1. UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
AREA OF STUDY 2
LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT

2. RESEARCH METHODS FOR STUDYING DEVELOPMENT
Longitudinal Studies / Cross-Sectional Studies
Twin Studies
Adoption Studies
Selective Breeding Experiments

3. LONGITUDINAL STUDIES
A long-term investigation that follows the same group of people over an extended period of time, observing any changes in their thoughts, feelings and/or behaviour that occur at different ages 7-Up Series = an example of a longitudinal study of development
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
Very useful in developmental psychology
Examines consistencies and inconsistencies in behaviour over time
Studies ways in which early development may affect later development
Can be very expensive to conduct
Takes a long time to get results
Keeping in touch with the same group over a long period of time is difficult

4. CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES
Selects and compares groups of participants of different ages over a short period of time COHORT SEQUENTIAL METHOD: Combines the longitudinal and cross-sectional study (see Figure 4.21, pg.167)
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
Relatively inexpensive to conduct
Easy to undertake
Not too time-consuming
Differences found between age groups may be due to factors other than age
Generational influence (when you were born) is an extraneous variable

5. Learning Activity 4.16 (pg.167)
HOMEWORK

6. TWIN STUDIES IDENTICAL TWINS FRATERNAL TWINS
(MONOZYGOTIC TWINS) = single fertilised egg splits into two
they will have identical genes
FRATERNAL TWINS
(DIZYGOTIC TWINS) = two separate eggs independently fertilised
not genetically identical, comparable to older brothers and sisters

7. Learning Activity 4.17 (pg.169)
HOMEWORK

8. ADOPTION STUDIES
Using information from research with children who have been adopted, and therefore have no genetic similarity to their adopted parents, to learn about the influence of heredity and environment on development

9. SELECTIVE BREEDING EXPERIMENTS
Selectively mating males and females from family lines with desired characteristics to increase the likelihood the offspring will have these same characteristics
EXAMPLES INCLUDE
BREEDING HORSES FOR SPEED
BREEDING BIRDS TO HAVE PARTICULAR COLOUR FEATHERS
BREEDING DOGS TO BE AGGRESSIVE
BREEDING CATS TO HAVE CERTAIN TEMPERAMENTS
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL

10. Learning Activity 4.21 (pg.172)
HOMEWORK

11. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ACTIVITY
Investigating The Influence Of Heredity & Environment On Musical Ability

12. HOMEWORK Chapter 4 – True/False Quiz (pg.174)
Chapter 4 – Multiple Choice Test (pg.175)
Chapter 4 – Short Answer Test (pg.176)
HOMEWORK