Chapter 1: Introduction

Question 1

Development

Answer 1

explores both changes and constancies in physical growth, feelings and ways of thinking

• Lifespan development is the field of study that explores patterns of stability, continuity, growth and change that occur throughout a person’s life, from birth to death*
• Lifespan development researchers methodically apply scientific methods to develop theories about development, validate the accuracy of assumptions and systematically investigate human development*

Question 2

Theory

Answer 2

a set of ordered, integrated statements that seek to explain, describe and predict human behaviour

Question 3

3 major domains of human development

Answer 3

1. Physical: biological development
2. Cognitive: changes in methods and styles of thinking, language ability, use and strategies for remembering and recalling information
3. Psychosocial: changes in feelings or emotions as well as changes in relations with other people

Findings across cultures show parental acceptance is consistently associated with high self-esteem, independence and emotional stability, whereas the opposite is true

Question 4

Landmarks of development

Answer 4

Question 5

Bronfenbrenner’s developmental framework:

Answer 5

1. Microsystem: refers to situations in which the person has face-to-face contact with influential others
2. Mesosystem: refers to the connections and relationships that exist between two or more microsystems and that influence the person because of their relationships
3. Exosystem: consists of settings in which the person does not participate but still experiences decisions and events that affect them directly
4. Macrosystem: the overarching institutions, practices and patterns of belief that characterize society as a whole and take the smaller micro-, meso- and exosystems into account

Question 6

Baltes and Nesselroade’s (1979) theory of development:

Answer 6

1. Normative age-graded influences: have a strong relationship with chronological age
2. Normative history- graded influences: are associated with historical time, such as plague and famine, which are examples of strong biological determinants of development
3. Non- normative influences: do not occur in any normative age- graded or history- graded manner

Question 7

Ford and Lerner’s (1992) developmental systems perspective:

Answer 7

This perspective investigates how an individual carries out transactions with their environment and how, through these transactions, their biological, psychological behavioral and environmental elements change or remain constant

It attempts to understand how multiple elements interact and shape a person’s life

Question 8

Dynamic systems approach:

Answer 8

to studying and explaining lifespan development views the individual’s mind, body, physical and social worlds and experiences as constantly in motion, creating an integrated system that is dynamic, constantly evolving and moving

Question 9

Four underlying foundations of developmental study:

Answer 9

1. Continuity within change: how do we account for the underlying continuity in qualities, behaviours and skills in spite of apparent change?
2. Lifelong growth: what is the potential for growth- emotional, cognitive and physical?
3. Changing vantage points: how do key life events change in meaning as a result of changing roles and experiences?
4. Developmental diversity: what factors create differences in individual’s development across?

Question 10

Continuity within change

• Discontinuous development:
• Continuous development:

Answer 10

Discontinuous development: is a process in which a development occurs in distinct stages or steps, with each step resulting in behaviour that is qualitatively (a change in kind or type) different from the behavior at earlier steps

Continuous development: gradual development wherein achievements at one level build quantitatively (a change in amount)

Question 11

Scientific method

Answer 11

consists of procedures to ensure objective observations and interpretations of observations, including the posing and answering of questions using carefully controlled techniques

Question 12

Scientific method research procedure

Answer 12

• Formulating research questions
• Stating questions as hypotheses (a prediction derived from theory)
• Testing the hypothesis
• Interpreting and publicizing the results

Question 13

Methods of studying human development

Answer 13

• cross sectional study
• longitudinal study
• naturalistic study
• emperimental study
• correlational study
• survey
• interview
• case study
• ethnography

Question 14

Cross-sectional study

Answer 14

Cross-sectional study: compares persons of different ages or groups (cohorts) in relation to such psychological variables as emotional development, cognitive ability, parenting styles, self-esteem and relationships at a single point in time

• These studies are useful in describing age-related trends in a relatively short time frame, which is convenient and ensures that the findings are not obsolete and outdated by the time the study is completed
• Although, these studies do not provide information about individual differences, as comparisons are limited to age-group averages
• Has an inability to distinguish between cohorts

