Question 1

Which of the following is a key disadvantage of naturalistic observation in child development research?

Accepted Answer

It provides no information about how children feel and think.

Question 2

A researcher wants to study the effect of a new teaching method on children's math performance. She randomly assigns students to either the new method or the traditional method. Which research design is she using?

Accepted Answer

Experimental design

Question 3

Which of the following best describes a confounding variable in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

An uncontrolled variable that changes along with the independent variable and could affect the dependent variable.

Question 4

In a correlational study, a researcher finds that as children's screen time increases, their sleep duration decreases. Which of the following statements is correct?

Accepted Answer

Correlation does not demonstrate causation.

Question 5

Which method is most appropriate for obtaining in-depth information about a single child's unique developmental trajectory?

Accepted Answer

Clinical or case study

Question 6

A developmental psychologist uses EEG to measure brain activity while children solve puzzles. What is a limitation of this psychophysiological method?

Accepted Answer

Physiological response does not necessarily explain mental events.

Question 7

Which of the following is an advantage of using structured interviews in child development research?

Accepted Answer

They allow for efficient data collection in a short amount of time.

Question 8

A researcher wants to study cultural practices in a remote village by living among the villagers and participating in daily activities. Which research method is she using?

Accepted Answer

Ethnography

Question 9

Why is random assignment important in experimental research designs?

Accepted Answer

It ensures each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any condition, reducing bias.

Question 10

Which methodological consideration is most important for ensuring that a measure accurately reflects what it is intended to assess?

Accepted Answer

Validity

Question 11

A researcher uses a task-based assessment to measure children's ability to delay gratification. What is a potential disadvantage of this method?

Accepted Answer

It may not reflect how children behave in real-world settings.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes a longitudinal research design?

Accepted Answer

It studies the same group of participants over an extended period of time.

Question 13

In a study, the researcher measures both parental involvement and children's academic achievement. Which variable could be considered a mediator if it explains the relationship between the two?

Accepted Answer

Children's motivation

Question 14

Which of the following is a disadvantage of self-report questionnaires in child development research?

Accepted Answer

They may be influenced by social desirability bias.

Question 15

A researcher wants to ensure her sample is representative of the population of interest. Which methodological consideration should she prioritize?

Accepted Answer

Sample diversity

Question 16

Which of the following is a limitation of using ethnographic methods to study culture?

Accepted Answer

Subjectivity of interpretation

Question 17

Which formula represents the calculation of a correlation coefficient between two variables $X$ and $Y$?

Accepted Answer

$r = \frac{\sum (X_i - \overline{X})(Y_i - \overline{Y})}{\sqrt{\sum (X_i - \overline{X})^2 \sum (Y_i - \overline{Y})^2}}$

Question 18

Which of the following increases the internal validity of an experiment?

Accepted Answer

Controlling for confounding variables

Question 19

A cross-sectional design is best suited for which type of research question?

Accepted Answer

Comparing developmental differences between age groups at a single point in time

Question 20

Which of the following is a strength of task-based assessments in child development research?

Accepted Answer

They allow for direct measurement of behavior in controlled settings.

Research in Child Development: Methods and Designs

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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