Developmental Psychology Research Methods

A method of acquiring knowledge through systematic observation, experimentation, and analysis.

Intuitive knowledge is gained through personal feelings, hunches, and instincts. It is based on subjective experiences and may not always be reliable.

Authority-based knowledge is acquired through the acceptance of information from respected sources, such as experts, teachers, or books. While valuable, it can be limited by bias or lack of critical evaluation.

A systematic process that involves formulating a question, collecting data, analyzing findings, and drawing conclusions.

Research designs focus on understanding relationships between variables. Descriptive designs describe phenomena, correlational designs explore relationships, and experimental designs establish cause-and-effect.

Internal validity refers to the confidence in the research findings. It addresses whether the observed effects are truly due to the manipulated variables. External validity focuses on the generalizability of the findings to other populations, settings, and times.

A statement that proposes a relationship between variables. It serves as a testable prediction in scientific research. Variables are specific factors that can be measured or manipulated in a study. Operationalization defines variables in measurable terms.

Ethical guidelines protect participants' well-being. Informed consent ensures individuals understand the risks and benefits before participating. Deception involves misleading participants but requires justification and debriefing. Debriefing involves revealing the true purpose of the study and providing any necessary information.

The tendency to seek information that supports existing beliefs and ignore contradictory evidence.

A set of ideas explaining a phenomenon, used to make predictions.

A testable prediction derived from a theory.

A systematic review of existing research on a topic.

Gathering information through observations, experiments, or surveys.

Interpreting the meaning of collected data.

Drawing conclusions based on data analysis, including limitations and future directions.

Sharing research findings with the scientific community.

A characteristic of science that allows theories to be disproven or rejected based on evidence.

Drawing conclusions based on personal experiences and discussions.

The ability of science to reduce bias by using systematic methods.

A type of research where scientists observe and measure phenomena without manipulating variables. It aims to identify patterns and relationships, but not cause-and-effect.

A scatterplot is a graph that displays the relationship between two variables, with each dot representing a data point.

The correlation coefficient (r) is a statistical measure that indicates the direction and strength of the relationship between two variables.

A positive correlation occurs when two variables move in the same direction. As one increases, the other increases as well.

A negative correlation exists when two variables move in opposite directions. When one increases, the other decreases.

A correlation where there is no clear relationship between two variables.

The strength of a correlation refers to how closely two variables are related. A strong correlation indicates a tight relationship with few exceptions.

A weak correlation suggests a loose relationship with many exceptions. The dots on a scatterplot are more widely dispersed.

While correlation can identify relationships between variables, it cannot establish cause and effect. Just because two things happen together does not mean one caused the other.

A testable prediction about the relationship between variables. It's a bridge between theories and real-world observations.

A research approach that focuses on describing a phenomenon or event in detail. It doesn't aim to test relationships between variables.

A research method that involves watching and recording the behavior of participants in their natural environment.

A research method that involves studying a single individual or case in great detail. It's useful for understanding unique or rare situations.

A research method used to collect data from a large sample of individuals through questionnaires or interviews. It aims to assess attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

A research method that aims to establish causal relationships between variables. It involves manipulating an independent variable and observing its effect on a dependent variable.

A research method that focuses on examining the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating any variables.

The tendency for people to change their behavior when they know they are being observed. It can create bias in research.

The extent to which a study's findings can be generalized to other populations, settings, and times.

The extent to which a study's findings are due to the manipulated variables and not other confounding factors.

The process of defining variables in measurable terms. It allows researchers to translate abstract concepts into concrete measures.

A set of ethical principles that guide researchers in conducting research using human participants. It aims to protect participants' well-being and ensure ethical conduct.

The process of informing participants about the purpose, risks, and benefits of a study before they agree to participate. It's a fundamental ethical principle in research.

A process that involves revealing the true purpose and nature of a study to participants after they have completed it. It's used when deception is necessary in research.

A research approach where participants are intentionally misled about the true purpose or nature of a study. It requires justification and careful debriefing.

The group that receives the experimental treatment or manipulation.

The group that does not receive the experimental treatment or manipulation. They are used for comparison.

The variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher.

The variable that is measured or observed in an experiment.

The extent to which a study accurately measures the intended phenomenon. Can the results be trusted?

The degree to which the findings of a study can be generalized to other populations, settings, and times.

The extent to which a study establishes a trustworthy cause-and-effect relationship. Does the independent variable really cause the changes in the dependent variable?

A research design that examines changes in behavior over time by studying participants of different ages at the same point in time.

A research design that follows the same individuals over time to examine changes in behavior.

A research design that combines features of both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs.

A potential confound in cross-sectional research where differences between age groups may be due to factors other than age, such as generational experiences.

A group of individuals who share a common characteristic, such as being born in the same year or having a similar life experience.

A phenomenon where individuals' expectations about a treatment can influence their response, even if the treatment has no actual effect.

The systematic process of assigning participants to different conditions in a study.

The ability to draw a cause-and-effect conclusion from a study.

A variable that is not directly studied but may influence the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

A relationship between two variables where a change in one variable is associated with a change in another, but doesn't necessarily mean one causes the other.

A research method that aims to establish cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating an independent variable and observing its impact on a dependent variable.

A procedure where neither the participants nor the researchers know who belongs to which group in an experiment.

A procedure where only the participants are unaware of their group assignment in an experiment, but the researchers know.

A set of principles and guidelines that ensure ethical research practices, such as informed consent, confidentiality, and debriefing.

The process of explaining the true nature of a study to participants after they've completed the study.

The process of converting abstract concepts into measurable variables for analysis.

A document that describes the research, potential risks, and participant rights, ensuring voluntary participation and data confidentiality.

Misleading participants about the study's true purpose to avoid influencing their behavior.

Providing participants with full and honest information about the study after it's completed, especially if deception was used.

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study involved withholding treatment from Black men with syphilis for 40 years, leading to serious ethical violations.

A type of research where participants are not randomly assigned to groups, affecting the study's ability to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Research that follows a group of people over time, measuring them repeatedly.

Individuals dropping out of a longitudinal study over time.

A type of attrition where specific groups of individuals tend to drop out, often due to factors like health or socioeconomic status.

Researchers can randomly recruit new participants from the same cohort to replace those who have dropped out.

Research that combines elements of both longitudinal and cross-sectional designs, following participants of different ages over time.

The possibility that the time of measurement itself might be influencing the results.

A research design where data is collected from different age groups at a single point in time.

Changes in behavior or abilities that occur naturally as people age.

Stability in behavior or abilities over time, meaning they do not significantly change as people age.

The process of examining the intelligence scores of individuals from different age groups at various points in history and cohorts.

The advantages of sequential research include its ability to examine both longitudinal and cross-sectional comparisons, as well as the assessment of cohort and time of measurement effects.

Sequential research shares similar limitations to both longitudinal and cross-sectional designs, such as time and cost considerations and the risk of attrition.

Research designs aim to uncover age-related changes as well as developmental origins for these changes, providing a more comprehensive understanding of lifespan development.

The use of various research designs, such as longitudinal and cross-sectional, helps researchers to understand the complex interplay of age, cohort, and time of measurement in shaping human development.

The tendency to view the world through the lens of one's own culture, often leading to incorrect assumptions about other cultures.

The idea that cultures cannot be judged objectively, as all humans perceive the world through their own cultural lens.

A research approach that involves collaboration between researchers and community members. It aims to co-construct knowledge and interventions relevant to the community.

A committee that reviews research involving human participants to ensure ethical guidelines are followed.

The principle of informed consent requires participants to understand the risks and benefits of a study before agreeing to participate.

The study of how people change over time.

A potential issue in longitudinal research where participants' performance may improve due to repeated testing.

The influence of historical events on the results of a study.

A potential issue in cross-sectional research where differences between groups are due to factors other than age.