Educ 271 essays
b
A French teacher reads an article about how visual imagery (i.e., ʺpicturingʺ things in oneʹs mind) can be used to help students learn French vocabulary words. To find out if visual imagery is more effective than verbal repetition in learning vocabulary words, she develops two different study guides for her students—one that tells students how to use visual imagery to learn French words, and one that tells them just to repeat the words over and over again—and randomly distributes the two study guides to her students. Over the next few weeks, the teacher finds that students using visual imagery study guides achieve higher average quiz scores. She concludes that the study guides describing the visual imagery technique help her students learn their French vocabulary words. Is the teacherʹs conclusion valid? A)No, because her experiment wasnʹt conducted in a laboratory. B)Yes, because she was able to manipulate a variable in the environment. C)Yes, because her students probably all had similar IQ scores. D) No, because she used random assignment
d
A high school principal decides to conduct a study in which she examines two chemistry classes in her high school. Her goal is to explore the effectiveness of two different instructional techniques she has become acquainted with and she will determine effectiveness through course grades. One class is taught by Ms. Howes, who will be using an instructional technique called "Chemistry Applications." The other class is taught by Ms. Moore, who will be using an instructional technique called "Chemistry In the Real World." What type of study is the principal planning on conducting?Select one: A. A mixed-methods study B. A correlational study C. A descriptive study D. A quasi-experimental study
c
A research study finds that students who weigh more do better in school. Which one of the following is an appropriate deduction from this information? A)The school cafeteria should decrease the fat content of the food it serves. B) On average, students who eat more do better in school. C)There is a correlation between weight and classroom performance. D) Parents should feed their children as much as possible.
a
A researcher is interested in the possible effect of teacher-student ratios on studentsʹ learning. She finds 10 fifth‐grade classrooms with 30-40 students per class and 10 others with 15-25 students per class. She discovers that there is a correlation between class size and student achievement. Which one of the following conclusions can we draw from this study? A) Class size can help us predict school achievement. B) Classes should be as small as is reasonably possible. C)Classes should be as large as is reasonably possible. D) The researcher has conducted a descriptive study.
b
A study that tells us whether two variables are associated, but does not tell us if one variable causes or influences the other, is: A) An experimental study without a control group B) A correlational study C)A descriptive study D) An experimental study with one or more control group
a
After a tragic drag race that kills several students, a high school faculty wants to take action to reduce risk-taking behaviors among its student body. If the faculty considers recent research on risk taking in adolescence, its best course of action would be to: a. identify and sponsor opportunities for reasonable, supervised risk taking. b. invite guest speakers whose lives have been adversely affected by the poor choices they made as teenagers. c. present national statistics regarding the probabilities of serious consequences when adolescents drive at high speeds, engage in unprotected sex, and so on. d.ask the police department to increase late-night supervision in parts of town where students have been known to do foolish things.
d
All of the following strategies are certainly beneficial, but only one is likely to foster resilience in students who live in difficult and challenging circumstances. Which strategy is known to foster resilience? a. Show students how academic tasks are relevant to their personal lives. b. Give students both positive and negative feedback when it is appropriate to do so. c. Be an active and visible participant in community programs in students' neighborhoods. d.Take a personal interest in students' welfare and show them that they can turn to you in times of need.
a
An authoritarian parenting style is seen in which one of the following examples involving junior high school students? a. Molly's parents are very strict, letting her know their high expectations and imposing strong penalties for failing or breaking their rules. b. Fern's parents allow her greater-than-average leeway in terms of bedtimes, curfews, and choice of friends. c. Henry's parents have high expectations for him but often ask him for his opinion when they set guidelines for acceptable behavior. d.Kelly's parents are very involved in their own lives and problems and do not provide Kelly with much warmth or emotional support.
d
Anita's idea of how to interact with her classmates is to tease or insult them. Not surprisingly, she has few friends. Her teacher can best help her by: a. Doing nothing, because her peers are the most effective teachers of what she needs to know. b. Asking the principal to move Anita to a different classroom. c. Encouraging classmates to reciprocate by teasing and insulting her, so that she will know how such treatment feels. d. Explicitly teaching her more effective ways to interact with her peers.
b
As a beginning teacher, you may sometimes find yourself overwhelmed by the many decisions you will have to make on a daily basis. The situation will improve over time, however, because: A)Most students know that they should behave when they have an older and more experienced teacher B)As you gain experience, you will be able to make some classroom decisions more quickly and easily C)Children are typically more calm and cooperative during the winter months than they are in the fall D)Fellow teachers are usually more helpful and supportive later in the school year, after theyʹve gotten to know you better.
c
As the textbook points out, assessment in the classroom can take a variety of forms. Three of the following are examples of assessment in the classroom. Which one definitely does not, in and of itself, illustrate assessment? A)A teacher sees her students growing increasingly restless during a lengthy lecture. B)A teacher asks students to write an essay describing the pros and cons of a free enterprise system. C)A teacher decides to use a new approach to teach science this year. D)A teacher observes that Lani rarely interacts with her classmates during recess.
