Human Growth and Development Exam Questions

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.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. During prenatal development, the ectoderm folds over to form the neural tube, which eventually develops into the brain and spinal cord. The neural tube is the precursor to the central nervous system, including the primitive spinal cord. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because the mesoderm does not form the neural tube, the endoderm is not involved in the formation of the central nervous system, and neuron tract is not the structure that forms the primitive spinal cord.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Observations of imprinting in animals, such as ducklings following the first moving object they see after hatching, led to the major concept of the critical period in human development. The critical period is a specific time frame during which an organism must experience certain stimuli to develop properly. This concept has been influential in understanding various aspects of human development, such as language acquisition and social attachment. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Adaptation refers to adjusting to the environment, equilibrium is about balance in cognitive processes, and classical conditioning is a learning process associated with behaviorism, none of which directly relate to the concept derived from imprinting observations.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The major strength of the information-processing approach to development is its commitment to rigorous research methods. This approach emphasizes systematic observation, measurement, and experimentation to study cognitive development in individuals. By using rigorous research methods, researchers can gather reliable and valid data to better understand how information is processed in the human mind. This commitment to methodological rigor enhances the credibility and validity of the conclusions drawn within the information-processing approach to development. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because the information-processing approach focuses on empirical research methods rather than the study of imagination, case study interviews, or disproving other developmental theories.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Terrance exhibits a combination of physical abnormalities like a thin upper lip, short eyelid openings, a small head, and a smooth philtrum, along with developmental delays and cognitive impairments. These characteristics are indicative of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. FAS is a severe condition resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure and is characterized by a range of physical, cognitive, and behavioral issues. Choice A, fetal alcohol syndrome, is the correct answer as it aligns with Terrance's symptoms and the effects of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not encompass the full spectrum of symptoms and impairments presented by Terrance, which are specific to fetal alcohol syndrome.