methods of research

Question 1

mechanisms of change

Answer 1

biological processes, experiences, timing of experiences (sensitive periods)

Question 2

ways of gathering data/information (4)

Answer 2

self/other report, naturalistic observation, structured observation, physiological measures

Question 3

self/other report

Answer 3

surveys, questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, standardized tests

Question 4

observation

Answer 4

naturalistic and structured

Question 5

naturalistic observation

Answer 5

observing behaviour of interest in its natural setting

Question 6

two types of sampling with naturalistic observation

Answer 6

time-sampling and event-sampling

Question 7

time-sampling vs event-sampling

Answer 7

record all behaviours during pre-determined time periods vs record behaviour every time event of interest occurs

Question 8

structured observation

Answer 8

research sets up a situation to evoke behaviour of interest

Question 9

physiological measures

Answer 9

heart rate, blood pressure, hormone levels, pupil dilation; neuroimaging (EEG/ERP, MRI, fMRI, NIRS)

Question 10

EEG/ERG measures

Answer 10

electrical activity in brain

Question 11

MRI measures

Answer 11

brain structure using magnetic fields

Question 12

fMRI measures

Answer 12

blood flow in brain using magnetic fields

Question 13

NRIS measures

Answer 13

blood flow in brain using light (Near-infrared spectroscopy)

Question 14

advantages of naturalistic observation

Answer 14

reflects real-world behaviour, affordable

Question 15

disadvantages of naturalistic observation

Answer 15

hard to observe rare behaviour, observer bias, difficult to control, little insight into inner experience

Question 16

advantages for naturalistic observation for children

Answer 16

children may be less influenced by observer

Question 17

advantages of structured observation

Answer 17

same situation for everyone, more control/equivalence, useful for rare behaviours/situations

Question 18

disadvantages of structured observation

Answer 18

may not reflect natural behaviours, observer bias, little insight into inner experience

Question 19

disadvantages of structured observation for children

Answer 19

may be unwilling to engage in tasks, ethical concerns

Question 20

advantages of self/other report

Answer 20

easy to administer, can probe inner experience

Question 21

disadvantages of self/other report

Answer 21

accuracy? bias (interviewer and/or subject)

Question 22

disadvantages of self/other report for children

Answer 22

unable to fill out questionnaires, shyness, memory difficulties/easy to influence

Question 23

advantages of physiological measures

Answer 23

assess biological underpinnings, no language/behaviour required

Question 24

disadvantages of physiological measures

Answer 24

costly, difficult to interpret results

Question 25

disadvantages of physiological measures for children

Answer 25

can be loud/frightening

Question 26

research designs are structured as either

Answer 26

correlational design or experimental design

Question 27

T/F: in correlational designs, research assigns and manipulates everything

Answer 27

false, not at all

Question 28

correlation coefficient

Answer 28

measures association between 2 variables; positive or negative; +/-1

Question 29

ways of gathering data/information is how variables are ___

Answer 29

measured

Question 30

overall structure of the research is how variables are ____

Answer 30

manipulated (or not)

Question 31

two designs for studying age/development?

Answer 31

longitudinal or cross-sectional design

Question 32

challenges in studying age/development (2)

Answer 32

understanding what causes change, measurement equivalence

Question 33

challenges of the population in researching development

Answer 33

selection, ethics, cooperation

Question 34

strengths of scientific method

Answer 34

peer review and critiques, constantly updating/improving knowledge, publicly shared knowledge

Question 35

replication

Answer 35

process of repeating a study to determine which results generalize across time/situation/contexts

Question 36

replication crisis

Answer 36

many psychology findings failed to replicate, especially developmental psychology (2010s)

Question 37

limitations of science as a way of knowing

Answer 37

cannot answer all questions, assumption that science is the best/only way of knowing, embedded within particular historical and cultural contexts, biases of scientists

Question 38

the myth of normative development

Answer 38

dev psych often conducted in a context of Western, White, comparatively wealthy individuals that are assumed to be the 'norm'