a
Authoritative parents can best be characterized as having which type of relationship with their children? A.High expectations, loving support, and shared decision making B.Few expectations, loving support, and considerable freedom for children to make their own decisions C.Little emotional support or interest in children's needs D.High expectations, strict rules, and little give-and-take in decision making
a
Carl can correctly answer a question such as, "If all flegs are blats, and if all blats are dulms, are all flegs also dulms?" From Piaget's perspective, Carl must be in which one of the following stages of cognitive development?Select one: A. Formal operational B. Concrete operational C. Preoperational D. Sensorimotor
a
Chiara loves to draw with a pencil but decides, one day, to see if she can use her favorite pencil in a new way. She uses the tip of the pencil to make a series of holes in her sheet of white paper. She starts out by poking holes in a round circle, to make a face, and then proceeds to make eyes, a nose, a mouth, and ears for her face. Chiara's creative use of her favorite pencil is a good example of Vygotsky's concept of:Select one: A. appropriation. B. adaptive incorporation. C. internalization. D. a mediated learning experience.
a
Choose the statement below that most accurately reflects research findings concerning Piaget's theory of cognitive development. a. The order in which various logical thinking capabilities emerge is consistent with the sequence that Piaget proposed. b. Preoperational egocentrism continues to be common even in the upper elementary grades. c. Concrete operational thinking abilities, such as conservation and class inclusion, develop later than Piaget believed. d. Formal operational thinking abilities, such as the ability to think and reason about abstract and hypothetical ideas, begin to emerge in the preschool years.
b
Collin complains, "The kids at that lunch table aren't very nice to me. Especially Marco. He thinks he is this big class leader, and he seems to have lots of followers, but the rest of us don't really like him very much. He's just too cliquey." Researchers would most likely describe Marco as: a. a popular student. b. a high-status student. c. a controversial student. d. a bully.
d
Considering research on gender differences, what is the likely result when Ms. Wolf assigns small-group lab activities in her seventh-grade science class?Select one: A. Ken and Bill will sit back and watch, making Amelia and Sally do all the work. B. Donna will direct the activities, Miranda will measure, and Jeff and Scott will both take notes. C. Millie will set up the experiments, Linda will take measurements, James will write down the results, and John will watch. D. Steven will set up the experiments, Roger will do the measurements, Jennifer will take notes, and Ruth will watch.
d
Considering the research findings described in the textbook, only one of the following is a true statement. Which one is true? a. Students are usually the best judges of what they do and do not know. b. Most experts discourage teachers from having children tutor one another. c. Mathematics is almost exclusively a left‐brain activity; music is largely a right‐brain activity. d. Students who see a classmate rewarded for doing something may engage in the same behavior themselves.
d
Considering the research findings described in the textbook, only one of the following is a true statement. Which one is true? a. repeating something over and over is usually the most effective way to learn it. b.girls have a noticeable advantage over boys on verbal tasks c. for optimal performance, students should never feel the least bit anxious in the classroom d. students often study differently for different kinds of classroom assessments
d
Current research on whether students can be identified has having specific "learning styles" suggests that teachers should: a. assess each students' learning style and provide learning activities that match it. b. ask the students to say what their learning styles are and then allow them to choose activities to match. c. ignore the concept of learning styles, and instead adapt instruction depending on whether students are left-brain learners or right-brain learners. d.ignore the concept of learning styles, and instead provide instruction that allows students to make choices and to display a variety of knowledge and skills.
b
Dallas and his friends think that Billy is "grouchy" simply because Billy never says anything to them. They don't consider other possible reasons why Billy isn't more outgoing. If we take developmental trends in perspective taking into account, we would suspect that Dallas and his friends are at what grade level? a. In the early elementary grades b. In middle school c. In ninth or tenth grade d. In eleventh or twelfth grade
c
Dr. Kenney conducts a study in which she gives some students (chosen randomly) logically organized learning material; she gives other students the same material presented in a haphazard, unpredictable sequence. She finds that students with the organized material remember more. This study can best be described as: A) A correlational study B) A descriptive study C)An experimental study D) A theoretical stud
c
Dr. Lesgold finds that students in private schools perform better on achievement tests than do students in public schools. He can conclude that: A)The difference is probably due to differences in family income. B)The difference is probably due to the fact that private schools are more likely to ʺteach to the test.ʺ C)Studentsʹ achievement test scores can be predicted to some extent by the kind of school they attend. D)The difference is probably due to the fact that private schools have smaller classes.
a
Eight-year-old Julie lives in a rural area where many people are farmers or in some other way make their living through agriculture. After a lengthy summer drought, it begins to rain heavily one day in late July. "Thank goodness!" Julie hears her father exclaim. "Our prayers have finally been answered!" Julie makes a mental note of the cause-and-effect relationship her father has implied. This situation illustrates Vygotsky's belief that: a. adults pass along to children the ways in which their culture interprets events. b. children's level of potential development is always a bit higher than their actual developmental level. c. children acquire more knowledge and skills when scaffolding is kept to a minimum. d. thought and language are distinct processes in the early years of life.
a
Emily's mother is a doctor. According to bioecological systems theory, the hospital and the people she works with all have some influence on Emily's development and are part of Emily's: a. exosystem b. mesosystem c. microsystem d. macrosystem
c
Experimental research requires which one of the following? A) Being able to predict two or more variables B) Studying behavior in an actual classroom environment C)Manipulating an aspect of the environment D)Describing every variable in the study in considerable detail
a
From Vygotsky's perspective, what important role does inner speech play in children's thinking and cognitive development? a. By giving themselves directions about what to do next, children guide themselves through complex tasks. b. By using words mentally as well as orally, children develop more abstract representations of the world. c. By practicing various grammatical structures mentally, children acquire more complex language capabilities. d.By talking to themselves about what they should have done or said in a particular situation, children remember the situation more vividly.
b
From a Vygotskian perspective, scaffolding serves what purpose in instruction? A. It gives students an idea of what they need to do to get good grades. B. It supports students as they perform difficult tasks. C. It keeps school tasks within students' actual developmental levels. D. It lets students learn by watching one another.
a
Given what we know about children's language development, which one of the following problems is typical for the grade level? a. A first grader pronounces the word rabbit as "wabbit." b. A fourth grader is unable to tell a simple story. c. A seventh grader says, "The sheeps are in the meadow." d. An eleventh grader has trouble understanding common proverbs.
B
IDEA's requirement that students with disabilities be educated in the least restrictive environment means that: a. students should be included in general classrooms as long as they can do the same work that is assigned to everyone else and as long as they do not exhibit behavior problems. b. students should be included in general classrooms as long as they do not pose a danger to themselves or others and as long as, given specially adapted instruction, they are able to make reasonable progress toward their educational goals. c. students with emotional and behavioral disorders should not be put in physical restraints, except as a last resort. d. students should be included in general classrooms as long as their presence does not restrict the progress of their peers.
b
If we consider Erikson's theory of personal development, which one of the following issues would we expect secondary students to be most concerned about? a. Finding a way to wiggle out of doing difficult tasks b. Trying to decide who they really are and what role they will play in adult society c.Needing to gain the recognition of parents and teachers through their academic activities and achievements d.Wanting to form a close and intimate relationship with another human being
a
If we want to promote perspective taking in our students, probably the best strategy is to: a. engage them in discussions in which they express diverse points of view./Have students listen to one another's points of view about an issue b. tell students, 'Keep an open mind about things" c. Have students tutor children at a younger grade level d. Punish students when they act in an extremely self-centered fashion
d
Imagine you are a third-grade teacher. Considering Piaget's theory of cognitive development, you should expect most or all of your students to exhibit ______ thinking. a. preoperational b. formal operational c. sensorimotor d. concrete operational
b
Imagine you are an educational researcher who wants to learn about the type of psychological atmosphere in which middle school students feel most comfortable and best able to concentrate on their studies. You plan to look at a wide variety of factors that might contribute to such an atmosphere—both physical factors (e.g., cleanliness and colorfulness of the school building) and social factors (e.g., teacher-student relationships, general tolerance for diverse behaviors and beliefs). You realize that students might identify important factors that you yourself havenʹt even thought of. In this situation, your best choice would probably be: A) A descriptive, quantitative study B) A qualitative study C)An experimental study with one treatment group and one control group D)An experimental study with at least three treatment groups
d
In educational psychology, a theory can best be characterized as: A)An objective measure of how a person behaves in a particular situation B)A statement that describes how a particular variable affects learning or development C)A description of the results of a particular research study D)An explanation of how and why learning or development occurs
a
In general, experimental studies have which one of the following advantages over descriptive and correlational studies? A)Only experimental studies allow us to identify the possible factors influencing behavior. B)Only experimental studies allow us to analyze data statistically and therefore arrive at precise results. C)Only experimental studies enable us to draw accurate conclusions. D)Only experimental studies allow us to be specific about our teaching objectives.
d
In general, experimental studies have which one of the following advantages over descriptive and correlational studies? a. Only experimental studies allow us to be specific about our teaching objectives. b. Only experimental studies allow us to identify the possible factors influencing behavior. c. Only experimental studies allow us to analyze data statistically and therefore arrive at precise results. d. Only experimental studies enable us to make causal explanations.
d
In which one of the following situations should we be most concerned about the possibility of subtractive bilingualism? A. Ten-year-old Apsara's father grew up in Canada, whereas her mother grew up in Thailand. The family now lives in the United States. At home Dad almost always speaks English, but Mom often speaks Thai. B. Twelve-year-old Coshaun lives in an inner-city neighborhood where most of his peers speak a dialect of English very different from that used at school. C. Eight-year-old Michelle has a specific language impairment that makes it difficult for her to understand other people's speech. D. After being adopted by American parents, 6-year-old Antoni moves from Poland to Chicago. His new parents don't know Polish, and he now attends an English-speaking school.
a
It's springtime, and for a fourth-grade writing assignment, Ms. Parker assigns an essay titled, "Summer vacation." With such a general title, she is likely to find that the students in her diverse, international school will:Select one: A. write about either this summer or a previous summer, depending on their cultural background. B. write a story about something that happened to them one summer in the past. C. write a general essay including facts about summer, but without personalizing it. D. write about their family's plans for the upcoming summer vacation.
