Research Designs in Developmental Psychology
18 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which of these examples best illustrates a qualitative change?

  • A teenager developing stronger muscles
  • A baby gaining weight
  • A caterpillar transforming into a butterfly (correct)
  • A child growing taller

    • What is the primary role of the placenta in prenatal development?

  • Providing oxygen and nutrients to the fetus
  • Producing hormones that regulate the mother's body
  • Protecting the fetus from infections
  • All of the above (correct)

    • What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?

  • Genotype and phenotype are the same thing
  • Genotype refers to the genes, phenotype refers to the appearance (correct)
  • Genotype refers to the environment, phenotype refers to the genes
  • Genotype refers to the appearance, phenotype refers to the genes

    • Which of the following is NOT considered a critical period in development?

    <p>The teenage years for social development (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these traits is most likely to be polygenic?

    <p>Height (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the stage of prenatal development that begins at the 3rd week and lasts until the 8th week?

    <p>Embryonic stage (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is a potential cause of preterm birth?

    <p>All of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the developmental phenomenon characterized by a period of heightened sensitivity to environmental input?

    <p>Sensitive period (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is an example of a recessive trait?

    <p>Attached earlobes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for a baby born before the 37th week of pregnancy?

    <p>Preterm infant (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary drawback of the cross-sectional design in developmental research?

    <p>It cannot definitively determine if observed differences are due to age or other factors. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of a longitudinal research design?

    <p>It follows the same individuals over an extended period, monitoring changes in their development. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential limitation of the longitudinal design?

    <p>It is prone to bias due to participant attrition. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the cohort sequential design address limitations of both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs?

    <p>By combining elements of both designs, it allows researchers to study age-related changes both within and across cohorts. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the concept of maturation in human development?

    <p>The unfolding of genetically determined traits and abilities in a predetermined sequence. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the concept of 'nature vs. nurture' refer to in developmental research?

    <p>The debate about whether biological or environmental factors have a greater influence on development. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an epigenetic change in the context of human development?

    <p>A change in the expression of a gene without altering its DNA sequence. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the defining characteristic of a developmental stage?

    <p>A distinct period marked by qualitative changes in behavior, thinking, or responding. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Cross-sectional design

    A research approach comparing different-aged groups at one point in time.

    Cohort Effects

    The impact of being born in a specific time period on development.

    Longitudinal design

    A research method that follows the same subjects over time to observe changes.

    Maturation

    The natural unfolding of development in a specific sequence and timeframe.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Nature vs Nurture

    The debate on whether genetics or environment influences traits more.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Epigenetic

    Changes in gene expression not caused by alterations in the DNA sequence.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Qualitative vs Quantitative

    Qualitative traits involve quality differences; quantitative involves measurable amounts.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Stage

    A distinct phase of development characterized by unique behavioral patterns.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Quantitative Change

    Gradual increase in an element, like height or weight.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Qualitative Change

    A fundamental change in nature, not just size; e.g., a caterpillar to a butterfly.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Critical Periods

    Times when an organism is highly sensitive to environmental input for development.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Sensitive Periods

    Phases when learning is easier, but not strictly defined, unlike critical periods.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Prenatal Period

    Development phase from conception to birth.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Genotype

    A person's genetic inheritance.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Phenotype

    Observable traits resulting from an individual's genotype.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Dominant Trait

    A trait expressed in phenotype regardless of allele combination.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Recessive Trait

    A trait that appears only when two alleles are the same.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Fetal Stage

    Developmental stage from 8 weeks to birth where systems grow functional.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Study Notes

    Cross-Sectional Design

    • Compares different-aged groups.
    • Biggest problem: Results attributed to age, not necessarily age-related change.
    • Example: 30-year-olds perform better on a memory task than 60-year-olds. This might be due to factors other than just age.
    • Does not show how age-related changes occur.
    • Ignores potential cohort effects (shared experiences, cultural influences).

    Cohort Effects

    • A group of people born around the same time.
    • Development influenced by historical events (wars, recessions, etc.)
    • Unique experiences impact development.
    • Cross-sectional studies cannot separate the impact of age from cohort effects.

    Longitudinal Design

    • Follows the same people over time.
    • Administers the same tasks repeatedly.
    • Measures development over time.
    • Key benefit: Better understanding of age-related changes.
    • Problems: Time-consuming, expensive, high dropout rates.
    • Cohort effect: Difficult to generalize findings to other cohorts.

    Cohort-Sequential Design

    • Combines cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches.
    • Compares different age groups.
    • Follows those groups over time.
    • Allows for a more comprehensive understanding of age- and cohort-related changes.

    Understanding How We Develop

    Maturation

    • Unfolding of development in a specific sequence and timeframe.

    Nature vs. Nurture

    • Traits influenced by both genes and environment.
    • Difficult to isolate nature or nurture's impact.
    • Nature and nurture interact.

    Epigenetics

    • Changes in gene expression without changing the DNA sequence.

    Qualitative vs. Quantitative Change

    • Qualitative: Distinct, different phases (e.g., caterpillar to butterfly).
    • Quantitative: Gradual changes (e.g., height increase).
    • Developmental stages represent both quantitative and qualitative changes.
    • Development involves continuous acquisition of information and experiences.
    • Sudden changes often result from multiple smaller changes.
    • Example: Walking.

    Critical and Sensitive Periods

    • Critical Periods: Specific times when organisms are highly sensitive to environmental input.
    • Influences brain function and behavior.
    • Lack of input can disrupt development.
    • Example: Goslings imprinting during the first 36 hours.
    • Often called "sensitive periods" as individuals are more receptive, but not rigidly fixed.

    Heredity and Prenatal Development

    Prenatal Period

    • Development from conception to birth.

    Genes, DNA, and Chromosomes

    • Genes: Basic building blocks of inheritance.
    • DNA: Molecules containing genetic information.
    • Chromosomes: Strands of DNA. (Humans have 46 chromosomes, normally.)

    Genotype vs. Phenotype

    • Genotype: Genetic inheritance.
    • Phenotype: Observable traits.

    Alleles, Homozygous/Heterozygous

    • Alleles: Variations of a gene.
    • Homozygous: Identical alleles.
    • Heterozygous: Different alleles.

    Dominant vs. Recessive Traits

    • Dominant: Expressed in phenotype regardless of other allele.
    • Recessive: Only expressed with homozygous alleles.

    Codominance and Polygenic Traits

    • Codominance: Both traits expressed in heterozygous offspring.
    • Polygenic traits: Multiple genes influence a trait.

    Prenatal Stages

    • Germinal Stage: First two weeks (zygote, blastocyst, implantation).
    • Embryonic Stage: 2-8 weeks (major systems forming).
    • Fetal Stage: From 9 weeks until birth (systems mature).

    Complications

    • Miscarriage: Fetal loss before viability.
    • Age of Viability: Ability to survive outside the womb.
    • Preterm Infants: Born before 37 weeks.
    • Small-for-date Infants: Below expected weight for gestational age.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    This quiz explores various research designs in developmental psychology, including cross-sectional, longitudinal, and cohort effects. Understand the strengths and limitations of each design and how they impact the interpretation of age-related changes. Test your knowledge on these foundational concepts in psychology research methodologies.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser