Human Growth and Development Exam 1

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The second leading cause of neonatal mortality in the United States is low birth weight, which is largely preventable through proper prenatal care, nutrition, and health interventions. Low birth weight infants are at higher risk for various health complications and mortality, making it an important issue to address in maternal and child health programs. Malnutrition (choice A) can contribute to low birth weight but is not the direct cause of neonatal mortality. Physical abnormality (choice B) can be a factor in some cases but is not the second leading cause overall. Sudden infant death syndrome (choice D) refers to unexplained deaths of seemingly healthy babies and is not related to low birth weight as a leading cause of neonatal mortality.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: longitudinal. In a longitudinal design, participants are followed and studied over an extended period, allowing researchers to observe changes and continuity in development as individuals age. This design is crucial for understanding how individuals grow and change over time. Cross-sectional studies (Choice A) involve comparing different groups at the same time point, while experimental studies (Choice B) involve manipulating variables to observe their effects. Correlational studies (Choice D) examine relationships between variables but do not involve studying participants over time.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: During the first week of pregnancy, the zygote (fertilized egg) undergoes rapid cell divisions and forms a blastocyst. This is a crucial stage where the cells differentiate and specialize, setting the foundation for the development of the embryo. It is during this time that the zygote implants itself into the uterine wall, initiating the process of pregnancy. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because during the first week of pregnancy, the focus is on the initial development and multiplication of the zygote, not on the development of heart muscles, a primitive brain and spinal cord, or the embryo's ability to move.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: A sequential design permits researchers to check if cohort effects are operating. This design involves combining cross-sectional and longitudinal research, allowing for the comparison of different cohorts at different ages. By using this approach, researchers can determine if developmental changes observed are due to age or generation-specific factors. Therefore, a sequential design is valuable in addressing the potential influence of cohort effects on developmental outcomes. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because a sequential design does not neglect diversity in developmental outcomes, is not necessarily less efficient than a longitudinal design, and can make both cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'regards people as actively making sense of their own thinking.' The information-processing approach, similar to Piaget's theory, focuses on how individuals actively process information, encode it, store it, and retrieve it to understand the world around them. Choices A and B are incorrect because the information-processing approach does not necessarily divide development into stages or view development as discontinuous. Choice D is incorrect because the information-processing approach is more concerned with cognitive processes like encoding, storage, and retrieval, rather than nonlinear cognition such as imagination and creativity.