developmental psychology what do developmental psychologists study? development: systematic...
Post on 20-Dec-2015
222 views
TRANSCRIPT
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
What do Developmental Psychologists study?
Development: Systematic continuities and changes in the individual that occur between conception and death.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IS CONTINUAL, CUMULATIVE AND
HOLISTIC
Continual and Cumulative:
Holistic:
WHAT MIGHT YOU LEARN IN THIS COURSE ??
1. What the world looks like to a newborn infant.
2. Why 1-year-olds are afraid of strangers.
3. How children learn their native language.
4. Why you don’t remember much before the age of three.
5. How children from the same family can be so different.
6. Why teenagers are so difficult to get along with.
GOALS OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Understanding:a. Universal Change
b. Individual Change
c. Situational Influences
GOALS OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Understanding:a. Universal Change
b. Individual Change
c. Situational Influences
How to Study Development:a. Describe
b. Explain
c. Optimize
CHRONOLOGICAL OVERVIEW OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Period of Life Age RangePrenatal Conception to Birth
Infancy/Toddler First two years
Preschool 2-6 years
Middle Childhood 6-puberty
Adolescence Puberty-20 yrs
Young Adult 20-40 years
Middle Age 40-65 years
Old Age 65 and up
RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Basic Definitions:
Hypothesis: An educated proposition about how the factors being studied are related to each other.
RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Basic Definitions:
Hypothesis: An educated proposition about how the factors being studied are related to each other.
Theory: A set of concepts and propositions that allow the theorist to describe and explain some aspect of experience.
What are good theories?
RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Reliability: Extent to which a measuring instrument yields consistent results, both over time and across observers.
RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Reliability: Extent to which a measuring instrument yields consistent results, both over time and across observers.
Validity: Extent to which a measuring instrument accurately reflects what the researchers intended to measure.
RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Gathering data:
Self-report Methodologies1. Interviews & Questionnaires 2. Clinical Methods
RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Gathering data:
Self-report MethodologiesObservational Methodologies
1. Naturalistic2. Structured
RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Gathering data:
Self-report MethodologiesObservational MethodologiesCase Studies
RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Gathering data:
Self-report MethodologiesObservational MethodologiesCase StudiesEthnography
RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Gathering data:
Self-report MethodologiesObservational MethodologiesCase StudiesEthnographyPsychophysiological Methods
RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Sampling:
The sample, or group of subjects chosen, is an important consideration in research.
Random Samples
Representative Samples
Population
Generalization
RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Experimental Design:
Be sure to review these terms on your own:
1. Independent, Dependent & Confounding Variables
2. Experimental Control, Random Assignment, & Ecological Validity
3. Correlational Design, Laboratory, Field & Natural (quasi-) Experiments
DESIGNS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT
Cross-Sectional Design: subjects from different age groups are studied at the same point in time.
DESIGNS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT
Cross-Sectional Design: subjects from different age groups are studied at the same point in time.
Cohort EffectsStrengthsLimitations
DESIGNS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT
Longitudinal Design: one group of subjects is studied repeatedly over a period of months or years.
DESIGNS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT
Longitudinal Design: one group of subjects is studied repeatedly over a period of months or years.
StrengthsWeaknesses
Practice EffectsSelective AttritionNonrepresentative SampleCross-generational
problem
DESIGNS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT
Longitudinal-Sequential Design: subjects from different age groups are studied repeatedly over a period of months or years.
DESIGNS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT
Longitudinal-Sequential Design: subjects from different age groups are studied repeatedly over a period of months or years.
StrengthsWeaknesses
LONGITUDINAL-SEQUENTIAL DESIGNS
Two Samples of Children
- one born in 1991
- one born in 1993
Both observed longitudinally
Yea
r o
f b
irth
(C
oh
ort
)
1991
19936-year olds
12-year olds
10-year olds
8-year olds
8-year olds
10-year olds
1999 2001 2003
Year of testing
Longitudinal Comparisons
Cohort Comparisons
Cross-Sectional Comparisons
LONGITUDINAL-SEQUENTIAL DESIGNS
LONGITUDINAL-SEQUENTIAL DESIGNS
Note: Even this technique is limited unless you repeat it cross culturally!
MICROGENETIC DESIGNS
A research design in which researchers present children with a novel task and followtheir mastery over a series of closely spaced sessions.
e.g. Long-division problems
MICROGENETIC DESIGNS
A research design in which researchers present children with a novel task and followtheir mastery over a series of closely spaced sessions.
e.g. Long-division problems
StrengthsWeaknesses
Now YOU can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the studies you read or hear about in the news.