DEVELOPMENTAL assumptions

Question 1

Approach

Answer 1

Looks at human behaviour and experience in people of different ages

Attempts to describe how thoughts, feelings and behaviour develop

Question 2

Assumes

Answer 2

Development is on going process and that developmental changes in behaviour occur throughout persons lifespan as a result of environmental or inherited factors (nature / nurture)

Question 3

Strength

Answer 3

Use of case studies / interviews

Detailed data

Longitudinal studies - development over time

Explains why individuals differ at different ages

Provides evidence for nature / nurture debate

Application to real life / useful

Question 4

Weakness

Answer 4

Problems using children - ethics

Difficulty obtaining representative samples for developmental research

Difficulty in isolating cause and effect in developmental processes

Tends to be reductionist