Nursing Elites

1. Which major theory of human development emphasizes plasticity at all ages?

• A. psychoanalytic perspective
• B. ethology
• C. evolutionary developmental psychology
• D. lifespan perspective

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, the lifespan perspective. This perspective underscores the idea that individuals have the capacity for growth and change at any age, highlighting plasticity throughout the lifespan. It acknowledges the continuous development and adaptability of individuals to various experiences and factors. Choice A, the psychoanalytic perspective, focuses more on unconscious processes and early childhood experiences. Choice B, ethology, emphasizes the study of animal behavior in natural environments. Choice C, evolutionary developmental psychology, examines how evolutionary principles influence human development but does not specifically focus on plasticity at all ages.

2. What is a major disadvantage of cross-sectional research?

• A. Age-related changes cannot be examined.
• B. Participants often drop out before the study is over.
• C. Factors affecting individual development cannot be explored.
• D. Practice effects often cause biased findings.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: One major disadvantage of cross-sectional research is that factors affecting individual development cannot be explored thoroughly. Cross-sectional research involves comparing different groups of people at one specific point in time, and does not allow for tracking individual changes over time. This limitation means that the unique influences and trajectories of individual development may be overlooked in cross-sectional studies. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Choice A is not a major disadvantage of cross-sectional research as age-related changes can still be compared across different groups in this type of study. Choice B, while a potential issue in any study, is not specific to cross-sectional research. Choice D refers to a different type of bias caused by repeated testing rather than a major disadvantage of cross-sectional research.

3. To overcome some of the limitations of traditional developmental designs, investigators sometimes use __________ designs, in which they conduct several similar cross-sectional or longitudinal studies.

• A. sequential
• B. experimental
• C. correlational
• D. quasi-experimental Answer: A Page Ref: 36 Skill Level: Remember Topic: Studying Development Difficulty Level: Easy

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Sequential designs involve conducting multiple similar cross-sectional or longitudinal studies to overcome limitations of traditional developmental designs. By combining different types of study designs, researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of development over time. This approach allows for more robust conclusions and can help address potential confounding variables that may impact the results.

4. Development is best understood as __________.

• A. genetically determined
• B. environmentally influenced
• C. an unsolvable puzzle
• D. a series of complex exchanges between nature and nurture

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Development is best understood as a series of complex exchanges between nature (genetic factors) and nurture (environmental influences). This perspective emphasizes the interaction and interplay between genetic predispositions and environmental experiences in shaping an individual's development. Choices A and B are too extreme as they suggest that development is solely determined by genetics or solely influenced by the environment, which is not the case. Choice C is incorrect as development is not viewed as an unsolvable puzzle but rather as a dynamic process influenced by multiple factors.

5. In a correlational design, researchers __________.

• A. gather information on individuals without altering their experiences
• B. divide events and behaviors of interest into two types: dependent and independent variables
• C. use an evenhanded procedure to assign people to two or more treatment conditions
• D. directly control or manipulate changes in the independent variable

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In a correlational design, researchers gather information on individuals without altering their experiences. Correlational studies examine the relationship between two or more variables without any manipulation or control by the researchers. The researchers simply observe and measure the variables of interest without intervening in any way. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they describe aspects related to experimental designs rather than correlational designs. In an experimental design, researchers manipulate variables, assign participants to different treatment conditions, and control changes in the independent variable, which is not the case in correlational studies.

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