Themes and Methods in Developmental Psychology

Themes and Methods in Developmental Psychology is topic 3.1 of AP Psychology, inside Development and Learning. This page works through three real practice questions on it, with the full reasoning behind each credited answer.

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52 questionsResearch Methods and Design100% with a figure
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Three real themes and methods in developmental psychology questions

From the practice pool, not the mock papers — each with the reasoning that produces the answer.

100% of them come with a figure. Reading the graph or diagram correctly is most of the work here before any content knowledge applies.

98% test a single AP skill: Research Methods and Design. That makes this topic unusually predictable to prepare for.

Research Methods and Design · with figure

Researchers follow the same children from age 4 to age 14 and measure impulse-control scores every two years. What is a major strength of this design?

  1. AIt removes all possible effects of historical events.
  2. BIt can track within-person change across development.correct
  3. CIt proves causation without measuring any variables.
  4. DIt requires no concern about participant dropout.
Why B is correct

The design's strength is repeated measurement of the same participants.

"Researchers follow the same children from age 4 to age 14 and measure impulse-control results every two years." details toward developmental research, not just a familiar Development and Learning label. The credited option, "It can track within-person change across development", is supported because Following the same children allows researchers to examine change over time within individuals. "It removes all possible effects of historical events" is a real-looking alternative, but Historical events can still influence a longitudinal sample; "It proves causation without measuring any variables" also fails because Longitudinal design alone does not prove causation. The aim is to connect the concrete evidence to the psychological mechanism, then reject choices that shift the process, time frame, or research logic away from the scenario pattern.

Research Methods and Design · with figure

A team follows the same children from age 6 to age 16 and measures friendship quality every two years. Which research design is this?

  1. ACross-sectional design
  2. BLongitudinal designcorrect
  3. CDouble-blind procedure
  4. DScatterplot
Why B is correct

The same group is measured repeatedly as development unfolds.

Themes and Methods in Developmental Psychology reasoning here starts with "A team follows the same children from age 6 to age 16 and measures friendship quality every two years." and asks what mechanism fits. The credited option, "Longitudinal design", is supported because The same participants are followed repeatedly across time. "Double-blind procedure" is a real-looking alternative, but No condition masking is described; "Scatterplot" also fails because A scatterplot is a display, not the study design. The aim is to connect the concrete evidence to the psychological mechanism, then reject choices that shift the process, time frame, or research logic away from the scenario pattern.

Research Methods and Design · with figure

In a child study, parents give permission and children are also asked whether they want to participate. What child-protection practice is included?

  1. ARandom assignment
  2. BDeindividuation
  3. CAssent from minorscorrect
  4. DStandard deviation
Why C is correct

The study seeks the child's agreement as well as parental permission.

developmental research explains the evidence in "In a child study, parents give permission and children are also asked whether they want to participate.". The credited option, "Assent from minors", is supported because Children should be asked for agreement in addition to parental permission when appropriate. "Standard deviation" is a real-looking alternative, but No variability statistic is being identified; "Random assignment" also fails because No placement into groups is described. The aim is to connect the concrete evidence to the psychological mechanism, then reject choices that shift the process, time frame, or research logic away from the scenario pattern.

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Last reviewed 2026-08-28. Topic and unit names follow the College Board course framework. Question counts describe the PrepScore practice bank, not the exam.
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