like longitudinal research cross sectional studies can be threatened by

ATI RN

Human Growth and Development Final Exam Answers

1. Like longitudinal research, cross-sectional studies can be threatened by __________.

A. practice effects
B. participant dropout
C. sequential timing
D. cohort effects

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Cross-sectional studies can be threatened by cohort effects because different age groups may have experienced different historical or social contexts, influencing the results. This disparity can lead to invalid comparisons between age groups, confounding the study's findings. Option A, practice effects, refer to changes in participants' behavior due to repeated testing, not a specific threat to cross-sectional studies. Participant dropout (Option B) is a threat related to attrition in longitudinal studies, not cross-sectional studies. Sequential timing (Option C) does not pose a threat to cross-sectional studies; instead, it refers to the order of tasks in a study design.

2. Who believed that complex mental activities have their origins in social interaction?

A. Jean Piaget
B. Renée Baillargeon
C. Noam Chomsky
D. Lev Vygotsky

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is Lev Vygotsky. Vygotsky emphasized the role of social interaction and cultural tools in the development of higher cognitive functions. Jean Piaget focused more on individual cognitive development stages, Renée Baillargeon is known for her work in infant cognition and object permanence, and Noam Chomsky is renowned for his theories in linguistics and the study of language.

3. An experimental design __________.

A. allows researchers to gather information in natural life circumstances without altering the participants' experiences
B. looks at relationships between participants' characteristics and their behavior or development
C. permits inferences about cause and effect because researchers evenhandedly assign people to treatment conditions
D. has one major limitation: researchers cannot infer cause and effect

Correct answer: C

Rationale: An experimental design permits inferences about cause and effect because researchers evenhandedly assign people to treatment conditions. This means that researchers can manipulate certain variables and observe the effects on participants, allowing them to determine causation between variables. This is a key strength of experimental research designs. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the primary purpose or strength of experimental designs. Experimental designs do not focus on gathering information in natural life circumstances (A), looking at relationships between characteristics and behavior (B), or have the limitation of not being able to infer cause and effect (D).

4. Which research method was borrowed from the field of anthropology?

A. ethnography
B. clinical interview
C. structured interview
D. systematic observation

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: ethnography. Ethnography is a research method borrowed from the field of anthropology. It involves observing and documenting behaviors and interactions in a naturalistic setting. This method allows researchers to gain insight into the cultural context and practices of a group through direct observation and participation. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because clinical interviews, structured interviews, and systematic observations are research methods used in different contexts and fields, not borrowed specifically from anthropology.

5. If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum shrinks, and the __________.

A. cells begin to duplicate
B. one-celled zygote multiplies and forms a blastocyst
C. germinal period lasts only about two weeks
D. lining of the uterus is discarded

Correct answer: D

Rationale: If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum will shrink. As a result, the lining of the uterus is discarded through the process of menstruation. This shedding of the uterine lining is what causes menstrual bleeding. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not describe the physiological response of the body when pregnancy does not occur. The corpus luteum shrinking and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining are part of the menstrual cycle, not processes related to cell duplication, zygote multiplication, or the duration of the germinal period.