•Historical

Questionnaires:

Conducting Developmental Research:

•Self-reports:

Conducting Developmental Research:

•Behavioral Observations

•Three Critical Features

–1. Manipulation of independent variable

–2. Random assignment of individuals to treatment conditions

–3. Experimental control.

•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

Developmental Research Designs:

–+1 cohorts or age-groups studied

–1 time of testing

–Studying age differences at any one time

Developmental Research Designs:

–1 cohort

–+1 time of testing

–Study changes across time in one cohort

Research Methods in

Developmental Psychology:

This type of research considers groups of subjects over a period of time.

1.To study change in language

2.The development of Personality

3.How intelligence develops

4.Perceptual abilities across the lifespan

Research Methods in

Developmental Psychology:

This type of research considers groups of subjects of different ages at the same point in time.

• Each of the age groups is called a Cohort

• A cohort is roughly a group of people of the same age or developmental level.

Research Methods in

Developmental Psychology:

•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?