Doing Developmental Research

Question 1

Systematic observation

Answer 1

Watching people and recording what they do
1. Naturalistic : observing in a natural setting
2. Structured : observing in a setting created by the researcher

Question 2

Sampling Behavior with Tasks

Answer 2

• Used when a behavior cannot be observed directly
  
  • A task is created to sample the behavior of interest

Question 3

Self-reports

Answer 3

People’s answers to questions about the topic of interest

Question 4

Physiological measures

Answer 4

• Involve measuring people’s physiological responses (i.e. heart rate, cortisol levels) to focus on a particular aspect of a person’s behavior

Question 5

Reliability and Validity

Answer 5

• Whether a measure provides a consistent index of a characteristic (reliability) and whether it really measures what we think it measures (validity)

Question 6

Representative sampling

Answer 6

• Must reflect the characteristics of the population of interest

Question 7

Correlational studies

• Correlation coefficient –> S & D

Answer 7

• Study relationships between variables
  
  • Correlation coefficient : expresses the strength and direction of a relation between two variables

Question 8

Experimental studies

• Indep V
• Depen V

Answer 8

• Involves manipulating key factor(s) that the investigator thinks causes a particular behavior.
  
  • Independent variable : the variable being manipulated (cause)
  • Dependent variable : the behavior being observed (effect or outcome).

Question 9

Qualitative research method

• G IU –> UR

Answer 9

• Involves gaining in-depth understanding of behavior by attempting to uncover reasons underlying various aspects of it

Question 10

Longitudinal studies

• O S I
• S L

Answer 10

• Observe/test the same individuals (a single cohort) repeatedly at different points in their lives
  
  • Studies development over time and is the most direct way to watch development occur.
• Has several limitations, such as participant dropout and repeated testing effects

Question 11

Cross-sectional designs

• CG –> ViA
• U A D
• S CE

Answer 11

• Comparing groups of people varying in age at one point in time
  
  • These studies only uncover age differences and are subject to the cohort effect

Question 12

Cohort effects

• P CS D –> D AG EE DP

Answer 12

• Problems with cross-sectional designs in which differences between age groups (cohorts) may result as easily from environmental events as from developmental processes

Question 13

Sequential designs
- M CS or LS

Answer 13

• Studies that use multiple cross-sectional or longitudinal studieis

Question 14

Meta-analysis

• SyRS
• ERV

Answer 14

• A tool that allows researchers to :
  a. synthesize results of many studies
  b. estimate relations between variables

Question 15

Conducting Research Ethically

(MR. DR. AD. MRA)

Answer 15

1. Minimize risks to research participants.
2. Describe the research to potential participants.
3. Avoid deception.
4. Make results anonymous or confidential.

Example : Three Identical Strangers (2018)
a. Nature v nurture
b. Research ethics and intervention

Question 16

Communicating Research Results

• SC –> RW
• R - SfP

Answer 16

• When a researcher completes a study, a report will be written describing it
  
  • This report will be submitted for publication

Question 17

Applying Research Results: Social Policy

• RHD –> SP
• P I
• W I L

Answer 17

• Research on human development has an influence on social policy.
• Provides many insights into what makes people do the things they do
• Provides ways to improve quality of life