Developmental Psychology - Developmental Psychology Research - Quick Guides

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Study GuideDevelopmental Psychology–Developmental PsychologyResearch1.Research Concepts1.1 What Makes a Discipline a Science?Whether a subject like psychology is considered a science dependsnot on what it studies, but onhow it studies it. A field is scientific when researchers use thescientific method.The scientific method is a step-by-step process that includes:•Careful and accurate observation•Collecting and analyzing data•Conducting experiments•Repeating (replicating) studies to check resultsScientists work hard to stayobjective, which means they try not to let personal opinions influencetheir work. They also valueskepticism, meaning they question results until they are confirmed byother researchers.1.2 What Is Developmental Psychology Research?Developmental psychology researchuses scientific methods to study how people grow andchange over time. This research helps us understand development in individuals and groups.Research usually begins with atheory. A theory is a broad set of ideas that explains why certainbehaviors or changes happen. Because theories are too general to test directly, researchers create ahypothesisinstead.1.3 From Theory to HypothesisAhypothesisis a clear, testable prediction based on a theory. Researchers test the hypothesisthrough a study.

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Study GuideAfter the study:•If the hypothesis isdisproved, it cannot be used to make predictions, and the theory mayneed to be questioned or revised.•If the hypothesis isnot disproved, it can be used to make predictions about development.These predictions help researchers:•Explain why certain developmental changes occur•Understand how development affects individuals and groups1.4 Populations, Samples, and ParticipantsOne main goal of developmental research is to findpatterns, similarities, differences, and trendsin development.•Apopulationis the entire group of people being studied (for example, all teenagers).•The people from that population who take part in a study are calledsubjectsorrespondents.•Asampleis a smaller group chosen from the population.If a sample accurately represents the population, researchers cangeneralizetheir findings to theentire group. The most accurate type of sample is arandom sample, where every person in thepopulation has an equal chance of being selected.1.5 Quantitative vs. Qualitative ResearchResearchers collect information in different ways:•Quantitative researchturns information into numbers.Example: years in college may be coded as junior = 3, senior = 4.•Qualitative researchfocuses on words, descriptions, and observations.Example: interviews or watching behavior.While both types are useful, many scientists preferquantitative databecause it is easier to analyzestatistically.

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Study Guide1.6 Making Sure Tests Are AccurateWhen researchers use tests, they check for two important qualities:•Validity–The test measures what it is supposed to measure.•Reliability–The test gives consistent results when used more than once.A good test must be both valid and reliable.1.7 Understanding Data with StatisticsTo make sense of data, scientists usestatistics, which are mathematical tools for analyzinginformation.There are two main types:•Descriptive statisticsdescribe the characteristics of the sample or population.•Inferential statisticshelp researchers make predictions about the larger population.By using both types, scientists can draw meaningful and accurate conclusions from their research.SummaryResearch in developmental psychology follows a careful, scientific process. By using theories, testinghypotheses, collecting accurate data, and analyzing results with statistics, researchers gain a clearerunderstanding of how humans develop over time.2.Research Designs and MethodsResearchers study human development in many different ways. To do this effectively, they useresearch designs(how the study is set up) andresearch methods(how data is collected). Let’sbreak these ideas down step by step.

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Study Guide2.1 Major Research Designs1. Cross-Sectional DesignIn across-sectional study, researchers compare people ofdifferent ageswho share the same traitor characteristic.•All data is collectedat one point in time•Helps show age-related differences quickly•Does not track changes over time2. Longitudinal DesignAlongitudinal studyfollows thesame individualsover a long period.•Participants are studied repeatedly•Shows how peoplechange as they age•Takes a long time and may be costly3. Cross-Sequential DesignAcross-sequential studycombines parts of both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs.•Different age groups are studied•These groups are testedmore than once over time•Helps reduce problems found in the other two designs2.2 Common Life-Span Research MethodsResearchers often use one or more of these seven methods:•Case study•Survey•Observational•Correlational•Experimental

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