Ch. 1 The Science of Human Development

Question 1

Define developmental psychology.

Answer 1

Developmental psychology is the study of how and why humans change or remain the same over time.

Question 2

What makes the study of human development a science?

Answer 2

Depends on theories, data, analysis, critical thinking, and sound methodology.

Question 3

What are the five steps of the scientific method?

Answer 3

1. Pose a question
2. Develop a hypothesis; Shape question into a hypothesis/prediction.
3. Test the hypothesis; Conduct research to gather empirical evidence.
4. Analyze data; conclude whether hypothesis is supported or not.
5. Share data; report conclusions.

Question 4

What is the difference between nature and nurture.

Answer 4

Nature is the influence from inherited genes.

Nurture is the influence from the environment.

Question 5

Why do psychologists emphasize both nature and nurture?

Answer 5

Because they both play a role in development, it is not a manner of which, but how much each affects an individuals development.

Question 6

Explain the concept of epigenetics.

Answer 6

Epigenetics is how the environment affects genes and genetic expression.

Question 7

Describe the concept of differential sensitivity.

Answer 7

People vary in their sensitivity and response to the certain experiences, often times the differences are genetic.

Question 8

Identify different patterns of growth.

Answer 8

No change
Increase and Decrease
Zigzags
Unpredictable
Linear and non-linear

Question 9

Contrast continuity with discontinuity in development.

Answer 9

Continuity: Growth is gradual, over time.
Discontinuity: Change can occur rapidly and dramatically.

Question 10

Describe sensitive period.

Answer 10

A time when a development is most likely to occur, although it may still happen later with more difficulty.

Ex. Learning a language, if a child does not learn to communicate between the ages of one and three, they may still do so later, but with more difficulty.

Question 11

Describe critical period.

Answer 11

A time when a development must happen for normal development to occur. Or a time when harm can occur.

Ex. Development growth of an embryo can be altered permanently as a result of epigenetics.

Question 12

Describe Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems approach and each type of system.

Answer 12

Outside ecological systems, in addition to internal biological systems affect a person’s development.

Microsystem: Family, friends, peers.

Exosystem: Neighborhood, school, local institutions.

Macrosystem: National/political environment, economic + social conditions, cultural values.

Mesosystem: The relationship, connection, interactions between the systems themselves.

Chronosystem: Time system; Historical context, changing conditions over time, over the life span.

Biological system: Systems within the body that affect the external systems (ex. cardiovascular system)

Question 13

Define cohort and describe the effect of historical context on development.

Answer 13

People born within a few years of one another, growing up together within the same time, experiencing similar culture, values, and historical events.

The type of technology a person grew up around, popular cultural values, and events affect a person’s development. Cohorts share many of these commonalities.

Question 14

What factors comprise a person’s SES?How does it affect development?

Answer 14

Income, education, occupation, residence/neighborhood.

Wealth, access to healthcare, quality of the neighborhood, and schools all determine the likelihood of success later in life.

Question 15

What is culture?

Answer 15

A set of ideas, norms, beliefs, and patterns of behavior.

Question 16

What is the difference = deficit error?

Answer 16

The idea that if someone differs from you, your beliefs, values, and culture, that they are inferior.

Question 17

What is the difference between race and ethnicity?

Answer 17

Race: Social construct grouping people by physical characteristics, such as skin color.

Ethnicity: Shared ancestral heritage and often shared culture, language and religion.

Question 18

What are three domains of development?

Answer 18

Biosocial (biological)
Cognitive (mental processes)
Psychosocial (emotions, temperament, social skills)

Question 19

Why is a multidisciplinary approach to the study of development needed for understanding genetics?

Answer 19

Many influences from many domains make a person more, or less, likely to have specific traits.

Genes do not ultimately determine the destiny of a person’s traits.

Question 20

What is plasticity?
Provide examples of human plasticity.
How can both plasticity and the long-term effects of childhood be true?

Answer 20

The idea that human traits can be molded, just as plastic can be, yet people maintain a certain durability of identity, as plastic does.

Ex. The developing motor skills of autistic children.

Plasticity and the long-term effects of childhood can both be true because plasticity itself still includes the concept of characteristics maintaining a certain durability. Not everything changes.

Question 21

What makes observations scientific?

Answer 21

Hypotheses are tested.

Behavior is recorded objectively and systematically.

Question 22

Define each of the 6 statistical concepts

Answer 22

*Effect Size: Using small (.2) medium (.5) or large (.8) when interpreting an effect size. (Cohen’s d)

Significance: Indicates whether the results may have occurred by chance.

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Calculates how much a particular independent variable costs versus how much it saves.

Odds Ratio: Indicates how a particular variable compares to a standard.

Factor Analysis: Reveals variables that can be clustered together to form a factor.

Meta-Analysis: Examination of data from a number of independent studies in the same subject in order to determine overall trends. A “study of studies”

Question 23

What are the distinctive uses and characteristics of experiments?

Answer 23

Used to determine the cause-and-effect relationship between two variables by manipulating one, then observing and recording changes in the other.

A distinctive characteristic of an experiment is that it contains an independent variable and a dependent variable; At least two groups of participants, experimental group and control group.

Question 24

Define and be able to identify independent and dependent variables, experimental and control groups.

Answer 24

Independent variables: The variable introduced to see what effect it has on the dependent variable.

Dependent variables: The variable that may change as a result of the independent variable, and whatever new condition or situation the experimenter adds.

Experimental groups: Receives the particular treatment or condition.

Control groups: Does not receive the treatment or condition.

Question 25

Why control groups are needed?

Answer 25

Control groups are needed for comparison, to show if there are any changes.

Question 26

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the survey method?

Answer 26

Survey method strengths: Quick, direct way to obtain data from a large number of people. Avoids assuming that the people we know are representative of people in general.

Survey method weaknesses: Not always accurate, people lie, answers are influenced by the wording of questions.

Question 27

What is Cross-sectional research?

Pros and Cons?

Answer 27

Quickest, least expensive way to study development over time using groups of people who differ in age but the same in other ways. Cannot account for cohort causes in development.

Question 28

What is Longitudinal research?

Pros and Cons?

Answer 28

Collecting data repeatedly on the same individual as they age. Able to determine whether age itself rather than cohort causes a developmental change. Long term research requires patience and dedication from a team of scientists.

Question 29

What are the advantages and disadvantages of cross-sequential research?

Answer 29

Cross-sequential research advantages: Yields the best information. Researchers combine cross-sectional and longitudinal data collected by other scientists, thus using cross-sequential analysis without needing to do all of the data collection themselves.

Cross-sequential research disadvantages: It is the most time-consuming and complex method of research.

Question 30

Why does correlation not prove causation?

Answer 30

Correlation indicates only that two variables are somehow related, not that one variable causes the other to occur.

Question 31

What is an institutional review board?

Answer 31

A group that permits only research that follows certain guidelines, such as the well-being of participants in a study.

Question 32

What are the essential characteristics of ethical research with humans?

Answer 32

They must understand and consent to their involvement. Researcher must keep results confidential, and ensure no one is harmed.