ATI RN
Human Growth and Development Exam Questions
1. Which major theory of human development emphasizes plasticity at all ages?
- A. psychoanalytic perspective
- B. ethology
- C. evolutionary developmental psychology
- D. lifespan perspective
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, the lifespan perspective. This perspective underscores the idea that individuals have the capacity for growth and change at any age, highlighting plasticity throughout the lifespan. It acknowledges the continuous development and adaptability of individuals to various experiences and factors. Choice A, the psychoanalytic perspective, focuses more on unconscious processes and early childhood experiences. Choice B, ethology, emphasizes the study of animal behavior in natural environments. Choice C, evolutionary developmental psychology, examines how evolutionary principles influence human development but does not specifically focus on plasticity at all ages.
2. According to the continuous view of development, the difference between the immature and the mature is simply one of amount or complexity.
- A. nature
- B. discontinuous
- C. nurture
- D. continuous
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. According to the continuous view of development, the difference between the immature and the mature is seen as simply one of amount or complexity. This view suggests that development is a gradual and continuous process where individuals steadily acquire new abilities without abrupt changes or stages. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because nature, discontinuous, and nurture do not align with the description provided in the question. Nature typically refers to genetic or biological factors, discontinuous implies stages or abrupt changes, and nurture relates to environmental influences, none of which are synonymous with the continuous view of development.
3. During the second trimester, a white, cheeselike substance called __________ emerges on the skin.
- A. lanugo
- B. corpus luteum
- C. vernix
- D. chorion
Correct answer: C
Rationale: During the second trimester of pregnancy, a white, cheeselike substance called vernix emerges on the skin of the developing fetus. Vernix is a protective layer that helps prevent the skin from becoming waterlogged during the time in the amniotic fluid. Choice A, lanugo, is incorrect as lanugo refers to the fine, soft hair that covers the body of a fetus. Choice B, corpus luteum, is incorrect as it is a temporary endocrine structure involved in the menstrual cycle. Choice D, chorion, is incorrect as it is one of the membranes that surround the embryo and later the fetus.
4. When faced with a problem, Sydney starts with a hypothesis, deduces testable inferences, and isolates and combines variables to see which inferences are confirmed. Sydney is in Piaget's __________ stage of development.
- A. sensorimotor
- B. preoperational
- C. concrete operational
- D. formal operational
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Sydney's approach of starting with a hypothesis, deducing testable inferences, and isolating and combining variables to confirm inferences aligns with the characteristics of the formal operational stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development. This stage typically emerges during adolescence and is characterized by advanced logical thinking, abstract reasoning, and the ability to think systematically about all possible outcomes of a problem. Choice A, sensorimotor, is incorrect as it pertains to the stage where infants learn through sensory experiences and motor actions. Choice B, preoperational, is incorrect as it involves egocentrism and lack of conservation. Choice C, concrete operational, is incorrect as it focuses on operational thought and logical reasoning in concrete contexts.
5. Dr. McBride wants to know if the teacher's use of encouragement in the classroom affects the children's self-esteem. To assign children to treatment conditions, Dr. McBride should __________.
- A. carefully distribute the children according to their test scores
- B. divide the children so each group has an equal number of boys and girls
- C. draw the children's names out of a hat
- D. assign the quieter children to the same treatment condition
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Drawing the children's names out of a hat is a way to randomly assign them to treatment conditions. Random assignment helps to ensure that any differences in self-esteem that may be observed in the study are not due to pre-existing characteristics of the children. This method helps to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the teacher's use of encouragement and the children's self-esteem. Choice A is incorrect because assigning children based on test scores may introduce bias into the study. Choice B is incorrect as balancing gender is not relevant to the research question. Choice D is incorrect as it introduces a bias by selecting a specific group of children based on a characteristic unrelated to the study objective.
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