b
Judging from the textbookʹs discussion of assessment, we can best think of classroom assessment practices as mechanisms and procedures that: A)Give us hard, indisputable facts that we can use to assign grades B)Enable us to form tentative hypotheses about what students know and can do C)Allow us to draw conclusions about how studentsʹ motives and personality traits affect their classroom performance D)Are most likely to be accurate when they take the form of paper-pencil tests
d
Judging from the textbookʹs discussion of educational research, which one of the following would be the best course of action for teachers to take? A)Teachers should focus on research that relates to a single theoretical perspective (such as Piagetʹs theory or information processing theory). B)Teachers should always go with their common sense and ʺgutʺ feelings about how to teach, regardless of any research findings to the contrary. C)Teachers shouldnʹt take research findings very seriously, because there are too many ʺholesʺ in what we know from research. D)Teachers can use findings from educational research to guide their classroom decision making.
c
Kiley is having trouble learning the steps involved in using a microscope correctly. If we consider Vygotsky's description of how children help themselves through difficult tasks, we should suggest that Kiley: a. practice each step separately many times over. b. go through the procedure a few times in slow motion. c. talk herself through the steps. d. learn the reasons why each step is important.
b
LaWanda understands that a single sentence can sometimes be interpreted in two or more ways. For example, she realizes that the sentence "I know more beautiful women than Miss America" has two possible interpretations: "I know women who are more beautiful than Miss America is" or "I know more beautiful women than Miss America knows." LaWanda's appreciation for the double meanings of some sentences reflects: a. a sensitive period in language development. b. metalinguistic awareness. c. pragmatics. d. figurative language.
d
Lily is 10 years old. She gets a score of 97 on an IQ test. What does this tell us about her intellectual ability? a. Lily must be a very smart girl—100 is a perfect score. b. Lily is brighter than almost two-thirds of her age-mates, as IQ scores go up to about 150. c. Lily's score is in the bottom fifth of the population. d.Lily's score is about average for her age-group.
a
Mr. Jacobs wants to find out whether a new program for teaching physical education promotes studentsʹ physical development. He gives his students a number of tests before they begin the program (pretests) and the same tests again after they have been in the program for eight months (posttests). He finds that the studentsʹ posttest scores are higher than their pretest scores and so concludes that the program is effective. What is definitely wrong with Mr. Jacobsʹ conclusion? A) There are other possible explanations for his results. B)The posttests should always be different from the pretests. C)Tests are not a good measure of physical development. D)Eight months is too short a time for such a program to have a long‐term effect.
a
Mr. Jones, a physical education teacher, notices that some of his students are better basketball players than others. He wonders if having a basketball net at home fosters the development of basketball skills. He gives his students a short survey that asks them if they have a basketball net at home. Sure enough, Mr. Jones finds that the better basketball players are more likely to have a net at home. He concludes that having a basketball net at home facilitates the development of basketball skills. Is his conclusion appropriate? A) No, because he didnʹt conduct an experimental study. B) Yes, because he used random assignment. C)No, because his study wasnʹt conducted in a scientific laboratory. D)Yes, provided that his students responded truthfully to the survey.
a
Mr. Jones, a physical education teacher, notices that some of his students are better basketball players than others. He wonders if having a basketball net at home fosters the development of basketball skills. He gives his students a short survey that asks them if they have a basketball net at home. Sure enough, Mr. Jones finds that the better basketball players are more likely to have a net at home. He concludes that having a basketball net at home facilitates the development of basketball skills. Is his conclusion appropriate? a. No, because he didn't conduct an experimental study. b. No, because his study wasn't conducted in a scientific laboratory. c. Yes, provided that his students responded truthfully to the survey. d.Yes, because he used random assignment.
d
Olivia understands why 3/5 and 9/15 are equivalent fractions. Based on this information, from Piaget's perspective Olivia is probably in the __________ stage of development. a. concrete operations b. preoperational c. sensorimotor d. formal operations
b
Peer relationships, like parent-child relationships, are essential to a child's development. Which one of the following is NOT one of the ways that peer relationships influence a developing child? A. Peers can be a source of emotional support during difficult times. B. Peers are the first individuals to whom a child becomes truly attached. C. Peer relationships provide opportunities to develop and practice social skills. D. Peers provide information about which behaviors are desirable and which are not.
c
Poor nutrition is a problem for many children who live in poverty. Which one of the following situations is likely to be associated with poor nutrition? a. Hilda has problems with mathematics but is otherwise a bright and attentive student. b. Even though Yvonne tries hard in school and pays attention most of the time, she has difficulty learning anything abstract. c. Jill appears to have trouble remembering things and does not seem motivated to achieve in school. d.Lonnie learns things easily but does not work very hard in class. He is often too busy fooling around with friends to pay attention in class.
d
Psychologists believe that intelligence is culture-specific-- that "intelligent" behavior in one culture is not necessarily intelligent behavior in a different culture. Three of the following are aspects of intelligence regardless of the culture in which it is found. Which one is probably related to intelligence in some cultures but not in others. a. Adapting readily to new situations b. learning how to perform a new fast quickly c. applying prior knowledge to new situations d.Doing well in academic classroom activities
a
Sam tells himself, "I'm really upset about my parents' divorce, but I need to put on a 'tough guy' front so my friends don't think I'm a crybaby." This situation illustrates ________ as a factor contributing to gender differences.Select one: A. self-socialization B. cultural mismatch C. resilience D. hormonal differences
c
Several parents who are making costumes for an elementary school play ask the young cast members to assist them with such tasks as cutting fabric, pinning pieces together, and sewing simple hems. Using the language of Vygotskian theorists, we can say that the parents are: a. presenting tasks that exceed the students' zone of proximal development. b. encouraging the separation of thought and language. c. engaging the students in guided participation. d. creating a cognitive apprenticeship.
