Nursing Elites

1. In an experimental study examining whether children who are read to more often score higher on vocabulary tests in first grade, the independent variable would be the __________.

• A. frequency of read-alouds
• B. type of books parents read
• C. child’s vocabulary score Copyright © 2018 Laura E. Berk. All Rights Reserved. 31 Test Bank for Berk, Development Through the Lifespan, 7e
• D. difficulty of vocabulary words Answer: A Page Ref: 33 Skill Level: Apply and limitations of each. Topic: Studying Development Difficulty Level: Difficult

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In an experimental study, the independent variable is the factor being manipulated or controlled by the researcher. In this case, the frequency of read-alouds is the variable that researchers would intentionally change or vary to see its effect on the dependent variable, which is the children's vocabulary scores. The other options (B. type of books parents read, C. child's vocabulary score, and D. difficulty of vocabulary words) are not the independent variable in this study as they are either irrelevant or are the outcome being measured.

2. Three-month-old Jefferson will probably listen longer to __________ than to __________.

• A. pure tones; voices
• B. pure tones; noises
• C. human speech; nonspeech sounds
• D. a foreign language; his native language

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Three-month-old Jefferson will likely listen longer to human speech compared to nonspeech sounds because infants have a natural preference for speech sounds. This preference is believed to be attributed to their biological readiness to learn language and communicate with others. Choice A is incorrect because voices are a form of human speech, which is preferred over pure tones. Choice B is incorrect as noises do not necessarily engage infants' attention as effectively as human speech. Choice D is incorrect because Jefferson is more likely to listen longer to his native language rather than a foreign language at this early age.

3. 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.

4. Spatial skills __________.

• A. increase exponentially in early childhood
• B. support children's improved executive function
• C. develop gradually over childhood and adolescence
• D. are typically housed in the left hemisphere

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Spatial skills develop gradually over childhood and adolescence, reflecting the increasing complexity of these abilities. Choice A is incorrect because spatial skills do not increase exponentially in early childhood but rather develop steadily. Choice B is incorrect as spatial skills are not directly linked to executive function. Choice D is incorrect because spatial skills are not typically housed in a specific hemisphere but involve a network of brain regions.

5. Dr. McBride wants to know if the teacher's use of encouragement in the classroom affects the children's self-esteem. To assign children to treatment conditions, Dr. McBride should __________.

• A. carefully distribute the children according to their test scores
• B. divide the children so each group has an equal number of boys and girls
• C. draw the children's names out of a hat
• D. assign the quieter children to the same treatment condition

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.

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