CPS Educational Psychology Principles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a psychoeducational evaluation, a specialist observes that a child demonstrates strong performance on visual-spatial tasks but struggles with verbal reasoning. This pattern is MOST consistent with which theoretical framework?
- Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences (Correct answer)
- Spearman's g factor theory
- Cattell's fluid intelligence model
- Sternberg's triarchic theory
Correct answer: Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences
Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences posits distinct types of intelligence (e.g., spatial vs. linguistic) that can vary independently within an individual.
Question 2: Which principle of operant conditioning is most effectively applied when a teacher ignores minor disruptive behavior to reduce its frequency?
- Negative punishment
- Positive punishment
- Extinction (Correct answer)
- Negative reinforcement
Correct answer: Extinction
Extinction involves withholding reinforcement (attention) for a previously reinforced behavior, which gradually reduces the behavior's frequency.
Question 3: According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, a school-age child (6–12 years) who fails to develop competence in academic and social skills is most at risk of developing a sense of:
- Shame and doubt
- Guilt
- Inferiority (Correct answer)
- Role confusion
Correct answer: Inferiority
Erikson's Industry vs. Inferiority stage (ages 6–12) involves developing a sense of competence; failure results in feelings of inferiority.
Question 4: A student who learns to fear math tests after repeated failures is displaying which type of learned response?
- Operant extinction
- Conditioned emotional response (Correct answer)
- Vicarious reinforcement
- Cognitive dissonance
Correct answer: Conditioned emotional response
A conditioned emotional response occurs when a neutral stimulus (math test) becomes associated with a negative outcome, eliciting fear through classical conditioning.
Question 5: Which cognitive development concept explains why a 5-year-old child insists that a tall, thin glass holds more water than a short, wide glass even after watching the same amount of water poured?
- Egocentrism
- Object permanence
- Lack of conservation (Correct answer)
- Centration
Correct answer: Lack of conservation
Piaget's conservation concept refers to understanding that quantity remains constant despite changes in appearance; preoperational children have not yet acquired this.
Question 6: Self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan) identifies three basic psychological needs that support intrinsic motivation. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
- Autonomy
- Competence
- Relatedness
- Reward (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Reward
Self-determination theory specifies autonomy, competence, and relatedness as the three core needs; external rewards are not among them and can actually undermine intrinsic motivation.
Question 7: A psychoeducational specialist recommends spaced practice over massed practice for a student preparing for exams. This recommendation is supported by which memory research finding?
- The serial position effect
- The spacing effect (Correct answer)
- The generation effect
- The Stroop effect
Correct answer: The spacing effect
The spacing effect demonstrates that distributing practice over time produces stronger long-term retention than cramming the same amount of study into a single session.
CPS Educational Psychology Principles 3
During a psychoeducational evaluation, a specialist observes that a child demonstrates strong performance on visual-spatial tasks but struggles with verbal reasoning.
This pattern is MOST consistent with which theoretical framework?