1- Methods in Developmental Research

Question 1

What differences does developmental psychology have to consider?

Answer 1

Age of the child

Question 2

What are the 2 ways accuracy in developmental research is looked at?

Answer 2

Reliability (test-retest, inter observer) and validity (content, external)

Question 3

What are the 3 developmental research methods?

Answer 3

Observational, experimental, correlational

Question 3

What are the 4 types of developmental research designs?

Answer 3

Case study, longitudinal, cross-sectional, twin studies

Question 4

What is a case study?

Answer 4

Examines a single participant in depth

Question 5

Advantage of case studies

Answer 5

Provide detailed info

Question 6

2 disadvantages of case studies

Answer 6

Not generalisable
Produce subjective data

Question 7

What is a longitudinal study?

Answer 7

Measures behaviours in same participant at different ages

Question 8

Advantage of longitudinal studies

Answer 8

Estimates changes/stability over time and impact of early experiences on later behaviour

Question 9

Disadvantage of longitudinal studies

Answer 9

Biased sampling and practical effects and attrition

Question 10

What is a cross-sectional study?

Answer 10

Measures behaviours in different participants at same time point

Question 11

Advantage of cross-sectional studies

Answer 11

Quick to collect data

Question 12

Disadvantage of cross-sectional studies

Answer 12

Development is only at group level and there are cohort effects

Question 13

When are twin studies useful?

Answer 13

In studying nature vs nurture

Question 14

What are DZ twins?

Answer 14

Regular fraternal twins

Question 15

What are MZ twins?

Answer 15

Identical twins that have the same DNA as each other

Question 16

What 4 types of observation are there?

Answer 16

Naturalistic
Structured
Descriptive
Systematic

Question 17

What does experimentation do?

Answer 17

Aims to show causal relationships between IV and DV, tests hypotheses

Question 18

Where are experiments conducted?

Answer 18

In lab/naturalistic settings

Question 19

What does correlational research do?

Answer 19

Describes relationship between one aspect of development and another

Question 20

How is correlational direction and strength expressed?

Answer 20

As a correlation coefficient

Question 21

Advantage of correlational research

Answer 21

Relatively simple

Question 22

Disadvantage of correlational research

Answer 22

Cannot ascertain causality

Question 23

Research question for Gibson’s virtual cliff experiment

Answer 23

Why do infants look to adults in novel situations?

Question 24

Method of Gibson’s virtual cliff experiment

Answer 24

4 groups of children were asked to cross a virtual cliff

Question 25

4 groups in Gibson’s virtual cliff experiment

Answer 25

Saw face plus voice- comfort
Only heard voice- comfort
Talk to adult- non-comfort
No cues- non-comfort

Question 26

Results of Gibson’s virtual cliff experiment

Answer 26

More exclusions in ‘information only’ compared to ‘comfort’ conditions

Question 27

Conclusions of Gibson’s virtual cliff experiment

Answer 27

Infants look to adults in novel situations for comfort, not info

Question 28

What 4 ethical procedures should developmental research comply with?

Answer 28

Non harmful procedures
Informed consent
Anonymity/confidentiality
Measures for unforeseen circumstances