1. 01- Introduction
Introduction

3. 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

4. Replicate the study
Repeat the study with different participants

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

6. Life-Span Perspectives
Multidirectional
Multicontextual
Multicultural
Multidisciplinary
Plastic

7. Multidirectional

8. 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

9. Multicontextual

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

11. Multidisciplinary Biosocial Cognitive Psychosocial Biological Thought
Psychological

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

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

14. Observational studies
Natural setting
Laboratory
Archival data
Files

15. Surveys
Questionnaires
Interviews

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

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

18. 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