Lecture Outline What is development? Domains of development Types of developmental change Goals of developmental psychology Themes/Issues in developmental psychology Research methods in developmental psychology
What is development? Development refers to systematic changes in the individual that occur over time from conception to death
Domains of Development Physical Development Changes in the body and brain Cognitive Development Changes in thought, intelligence, and language Socioemotional Development Changes in relationships, emotions, and personality
Normative development Types of development Normative development Involves typical or average patterns of change
Individual differences Involves differences between individuals of approximately the same age
Goals of Developmental Psychology Describe behavior and how it changes across development Explain development Identify the underlying processes or causes of change Apply knowledge to help children develop in positive directions
Themes in Developmental Psychology How do genetic/biological and environmental factors work together to shape development?
Is development continuous or discontinuous?
Continuous (Quantitative) Gradual, small, steady increases in skills/abilities
Discontinuous (Qualitative) Relatively abrupt changes (stages) that involve a re-organization of skills/abilities
How important is early experience in affecting later development?
Research Methods in Developmental Psychology Hypothesis: A specific prediction that can be tested
Data Collection Techniques Systematic Observation (2 Types) Naturalistic Observation Observe child’s behavior in a natural environment Exs: playground, school, home
Structured Observation: Design a situation that will elicit relevant behavior(s) Typically conducted in a laboratory setting Observe different children in the same situation
General Disadvantages (Observation):
Self-report Measures Clinical Interviews More “open-ended” questions—response choices are not limited Ex: “Tell me about that” Participants may be asked different questions (depending on their answers)
Structured interviews, questionnaires, and tests More “close-ended” questions—response choices are limited Ex: yes/no questions, rating scales, multiple choice questions All participants are asked the same questions