B
Sociocultural theory suggests that with development, children acquire many cognitive tools of their culture. Which teacher is most clearly applying this idea? a. Mr. Shaw reminds his students that he will let them go to lunch only after they've put away their art supplies. b. Ms. Turiel shows students how to graph their research results so that they can more easily see trends in the data. c. Ms. Norquist smiles to show her approval when students listen quietly and politely during a guest speaker's visit. d. Mr. Cabot demonstrates how to use a paper cutter safely.
a
Students in a fourth-grade reading group are reading a passage about snakes. Their teacher asks, "Who can think of a good title that summarizes what this passage is about?" After hearing several good suggestions, the teacher says, "The author says that snakes are helpful to farmers. What evidence does she give to support her statement?" If we consider Vygotsky's concept of internalization, we might predict that such a discussion will:Select one: A. help students develop effective reading comprehension strategies (e.g., summarizing, looking for supporting statements). B. be confusing and counterproductive for students who are not yet capable of abstract thought. C. help students develop a greater interest in learning for its own sake. D. be more beneficial for students who are working outside their zones of proximal development than for students working inside their ZPDs.
c
The following four junior high school science teachers are teaching the concept molecule to their students. In each classroom, some of the students have acquired formal operational reasoning abilities, whereas others think in a concrete operational manner. In which classroom are the concrete operational students most likely to have difficulty understanding? a. Mr. Armani lets students touch and manipulate concrete models of various molecules. b. Mr. Bendetti lets students look at the same concrete models that Mr. Armani has used. c. Mr. Carmen verbally describes how different elements are made up of different numbers of neutrons, protons, and electrons. d. Mr. Davidson has students role-play being neutrons, protons, and electrons. The "neutron" and "proton" students huddle together in the middle of the room, and the "electrons" move around them.
d
The textbook offers several suggestions for studying a textbook effectively. Which one of the following is not necessarily recommended? A) Draw inferences from the things you read. B)Occasionally stop and check to make sure you understand. C)Relate new ideas to things you already know. D) Take detailed notes on the bookʹs content.
c
Three of the following statements about the effects of heredity and/or environment on intelligence are accurate. Which one is not accurate? a. Children tend to get higher IQ scores when they attend school regularly. b. Poor nutrition in the early years can adversely affect children's cognitive development. c. Biologists working in the Human Genome Project have recently identified the chromosome that carries the "intelligence" gene. d.On average, children's performance on intelligence tests has risen around the world, suggesting that improvements in environmental conditions enhance IQ.
c
Three of the following statements are consistent with Vygotsky's views about the kinds of diversity we are likely to see in students. Which statement is not consistent with Vygotsky's theory? a. Children in any single age-group are apt to have different zones of proximal development. b. Children from some cultures are more concerned about being punctual to appointments than children from certain other cultures are. c. Some children frequently engage in self-talk, whereas other children don't use it at all. d. Children from different cultures might interpret certain environmental events (e.g., a tornado or hurricane) in distinctly different ways.
a
Three of the following strategies are likely to help students at risk stay in school. Which one is not likely to do so?Select one: A. Discourage students from participating in extracurricular activities so that they can focus on getting their grades up. B. Identify students at risk as early as possible in order to provide long-term academic support. C. Assign activities that have obvious relevance to students' own lives and needs. D. Communicate your expectation that students can do well and that you will help them achieve instructional objectives.
b
Three of the following teaching practices are consistent with Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Which one is not? a. When Sue leaves out important details as she tries to explain something, her teacher says, "I don't understand what you mean when you say. . . ." b. A second-grade teacher encourages students to speculate about possible explanations as to why kites can fly and then to test each explanation systematically. c. When a high school student claims that people should "Make love, not war," his teacher urges him to consider whether such an approach would have been advisable when the Nazi movement was gaining influence in Europe in the late 1930s and early 1940s. d. When Martin says that two nickels are worth more than one dime because there are two of them and they're bigger, his teacher asks, "How can that be? Two nickels are worth ten cents; one dime is also worth ten cents."
b
Three of the teachers below are using strategies appropriate for a culturally diverse classroom. With the textbook's discussion of student diversity in mind, identify the teacher who is probably not promoting the classroom success of some of her students. a. Ms. Andreas forms small, multicultural groups in which students describe and compare their diverse perspectives about a recent international conflict. b. Ms. Boynton uses competitive activities to get all students motivated to do their best. c. Ms. Champas explores the ways in which children from different backgrounds are alike as well as different. d.Ms. Delaney makes sure she presents both the American and Mexican views of the Mexican-American War.
are cooperate and sensitive
When asked which students they would most like to do things with, most middle school students choose classmates who: a.are cooperate and sensitive
a
When considering students' cultural and ethnic backgrounds, it is important to keep in mind that: a. some students may simultaneously be active participants in two or more cultural groups. b. students' ethnic identities are almost always stronger than their need to "belong" to mainstream Western culture. c. students' need to "belong" to mainstream Western culture is almost always stronger than their ethnic identities. d.in the elementary grades, students typically have little conscious awareness that their ethnic backgrounds might be different from those of their classmates.
c
Which example below is not a good example to show brain plasticity? a. Mary had a stroke and, as a result, was unable to use her right arm. Her doctor and physical therapist devised a plan in which Mary's left or "good" arm was put in a sling so that she would not be able to use it. Over time Mary slowly regained the ability to use her right arm. b. A senior citizen decides that she would like to learn to play the piano. She starts with weekly lessons at a very beginning level and within a couple of years demonstrates quite a bit of skill with her musical instrument of choice. c. DeWayne has been riding horses since he was a youngster growing up on a west Texas farm. Even though he took some nasty falls during his lifetime, he still rides quite well. d. A baby learns that her mom always returns home after daily walks. For this reason, the baby no longer cries when her mother leaves the house each day to take a walk.
d
Which of the following is not true regarding the role of the environment in Bronfenbrenner's theory?Select one: A. Children's environments are dynamic systems encompassing variables that not only influence each other but are in a state of constant flux or change. B. A child's culture can influence all levels of the environment. C. There are several levels of environment and each level exerts a significant impact on children's development. D. The broadest levels of the environment (such as states, provinces, or countries) exert the most influence on children's development.
a
Which of the following students is most likely experiencing stereotype threat?Select one: A. A student knows that his or her group is expected to perform more poorly on standardized exams and worries that low performance on the exams will only confirm what he or she thinks are the beliefs of others. B. A student knows that his or her group is expected to perform more poorly academically than other groups but the student doesn't care. C. A student knows that other groups are expected to perform more poorly than his or her group and believes that the expected results will occur. D. A student knows that his or her group is expected to perform more poorly academically than other groups but believes that hard work and effort will negate predicted outcomes.
b
Which one of the following alternatives best illustrates action research? A)A university professor and two of her graduate students conduct systematic observations of kindergartenʹs turn‐taking behaviors on the playground. B)A high school principal conducts a survey to find out what kinds of after‐school activities students would most like to have available at their school. C)After a first‐grade teacher completes a research project for her masterʹs thesis, she presents her findings at a national teaching conference. D)A middle school math teacher gives his students quizzes every Friday because he knows that frequent quizzes will encourage students to study regularly.
d
Which one of the following best describes how neurons transmit messages to one another? a. By stimulating the flow of blood in nearby blood vessels b. By attaching themselves to the same terminal buttons c. By fusing the axon of one with a dendrite of another d. By sending chemical substances across a tiny gap between them
b
Which one of the following best describes socialization as developmental psychologists use the term? a. Regularly interacting with age-mates in socially appropriate ways b. Molding children's behavior to enable effective functioning within their culture c. Consistently following the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." d. Thinking about the personal, social, and motivational factors that may underlie other people's behaviors.
b
Which one of the following conclusions can be drawn only from an experimental study? A) Children grow taller as they get older. B)Drugs administered during childbirth affect a childʹs early development. C)Boys are more likely to show aggressive behavior than girls. D)Childrenʹs muscular coordination improves as they grow older
c
Which one of the following conclusions could be drawn from a descriptive study? A)Concrete experiences help students understand abstract ideas better. B)Students are more likely to appreciate classical music if they are exposed to it on a regular basis. C)Approximately 80% of the students at Southside High School are planning to go to college. D)Students do better in school when they have warm, supportive relationships with their teachers.
C
Which one of the following forms of aggression are we more apt to see in girls than in boys? a. Pulling someone's hair b. Poking a nearby classmate c. Cyberbullying d.Throwing a pencil at someone across the room
d
Which one of the following high school teachers clearly has high self-efficacy about his or her teaching?Select one: A. Ms. Bouthot has a hypothesis about why some students in her English class rarely turn in their assignments. B. Mr. Abbot thinks that teaching is simply a matter of reading textbook passages aloud to his history class. C. Ms. Crosby insists that students complete their math homework using a particular format. D. Mr. Driver is confident that he can get even seemingly "unmotivated" students excited about science.
b
Which one of the following high school teachers clearly has high self‐efficacy about his or her teaching? A)Ms. Crosby insists that students complete their math homework using a particular format. B)Mr. Driver is confident that he can get even seemingly ʺunmotivatedʺ students excited about science. C)Mr. Abbot thinks that teaching is simply a matter of reading textbook passages aloud to his history class. D)Ms. Bouthot has a hypothesis about why some students in her English class rarely turn in their assignments
a
Which one of the following is the best example of Piaget's concept of assimilation? a. A kindergartner uses a white crayon instead of chalk to draw on the blackboard. b. A third grader develops the necessary eye-hand coordination for writing letters. c. A sixth grader moves to a different school and changes styles to fit the fashions. d.An eighth grader is discouraged from using the word awesome to describe everything he sees.
