Introduction

Question 1

Developmental psychology

Answer 1

Study of change and stability over the life span

Change physically, cognitively, behaviourally, and socially

Due to biological, individual and environmental differences

Question 2

Types of development

Answer 2

Ontogenetic development:
-development of an individual over their lifetime

Microgenetic development:
-changes occur over brief periods of time

Phylogenetic development:
-changes over evolutionary time

Question 3

How to study development

Answer 3

Quantitative changes:
-easily measurable and quantifiable aspects of development

Qualitative changes:
-changes in functions or processes

Stability:
-some processes remain stable- more enduring characteristics

Question 4

Fundamental issues

Answer 4

Individual differences:
-one course of development or many?

Sources of development:
-nature or nurture

Continuity vs discontinuity:
-series of gradual small continuous changes or abrupt transformations or discontinuous stages?

Plasticity:
-is development open to change? When do things have great impact?

Question 5

Methods for studying change

Cross-sectional studies

Answer 5

Children of different ages studied at same time

e.g., development of lying in children

Adv:
-least time consuming

Disadv:
-can’t observe individual change, performance averaged over different individuals at each age

Question 6

Methods for studying change

Longitudinal studies

Answer 6

Same children are tested repeatedly at multiple time points, as they grow

e.g., socioeconomic status predicts later cognitive skill

Adv:
-look at individual change

Disadv:

• intensive, expensive and time consuming
• high drop out rates
• practice effects- change due to practice

Question 7

Methods for studying change

Microgenetic studies

Answer 7

Changes examined as they occur
Individuals tested repeatedly over short period of time

e.g., when children learn to walk

Adv:
-high intensity of measurement- precise descriptions

Disadv:

• intensive so only small samples
• practice effects

Question 8

Gathering data

Answer 8

Interviews or questionnaires

Naturalistic observations

Structured observations

Cognitive measures

Psychosocial measures- biological processes

Cognitive neuroscience- EEG, fMRI