Seminar on Theories in Child Development: Overview Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Importance of Educational Psychology Understand and support the developmental needs of the students Develop an educational environment that supports the students’ motivation Provide solutions to practical educational problems Improve teaching practice Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Solutions to Educational Problems Students do not study well. – Research in educational psychology has identified study strategies that effective learners use – Self-Regulated Strategy Development Model Help students develop the necessary skills to be self- regulated learners Provides specific steps on how to teach self-regulation skills

Improving Teaching Practice (Siegler & Ramani, 2009) Teaching mathematical skills to young children – Traditional: Recite the number string, Count objects, and Name numerals – Based on theories of how children learn number: Play a board game Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Improving Teaching Practice (Siegler & Ramani, 2009) *Significant effects at p<.05 Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Course Overview  Introduction  Cognitive Development ◦ Piaget ◦ Cognitive Information Processing ◦ Sociocultural Theory ◦ Neo-Piagetians  Social and Emotional Development ◦ Social Learning Theory ◦ Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory ◦ Attachment Theory  Ecological Systems Theory  Conclusion Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Course Overview Each class will consist of the following: – Brief overview of the theory – Student presentation of a research study based on the theory The purpose of the study The research methods used The conclusions that were drawn – Class discussion of the article Questions about the research methods Soundness of the study’s methods and conclusions Implications for education and parenting Continuous Assessment – Two Research Study Presentations 10 points apiece Due on the appropriate date – Piaget’s Conservation Experiment Replication 10 points Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Developmental Theories  Theory: Organized set of principles that describes, predicts, and explains phenomenon ◦ Describe: What happens ◦ Predicts: What will happen ◦ Explain: Why it happens  New facts change existing theories or develop new theories ◦ Changes to theories lead to new experiments and facts Research Findings Theory Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Develop or Revise Theory Ask Question from Theory Design StudyCollect Data Analyze Results Reach Conclusion Scientific Method Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Characteristics of Good Theories Logically sound: No contradictory statements Empirically sound: Explain research findings – Not contradicted by scientific observations Clear: Understandable Testable: Can be tested by empirical studies Parsimonious: Simple explanation of the data Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Developmental Theories Developmental Theories focus on change over time Domains – Physical growth and health – Cognitive development Thought Perception Memory Language – Social: Interactions with others – Emotional: Understanding and regulating feelings Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Developmental Theories Aims of Developmental Theories – Describe changes within one or more domains How does thinking change over time? (Piaget’s stages) – Describe the relationship between changes among several domains How do changes in working memory capacity relate to mathematical understanding? (Robbie Case) – Explain the course of development so predictions can be made What happens if a child does not have a strong attachment to their mother? (Attachment Theory) Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Developmental Theories  Describe ◦ Older children can study for longer than younger children  Explain ◦ Older children have better attention management strategies than young children  Predict ◦ Young children with good attention management strategies can study as long as older children with poor attention management strategies  Influence development ◦ Teach attention management strategies to children Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Importance of Developmental Theories Organizes and gives meaning to facts Guides future research Guides educational practice Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Developmental Research Case Study: Intensive study of a single or small number of individuals – Advantage: Rich descriptions of changes over time – Disadvantage: Lack of generalization Longitudinal Design: Observe the same participants over time – Advantage: Observe change over time – Disadvantages: Much time and resources Cohort Effect: Effects may be limited to the selected cohort Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Developmental Research  Cross-Sectional Design: Observe individuals of different ages at the same time ◦ Advantage: Requires less time and resources ◦ Disadvantages: May not reflect changes in an individual over time  Cohort effect  Sequential Designs: Different groups of participants are followed over time ◦ Combines advantages of Longitudinal Designs with Cross-Sectional Designs ◦ Strongest research design in child developmental research Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Developmental Research  Microgenetic Design: Same children are repeatedly studied in a short time as they are undergoing the process of change ◦ Advantage: Provides detailed accounts of the process of change at crucial moments in development ◦ Disadvantage: Only provides information about development over a short period of time  Experimental Method: Participants are randomly assigned to treatment and control groups to test whether a hypothesized variable influences development ◦ Advantage: Test causal hypotheses ◦ Disadvantage: Difficulty in manipulating many variables of interest to developmental psychologists Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Developmental Research Cross-Cultural Research: Compare multiple cultures on developmental outcomes. – Advantage: Identify universality of developmental outcomes – Disadvantage: Difficult to construct equivalent methods for different cultures Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Using Developmental Research  Step 1: Evaluate your understanding ◦ Do you understand the study’s goals, methods, and conclusions?  Step 2: Analyze the study ◦ Evaluate the methods and conclusions of the research study  Relationship between the methods and study’s goals  Population  Instruments  Procedure  Relationship between the statistical results and conclusions  Step 3: Apply the findings to different contexts ◦ Do the findings apply to a different population or environmental setting? Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Using Developmental Research Step 4: Apply the findings to different stages of development Step 5: Apply the findings to your own situation – How do these findings relate to your family or classroom? Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Development Overview Individuals develop at different rates Development is relatively orderly – New skills and abilities build on already known skills and abilities Development occurs gradually Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Comparing Developmental Theories Theories differ on the basic assumptions of development Nature of humans: Active or passive – Active in shaping development – Passive recipient of environmental influences Nature or Nurture: How do nature (environment) and nurture (genetics) interact in development? Nature of Development: Does development occur continuously or in stages? Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Revision Give an overview of developmental theories, including their relationship to research findings, the purpose of developmental theories, and the qualities of a good theory. Describe the major research designs in developmental research. Describe the three fundamental assumptions that differ between developmental theories. Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos