Questions and Answers

CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT (PYC2602) QUESTIONS FROM THE STUDY GUIDE Question 2 Which statement is correct with regard to critical periods? (1) Critical periods occur mainly during prenatal development in the physical domain when environmental influences have the greatest impact. (2) A critical period is the specific time when the physical and language development of children and adolescents show the greatest changes. (3) Critical periods are the specific times when the development of certain characteristics is very sensitive to the interaction between physical and environmental influences. Feedback on question 2 The correct answer is alternative 3. Here it is important to keep the interactive nature of physical development and environmental influences in mind. Read the examples in your prescribed book (p. 18). After studying the discussion of critical or sensitive periods and plasticity, you will realise that the statement in alternative 1 is not correct because critical periods also occur after birth in the physical domain. Alternative 2 is also incorrect because recent research has shown that language development can occur even after the parts of the brain which are associated with language processing have been damaged. Question 2 Complete the following two sentences: (a) Piaget defined cognitive development as ...................................................... .......................................................................................................................... (b) Piaget studied children by means of the .......................... method. This method is a combination of ............................... and .................................... Feedback on question 2 The sentences should be completed as follows: (a) Piaget defined cognitive development as ,,the product of children’s efforts to understand and act on their world’’ (Papalia et al., 2008, p. 33). (b) Piaget studied children by means of the clinical method. This method is a