Chapter 1 (Measurement In Human Development Research)

Question 1

What does systematic observation consists of?

Answer 1

Naturalistic Observation: People are observed as they behave in a real-life situation.

Structured Observation: Researcher creates a setting that is likely to bring out a behavior of interest.

Question 2

What is an example of sampling behavior with tasks?

Answer 2

Showing photos to measure emotion recognition accuracy.

Question 3

What is an example of a self-report?

Answer 3

Measuring self-esteem using a questionnaire.

Question 4

What is an example of physiological measures?

Answer 4

Measuring interest or level using pupil dilation or brain waves measurements.

Question 5

What does reliability mean?

Answer 5

Provides a consistent index of characteristics. Consistently measured what is being studied.

Question 6

What does Validity mean?

Answer 6

Whether it actually measures researchers think it measures. If it accurately measures the variable of interest.

Example: personality test truly assessing level of aggressiveness.

Question 7

What does Representative Sampling mean?

Answer 7

The sample must represent the characteristics of the population of interest.

Question 8

What is a General Research Design?

Answer 8

Correlation Studies: Measures how people score two variables, or relations between variables.

Correlation does not prove causation.

Question 9

What is a Experimental Study? How does it work?

Answer 9

Study the possible “cause and effect” relationship between 2 variables.

-Manipulate exposure to different factors (Independent Variable)
-measure how much of behavior of interest.
-Main question is whether Dependent Variable scores differ from depending upon the level of Independent Variable.

Question 10

What does Qualitative Studies involve with? What are the 3 other involvements?

Answer 10

Involves in gaining in-depth understanding of human behavior and what governs it.

*Intense Observation
*Smaller but focuses samples
*Categorizes data in patterns

Question 11

What does Longitudinal Studies Mean? What 2 things are involved?

Answer 11

Some individuals are observed or repeatedly tested in different parts of life.

*Expensive and large time commitment
*Allows examination of (dis)continuity, because the same people were tested across time.

Question 12

What does Cross-Sectional Studies mean? How much time and money is put into this? Why is discontinuity not addressed? What effect is happening?

Answer 12

Developmental difference are identified by testing people of different ages.

*More time-effective and less expensive
*Cannot address discontinuity because each age group involves different people.
*Cohort Effects (Difference may result from each grows unique environmental events)

Question 13

What does Sequential Studies mean? (3 things)

Answer 13

A combination cross-sectional and longitude designs.
Allows for flexibility to collect information in many ways
Avoid court effects of cross sectional designs.

Question 14

What does Meta Analysis mean? What does it allow scientist to do?

Answer 14

-Analysis of multiple studies that all examined the same research questions and variables.
-Allows scientist to verify whether the same relationships among variables are replicated across multiple studies

Question 15

What does Conducting Research Ethically mean? (4 Things) TIAI

Answer 15

To minimize and warn of any risk to participants
Informed consent
Avoid deception
Individual results or data must be kept anonymous or confidential.

Question 16

How does Communication of Research Results work? (3 things)

Answer 16

Research results are published in peer-review.
To be able to publish, must be useful and original work.
Must also plan a study no one has done.

Question 17

How are Research Results applied to Social Policy?

Answer 17

Developmental Research has a strong influence on policy makers and politicians.

Example: Children working at very young ages is now demolished in the U.S