Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

OR
Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google
Quizzes > Science

Developmental psychology quiz: test your knowledge of growth and change

Quick quiz: 15 developmental psychology multiple choice questions. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Ionel PopUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art illustrating a quiz on Developmental Psychology Knowledge Test

Use this developmental psychology quiz to review key theories, stages, and research basics. Work through 15 multiple-choice questions to spot gaps before class or an exam, then deepen your study with developmental psychology practice questions or try a broader human development quiz. You can retake it anytime to track progress.

At which age range does Piaget's sensorimotor stage occur?
2 - 7 years
0 - 2 years
7 - 11 years
Adolescence
Piaget's sensorimotor stage spans from birth to about 2 years. During this stage infants learn through sensory experiences and motor actions.
Which reflex involves an infant spreading their arms and then drawing them back in when startled?
Palmar grasp reflex
Rooting reflex
Babinski reflex
Moro reflex
The Moro reflex is the startle reflex seen in newborns when they feel like they are falling. It typically disappears by around 5 - 6 months of age.
Who introduced the theory of psychosocial development with eight stages across the lifespan?
Jean Piaget
Lev Vygotsky
Sigmund Freud
Erik Erikson
Erik Erikson proposed eight psychosocial stages from infancy through old age. This framework emphasizes social influences at each stage that shape identity and behavior.
What is the primary purpose of informed consent in developmental research?
To ensure participants understand the study and agree voluntarily
To guarantee payment to participants
To eliminate all research risks
To allow deception without disclosure
Informed consent ensures that participants are fully aware of procedures and risks before agreeing to participate. It is a fundamental ethical requirement under the principle of autonomy.
Which concept describes the difference between what a child can do alone and what they can achieve with guidance according to Vygotsky?
Conservation
Zone of proximal development
Object permanence
Attachment
The zone of proximal development (ZPD) is Vygotsky's term for the skills a child can perform with assistance but not yet alone. It highlights learning potential when provided with appropriate support.
In Piaget's theory, at what stage do children begin understanding conservation of mass and number?
Preoperational
Formal operational
Concrete operational
Sensorimotor
During the concrete operational stage (about 7 - 11 years), children gain the ability to perform logical operations on concrete objects. They understand conservation of mass, number, and volume at this stage.
According to attachment theory, which attachment style is characterized by distress when separated and comforted upon return of the caregiver?
Avoidant
Secure
Disorganized
Anxious-ambivalent
Securely attached infants show distress when the caregiver leaves and are quickly comforted upon reunion. This pattern indicates trust in caregiver availability and responsiveness.
A researcher studies twins reared apart to understand genetic influence. This design primarily assesses what?
Heritability
Social learning
Environmental determinism
Normative development
Studying twins reared apart isolates genetic factors by minimizing shared environment. Such designs provide estimates of heritability by comparing similarities due to genetics alone.
Which scenario best illustrates Kohlberg's level of postconventional moral reasoning?
An adult challenges laws for social justice
A child obeys rules to avoid punishment
A teen follows family traditions blindly
Peer pressure influences behavior
Postconventional reasoning involves principled judgments based on justice and human rights. Challenging laws for social justice reflects reasoning that transcends fixed rules.
During which stage of Erikson's theory do individuals focus on building intimate relationships?
Intimacy vs. isolation
Identity vs. role confusion
Autonomy vs. shame
Trust vs. mistrust
The intimacy vs. isolation stage occurs in young adulthood and centers on forming close relationships. Successful resolution leads to strong partnerships, while failure results in social withdrawal.
What is considered a key milestone in emotional development during adolescence?
Developing object permanence
Forming a stable sense of identity
Achieving formal operational thought
Mastering fine motor skills
Adolescents engage in identity formation, which is crucial for emotional stability and self-concept. This milestone distinguishes emotional development from earlier stages.
In Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, which system includes immediate family and school?
Macrosystem
Microsystem
Exosystem
Chronosystem
The microsystem encompasses the immediate environments in which the individual directly interacts. It includes family, school, peers, and neighborhood settings.
Which research practice involves explaining the study's purpose and procedures to participants after data collection?
Random assignment
Operational definition
Longitudinal follow-up
Debriefing
Debriefing occurs after participation to inform subjects of the study's true aims and to address any misconceptions. It helps restore trust and ethical transparency.
What concept describes gene expression changes due to environmental factors without altering DNA sequence?
Epigenetics
Neuroplasticity
Selective breeding
Mutation
Epigenetics studies how environmental factors like diet or stress alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. These changes can be long-lasting and sometimes heritable.
What is an example of a fine motor skill milestone in infancy?
Babbling simple syllables
Grasping small objects with thumb and forefinger
Walking independently
Recognizing caregiver's face
The pincer grasp, using thumb and forefinger, typically develops around 9 - 12 months. It reflects increasing coordination and control of small muscle movements.
Which concept best explains why some children with a genetic predisposition for anxiety develop symptoms only under stressful environments?
Differential susceptibility
Genetic determinism
Classical conditioning
Schema acquisition
Differential susceptibility suggests certain genes make individuals more sensitive to both negative and positive environmental influences. It explains variable outcomes among those with similar genetic risks.
In a longitudinal study, what is a major limitation that researchers must consider?
High cohort effects
Lack of developmental change detection
Inability to measure individual differences
Participant attrition over time
Longitudinal studies follow the same participants over time, but attrition - dropout - can bias results and reduce statistical power. High retention strategies are essential to maintain validity.
According to Bronfenbrenner, which system refers to the larger cultural values, laws, and customs influencing development?
Microsystem
Exosystem
Mesosystem
Macrosystem
The macrosystem encompasses broad societal and cultural influences, such as economic policies, customs, and ideologies. It indirectly shapes individual development through these overarching contexts.
Which ethical principle requires researchers to minimize harm and maximize benefits in developmental studies?
Justice
Fidelity
Beneficence
Autonomy
Beneficence entails an ethical obligation to minimize potential risks and maximize benefits to participants. It requires careful risk - benefit analysis during study design.
At approximately what age do children typically develop a theory of mind, understanding that others can have different beliefs?
3 - 4 years
7 - 8 years
5 - 6 years
1 - 2 years
Theory of mind emerges around ages 3 - 4, enabling children to infer that others hold beliefs different from their own. This cognitive milestone underpins social understanding and communication.
0
{"name":"At which age range does Piaget's sensorimotor stage occur?", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"At which age range does Piaget's sensorimotor stage occur?, Which reflex involves an infant spreading their arms and then drawing them back in when startled?, Who introduced the theory of psychosocial development with eight stages across the lifespan?","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}

Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify key theories in developmental psychology across the lifespan.
  2. Analyze major developmental milestones from infancy to adulthood.
  3. Evaluate the influence of genetics and environment on growth.
  4. Apply developmental stage frameworks to real-world scenarios.
  5. Differentiate cognitive, social, and emotional development stages.
  6. Explain ethical considerations in human subjects research.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand Piaget's Four Stages of Cognitive Development - Dive into how kids move from sensory explorers to abstract thinkers in four fun milestones. You'll see why toddlers love peek-a-boo in the sensorimotor stage and how teens master hypothetical puzzles in the formal operational stage.
  2. Explore Erikson's Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development - Journey through life's epic quests, from babies learning to trust to elders finding wisdom over despair. Learn why teenagers face an identity crisis (and why it's totally normal) and how each stage builds the next.
  3. Examine Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory - Discover how buddies, teachers, and culture team up to level up your brainpower. You'll learn about the "zone of proximal development" where a little help turns "I can't!" into "I got this!"
  4. Analyze Bowlby's Attachment Theory - Uncover why secure hugs and caring faces make super-social, resilient kiddos. See how early bonds set the stage for friendships, love, and self-confidence later in life.
  5. Recognize Major Developmental Milestones - Track the big "firsts," from baby's first word to a teen's first job interview jitters. Milestones mark progress in motor skills, language, and social smarts - perfect for celebrating each little win!
  6. Evaluate the Nature vs. Nurture Debate - Join the ultimate tag team showdown: genes versus environment. Spoiler alert: both sides score big, as your blueprint and surroundings high-five to shape who you become.
  7. Apply Developmental Stage Frameworks to Real-World Scenarios - Use Piaget or Erikson as your decoding glasses for everyday behavior puzzles. Whether you're mentoring a teen or consoling a toddler, these theories help you speak their language.
  8. Differentiating Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Development Stages - See how thinking skills, friendships, and feelings grow side by side in a developmental dance. For example, mastering emotional control can be the key to acing teamwork and playdates.
  9. Understand Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory - Zoom out to spot how family, school, culture, and media form an awesome (or sometimes wacky) web around you. Each ring from your closest pals to society's big ideas shapes your growth story.
  10. Explain Ethical Considerations in Human Subjects Research - Gear up with guidelines like informed consent and confidentiality to treat research participants like VIPs. Ethical research is all about respect - keeping folks safe, comfortable, and fully in the know.
Make a Quiz (FREE) Copy & Edit This Quiz Create a Quiz with AI

Education Quizzes

Powered by: Quiz Maker