DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

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DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY What do Developmental
Psychologists study? Development
Systematic continuities and changes in the
individual that occur between conception and
death.
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HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IS CONTINUAL, CUMULATIVE AND
HOLISTIC Continual and Cumulative Holistic

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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
dont 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.
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GOALS OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Understanding
a. Universal Change b. Individual
Change c. Situational Influences
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GOALS OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Understanding
a. Universal Change b. Individual
Change c. Situational Influences How to
Study Development a. Describe b.
Explain c. Optimize
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CHRONOLOGICAL OVERVIEW OF HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT Period of Life Age Range Prenatal
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
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RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Basic
Definitions Hypothesis An educated
proposition about how the factors being studied
are related to each other.
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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?
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RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Reliability
Extent to which a measuring instrument yields
consistent results, both over time and across
observers.
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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.
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RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Gathering
data Self-report Methodologies 1. Interviews
Questionnaires 2. Clinical Methods
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RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Gathering
data Self-report Methodologies Observational
Methodologies 1. Naturalistic 2. Structured

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RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Gathering
data Self-report Methodologies Observational
Methodologies Case Studies
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RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Gathering
data Self-report Methodologies Observational
Methodologies Case Studies Ethnography
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RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Gathering
data Self-report Methodologies Observational
Methodologies Case Studies Ethnography Psychophysi
ological Methods
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RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Sampling The
sample, or group of subjects chosen, is an
important consideration in research. Random
Samples Representative Samples Population Gener
alization
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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
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DESIGNS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT Cross-Sectional
Design subjects from different age groups are
studied at the same point in time.
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DESIGNS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT Cross-Sectional
Design subjects from different age groups are
studied at the same point in time. Cohort
Effects Strengths Limitations
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DESIGNS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT Longitudinal
Design one group of subjects is studied
repeatedly over a period of months or
years.
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DESIGNS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT Longitudinal
Design one group of subjects is studied
repeatedly over a period of months or
years. Strengths Weaknesses Practice
Effects Selective Attrition Nonrepresentative
Sample Cross-generational problem
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DESIGNS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT Longitudinal-Seq
uential Design subjects from different age
groups are studied repeatedly over a period of
months or years.
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DESIGNS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT Longitudinal-Seq
uential Design subjects from different age
groups are studied repeatedly over a period of
months or years. Strengths Weaknesses
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LONGITUDINAL-SEQUENTIAL DESIGNS
Two Samples of Children - one born in 1991 -
one born in 1993 Both observed longitudinally
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LONGITUDINAL-SEQUENTIAL DESIGNS
Longitudinal Comparisons
Cross-Sectional Comparisons
Cohort Comparisons
6-year olds
8-year olds
10-year olds
1993
Year of birth (Cohort)
12-year olds
10-year olds
8-year olds
1991
1999
2001
2003
Year of testing
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LONGITUDINAL-SEQUENTIAL DESIGNS
Note Even this technique is limited unless you
repeat it cross culturally!
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MICROGENETIC DESIGNS A research design in which
researchers present children with a novel task
and follow their mastery over a series of
closely spaced sessions. e.g. Long-division
problems
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MICROGENETIC DESIGNS A research design in which
researchers present children with a novel task
and follow their mastery over a series of
closely spaced sessions. e.g. Long-division
problems Strengths Weaknesses
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Now YOU can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses
of the studies you read or hear about in the news.