Lecture Outline

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• Lecture Outline
• What is development?
• Domains of development
• Types of developmental change
• Goals of developmental psychology
• Themes/Issues in developmental psychology
• Research methods in developmental psychology

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• What is development?
• Development refers to systematic changes in the
  individual that occur over time from conception
  to death

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• Domains of Development
• Physical Development
• Changes in the body and brain
• Cognitive Development
• Changes in thought, intelligence, and language
• Socioemotional Development
• Changes in relationships, emotions, and
  personality

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• Types of development
• Normative development
• Involves typical or average patterns of change

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• Individual differences
• Involves differences between individuals of
  approximately the same age

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• Goals of Developmental Psychology
• Describe behavior and how it changes across
  development
• Explain development
• Identify the underlying processes or causes of
  change
• Apply knowledge to help children develop in
  positive directions

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• Themes in Developmental Psychology
• How do genetic/biological and environmental
  factors work together to shape development?

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• Is development continuous or discontinuous?

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• Continuous (Quantitative)
• Gradual, small, steady increases in
  skills/abilities

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• Discontinuous (Qualitative)
• Relatively abrupt changes (stages) that involve a
  re-organization of skills/abilities

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• How important is early experience in affecting
  later development?

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• Research Methods in Developmental Psychology
• Hypothesis A specific prediction that can be
  tested

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• Data Collection Techniques
•  Systematic Observation (2 Types)
• Naturalistic Observation
• Observe childs behavior in a natural environment
• Exs playground, school, home

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• Structured Observation
• Design a situation that will elicit relevant
  behavior(s)
• Typically conducted in a laboratory setting
• Observe different children in the same situation

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• General Disadvantages (Observation)

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• Self-report Measures
• Clinical Interviews
• More open-ended questionsresponse choices are
  not limited
• Ex Tell me about that
• Participants may be asked different questions
  (depending on their answers)

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• Structured interviews, questionnaires, and tests
• More close-ended questionsresponse choices are
  limited
• Ex yes/no questions, rating scales, multiple
  choice questions
• All participants are asked the same questions