Jennifer Hoover PSYC 2120

Take Home Test #1: This test is valued at 100 points Research, History, Biological Beginnings, Prenatal Dvlpmt. Directions: Please copy and paste this test to your word processing program. Type your answer below the question. You may use whatever resources you need to complete this test to include your text book, the internet, notes from class or any other resource. You must USE YOUR OWN WORDS. Dont just copy from your source. Use complete sentences. Your completed test will be between 1-3 pages. You may either bring your completed test to class on February 11 or send it to me as an Word document as an attachment via e-mail no later than Monday at Noon. (Feb. 14). Remember to put PSYC 2120 in the subject line if you send the test electronically. I will not accept any late tests. If you bring your test to class, put your name on the back of the last page and be sure to staple your paper in the upper left hand corner. If you submit your test via e-mail, add a final page with your name on the final page ONLY. 1. Define the following historical views of child development: a. John Lockes view John Lockes views of child development are that when we are born we are like a clean slate. He says that we naturally social creatures and the experiences we have in childhood determine how we are in our adult life. b. Jean-Jacques Rousseaus view Rousseau states that children are born naturally good. He thinks that we do not have to be taught how to be good and with little parent supervision children will grow up naturally as good adults. c. The view of ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny This view is about the development of a fetus mirrors evolution. This view compares the environment being the similar salty water, to the physical development of the fetus.

2. Compare/Contrast the Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional approaches to research with children. (Remember, to compare [how are they the same] and contrast [how are they different]) Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional approaches are different in many ways. The Cross-Sectional approach studies children of different ages are one time. Most of these studies are short studies. The length of the studies can be from one day to a year. Since these studies are short they do not have to wait a long amount of time. The negative factor in this type of study is there is not information on change or development. Longitudinal is almost the opposite. The same individuals are studied over a long period of time. The length of the study can be a few months to years. Since the study is so long participants tend to loose interest or drop out of studies. This kind of study is very expensive and time consuming. These two types of studies are the same in that they both study their subjects in groups.

3. After viewing Miracle of Life (if you were not in class, you may want to visit the web page http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/miracle/) Describe the at least 3 factors that sperm must overcome in order to reach and fertilize the egg. A factor the sperm must over come to fertilize the egg is the acidity of the mothers environment and her downward flow. The sperm also have to figure out which side the egg is in. It can become lost if it goes to the wrong side.

4. Name at least 4 environmental factors that you feel are important to ensure proper brain development in a newborn. (This was covered in the Birth of a Brain video) Four factors that are important to proper brain development are good nutrition, being in a safe/comfortable home. The infant must also have stimulation from someone. Lastly the infant must have plenty of sleep. 5. Read the research article I sent via e-mail regarding expectant mothers and depression. Assume your sister or best friend, who has been taking Paxil for the past 2 years to overcome her depression. Yes, she is really clinically depressed and not just using the drugs as a crutch. She asks you for your advise regarding whether or not she should continue taking her medication while pregnant. What would you tell her (yes or no) and why? What risks might you be concerned about given your opinion? I would tell her yes because she has been on the medication for so long it would be traumatic for her to quit talking it so quickly. The fetus has already been exposed to the drug in the first trimester of the pregnancy. I would let her know that the drug may have a harmful effect on the fetus but as I stated before it had already been exposed to the drug. I think if she quit taking the drug it would be more harmful to her.