Week 4: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood

Question 1

What stage begins in middle childhood according to Piaget?

Answer 1

The Concrete Operational Stage (ages 7–11).

Question 2

Key features of the concrete operational stage? (6)

Answer 2

Less egocentric

Understands others’ perspectives

Can distinguish appearance from reality

Grasp of conservation (shape, volume, number)

Can reverse thinking (mental operations)

Resists reaching false conclusions

Question 3

What is the Formal Operational Stage (11+)? (3)

Answer 3

Abstract and hypothetical reasoning begins

Use of deductive reasoning.

Question 4

Did Piaget overestimate adolescents’ abilities?

Answer 4

Yes, he overestimated their abstract reasoning capacity.

Question 5

What is working memory?

Answer 5

Temporary storage for small amounts of information (5–9 items).

7 is average

Question 6

What is long-term memory?

Answer 6

A permanent and limitless storage of information.

Question 7

Memory strategies used by 7–11-year-olds? (2)

Answer 7

Rehearsal (repeating info)

Chunking numbers into groups

Question 8

Advanced memory strategies used by older children? (3)

Answer 8

Organization: grouping info by category

Elaboration: adding meaning (mnemonics, rhymes)

External aids: calendars, notes

Question 9

What is metacognition?

Answer 9

Awareness and regulation of one’s own thought processes.

Question 10

What is cognitive self-regulation?

Answer 10

Setting goals, selecting strategies, and monitoring success.

Question 11

What human abilities make up intelligence? (5)

Answer 11

Problem solving

Creativity

Memory

Learning from experience

POV-taking

Question 12

What is the role of psychometricians?

Answer 12

Measure psychological traits through standardized tests (intelligence & personality)

Question 13

What are the 3 levels in Carroll’s model? ** NOT ON TEST **

Answer 13

Top Level:
- g factor (general intelligence/IQ) — overall cognitive ability

Middle Level:
- 8 broad subcategories of IQ (e.g., fluid intelligence, crystallized intelligence, memory, processing speed)

Bottom Level:
- Specific skills tied to each of the 8 subcategories

Question 14

What is a key criticism of Carroll’s theory?

Answer 14

It is entirely psychometric and ignores developmental and cognitive research (e.g., how intelligence develops over time or how children think).

Question 15

What is Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences?

Answer 15

There are multiple, distinct types of intelligences

Question 16

What are the 9 intelligences in Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences?

Answer 16

Linguistic

Logical-mathematical

Spatial (mind’s eye)

Musical

Bodily-kinesthetic

Interpersonal (identifying different feelings, moods, motivations & intentions of others)

Intrapersonal (understanding ones emotions & knowing ones strengths/weaknesses)

Naturalistic

Existential (considering “ultimate issues like the nature of death)

Question 17

What is emotional intelligence?

Answer 17

The ability to understand and manage your own and others’ emotions.

Question 18

What is Sternberg’s Theory of Successful Intelligence? (3)

Answer 18

Intelligence involves:

1) Analytic (problem-solving)

2) Creative (adaptation to new situations)

3) Practical (real-world decision-making)

Question 19

IQ is a moderate to good predictor of ___ (4)

Answer 19

School success

Prestige of job

Number of patents and publications earned for people in scientific fields

Job performance and earnings in any given field

Question 20

What is the IQ-grades correlation value?

Answer 20

Between 0.5 and 0.7 – moderate positive correlation.

Question 21

Does correlation mean causation?

Answer 21

No — other factors (SES, home environment) play roles.

Question 22

How does environment impact intelligence?

Answer 22

IQ is higher when homes are structured, stimulating, and parents talk frequently with children.

Question 23

How do SES and ethnicity affect intelligence scores?

Answer 23

Children from higher SES often score higher due to access to better schools, tutors, etc.

Question 24

What is stereotype threat?

Answer 24

Fear of confirming negative stereotypes reduces performance (self-fulfilling prophecy).

Thinking you are bad at math, you are going to be bad at it

Question 25

Traditional IQ threshold for giftedness?

Answer 25

IQ ≥ 130.

Question 26

Key traits of gifted children? (4)

Answer 26

High ability in specific area(s) Passion for subject Divergent thinking Exceptional talent

Question 27

What is divergent thinking?

Answer 27

Creative thinking in multiple directions (vs. one "right" answer).

Question 28

Define convergent thinking.

Answer 28

Using information to arrive at one standard and correct answer - Important for IQ tests

Question 29

What is intellectual disability? (3)

Answer 29

IQ ≤ 70 Onset before 18 Problems adapting to the environment

Question 30

What are the 4 risk factors for intellectual disability?

Answer 30

Biomedical (ex: malnutrition, chromosomal disorders & brain injury) Social (ex: poverty) Behavioral (ex: child neglect or DV) Educational (ex: impaired parenting and inadequate special education services

Question 31

What is a learning disability?

Answer 31

Difficulty mastering one academic subject despite normal IQ.

Question 32

Examples of learning disabilities? (4)

Answer 32

Oral language Reading (dyslexia & reading comprehension too) Written language Mathematics (dyscalculia)

Question 33

What are the 3 main symptoms of ADHD?

Answer 33

Inattention Over-activity Impulsivity

Question 34

Gender differences in ADHD?

Answer 34

Boys more frequently diagnosed (3:1); girls may mask symptoms better & remain undiagnosed (or diagnosed with ADD instead).

Question 35

ADHD treatments? (3)

Answer 35

Medication (e.g., Ritalin) Behavioral therapy Combination approach

Question 36

What are the key components of reading development? (3)

Answer 36

Word Recognition: Identifying letter patterns Phonological Awareness: Sensitivity to language sounds Comprehension: Understanding meaning from sequences of words

Question 37

How does writing develop during middle childhood? (3)

Answer 37

Gradually improves with age Progresses from Knowledge-Telling (just stating facts) to Knowledge-Transforming (organizing and integrating ideas) Requires skills in revising and having topic knowledge

Question 38

What are the major developments in math skills? (2)

Answer 38

Mental counting begins by Grade 1–2 Math fact retrieval (e.g., addition/subtraction) typically develops by age 8–9

Question 39

Growth in middle childhood?

Answer 39

Boys and girls are similar in size; girls begin puberty earlier. At ages 11–12: average girl about half an inch taller than average boy

Question 40

Daily caloric needs for 7–10-year-olds?

Answer 40

About 2,400 calories.

Question 41

Fine motor skill development?

Answer 41

Improves in handwriting and precision tasks.

Question 42

Gender differences in motor skills?

Answer 42

Girls: better in fine motor and balance/flexibility Boys: better in strength and gross motor (due to muscle mass & activities)

Question 43

Benefits of sports participation?

Answer 43

Builds social skills, self-esteem, initiative Develops strategic thinking

Question 44

Why might kids lose interest in sports?

Answer 44

Overemphasis on winning and pressure from adults.