Conducting Developmental Research

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Conducting Developmental Research

• Self-reports interview, questionnaires, tests
• Behavioral Observations
• Naturalistic
• Advantage natural setting
• Disadvantage conditions not controlled
• Structured (Lab)
• Disadvantage cannot generalize to natural
  settings
• Advantage conditions controlled

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Figure 1.2
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The Experimental Method

• Three Critical Features
• 1. Manipulation of independent variable
• 2. Random assignment of individuals to
  treatment conditions
• 3. Experimental control
• Quasi-Experiment No random assignment

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The Correlational Method

• Determine if 2 or more variables are related
• Correlation A measure of the relationship
• Can range from 1.0 to 1.0
• Positive variables move in same direction
• Negative variables move in opposite dir.
• No relationship if correlation is 0
• Cannot establish a causal relationship

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Developmental Research Designs

• Cross-Sectional Designs
• 1 cohorts or age-groups studied
• 1 time of testing
• Studying age differences at any one time
• Longitudinal Designs
• 1 cohort
• 1 time of testing
• Study changes across time in one cohort

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Figure 1.4
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Age, Cohort, and Time of Measurement Effects

• Age effects Changes which occur due to age
• Cohort Effects Born in one historical context
• Changes due to differences in society
• Disadvantage of cross-sectional design
• Time of measurement effects Historical
• Take place at time of data collection
• Disadvantage of longitudinal design

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Sequential Designs

• A combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal
  designs
• Advantages of both designs
• Gives information about
• Which age-related trends are age effects?
• Which age-related trends are truly cohort
  effects?
• Which age-related trends are a result of
  historical events?

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Figure 1.6
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