Test 1 Flashcards
Define Case Study
The in-depth study of a single individual or a single institution, agency, community, or other social unit. Case studies do not permit conclusions about the nature of the relationship between variables and may not be generalizable to other cases. It is often used to identify variables for future research.
Cohort Effects
Differences between subjects of cross-sectional research that have to do with experience rather than with age. Cohort effects can suggest that observed differences between different aged subjects are related to their different experiences in life instead of the differences in age.
Continuity-Discontinuity Issue
Debate about where change/development involves gradual, cumluative changes (continuity) or if there are marked shifts and distinct changes (discontinuity). By analogy, continuity:rheostat::discontinuity:light switch.
Correlation Coefficient
A statistical index of the degree of relationship between two variables. The magnitude of the coefficient expresses the strength of the relationship and the sign (+ or -) shows the direction of the relationship..
Correlational Research
Research method used to describe the type and strength of the relationship between two or more variables.
Cross-Cultural Studies
Comparing one culture with one or more different cultures with the intent to see what traits (or behavior) is similar (universal) and what is different (culture specific) across different groups of people.
Culture
A set of shared rules/behaviors that govern the behavior of the members of a certain commuity or society as well as a set of values, beliefs, and attitudes shared by most members of that community or society.
Descriptive Research
Research methods aimed at providing an accurate description of the characteristics of a particular individual, situation, or group. This research is a means of discovering new meaning, describing what exists, determining the frequency with which something occurs, and categorizing information.
Ethology
Stresses that biology is strongly influenced by biology. It is strongly tied to evolution and characterized by critical or sensitive periods.
Experiment
A research method in which the researcher manipulates one (or more) factors (independent variables) and records/measures the effect on other factors (dependent variables).
Hypothesis
A prediction made about the relationship between or among variables in a study based on specific theoretical framework.
Naturalistic observation
Watching and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate &/or control the situation.
Nature-nurture issue
The (longstanding) argument over the degree of influence which biology (nature) has on behavior with respect to the degree of influence experience (nuture) has on our behavior.
Socioeconomic Status (SES)
Grouping people according to common occupational, educational, and economic characteristics
Stability-Change Issue
The debate about the degree to which early traits and characteristics persist through life or change as a result of maturation or experience.
Standardized Test
Test with specified content that has been administered, scored, and interpreted using standard procedures, to a representative sample of examinees for the purpose of obtaining scores..
Theory
An explanation for a set of facts or observations which is used to generate predictions about behaviors or events (hypotheses).
Behavior Genetics
Field of study seeking to discover the influence of heredity and environment on different human traits and development.
Chromosomes
Threadlike structures of DNA that come in 23 pairs. One member of each pair comes from each parent.
Down’s Syndrome (Mongolism, Trisomy 21)
Form of Mental Retardation related to the presence of an extra chromosome. IQ is typically less that 50, physical symptoms include slanted eyes, short stature, and small hands and nose. Accounts for about one-third of all cases of moderate to severe retardation in the United States..
Epigenetic View
Focus on development as an ongoing bidirectional interchange between genetics and environment
Evolutionary Psychology
Field of psychology which focuses on how evolutionary mechanisms help explain common human characteristics in cognition, development, emotion, social practices, etc.
Genes
The functional unit of the chromosome that encodes the directions for an organism’s inherited physical or mental characteristic
Genotype
A person’s actual genetic material (expressed or unexpressed).
Phenotype
The way a person’s genotype is expressed in observed and measurable characteristics.
Apgar Scale
Commonly used method to assess infant health at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. It evaluates the infant’s heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, body color, and reflex irritability.
Bonding
Forming of a close emotional and physical connection between child and parents, especailly right after birth.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder/ Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Physical and mental abnormalities (e.g., Mental Retardation, micorcephaly, hyperactivity, cardiac defects) caused by excessive maternal alcohol intake during pregnancy.
Neuron
A nerve cell which consists of dendrites, soma (cell body), and axon. It receives input from and transmits impulses to other cells in the body and is the basic building block of the nervous system.
Placenta
A conduit between the mother and fetus which provides the fetus oxygen and nourishment via the umbilical cord.
