"Developmental psychology is the scientific study of how and why humans grow, change, and adapt across the course of their lives."
This topic covers research methods used to study human development across the lifespan.
The Scientific Method: The fundamental principles of science that govern how research should be conducted.
Research Designs: The different types of research designs, including experimental, correlational, and observational research.
Variables: Dependent, independent, and control variables, and how they are used in research.
Sampling: The process of selecting participants for a study, including random sampling and convenience sampling.
Ethics in Research: The ethical considerations involved in research, including informed consent, confidentiality, and the use of human subjects.
Data Collection: Different methods for collecting data, including surveys, interviews, and observations.
Data Analysis: How to analyze and interpret data, including statistical analysis and the use of graphs and charts.
Reliability and Validity: The concepts of reliability and validity, and how to assess the quality of research data.
Quasi-Experimental Designs: Research designs that are similar to experimental designs, but lack some of the key characteristics.
Longitudinal Studies: Studies that follow participants over an extended period, often years, to track changes in behavior and development.
Cross-Sectional Studies: Studies that compare different groups of people at the same time, often used to look at differences in behavior and development.
Cohort Studies: Studies that focus on specific groups of people, often used to examine differences in behavior and development between different generations.
Meta-Analysis: A statistical technique for combining and analyzing the results of multiple studies on the same topic.
Computerized Data Collection: The use of computers to collect and analyze data, including software programs and technological tools used in research.
Online Research: The use of the internet and digital platforms to collect data, including social media, surveys, and online experiments.
Mixed Methods Research: Research that combines both quantitative and qualitative methods in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon.
Developmental Theories: Different theories of development, including cognitive, social, and emotional development, and how they influence research.
Culture and Diversity: The impact of culture and diversity on development and research, including cross-cultural research and cultural differences in behavior and development.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Disorders that affect brain development and behavior, including autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Developmental Neuroscience: The study of how the brain develops and changes over time, including how brain activity is related to behavior and learning.
Longitudinal research: This method involves studying individuals or groups over an extended period to track patterns of change in developmental outcomes. Researchers can study the same participants at multiple time points to see how developmental changes occur.
Cross-sectional research: This method involves studying different groups of individuals of different ages at the same time point. Researchers can compare developmental outcomes across age-groups to understand differences due to physiological, social, and cultural factors.
Cohort research: This is a type of longitudinal research where researchers follow a specific group of individuals who share a similar experience or characteristic, such as participating in a specific program, being born in a particular year, or belonging to a particular location.
Sequential research: This method involves combining both longitudinal and cross-sectional approaches to study groups over time and at different time points.
Case Studies: This research method involves examining an individual, system, or group in detail to gain insights into developmental processes. In this method, researchers collect data from multiple sources, including documents, interviews, and observations.
Experimental research: This method involves manipulating one or more variables to determine the effect on developmental outcomes. Researchers control for extraneous variables to determine causal relationships.
Quasi-experimental design: This method allows researchers to examine the impact of particular factors on developmental outcomes without random assignment to groups. This method is often used when experimental research is not feasible or ethical.
Meta-analysis: This method involves synthesizing data from previous studies to draw conclusions about developmental processes. This method involves aggregating and analyzing data from multiple studies.
Ethnography: This method involves researchers immersing themselves in the context of the study to understand developmental processes. Researchers spend an extended amount of time observing, interviewing, and interacting with study participants to understand their behaviors and experiences.
"The field has expanded to include adolescence, adult development, aging, and the entire lifespan."
"Developmental psychologists aim to explain how thinking, feeling, and behaviors change throughout life."
"The three major dimensions are physical development, cognitive development, and social-emotional development."
"Within these three dimensions are a broad range of topics including motor skills, executive functions, moral understanding, language acquisition, social change, personality, emotional development, self-concept, and identity formation."
"Developmental psychology examines the influences of nature and nurture on the process of human development, as well as processes of change in context across time."
"Many researchers are interested in the interactions among personal characteristics, the individual's behavior, and environmental factors."
"Ongoing debates in regards to developmental psychology include biological essentialism vs. neuroplasticity and stages of development vs. dynamic systems of development."
"At the moment, researchers are working to understand how transitioning through stages of life and biological factors may impact our behaviors and development."
"Developmental psychology involves a range of fields, such as educational psychology, child psychopathology, forensic developmental psychology, child development, cognitive psychology, ecological psychology, and cultural psychology."
"Influential developmental psychologists from the 20th century include Urie Bronfenbrenner, Erik Erikson, Sigmund Freud, Anna Freud, Jean Piaget, Barbara Rogoff, Esther Thelen, and Lev Vygotsky."