ECE Child Development Theories 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, the 'zone of proximal development' (ZPD) refers to:
- Skills a child can perform independently
- The gap between what a child can do alone and with guidance (Correct answer)
- The range of ages at which a milestone is typical
- A child's preferred learning style
Correct answer: The gap between what a child can do alone and with guidance
The ZPD is the distance between a child's independent capability and what they can achieve with adult or peer support.
Question 2: Which theorist introduced the concept of 'scaffolding' as an extension of Vygotsky's work?
- Jean Piaget
- Jerome Bruner (Correct answer)
- Erik Erikson
- Albert Bandura
Correct answer: Jerome Bruner
Jerome Bruner coined the term 'scaffolding' to describe the temporary support adults provide to help children reach higher levels of functioning.
Question 3: Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model includes which system that represents the child's immediate environment, such as family and classroom?
- Macrosystem
- Exosystem
- Microsystem (Correct answer)
- Chronosystem
Correct answer: Microsystem
The microsystem is the innermost layer containing settings the child directly experiences, like home, school, and peer groups.
Question 4: According to Piaget, 'accommodation' occurs when a child:
- Fits new information into an existing schema
- Modifies an existing schema to incorporate new information (Correct answer)
- Ignores information that conflicts with current beliefs
- Repeats a behavior that produces a pleasurable result
Correct answer: Modifies an existing schema to incorporate new information
Accommodation involves changing existing mental frameworks when new experiences cannot be assimilated into them.
Question 5: Erik Erikson's stage 'Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt' typically occurs during which age range?
- Birth to 18 months
- 18 months to 3 years (Correct answer)
- 3 to 6 years
- 6 to 12 years
Correct answer: 18 months to 3 years
Erikson placed the Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt stage in toddlerhood (18 months–3 years), when children strive for independence.
Question 6: In Bandura's social learning theory, 'self-efficacy' refers to:
- A child's ability to delay gratification
- One's belief in their capacity to execute behaviors needed to achieve goals (Correct answer)
- The tendency to imitate a same-sex model
- Reinforcement provided by social approval
Correct answer: One's belief in their capacity to execute behaviors needed to achieve goals
Self-efficacy is an individual's confidence in their own ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes Bronfenbrenner's 'exosystem'?
- The cultural values and laws that broadly influence development
- Settings the child never directly experiences but that affect them indirectly (Correct answer)
- The child's relationships with family and teachers
- Changes in the child's environment over time
Correct answer: Settings the child never directly experiences but that affect them indirectly
The exosystem includes settings like a parent's workplace or local school board that affect the child without the child's direct participation.
ECE Child Development Theories 2
In Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, the 'zone of proximal development' (ZPD) refers to: