Observations of imprinting led to which major concept in human development?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Observations of imprinting in animals, such as ducklings following the first moving object they see after hatching, led to the major concept of the critical period in human development. The critical period is a specific time frame during which an organism must experience certain stimuli to develop properly. This concept has been influential in understanding various aspects of human development, such as language acquisition and social attachment. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Adaptation refers to adjusting to the environment, equilibrium is about balance in cognitive processes, and classical conditioning is a learning process associated with behaviorism, none of which directly relate to the concept derived from imprinting observations.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Small-for-date infants more often show evidence of brain damage than preterm infants. This can be attributed to factors such as intrauterine growth restriction and poor nutrition during pregnancy, which can affect the development of the baby's brain. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because there is no evidence to support that small-for-date infants catch fewer infections, are less likely to die, or have higher intelligence tests compared to preterm infants.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Ethnographic research is directed toward understanding a culture through participant observation. This type of observation involves the researcher immersing themselves in the culture being studied, actively participating in the daily activities and interactions of the group being studied. Through participant observation, researchers can gain a deep and nuanced understanding of the culture from the inside. Choice A, naturalistic observation, typically refers to observing subjects in their natural environment without interference, but it does not involve actively participating in the culture. Choice C, systematic observation, focuses on carefully planned and structured data collection methods but may not involve direct participation. Choice D, structured observation, implies a predefined set of guidelines for observation but lacks the immersive aspect of participant observation.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Structured interviews do not yield the same depth of information as a clinical interview because they involve a set of standardized questions that are asked in the same way to all participants. This lack of flexibility may limit the depth and richness of the responses obtained compared to a more open-ended clinical interview. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because structured interviews are not flexible in question phrasing, do not necessarily bring together a wide range of information on one person, and can provide insights into participants' reasoning behind responses depending on the design of the structured questions.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The force of blood flowing through the umbilical cord keeps it firm. The umbilical cord is the connection between the placenta and the fetus, providing essential nutrients and oxygen to the developing baby. Blood flow through the umbilical cord helps maintain its structure and function throughout the prenatal period. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not play a role in providing nutrients and oxygen to the developing baby or in maintaining its firmness.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Vygotsky's emphasis on culture and social experience did not lead him to neglect the biological side of development. Instead, he believed that biological factors and social influences interact to shape cognitive development. Choice A is correct because it reflects Vygotsky's view that biological factors and social experiences work together in cognitive development. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as Vygotsky's emphasis was not on overemphasizing heredity, focusing solely on independent efforts of children, or placing too much emphasis on children's capacity to shape their own development.

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).

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Terrance exhibits a combination of physical abnormalities like a thin upper lip, short eyelid openings, a small head, and a smooth philtrum, along with developmental delays and cognitive impairments. These characteristics are indicative of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. FAS is a severe condition resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure and is characterized by a range of physical, cognitive, and behavioral issues. Choice A, fetal alcohol syndrome, is the correct answer as it aligns with Terrance's symptoms and the effects of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not encompass the full spectrum of symptoms and impairments presented by Terrance, which are specific to fetal alcohol syndrome.

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.