01- Introduction Introduction

Scientific Method 1. Pose a question (the problem) 2. Develop a hypothesis A testable prediction 3. Test the hypothesis Gather data 4. Draw conclusions State the results of the research 5. Report the results Publish the findings

Replicate the study Repeat the study with different participants

Nature-Nurture debate Nature = Genes Nurture = Environment Family Culture Etc.

Life-Span Perspectives Multidirectional Multicontextual Multicultural Multidisciplinary Plastic

Multidirectional

Multicontextual Historical Cohort Socioeconomic Cohort Cohort People experiencing same historical perspective E.g. “Baby boomers” Values Events Technologies Culture Socioeconomic Cohort Social class Occupation Education

Multicontextual

Multicultural People experience a culture differently based on their previous cultural experiences Patterns of behavior Norms Customs Values Ethnicity Race

Multidisciplinary Biosocial Cognitive Psychosocial Biological Thought Psychological

Plasticity Traits can be molded during development Culture Genes Provides hope and ability to change

Using the Scientific Method (Types of studies) Observational Surveys Experiments Studies over time Cross-sectional Longitudinal

Observational studies Natural setting Laboratory Archival data Files

Surveys Questionnaires Interviews

Studies over time Cross-sectional Longitudinal Different groups of different ages Longitudinal Same group over time as they age

Experiments Can determine cause and effect Two groups Variables Experimental group Comparison (control) group Variables Independent variable Dependent variable E.g. Distance learning

Cautions from Science Correlation is not causation Correlation Correlation may be caused by a 3rd. variable Correlation Positive, Negative, or Zero Quantitative vs. Qualitative Quantitative – Numbers Qualitative – Written descriptions, ideas