Chpt 1 Flashcards
5 steps of the scientific method
- Begin with curiosity, ask questions
- Develop a hypothesis, a prediction that can be verified
- Test the hypothesis, Design a study conduct research, and get evidence
- draw conclusions. Use evidence to support or refute the hypothesis
- Report the results, share data
replication
repeating a study, usually using different participants.
conclusions are revised, refined, rejected or confirmed after replication
nature
nature refers to genes
traits, capacities, and limitations inherited at conception are nature
nurture
nurture includes all environmental influences that occur after conception,
from mothers’ nutrition while pregnant to the culture of the nation.
differential susceptibility
idea that people vary in how sensitive they are to particular experiences, b/ genes or past experiences [also called differential sensitivity]
life span perspective
approach to the study of human development that includes all phases from birth to death
four insights into human development
multi-directional
multi-contextual
multi-cultural
plastic
what is multi-directional
multiple changes in every direction, characterize the life span, making development multi-directional
Change occurs in every direction, not always in a straight line. Gains and losses, predictable growth, and unexpected transformations are evident.
the idea that human development is not linear, but instead involves both growth and decline ex. physical, ognitive
Continuity
growth can be gradual
critical period
time when a particular development must occur, if it doesn’t as when something toxic prevents that growth, then it cannot develop later
sensitive period
time when a particular developmental growth is most likely to occur, although it may still happen later
social context
includes everyone who influences each developing person, immediately and over time, directly and indirectly
3 Ecological system
developing person is at the center
1st layer around person is microsystem: each person’s immediate social contexts (family and peer group)
exosytem: local institutions such as shool or church
macrosystem: larger setting, cultural values, economic policies, and political processes
2 more systems that affect the ecological system
mesosystem: consisting of the connections among the other systems
chronosystem. historical context
define ecological systems approach
perspective on human development that considers all the influences from various contexts of development
6th system of ecological system
bioecological system
bioecological system
internal biology of person
cohort
people born w/in same historical period who therefore move through life together, experiencing same events, new tech. and cultural shifts at the same time.
socioeconomic status (SES)
person’s position in society as determined by income, occupation, education, and place of residence (aka social class)
culture
system of shared beliefs, norms, behaviors, and expectations that persist over time and prescribe social behavior and assumptions
social construction
idea that is built on shared perceptions, not on objective reality
difference-equals-deficit error
mistaken belief that deviation from some norm is necessarily inferior
ethnic group
people whose ancestors were born in the same region, usually share language, culture, and/or religion
race
concept that some people are distinct from others because of physical appearance, typically skin color.
Social scientists think race is a misleading idea, although race can be a powerful sociological idea, not based in biology.
intersectionality
idea that various identities need to be combined
important in determining if discrimination occurs
plasticity
idea that abilities, personality, and other human characteristics are moldable and thus a change
dynamic-systems approach
view of human development as an ongoing, ever-changing interaction between physical, cognitive, and psychosocial influences
Multi-contextual
Human lives are embedded in many contexts, including historical conditions, economic constraints, and family patterns.
Multi-cultural
Many cultures — not just between nations but also within them — affect how people develop.
psychoanalytic theory
A theory of human development that contends that irrational, unconscious drives and motives underlie human behavior.
behaviorism
a theory of human development that studies observable actions. Behaviorism is also called learning theory because it describes how people learn to do what they do.
reinforcement
In behaviorism, the positive experience that follows a behavior, making it likely that the behavior will occur again.
social learning theory
A theory that emphasizes the influence of other people. Even without reinforcement, people learn via role models. (Also called observational learning.)
cognitive theory
A theory of human development that focuses on how people think. According to this theory, our thoughts shape our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
evolutionary theory
when used in human development, the idea that many current human emotions and impulses are a legacy from thousands of years ago.
studying development over the life span, what 3 studies do they use
cross-sectional, longitudinal, or cross-sequential studies
cross-sectional research
A research design that compares people who differ in age but not in other important characteristics.
longitudinal research
research design that follows same individuals over time
cross- sequential research
hybrid research design that includes cross-sectional and longitudinal research
correlation
how mucch 2 variables are related,
Correlation indicates whether an increase in one variable will increase or decrease another variable. Correlation indicates only that two variables are somehow related, not that one variable causes the other to increase or decrease.
quantitative vs qualitative research
quantitative: research provides data expressed w/ numbers
qualitative: research considers individual qualities instead of numbers
ethics
Participants must understand and consent to their involvement. Scientists continue to study, report, discuss, and disagree — asking questions and eventually reach conclusions that aid all humankind.
