Study designs in developmental psychology Flashcards
(19 cards)
What can a correlational design tell us?
It shows that two variables are related, but does not imply causation.
What are possible interpretations in a media violence correlation study?
Media violence may cause disruptive behavior
Disruptive children may prefer violent media
Parents may allow disruptive children more media access
Other unknown variables could influence both
What distinguishes experimental design from correlational?
An independent variable is manipulated, and its effect on a dependent variable is measured, allowing causal conclusions if well-controlled.
In a media violence experiment, what is the independent variable?
The presence or absence of violence in the media content shown to children.
What is the dependent variable in the media violence experiment?
The amount of aggressive behavior shown by children during spontaneous play.
Can we conclude causation if children show more aggression after watching violent media?
Only if confounding variables are controlled and proper experimental procedures are followed.
What controls are needed in a well-designed experiment?
Random assignment
Age-matching
Equal gender representation
Equal interest levels in media shown
Controlling for prior aggression levels
Why control for gender in aggression studies?
Because boys are often found to be more aggressive, and unequal gender distribution could skew results.
What are cross-sectional designs?
Studies that compare different age groups at one point in time to assess developmental differences.
What is a limitation of cross-sectional designs?
They do not track individual developmental change, only group differences.
What are longitudinal designs?
Studies that follow the same participants over time to observe developmental change.
What are limitations of longitudinal studies?
Time and cost intensive
High dropout rates
Potential non-representativeness
What are cohort effects?
When results are influenced by the unique characteristics of a group (e.g., same school or culture), potentially limiting generalisability.
What are sequential designs?
A hybrid of cross-sectional and longitudinal methods:
Different age groups are recruited
Each group is followed over time
Allows comparison within and between age groups
What is a key advantage of sequential designs?
They can distinguish cohort effects from true developmental changes.
What is a limitation of sequential designs?
They are costly and time-consuming, so few are conducted.
What is the purpose of cross-cultural comparisons in child development research?
To assess generalisability of findings and test theoretical predictions about cultural influences.
What does cross-cultural research often test?
Whether theories apply universally or if findings vary due to cultural contexts.
Why are cross-cultural studies important?
They help ensure that research findings are not biased toward a single cultural perspective.
