chapter 7

Question 1

grey matter

Answer 1

The parts of the brain that contain neuron cell bodies and some of their connections.

Question 2

white matter

Answer 2

The spongy tissue that connects various areas of the brain to one another as well as to parts of the spinal cord.

Question 3

consistency

Answer 3

The ability to physically repeat an action in the same way with the same level of function.

Question 4

flexibility

Answer 4

The ability to perform a physical act in a variety of contexts with similar outcome.

Question 5

efficiency

Answer 5

The muscular and cardiovascular system energy expended to perform a physical action.

Question 6

concrete operational stage

Answer 6

Piaget’s third stage of cognitive development, in which school-age children begin to think logically about concrete events.

Question 7

classification

Answer 7

The ability to create groups or classes of objects and sort them by similar properties.

Question 8

seriation

Answer 8

The ability to sort objects using a rule that determines an increasing magnitude of one or more dimensions.

Question 9

transitivity

Answer 9

The logical rule that says, if A is greater than B and B is greater than C, then A is greater than C.

Question 10

selective attention

Answer 10

The ability to attend to a particular item in the environment while inhibiting other distracting stimuli.

Question 11

automatization

Answer 11

The allocation of fewer attentional resources to perform simple, repetitive behaviours.

Question 12

reaction time

Answer 12

The time involved in responding to a stimulus

Question 13

strategy

Answer 13

An effortful plan deliberately used to solve a specific problem.

Question 14

maintenance rehearsal

Answer 14

A retention strategy in which a child repeats the thing to be remembered (words, images, actions) in order to remember them.

Question 15

metamemory

Answer 15

One’s understanding of one’s own memory process

Question 16

sensory memory

Answer 16

The ability to briefly store sensory information so that it may be processed.

Question 17

working (short-term) memory

Answer 17

The ability to keep a small amount of information (7 ± 2 items) in an active, ready-to-use state for a short time.

Question 18

long-term memory

Answer 18

The vast and virtually limitless store of knowledge and prior events.

Question 19

executive function

Answer 19

The aspect of the brain that supervises the memory process by regulating the flow of information and controlling key processes.

Question 20

metacognition

Answer 20

The process of knowing about knowing.

Question 21

general intelligence (g)

Answer 21

A construct thought to underlie one’s ability to adapt and determine one’s competence level.

Question 22

intelligence quotient (IQ)

Answer 22

A score calculated from results on an intelligence test originally derived from the formula of (mental age/chronological age) × 100, resulting in an average score of 100.

Question 23

intellectual disability

Answer 23

A disorder characterized by significantly below-average intellectual functioning (an IQ of 70 or lower) and impaired adaptive functioning, with onset prior to 18 years of age.

Question 24

gifted

Answer 24

Significantly above-average intellectual functioning as indicated by an IQ of 130 or higher.

Question 25

Wechsler

Answer 25

Intelligence Scales Popular psychometric test purporting to measure the global capacity to think rationally.

Question 26

triarchic theory of successful intelligence

Answer 26

A theory of intelligence advanced by Robert Sternberg emphasizing three key components: analytical, practical, and creative.

Question 27

analytical intelligence

Answer 27

Abstract, verbal, mathematical, and logical types of thinking.

Question 28

practical intelligence

Answer 28

Common sense needed for real-world situations that require adaptation and basic knowledge.

Question 29

creative intelligence

Answer 29

Divergent, novel, and problem-solving–oriented thinking

Question 30

theory of multiple intelligences

Answer 30

A theory of intelligence advanced by Howard Gardner suggesting the existence of at least eight distinct intelligences.

Question 31

metalinguistic awareness

Answer 31

Understanding the complexity of language and the fact that language relies on context as well as individual word meaning.

Question 32

language immersion

Answer 32

Language education programs in which students are taught academic content exclusively in a non-native language (a language not spoken at home).

Question 33

phonics approach

Answer 33

A form of reading instruction that emphasizes the segments of sounds in words in the learning of reading skills.

Question 34

whole-language approach

Answer 34

A form of reading instruction that emphasizes communication over particular elements of reading and writing, such as spelling or sounds.

Question 35

social and emotional learning (SEL)

Answer 35

Educational programs seeking to foster the development of five non–subject-matter competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Question 36

mastery goal

Answer 36

An achievement goal that focuses on self-improvement and skill development, while downplaying ability level and peer comparison.

Question 37

performance goal

Answer 37

An achievement goal that emphasizes ability level and competition among peers.

Question 38

racialized

Answer 38

People or communities that are treated poorly or experience violence because of racism or a belief that they are inferior.

Question 39

achievement test

Answer 39

A measure of children’s knowledge about particular academic subjects, such as reading, writing, or mathematics.

Question 40

specific learning disorder

Answer 40

A specific difficulty with reading, writing, or math that is indicated when academic functioning is substantially below what is expected for age, IQ, and schooling.

Question 41

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Answer 41

A neurobehavioural disorder characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that emerges prior to 12 years of age and causes impairment in multiple contexts.