a
Which one of the following is the best example of a teacherʹs pedagogical content knowledge?A)Knowing several effective ways to teach students about negative numbersB)Making a reasonable guess as to why a particular student misbehaves just before lunch time every dayC)Knowing what researchers have discovered about the effectiveness of discovery‐learning approaches to instructionD) Understanding why water expands when it freezes
b
Which one of the following is the best example of action research? A)A graduate student quietly observes adolescentsʹ behaviors in the school cafeteria. He plans to describe his observations in his masterʹs thesis. B)A teacher gives her students a questionnaire that asks them to describe how often they study and what kinds of strategies they use when they study. She will use the results to develop several lessons on effective study skills. C)A college professor recruits sixth graders to come to his lab, where she assesses their responses and reaction times in a variety of challenging problem‐solving tasks. Her results will help her refine the theory of problem solving she has been developing. D)All of the school districts in a particular state are instructed to give the same mathematics achievement test to their high school juniors. The average test scores for each district will be presented in a report that will be released to the general public.
c
Which one of the following is the best example of elaboration? a. Logan copies a friendʹs answers to last nightʹs homework assignment. b. Sharon automatically knows how to study effectively for an upcoming history test. c. Melissa makes up stories to help her remember the various species she studies in biology. d. Rosie repeats the spelling of each word several times the night before her spelling test.
a
Which one of the following is the best example of qualitative research? A)Interviewing middle school students about cliques at their school B)Looking at school attendance records to identify potential school dropouts C)Comparing average achievement test scores for students at three different schools D) Finding out how long it takes 6‐year‐olds to assemble challenging picture puzzles
D
Which one of the following is the best example of social cognition? a. Max refuses to do the tasks his teacher assigns because he doesn't want to look foolish when he fails at them. b. Julie and Isabelle giggle as they try to imitate the haughty snobbishness of the obnoxious head cheerleader. c. Rhonda needs to be around other people all the time; she gets bored when she has to entertain herself. d.Luke tries to anticipate how Sheila might respond if he backs out of the science project the two of them have agreed to do together.
c
Which one of the following is the most accurate statement about group differences among students?Select one: A. We can make fairly accurate predictions about individual students when we know their ethnic background, but not when we know their gender. B. We can make fairly accurate predictions about individual students when we know their gender, but not when we know their ethnic background. C. The average for two groups may be different, but variability within each group keeps us from predicting individual performance. D. When we have knowledge about typical group differences, we have a very good idea of how individual students are likely to perform in the classroom.
c
Which one of the following reflects class inclusion as Piaget described it? a. Getting cows and horses confused b. Identifying a shape as a square one day but as a triangle the next c. Realizing that things that are cars can also be vehicles d. Understanding that some behaviors that are perfectly acceptable at home are unacceptable at school
c
Which one of the following statements about educational research is true? A)Experimental research can be conducted only in the laboratory under somewhat artificial conditions. B) Correlational research is more difficult and time‐consuming than experimental research. C)Experimental research allows us to draw cause-and-effect conclusions. D)Descriptive research gives us the most information for making decisions about teaching practice
a
Which one of the following statements best captures the nature of cognitive academic language proficiency in describing English language learners? a. An ability to learn as well as native English speakers in English-only classrooms b. An ability to carry on conversations about day-to-day topics with teachers and peers c. An ability to read and understand English texts that are written at a first-grade level d. An ability to read and understand English texts that are written at a fifth-grade level
a
Which one of the following statements best captures the nature of cognitive academic language proficiency in describing English language learners? a. An ability to learn as well as native English speakers in English-only classrooms b. An ability to carry on conversations about day-to-day topics with teachers and peers c. An ability to read and understand English texts that are written at a first-grade level d.An ability to read and understand English texts that are written at a fifth-grade level
b
Which one of the following statements best describes Piaget's view of how children acquire knowledge about the world? a. Children are naturally disposed to think about their environment in particular ways; in a sense, some basic knowledge about the world is "pre-wired." b. Children actively construct their own view of the world from their experiences with the environment. c. Initially, children unconsciously develop a rather complex but confused view of the world; this view becomes simpler and more straightforward as time goes on. d.Children repeatedly parrot their parents' and teachers' beliefs, eventually adopting these beliefs as their own knowledge.
a
Which one of the following statements best illustrates a neo-Piagetian approach to cognitive development? a. Rather than involving general stages of increasingly advanced reasoning processes, children's cognitive development may involve discrete stages in particular content domains. b. Children's progression through various stages of cognitive development is almost entirely the result of environmental experiences; brain maturation has little to do with their advancements in thinking c. Children's progression through various stages of cognitive development is almost entirely the result of brain maturation; environmental experiences has little to do with their advancements in thinking d. Children's acquisition of various cognitive abilities occurs in a gradual, trendlike manner rather than in discrete stages
c
Which one of the following statements best illustrates a universal in development as developmentalists define the term? a. Piaget proposed that formal operational thought is characterized by an ability to think abstractly about a wide variety of topics. b. Contemporary theorists have derived the concept of cognitive apprenticeship from Vygotsky's theory of development. c. Young children show similar patterns in their language development regardless of the specific language that they learn. d. Piaget neglected to consider the influence of prior knowledge and experience on children's ability to think logically.