Question 15

Longitudinal study

Answer 15

observes the same participants periodically over a relatively long period

• These studies permit researchers to look at sequences of change and individual consistency and inconsistency over time
• These studies reveal more truly ’developmental’ change
• They can be expensive, time consuming and participants can drop out of the research

Question 16

Cohorts

Answer 16

groups of people born at the same time

Question 17

Sequential studies

Answer 17

combine the elements of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies

• At least cohorts are observed longitudinally and comparisons are made both within each cohort across time and between the cohorts at particular points in time
• This approach provides information about actual developmental changes within individuals, and about historical differences among cohorts that might create the impression of truly developmental changes

Question 18

Naturalistic studies

Answer 18

purposely observe the behaviour as it normally occurs in natural settings such as at home, at school or in the workplace

Question 19

Experimental studies

Answer 19

arrange circumstances so only one or two factors or variables vary at a time

Question 20

Validity

Answer 20

accurately measuring or observing the characteristics that they intended to measure

• One way to improve validity is by including an experimental group and a control group

Question 21

Correlation

Answer 21

a systematic relationship, or association, between two behaviours, responses or human characteristics

Question 22

Case studies

Answer 22

try to pull together a wide variety of information, including test scores, questionnaires and observations about the individual case and then present the information as a unified whole, emphasising relationships among specific behaviours, thoughts and attitudes in the individual

Question 23

Informed consent

Answer 23

when people or groups being studied understand the nature of the research, believe their rights are being protected and feel they van volunteer or refuse to participate without an repercussions

• Informed consent occurs when confidentiality, full disclosure of purposes and respect for individual’s freedom to participate, are closely followed

Question 24

The nature of development

Answer 24

•Explores patterns of constancies and change

• Change can be specific or general
• Constancy can be short or long term

Question 25

The scientific study of humans develop

Answer 25

• Development is systematic – coherent and organised
• Development is adaptive – child adapts to internal cues (e.g., self-care, eating, toileting) and external conditions (e.g., adjusting to new situations) so as to enable independent functioning
• Development is lifelong

Question 26

Why study development?

Answer 26

• Indicates typical behaviour
• Enables appropriate response to behaviour
• Enables recognition of deviations from the norm
• Helps with self-knowledge
• Enables advocacy to optimise human development

Question 27

Early views of development

Answer 27

• In Medieval times children had no status
• Expected to take adult roles at about 7 or 8
• Important to understand perceptions within the context that they occurred
• Adolescence not recognised as a distinct stage

Question 28

Changing vantage points

Answer 28

• Meaning of experiences varies with age, roles, and responsibilities
• Development is plastic – flexible
• Opportunities for growth are present at every age
• Individual differences in plasticity
  
  • Experience
  • Adaptability

Question 29

Differences in development relate to:

Answer 29

• Genetics, environment, social and cultural context
• Question of extent of influence of:
  
  • Nature
    
    • Genetically inherited traits, abilities
  • Nurture
    
    • Environmental influences
• Likelihood of joint influences in development

Question 30

Balte’s 7 key principals of development

Answer 30

1. Development is lifelong (all periods are important)

2. Development is multidimensional (biological, psychological,

social)

3. Development is multidirectional (at different times we are developing in one area but declining in another, e.g., adolescents grow physically but their ability to learn another language declines)

4. Relative influences of biology and culture shift over lifespan (e.g., sensory capacity weakens with age, but social supports and education/knowledge may increase)

5. Development involves changing resource allocations (between growth, maintenance or recovery from loss)

6. Development shows plasticity (memory,strength, endurance etc. improve with training, but only to an upper limit)

7. Development is influenced by the historical and cultural context (time and place also impact on development)

Question 31

Research methods

Answer 31

• Quantitative
  
  • Objectively measurable data
    
    • Standardised tests, physiological changes • E.g., surveys, experiments
• Qualitative
  
  • Non-numerical data
    
    • Feelings, beliefs
  • E.g., interviews, diaries

• Both methods are valuable, depending on the research question asked