M.Ed. Master of Education Educational Psychology and Child Development 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to Piaget, a child who can think logically about abstract concepts is in which stage of development?
- Sensorimotor
- Preoperational
- Concrete operational
- Formal operational (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Formal operational
The formal operational stage (approximately age 12+) is characterized by the ability to reason abstractly and think hypothetically.
Question 2: Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) refers to:
- The geographic zone where a child lives
- The gap between what a learner can do independently and with guidance (Correct answer)
- The range of standardized test scores
- The physical development milestones for young children
Correct answer: The gap between what a learner can do independently and with guidance
The ZPD is the difference between what a learner can accomplish alone and what they can achieve with skilled support, making it the optimal instructional target.
Question 3: Which motivation theory proposes that intrinsic motivation is undermined when external rewards are used excessively?
- Self-determination theory (Correct answer)
- Expectancy-value theory
- Attribution theory
- Behaviorist reinforcement theory
Correct answer: Self-determination theory
Self-determination theory argues that excessive external rewards can reduce intrinsic motivation by shifting the perceived cause of behavior from internal to external.
Question 4: A student who attributes academic failure to lack of effort rather than low ability demonstrates which pattern?
- Learned helplessness
- Growth mindset (Correct answer)
- Fixed mindset
- External locus of control
Correct answer: Growth mindset
Attributing failure to effort (a controllable factor) rather than ability reflects a growth mindset, associated with resilience and achievement.
Question 5: Erikson's stage of 'Identity vs. Role Confusion' is most associated with which age group?
- Early childhood (2–6)
- Middle childhood (7–11)
- Adolescence (12–18) (Correct answer)
- Early adulthood (19–29)
Correct answer: Adolescence (12–18)
Erikson placed the Identity vs. Role Confusion psychosocial crisis during adolescence, when individuals explore who they are and where they fit in society.
Question 6: Which type of memory stores factual knowledge and general world information?
- Procedural memory
- Episodic memory
- Semantic memory (Correct answer)
- Working memory
Correct answer: Semantic memory
Semantic memory is the long-term memory system that stores factual, conceptual, and general knowledge independent of personal experience.
M.Ed. Master of Education Educational Psychology and Child Development 1
According to Piaget, a child who can think logically about abstract concepts is in which stage of development?