g stanley hall and his student arnold gesell

ATI RN

Human Growth and Development Final Exam

1. G. Stanley Hall and his student, Arnold Gesell, __________.

A. discovered that prenatal growth is strikingly similar in many species
B. launched the normative approach
C. constructed the first standardized intelligence test
D. were the forefathers of psychoanalytic theory

Correct answer: B

Rationale: G. Stanley Hall and his student, Arnold Gesell, launched the normative approach. This approach involves studying large numbers of people of different ages and examining the age-related averages of behaviors to establish norms or typical development patterns. These scholars focused on the systematic observation of how and when certain behaviors appear in children. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the contributions of G. Stanley Hall and Arnold Gesell in the field of developmental psychology.

2. What did Ivan Pavlov discover?

A. observational learning
B. classical conditioning
C. the ego's positive contributions to development
D. the clinical method

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Ivan Pavlov discovered classical conditioning. This is a form of learning in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response. Pavlov's famous experiment with dogs, where he conditioned them to salivate at the sound of a bell, demonstrated this principle. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because Pavlov's work primarily focused on classical conditioning, not observational learning, ego contributions to development, or the clinical method.

3. Currently, the most widely used potent teratogen is __________.

A. aspirin
B. diethylstilbestrol (DES)
C. thalidomide
D. isotretinoin

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is a medication commonly used to treat severe acne, but it is a potent teratogen, meaning it can cause severe birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Aspirin (choice A) is not a widely used potent teratogen. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) (choice B) was a known teratogen, but it is not currently widely used. Thalidomide (choice C) was another historical teratogen, but it is also not currently widely used. Therefore, isotretinoin is the most relevant answer as it is a commonly used medication that poses a high risk of birth defects if used during pregnancy.

4. Which statement describes a strength of naturalistic observation?

A. It reflects the participants' everyday lives.
B. It permits comparisons of participants' responses.
C. Great depth and breadth of information can be obtained in a short time.
D. It grants each participant an equal opportunity to display the behavior of interest.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Naturalistic observation reflects the participants' everyday lives because it involves observing individuals in their natural environments without any manipulation. This allows researchers to see how people behave in real-world settings and can provide valuable insights into their typical behavior patterns. Choice B is incorrect because naturalistic observation focuses on observing behavior in its natural setting rather than comparing responses between participants. Choice C is incorrect as naturalistic observation tends to provide rich, qualitative data rather than a large amount of information in a short time. Choice D is incorrect because in naturalistic observation, participants are observed as they naturally behave, which may not always lead to an equal opportunity for all participants to display the behavior of interest.

5. The first successful intelligence test was originally constructed to __________.

A. measure individual differences in IQ
B. document age-related improvements in children's intellectual functioning
C. identify children with learning problems who needed to be placed in special classes
D. compare the scores of people who varied in gender, ethnicity, and birth order

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The first successful intelligence test, the Binet-Simon Scale, was originally developed to identify children with learning problems who required special educational interventions. Choice A is incorrect because measuring individual differences in IQ was not the primary purpose of the test. Choice B is incorrect because documenting age-related improvements in children's intellectual functioning was not the main goal of the test. Choice D is incorrect because comparing the scores of people based on gender, ethnicity, and birth order was not the intended use of the intelligence test.