendships

c) they often are more socially competent and more popular with their peers in elementary school and adolescence

d) they are less likely to have reciprocal relationships

C

Which observation is NOT mostly attributed to attachment theorists?

a) children with a secure attachment develop positive social expectations

b) because of children's experience with a sensitive caregiver, they develop the foundation for understanding reciprocity in relationships

c) children with a secure attachment are likely to be confident, which facilitates social interaction

d) children who lack a secure attachment with their mother may be especially prone to search for positive, reciprocal relationships with other people

D

When 15-year-old Ralston is asked, How do you know that someone is your best friend? it is highly likely that Ralston responded:

a) because a friend is someone you can talk to about things that are bothering you

b) because a friend is someone who shares possessions with you

c) because a friend is somebody who always wants to hang out and do cool things

d) because I like to play and have fun with my best friend

A

Yindi, age 5, does not have a regular bedtime, is allowed to neglect personal hygiene, and doesn't usually participate in any simple chores, such as picking up the toys in the room. It would appear that Yindi's parents' style of parenting is:

a) submissive

b) authoritarian

c) permsisive

d) authoritative

C

Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model suggests family as being central to a child's:

a) microsystem

b) mesosystem

c) exosystem

d) terrasphere

A

When Gigi, age 9, is asked, How do you know that someone is your best friend? it is highly likely that Gigi will respond:

a) because I can play a lot with my best friend

b) because a friend is somebody who puts my feelings first

c) because a friend is someone you can count on to help you when you need it

d) because a friend is someone who is fun to be with

C

When 1st grader Cilla is asked, How do you know that someone is your best friend? it is highly likely that Cilla will respond:

a) because a friend is someone you can count on to help you when you need it

b) because I can play a lot with my friend

c) because a friend is someone you can talk to about things that are bothering you

d) because a friend is somebody who is kind and puts my feelings first

B

At the preschool table, Jarli is playing with a toy car, while Takoda sits next to Jarli, also playing with a toy car and making quiet vroom-vroom engine sounds. The two children are enjoying themselves but not interacting with each other. Which type of play are Jarli and Takoda engaged in?

a) associative play

b) functional play

c) onlooker play

d) parallel play

D

If _____, then a child can be expected to have better adjustment to the divorce of their parents.

a) there is a high level of conflict between the parents while married

b) one of the parents has a full-time job

c) divorcing parents hire low-paid attourneys

d) the child is given anti-anxiety medication

A

Which observation is NOT mostly attributed to attachment theorists?

a) children with a secure attachment develop positive social expectations

b) because of children's experience with a sensitive caregiver, they develop the foundation for understanding reciprocity in relationships

c) children with a secure attachment are likely to be confident, which facilitates social interaction

d) children who lack a secure attachment with their mother may be especially prone to search for positive, reciprocal relationships with other people

D