PSYC140 / PSYC 140 Module 4 Exam Questions
and Answers | Latest 2026–2027 Update |
Developmental (Lifespan) Psychology | Portage
Learning | Verified
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Solutions | Grade A
Q: This researcher emphasized the role of the teacher and expert in learning.
Answer
Vygotsky
Q: This researcher was pessimistic about a child's abilities to learn by himself.
Answer
Vygotsky
Q: According to Vygotsky, in an ideal learning situation, adults give much assistance to
young children early on. As the children become more competent, the adult begins to
withdraw direct assistance. This illustrates the zone of _______________.
proximal
Answer
development
Q: Which Piagetian substage occurs during the Preoperational stage: Secondary
Circular Reactions, Symbolic Function, or
Answer
Metacognition.
Symbolic Function
Q: Why do young children fail conservation tasks, according to Piaget?
Answer
Centration
Q: ____________ according to Piaget, is the ability to understand that altering
physical appearance does not necessarily change the
amount of that substance.
Answer
Conservation
Q: Which theorist, Piaget or Vygotsky, thought that collaborative work with teachers
or older peers is the key to cognitive
development?
Answer
Vygotsky
Q: True or false? Gender constancy is similar to Piaget's idea of conservation.
Answer
True
Q: According to Piaget, ____________ are mental activities.
Answer
Operations
Q: Which theorist, Piaget or Vygotsky, thought that self-discovery was key to cognitive
development?
Answer
Piaget
Q: Which of the following accurately describes Discovery Learning?
Answer
Children learn by actively exploring—emphasis on hands- on learning.
Q: Which of the following accurately describes Piaget's views on assimilation and
accommodation?
Answer
Problem-solving skills must be discovered; they cannot be taught.
Q: This researcher focused on how young children experiment on their world in order
to learn about it.
Answer
Piaget
Q: True or false? Myelination can impact the way that children think.
Answer
True
Q: Synaptic ____________ occurs when under-utilized synaptic connections die
away.
Answer
Pruning
Q: The process by which neurons become insulated with a layer of fat cells is known as
____________.
Answer
Myelination
Q: True or false? Myelination can impact the way that children think.
Answer
True
Q: Gender ____________ theory states that children learn what society thinks
about male- and female-appropriate behaviors and that
they organize new information according to these models.
Answer
Schema
Q: True or false? Children in early childhood as well as elementary school tend to
associate with children of the same gender.
Answer
True
Q: Which of Baumrind's parenting styles is associated with the most negative long
term outcomes?
Answer
Neglectful
Q: True or false? It is common for young children to engage in gender stereotyping.
Answer
True
Q: True or false? Neglect is not a form of child abuse.
Answer
False
Q: True or false? Researchers on gender and early childhood indicate that it's rare for
children of this age group to behave in very genderstereotypical ways.
Answer
False
Q: True or false? Children are not born with the ability to take another's perspective.
Answer
True
Q: Gender ____________ theory states that children learn what society thinks
about male- and female-appropriate behaviors and that they organize new information
according to these models.
Answer
Schema
Q: True or false? When children play pretend games with one another, they are
showing a reduction in egocentrism.
Answer
True
Q: Why is parallel play an example of egocentrism?
Answer
Egocentrism refers to a problem with taking another person's perspective or point
of view, they are focused on their own play
rather than others. When they talk, its more so them talking at people versus with them.
Q: Short essay questions should be answered in full sentences.
Answer
Why do modern researchers often find that young children are able to overcome some
aspects of egocentrism at younger ages than Piaget had thought?
Mordern researchers often found that young children where able to overcome some
aspects of egocentrisim because they
believed that Piagets theory of the Mountain Task was hard, the children did not
understand the logical context and intent of
the experimenter, the materials piaget used where not unfamiliar, and the language was
complicated. Hence, the researchers
used easier models like the Policeman Doll Study and Turn Table Model that the
children understood easily. Also, the
materials used were familiar like in the turn table model where "Grover" the
cartoon character from "Seasame Street" was
introduced. Finally, the experiment was properly explained to the children and even
when they did not get it right it was
explained further and they were allowed to try again.
[teachers response] Understanding the task is key. Other methods than the Three
Mountains Task are perhaps more
understandable to young children and can result in decentered (less egocentric)
responses.
Give an example of a child exhibiting animism, as defined by Piaget.
Answer
The child stating that their doll is sad if the doll do not sleep with him.
Answers need to show a child giving human qualities to inanimate objects
Q: According to Piaget, what is centration?
Answer
Centration is the ability to focus on one aspect of an object, situation or event thereby
missing out on the "big picture". It is
one of the limitations of the preoerational child. Focusing all attention on one feature of
an object.
Q: Describe an example of a parent or teacher using scaffolding in order to teach a
child a particular concept or task. Be sure to describe beginning, middle, and later steps.
Answer
When a child first starts school, a teacher will normally have a pre test for the child to
take to see where they will need help for
the school year. During the school year the teacher will then test the child for each thing
that they go over to ensure they are
keeping up. Once the school year is almost over the teacher will then give them a
comprehensive test to ensure that they
learned everything they needed to know from their class before they continue to a higher
level.
[teachers note] for articulating at least three step-by-step progressions from completely
assisting the child to the child's
independence on a specific task
What is the age range for Piaget's Preoperational stage?
Answer
2-7 years old
What purpose does myelination in the brains of young children serve?
Answer
Myelination serves as lubrication to speed up messages/synaptic transmission being
relayed among neurons.
What are 2 biological reasons for why young children think inefficiently?
Answer
myelination and pruning not complete.
Compare and contrast Gross Motor and Fine Motor skills. What are
Answer
the differences between the two types of skills? Also, give an example of a Gross Motor
skill and a Fine Motor skill that occurs in
early childhood.
Gross Motor skills refer to large muscle development; it requires arm and leg strength.
An example of Gross Motor skill
would be kicking or running. Fine Motor are skills require dexerity; these movements
are to be made with the hands. An
example of Fine Motor skills would be writing or coloring.
[teachers note] Answers need to focus on large body movements for gross motor vs
greater precision and small movements for
fine motor. Examples need to accurately reflect each type.
What purpose does synaptic pruning serve in the brains of young children?
Answer
Snaptic pruning helps to eliminate underutilized synaptic connections between the
neurons and strenghten the ones that are
used often thereby resulting to a more efficient adult brain where their experiences
facilitates their growth and development of
their thinking process. Clear out underused synaptic connections.
Answer the following essay question. Answers should be written in clear, complete
sentences.
Answer
Describe each of Baumrind's parenting styles. In your description, summarize the key
features, indicating what responsiveness and
demandingness look like in each parenting style. Just listing "low" and "high" levels of
each feature for each parenting style is not a
sufficient description. Be sure to also define "responsiveness" and
"demandingness" in your answer. Then, give a detailed illustration
of parents displaying each style. Be sure that your illustration showcases specific parents
(you can even give pseudonyms if you'd
like!) behaving according to each type of parenting style in everyday life. These
illustrations should be distinct (separate) from your
descriptions of the parenting styles.
Authoritarian is low responsiveness and high demandingness.
Authoritative is high responsiveness and high demandingness.
Permissive is high responsiveness and low demandingness.
Neglectful is low responsiveness and low demandingness.
Responsiveness mean appropriately affectionate, communicative and responsive to
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