1. A child's ability to engage in social learning is most closely related to which Piagetian concept?
A. Object permanence
B. Animism
C. Imitation Correct
D. Centration
E. Conservation
Explanation
Picture a child copying a parents dance moves at a family party. This reflects imitation, a key Piagetian concept where children learn by mirroring others actions, essential for social learning. Object permanence is about knowing a hidden toy still exists, animism gives life to objects like dolls, centration focuses on one detail while ignoring others, and conservation understands that a liquids volume stays the same despite a new container shape. These do not drive social learning like imitation does.
2. In order to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between regular exercise and improved cognitive functioning in older adults, a researcher would need to do which of the following?
A. Survey persons over the age of 55 to determine their activity level and exercise routines, then administer assessments of verbal and spatial cognitive abilities.
B. Administer cognitive assessments to people living in a retirement community that provides opportunities for active lifestyle and to people living in a retirement community that does not provide such opportunities.
C. Randomly assign a group of adults over the age of 55 to either an exercise or an alternative sedentary activity, and administer a cognitive assessment at the beginning of the study and again after three months. Correct
D. Conduct a case study of a 60-year-old individual who lifts weights competitively.
E. Administer cognitive assessments to members of a biking club and to a book discussion group for senior citizens.
Explanation
Imagine designing a fair experiment like a science fair project. Randomly splitting seniors into exercise or couch-sitting groups and testing their memory before and after ensures exercise is the true cognitive booster, ruling out other factors. Surveys or comparing existing groups like cyclists and book club members might show patterns but cannot prove exercise causes the improvement. A single weightlifters story, while interesting, is too narrow to generalize.
3. Correlation coefficients range from
A. -.5 to +.5
B. -1.0 to +1.0 Correct
C. -1.5 to +1.5
D. -2.0 to +2.0
E. -2.5 to +2.5
Explanation
Think of correlation as a sliding scale between two variables, from perfect opposites (like rain and ice cream sales at -1.0) to perfect harmony (like study time and test scores at +1.0). This full range is the standard for measuring how closely two things align, while narrower or broader ranges miss the precision of statistical analysis.
4. According to Sigmund Freud, people who struggle with drug addiction most likely
A. have a very strict superego
B. have a well-developed ego ideal
C. have an overactive id Correct
D. are using reaction formation
E. suffer from feelings of transference
Explanation
In Freuds view, the id is like a restless child seeking instant pleasure, driving someone toward drugs when it overshadows the egos balance and the superegos moral restraint. A strict superego would suppress impulses, a strong ego ideal sets high aspirations, reaction formation turns desires into opposites, and transference redirects emotions to others. None explain addictions pull as directly as an unchecked id.
5. Which of the following researchers is most likely to be interested in ecological systems theory?
A. Kent, who wishes to understand the conditions under which people are most likely to conform with others
B. Ella, who conducts observations in children's homes, schools, and neighborhoods Correct
C. Sidney, who administers questionnaires that measure cognitive, social, and emotional development
D. Jeanne, who tracks children's intelligence test scores over a ten-year period
E. Clint, who presents children with different visual stimuli and measures their looking time
Explanation
Ellas research, diving into how homes, classrooms, and playgrounds shape kids, mirrors Bronfenbrenners ecological systems theory, which views development as a web of interconnected environments. Kents focus on conformity ties to social psychology, Sidneys surveys are broad but not environment-focused, Jeannes tracking emphasizes individual growth, and Clints visual experiments target cognition, not the broader ecological context.