Chapter 1: The Science of Human Development Flashcards
(44 cards)
What is developmental psychology?
scientific study of how and why humans grow, change, and adapt across the course of their lives
What is meant by Lifespan Perspective?
study of change
What areas are included in Biosocial Development?
brain, body, diet, and others that determine change
What areas are included in Cognitive Development?
thoughts, language, education
What areas are included in Psychosocial Development?
emotions, temperament, social skills
Define Human development:
refers to the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development of humans throughout the lifespan.
Compare and contrast quantitative and qualitative changes.
Quantitative: change with numbers
Qualitative: change in structure or organization
What are the different levels of analysis we can study development from (hint, the first one is physical)?
biological, cognitive, and sociocultural.
What is the difference between descriptive and explanatory research?
Explanatory = explain “why”
Descriptive = describe what behaviors
What is the scientific method and what are its steps?
Begin with curiosity; on the basis of theory, prior research, or personal observation, pose a question
Develop a hypothesis; shape the question into a hypothesis, a specific prediction that can be tested
Test the hypothesis.
Draw conclusion
Report results
In psychological measurement, what is meant by “population”?
entire group of people whom a scientist wants to learn about
In psychological measurement, what is meant by “sample”?
small representation of a “population”
Describe the 2 Criteria for Good Research (Reliability, Validity).
Reliability: repeatability of a scale or test
Validity: am I measuring what I think I am measuring?
What is an Experiment?
Procedure with manipulation in certain variables while also having controls in others.
What is an Independent Variable? Give Examples.
variable that is changed,
ex) the music types for children in womb
What is a Dependent Variable? Give Examples.
does not change, what is being measured,
ex) IQ level of children at age 8
What is an Experimental Group?
anyone who gets a treatment
What is a Control Group?
doesn’t get treatment, placebo group or inert
What does “Random Assignment” mean?
involves using chance to make sure that all participants have an equal likelihood of being assigned to a group
You should be able to apply the terms to a research design: Independent Variable, Dependent Variable, Experimental Group, Control Group, and Random Assignment.
What are some advantages of doing research on animals?
less variables (more control), shorter lifespan
What is meant by “experimental methods” and what are some advantages to doing experimental research?
is an investigation in which the independent variable is manipulated (or changed) in order to cause a change in the dependent variable.
prove cause and effect
What does Correlational Research measure?
explore relationships between variables.
What is a Positive Correlation? Give Examples.
two variable covary in the same direction, one goes up the other goes up
when two variables go in the SAME direction. For example, domestic violence and bowling. When bowling goes up, so does domestic violence. When domestic violence decreases, so does bowling.