methods of research Flashcards
mechanisms of change
biological processes, experiences, timing of experiences (sensitive periods)
ways of gathering data/information (4)
self/other report, naturalistic observation, structured observation, physiological measures
self/other report
surveys, questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, standardized tests
observation
naturalistic and structured
naturalistic observation
observing behaviour of interest in its natural setting
two types of sampling with naturalistic observation
time-sampling and event-sampling
time-sampling vs event-sampling
record all behaviours during pre-determined time periods vs record behaviour every time event of interest occurs
structured observation
research sets up a situation to evoke behaviour of interest
physiological measures
heart rate, blood pressure, hormone levels, pupil dilation; neuroimaging (EEG/ERP, MRI, fMRI, NIRS)
EEG/ERG measures
electrical activity in brain
MRI measures
brain structure using magnetic fields
fMRI measures
blood flow in brain using magnetic fields
NRIS measures
blood flow in brain using light (Near-infrared spectroscopy)
advantages of naturalistic observation
reflects real-world behaviour, affordable
disadvantages of naturalistic observation
hard to observe rare behaviour, observer bias, difficult to control, little insight into inner experience
advantages for naturalistic observation for children
children may be less influenced by observer
advantages of structured observation
same situation for everyone, more control/equivalence, useful for rare behaviours/situations
disadvantages of structured observation
may not reflect natural behaviours, observer bias, little insight into inner experience
disadvantages of structured observation for children
may be unwilling to engage in tasks, ethical concerns
advantages of self/other report
easy to administer, can probe inner experience
disadvantages of self/other report
accuracy? bias (interviewer and/or subject)
disadvantages of self/other report for children
unable to fill out questionnaires, shyness, memory difficulties/easy to influence
advantages of physiological measures
assess biological underpinnings, no language/behaviour required
disadvantages of physiological measures
costly, difficult to interpret results
disadvantages of physiological measures for children
can be loud/frightening
research designs are structured as either
correlational design or experimental design
T/F: in correlational designs, research assigns and manipulates everything
false, not at all
correlation coefficient
measures association between 2 variables; positive or negative; +/-1
ways of gathering data/information is how variables are ___
measured
overall structure of the research is how variables are ____
manipulated (or not)
two designs for studying age/development?
longitudinal or cross-sectional design
challenges in studying age/development (2)
understanding what causes change, measurement equivalence
challenges of the population in researching development
selection, ethics, cooperation
strengths of scientific method
peer review and critiques, constantly updating/improving knowledge, publicly shared knowledge
replication
process of repeating a study to determine which results generalize across time/situation/contexts
replication crisis
many psychology findings failed to replicate, especially developmental psychology (2010s)
limitations of science as a way of knowing
cannot answer all questions, assumption that science is the best/only way of knowing, embedded within particular historical and cultural contexts, biases of scientists
the myth of normative development
dev psych often conducted in a context of Western, White, comparatively wealthy individuals that are assumed to be the ‘norm’