Teratogen
Any biological (e.g., German measles) or chemical (e.g., various drugs) agent which can reach and harm the developing embryo or fetus.
Dishabituation
Recovery of a habituated response after a change in stimuation
Grasping Reflex
Neonatal reflex in which the infant grasps tightly when the palm of the hand is touched
Habituation
Process of becoming accustomed (nonreactive) to a stimulus as the result of prolonged exposure to it..
Intermodal Perception
Ability to relate and integrate data from different sensory sources, such as vision and hearing.
Lateralization of Function
Tendency for each hemisphere to dominate over the other for specific functions. Also refers to the relationship between handedness and cerebral hemisphere dominance for functions. Nearly all right handers and more than half of all left handers have left hemisphere dominance for language and right hemisphere dominance for spatial skills..
Moro reflex
Neonatal reflex in which the infant - when startled - will arch its back, throw its head back, and fling out its arms and legs. Then the infant will close its arms and legs to the center of the body
Perception
The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information to make it meaningful to the person.
Reflex
A simple and unlearned response to sensory stimulus, such as cringing when hearing a loud noise or the knee-jerk response
Rooting Reflex
Neonatal reflex in which the infant - when its cheek is stroked - will turn its head toward the side which was stroked in an apparent effort to find something to suck.
Sensation
The process of how sensory organs are stimulated to produce neural impulses that the brain can interpret.
Shape Constancy
The awareness that the shape of an object remains the same even though we might see it from different angles.
Size Constancy
The awareness that the size of an object remains the same even though we see it from different distances
Sucking Reflex
Neonatal reflex in which the infant will automatically suck an object placed in its mouth. The enables the infant to get nourishment and also can be as a self-soothing or self-regulating mechanism.
Accommodation
According to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, changes made to existing cognitive structures or schemes in order to understand and incorporate new information and experiences.
A-not-B error (also AB error)
Error that happens when infants select a familiar/previous hiding place (A) rather than a new hiding place (B) they have just been shown.
Assimilation
According to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, the process of incorporating new objects, information, or experiences into the existing cognitive structures or schemes.
Attention
Focusing conscious thought onto a single concept or source of information.
Broca’s Area
Motor speech area in the brain associated with the production and articulation of speech. Damage results in expressive aphasia..
Child-Directed Speech (also motherese and babytalk)
Speaking to a child using simplified vocabulary, sentence structure, in a higher pitch, and with more inflection. This appears to actually help the child learn a language more efficiently.
Equilibration
The process Piaget proposed that explained how children shift from one stage of thought to the next.
Explicit Memory
Memory of facts and experiences consciously known.
Implicit memory
Memory which was not deliberately learned or of which you have no conscious awareness. Often involves skills or routine procedures performed automatically.
Infinite Generativity
Idea that a person can produce an endless number of meaningful sentences using a finite set of words and rules.
Language
Systematic and meaningful arrangement of symbols (spoken, written, of signed) which provides a basis for communication.
Morphology
Studying the units of meaning (morphemes) attached to different sounds in a speech community. For example, the use of “s” to indicate plurality is an example of a morpheme.
Object Permanence (Object Concept)
term used by Piaget to describe a child’s realization that an object continues to exist even though it is not in view. Develops during the sensorimotor stage..
Phonology
The sound system of a given speech community which includes what types of sounds are used and how they may be combined.
Pragmatics
The rules used in speech community which govern how to communicate effectively and appropriately in different contexts.
Schemes
In Piaget’s theory, actions or mental representations that organize knowledge. These adapt and change as the child develops mentally.
Semantics
The branch of linguistics focusing on the study of meaning, changes in meaning, and the principles that govern the relationship between sentences or words and their meanings
Sensorimotor stage
The first stage in Piaget’s theory (birth - 2 yrs old) in which the children know the world primarily through their sensory impressions and motor activities.
Syntax (Grammar)
The conventions a speech community uses to govern how words are combined to form acceptable phrases and sentences.
Telegraphic Speech
Speech in which words not critical to the message are left out
Wernicke’s area
Speech area located in the temporal lobe (usually left lobe). Responsible for the understanding of written and spoken language. Lesions produce receptive aphasia.
