2. Research

Question 1

3 main approaches to child-devt research

Answer 1

1. systematic observation
2. using tasks to sample behaviour
3. directly asking babies or others

Question 2

define systematic observation

Answer 2

a research approach that involves watching and carefully recording what people do/say.

Question 3

define naturalistic observation

Answer 3

observing people in real life situations and recording data based on certain predetermined variables of interest
A: captures behaviour in natural setting
D: does not wrk well for rare behaviours

Question 4

structured observation

Answer 4

creating a setting or circumstance designed to bring about behaviours of interest
A: good for rare/private behaviours
D: setting can distort results

Question 5

what is “sampling behaviour with tasks”?

Answer 5

When researchers can’t observe a behaviour directly, they can create tasks that sample the behaviour of interest. Ex. identifying emotions using photographs.
A: convenient
D: ecological invalidity

Question 6

Ecological validity

Answer 6

the extent to which research results reflect real life

Question 7

self-reports

Answer 7

survey that elicit people’s thoughts/feelings/ideas/opinions about a topic of interest (self-report or interview)
A: convenient
D: invalidity from forgetting, role demands, bias

Question 8

reliability

Answer 8

the extent to which a measure yields consistent results over time

Question 9

validity

Answer 9

the extent to which conclusions based on a measure actually mean what the researcher thought they would

Question 10

convergent validity

Answer 10

the extent to which a measure yields results that are similar to another well-established measure of the same variable

Question 11

divergent validity

Answer 11

the extent to which a measure yields results different from another well-established measure of an opposite variable

Question 12

Why is the issue of population sampling particularly relevant in Canadian research?

Answer 12

• diverse country
• many regional population differences
• variety in living circumstances

Question 13

correlation coefficient

Answer 13

(r)

a numerical, statistical value representing both the direction and strength of relationship between variables

Question 14

r = 0

Answer 14

no relationship between variables

Question 15

r > 0

Answer 15

variables are positively correlated (more of both)

Question 16

r < 0

Answer 16

variables are negatively correlated (less of one/more of the other)

Question 17

p-value

Answer 17

the probability of obtaining a particular measurement if not real-world relationship exists between two variables

Question 18

descriptive statistics

Answer 18

basic numerical summaries of data, such as averages or ranges

Question 19

inferential statictics

Answer 19

go beyond the basic description of research data to infer how well the sample data represents the total population

Question 20

mediator variables

Answer 20

a variable that explains or accounts for any relationship observed between and IV and DV

Question 21

field experiment

Answer 21

an experiment in which the IV is manipulated in a naturalistic setting

Question 22

microgenetic study

Answer 22

a longitudinal study in which subjects are tested at very sort intervals to test periods of rapid developmental change

Question 23

another word for testing effects

Answer 23

practice effects

Question 24

another word for mortality

Answer 24

attrition

Question 25

how do cohort effects complicate developmental reserach

Answer 25

in cross-sectional studies, cohort effects confound developmental variables - it can be hard to separate differences in different groups based on developmental factors from those based on environmental factors.

Question 26

Family policy

Answer 26

laws and regulations that directly or indirectly affect families with children

Question 27

Evidence-based practice

Answer 27

an approach to working with people in health services using methods of intervention and assessment that have been demonstrated through empirical research to be effective

Question 28

frequency

Answer 28

the number of observations that fall

within a certain category or range of scores

Question 29

mean

Answer 29

average

Question 30

median

Answer 30

the 50th percentile - the score at which 50% of
the observations are lower and 50% of the observations
are higher

Question 31

mode

Answer 31

the category with the highest frequency (the most

observations)

Question 32

variability

Answer 32

the degree to which scores are spread out:
high variability means that scores are very spread out
low variability means that scores are clustered

Question 33

standard deviation

Answer 33

a computed measure of how much scores vary around a mean score

Question 34

construct

Answer 34

hypothetical attribute or mechanism that helps explain
or predict behaviour
- e.g., intelligence, stress, love, empathy, creativity

Question 35

operational definition

Answer 35

statements that describe the procedures

and specific measures that are used to record observations

Question 36

quasi-experimental research

Answer 36

a research technique in which the groups that are compared are selected based on predetermined
characteristics rather than random assignment

Question 37

Correlational Research

Answer 37

an approach to research that involves measuring two variables for each individual in order to describe the relationship between the variables

Question 38

CPA Code of Ethics

Answer 38

1. Respect for the Dignity of Persons
2. Responsible Caring
3. Integrity in Relationships
4. Responsibility to Society

Question 39

informed consent

Answer 39

a potential volunteer must know the purpose,
tasks, and risks involved in the study and agree to participate based on the information provided without pressure
- a legal concept implying full competence to make a binding decision that affects oneself

Question 40

3 important Ethical Considerations for Conducting Psychological Research with Children

Answer 40

research risks
voluntary participation
confidentiality

Question 41

Permission

Answer 41

agreement of parents or guardians to the participation of their child in research

Question 42

Assent

Answer 42

a child’s affirmative agreement to participate in research

Question 43

Guiding ethical principle with children

Answer 43

minimize harm

Question 44

(p)

Answer 44

measure of statistical significance

• e.g., p < .05 or p = .003

Question 45

n

Answer 45

sample size (number of participants)