In developmental psychology, a factor used to weed out applicants from the pool of candidates is known as which of the following?

• A. A developmental milestone
• B. A longitudinal measure
• C. A confounding variable
• D. A screening criterion

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of the question, which is developmental psychology and the process of selecting applicants from a pool of candidates.
2. Step 2: Define each option to clarify their meanings: a developmental milestone is a key skill or behavior typically achieved by a certain age; a longitudinal measure involves repeated observations of the same variables over time; a confounding variable is an outside influence that affects the outcome of an experiment.
3. Step 3: Recognize that the question asks for a factor used specifically to 'weed out' or filter applicants, which implies a criterion or standard applied during selection.
4. Step 4: Identify that a 'screening criterion' is a standard or factor used to decide who moves forward or is excluded in a selection process, fitting the description of weeding out applicants.
5. Step 5: Conclude that among the given options, the term 'screening criterion' best matches the factor used to filter candidates in developmental psychology.