a major strength of the longitudinal design is that researchers can

ATI RN

Human Growth and Development Final Exam

1. What is a major strength of the longitudinal design?

A. Examine relationships between early and later behaviors
B. Collect a large amount of data in a short time span
C. Explore similarities among children of different cohorts
D. Study participants differing in age at the same point in time

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A major strength of the longitudinal design is that researchers can examine relationships between early and later behaviors. This design allows researchers to observe and track changes in the same participants over an extended period of time, providing valuable insights into developmental trajectories and how behaviors are connected across different stages of life. Choice B is incorrect because longitudinal studies track changes over time, not necessarily collect a large amount of data in a short time span. Choice C is incorrect as it refers to cross-sectional studies rather than longitudinal studies. Choice D is incorrect as it describes a cross-sectional design where participants of different ages are studied at the same time.

2. Who believed that complex mental activities have their origins in social interaction?

A. Jean Piaget
B. Renée Baillargeon
C. Noam Chomsky
D. Lev Vygotsky

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is Lev Vygotsky. Vygotsky emphasized the role of social interaction and cultural tools in the development of higher cognitive functions. Jean Piaget focused more on individual cognitive development stages, Renée Baillargeon is known for her work in infant cognition and object permanence, and Noam Chomsky is renowned for his theories in linguistics and the study of language.

3. The discontinuous view of development holds that __________.

A. infants and preschoolers respond to the world in much the same way as adults do
B. growth is the process of gradually augmenting the skills that were present from the beginning
C. infants and children have unique ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving
D. development is a smooth process limited only by a lack of information and precision

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The discontinuous view of development holds that infants and children have unique ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. This perspective suggests that development is not a continuous or smooth process, but rather occurs in distinct stages or phases marked by qualitative differences in abilities and behaviors. This contrasts with the idea that development is a gradual augmentation of skills present from the beginning (choice B) or that infants and preschoolers respond to the world in the same way as adults (choice A). Choice D is incorrect because the discontinuous view does not consider development as a smooth process limited by a lack of information and precision. Ultimately, the discontinuous view emphasizes the distinct and evolving nature of development across the lifespan.

4. According to the cognitive perspective of perceptual development, what do babies do?

A. are blank slates
B. impose meaning on what they perceive
C. actively search for discontinuous stimuli
D. seek variant features in the environment

Correct answer: B

Rationale: According to the cognitive perspective of perceptual development, babies impose meaning on what they perceive. This means that babies actively interpret and make sense of the stimuli they encounter. Choice A is incorrect because babies are not seen as blank slates in this context; they actively engage with their environment. Choice C is incorrect as babies do not necessarily search for discontinuous stimuli, but rather interpret what they perceive. Choice D is incorrect as seeking variant features in the environment is not a core concept of the cognitive perspective of perceptual development.

5. Maternal high blood glucose _________.

A. can cause Rh factor incompatibility
B. is linked to poorer memory in early childhood
C. is linked to low birth weight
D. can cause the mother's blood pressure to increase sharply

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Maternal high blood glucose is linked to poorer memory in early childhood. Research has shown that exposure to high levels of maternal blood glucose during pregnancy may negatively impact a child's memory development in early childhood. This highlights the importance of managing blood glucose levels during pregnancy for the health and development of the child. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not reflect the established link between maternal high blood glucose and poorer memory in early childhood. Rh factor incompatibility is related to blood type differences between the mother and the fetus, low birth weight can be linked to various factors other than maternal blood glucose, and sharp increases in the mother's blood pressure are not directly associated with maternal high blood glucose.