Cognitive Development
What process occurs when new information fits into an existing schema?
Assimilation.
What is the function of the myelin sheath?
It insulates the axon and speeds up neural transmission.
What is the main purpose of a control group?
To provide a comparison to the experimental group to see the true effect of the IV.
What is conformity?
Changing behaviour to match the group’s behaviour or norms.
What is one physical developmental change that occurs during adolescence?
Growth spurts, hormonal changes, or increased coordination.
What does the term “schema” mean in Piaget’s theory?
A mental framework that helps organise and interpret information.
What is the role of interneurons in the nervous system?
They connect sensory and motor neurons and process information within the CNS.
What is one advantage of using random sampling?
It reduces selection bias and increases the representativeness of the sample.
What is obedience?
Following direct orders from an authority figure.
What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?
Qualitative = descriptive; Quantitative = numerical.
What process occurs when a schema must change to fit new information?
Accommodation.
Which part of the brain controls balance and coordination?
The cerebellum.
Define the term “extraneous variable.”
A variable other than the IV that could influence the DV if not controlled.
What is one factor that can increase obedience?
Presence of an authority figure or perceived legitimacy of authority with the ability to deliver consequences.
What is one factor that influences whether someone helps in an emergency?
Diffusion of responsibility, audience inhibition, competence, empathy, social responsibility or cost-benefit analysis.
What does the pendulum task measure in Piaget’s theory?
The ability to think logically and hypothetically and test one variable at a time.
How does the prefrontal cortex influence adolescent behaviour?
It is still developing, leading to less impulse control and greater risk-taking.
How can researchers improve the validity of their findings?
By ensuring the procedure accurately measures what it intends to measure.
How does social identity theory explain group behaviour?
People define themselves by group membership, leading to in-group favouritism and out-group bias.
How do validity and reliability differ, and what is the difference between internal and external validity?
Validity is the accuracy of measurement;
Reliability is the consistency of measurement.
Internal validity refers to how well a study measures what it intends to within the experiment, while external validity refers to how well the results can be generalised to other people or settings.
Explain how a teacher could apply Piaget’s theory to design developmentally appropriate learning activities.
Match tasks to students’ cognitive stage—for example, use concrete materials for younger children and abstract reasoning tasks for older students.
Compare the role of the forebrain and hindbrain in controlling behaviour.
The forebrain controls higher mental processes (thinking, emotion, motivation), while the hindbrain manages vital functions (breathing, heart rate, balance).
Give one ethical issue raised by Walter Freeman’s research and explain why it was a problem.
Possible issues include lack of informed consent, psychological and physical harm, and lack of withdrawal rights.
Many patients could not fully understand or agree to the procedure, and lobotomies often caused permanent damage or distress.
Compare Asch’s and Milgram’s studies in terms of what they reveal about human behaviour.
Asch showed people conform to group pressure even when the group is clearly wrong;
Milgram showed people obey authority figures even when it conflicts with their morals.
Both highlight the powerful influence of social situations on behaviour.
Why was Roger Sperry’s research more ethical than Freeman’s?
It used controlled experiments with consenting patients and non-invasive methods compared to Freeman’s invasive, harmful procedures.