ATI RN
Human Growth and Development Final Exam Answers
1. Like longitudinal research, cross-sectional studies can be threatened by __________.
- A. practice effects
- B. participant dropout
- C. sequential timing
- D. cohort effects
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Cross-sectional studies can be threatened by cohort effects because different age groups may have experienced different historical or social contexts, influencing the results. This disparity can lead to invalid comparisons between age groups, confounding the study's findings. Option A, practice effects, refer to changes in participants' behavior due to repeated testing, not a specific threat to cross-sectional studies. Participant dropout (Option B) is a threat related to attrition in longitudinal studies, not cross-sectional studies. Sequential timing (Option C) does not pose a threat to cross-sectional studies; instead, it refers to the order of tasks in a study design.
2. Dana is pregnant with her first child and wonders how much weight she should gain during the pregnancy. You should recommend a healthy diet that results in a weight gain of __________ pounds.
- A. 10 to 15
- B. 15 to 20
- C. 25 to 30
- D. 35 to 40
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The recommended weight gain during pregnancy depends on the pre-pregnancy weight of the mother. For a woman with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI, the recommended weight gain is typically between 25 to 30 pounds. This range is considered healthy to support the growth and development of the baby while also maintaining the mother's health. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they represent weight gain ranges that are either too low or too high for a woman with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI, which could pose health risks for both the mother and the baby. It is crucial to adhere to healthcare professionals' guidelines to ensure a healthy pregnancy and birth outcome.
3. What is one challenge associated with longitudinal research?
- A. It does not allow for inferences about cause-and-effect relationships.
- B. Participants may relocate or drop out of the study.
- C. Findings may not be applicable to real-world scenarios.
- D. It does not allow for the examination of individual developmental patterns.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: One challenge associated with longitudinal research is that participants may relocate or drop out of the study over time. This can result in missing data and potential biases in the findings, impacting the study's overall validity and reliability. Furthermore, it can present difficulties for researchers in accurately monitoring and analyzing changes in individuals over an extended period. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because longitudinal research can indeed allow for inferences about cause-and-effect relationships, findings can be generalized to the real world with appropriate design and sampling, and it is suitable for studying individual developmental patterns.
4. Dr. Rizvi studies the relationship between changes in the brain and the developing person's cognitive processing and behavior patterns. She is part of a group of researchers from the fields of psychology, biology, neuroscience, and medicine. This approach to development is known as __________.
- A. behaviorism
- B. cognitive-development theory
- C. the information-processing approach
- D. developmental cognitive neuroscience
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Dr. Rizvi's approach to development, involving studying the relationship between changes in the brain and cognitive processing and behavior patterns, aligns with developmental cognitive neuroscience. This field combines research from various disciplines to understand how brain development influences cognitive processes and behaviors. Choice A, behaviorism, focuses on observable behaviors influenced by external stimuli. Choice B, cognitive-development theory, emphasizes cognitive growth stages. Choice C, the information-processing approach, centers on how individuals perceive, store, and retrieve information.
5. Researchers randomly assigned adolescents to either a single-grade classroom or a mixed-age classroom. This is an example of a __________.
- A. naturalistic observation
- B. case study
- C. natural experiment
- D. field experiment
Correct answer: D
Rationale: In this scenario, the researchers randomly assigned adolescents to either a single-grade classroom or a mixed-age classroom, which is an example of a field experiment. A field experiment involves manipulating independent variables in a natural setting to observe the effects on participants. This design allows for more control over variables compared to naturalistic observation, case studies, or natural experiments. Naturalistic observation involves observing subjects in their natural environment without manipulating any variables. A case study focuses on in-depth analysis of a single individual or a small group. A natural experiment involves observing naturally occurring events without intervention or manipulation by the researcher.
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