Human Growth and Development Final Exam Answers

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The germinal period lasts about two weeks and occurs during the first two weeks of pregnancy. This is the time when the fertilized egg implants into the uterus and begins to divide rapidly. It is followed by the embryonic period, which lasts from about week 3 to week 8 of pregnancy. Choice A is incorrect because the germinal period happens in the early stages of pregnancy, not the second trimester. Choice B is incorrect because the germinal period typically lasts about two weeks, not six. Choice D is incorrect because the germinal period is an early stage of pregnancy and not the final period of a 38-week pregnancy.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The major strength of the clinical interview is that it can provide a large amount of information in a fairly brief period. This allows researchers to gather detailed data about an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors efficiently. Choice A is incorrect because the clinical interview focuses on gathering information from individuals rather than comparing their responses. Choice C is incorrect as clinical interviews are primarily aimed at understanding individuals rather than cultures or social groups. Choice D is incorrect as it describes a strength of naturalistic observations, not clinical interviews.

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.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Baby Ian is demonstrating the Moro reflex. The Moro reflex is a normal newborn reflex that occurs when a baby feels like they are falling or losing support. It is characterized by arching the back, extending the legs, throwing the arms outward, and then bringing the arms in toward the body. This reflex is a primitive survival instinct that typically disappears around 6 months of age. Choice A, palmar grasp, involves the baby's fingers closing around an object when it touches their palm. Choice C, tonic neck reflex, involves the baby assuming a fencing position when their head is turned to one side. Choice D, Babinski reflex, is characterized by the fanning out and curling of the baby's toes when the sole of the foot is stroked.

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.