a
Which one of the following statements is most accurate regarding psychological theories? A) Theories are continually modified as new data emerge. B)Theories will eventually be replaced by physiological (brain‐based) explanations of behavior. C)Theories have been proven to be true. D)Any single theory can be used to explain virtually every aspect of human behavior
b
Which one of the following statements is most accurate regarding psychological theories? a. Theories have been proven to be true. b. Theories are continually modified as new data emerge. c. Any single theory can be used to explain virtually every aspect of human behavior. d.Theories will eventually be replaced by physiological (brain-based) explanations of behavior.
b
Which one of the following statements most accurately describes the relationship between IQ scores and classroom performance? a. IQ scores obtained in the early elementary years are excellent predictors of high school success. b. On average, students with higher IQ scores do better in school than students with lower IQ scores. c. Students with IQ scores above 110 perform better when they are placed one or two grade levels ahead of where their age-mates are. d. Because intelligence tests measure inherited potential, IQ scores are unrelated to school achievement, which is influenced primarily by environmental factors.
b
Which one of the following students is definitely working in his or her zone of proximal development?a. Arnold uses correct grammar and punctuation when he writes short stories. b. Berta is beginning to learn basic woodworking techniques. She has trouble hammering a nail straight into a piece of wood unless her teacher stands beside her, helping her and reminding her of what to do. c. Calvin is playing the clarinet in the band. He finds that he can more easily keep the tempo if he taps the beat with his foot. d. Doreen finds it virtually impossible to solve mathematical word problems, even when her teacher gives her helpful hints.
b
Which one of the following teacher statements most clearly reflects a cultural lens as the textbook uses the term?Select one: A. "What are some possible reasons why Christopher Columbus risked his life by sailing off into uncharted seas?" B. "Marie's parents are really irresponsible. They can never seem to get to parent-teacher conferences on time." C. "Pushing Rachel off the slide was unacceptable behavior. Fortunately, she wasn't badly hurt." D. "People who live in the Andes of South America have very different lifestyles from people who live in the Central American desert. In what ways might their lifestyles be related to their differing environments?"
b
Which one of the following teachers is definitely keeping in mind Piaget's idea that assimilation and accommodation are both necessary for learning and cognitive development to occur? a. Mr. Ames presents brand new topics every day, expecting the continual novelty to keep students interested and motivated. b. Mr. Baretta shows students how a new topic is similar to the things they already know, but also different in certain ways. c. Ms. Chang makes sure that students have learned one topic very, very well before moving on to another topic. d. Ms. Doherty uses a lot of drill-and-practice exercises, encouraging students to work faster every time.
A
Which one of the following teachers is using a strategy that reflects the concept of distributed intelligence? a. Mr. Arvis encourages his students to use their calculators when solving algebraic word problems. b. Mr. Baker asks students to exchange and grade one another's homework assignments. c. Mr. Chinn gives easy writing assignments at the beginning of the year and raises his expectations as the school year progresses. d.Mr. Devlin encourages his students to relate what they are learning in social studies to their own personal experiences.
b
Which one of the following teaching practices is definitely an example of evidence‐based practice? a. A high school art teacher encourages students to choose a medium (e.g., clay, watercolor paints) that they can best use to express themselves. b. A fourth-grade teacher uses a reading program that research has shown to be effective for fourth graders. c. A kindergarten teacher asks students to bring something from home that begins with the letter B. d. A seventh-grade science teacher asks students to conduct experiments in which they must determine which one of several variables makes a pendulum swing fast or more slowly.
d
Which one of these examples best reflects the role that students' sense of self typically plays in their achievement and school behavior? a. Melissa thinks of herself as physically fit, so she doesn't think she needs to participate in sports or other physical activities. b. Kim doesn't want to take any more math classes because she knows she's already good at math. c. Nettie doesn't think she is very popular, so she smiles at others and tries to talk to them so they will like her. d. Linda knows she is a good reader, so she takes an advanced literature class as an elective.
b
Which strategy is most likely to be effective in promoting students' vocabulary development? a. Allowing students to make up their own meanings for words to encourage invention and creativity b. Teaching students the meanings of words related to topics they are studying c. Encouraging literal interpretations of such common sayings as "Look before you leap" d. Allowing students to use words incorrectly in the early elementary grades in order to enhance their self-confidence about public speaking
b
You have several students in your class who speak a dialect other than Standard English. If you follow the textbook's recommendation for handling this situation, you will:Select one: A. strongly discourage them from speaking their dialect, even when they are off school grounds. B. ask them to use Standard English in formal situations (e.g., oral reports) but encourage them to use their own dialect in other situations. C. allow them to use their own dialect or version of English exclusively in all school classes and activities. D. teach them to speak and write Standard English exclusively, and as quickly as possible.
