Themes & Methods in Developmental Psychology (College Board AP® Psychology): Exam Questions

2 mins2 questions
1
1 mark

A researcher wants to study how children's problem-solving strategies change between the ages of 5 and 15. She recruits 100 children of different ages and tests each child once on the same set of tasks.

Which of the following best describes the research design the researcher is using?

  • A cross-sectional design

  • A longitudinal design

  • An experimental design

  • A sequential design

2
1 mark

Developmental psychologists often debate whether psychological changes occur gradually and continuously or in distinct, qualitative stages.

Which of the following best illustrates the continuity vs. discontinuity debate in development?

  • Whether intelligence is primarily determined by genes or by environment

  • Whether personality traits remain stable from childhood into adulthood

  • Whether cognitive development occurs gradually or in distinct qualitative stages

  • Whether language must be acquired before a critical period ends