Methods for Studying Development PDF

6/4/24 Methods for Studying Development 1 2 Small Group Discussion: The Complexity of Development...

6/4/24 Methods for Studying Development 1 2 Small Group Discussion: The Complexity of Development All beliefs, no matter how probable they seem, may be The Imagine it’s the first week of the new school year and that your child, Lee, has just begun kindergarten in a public school with a wrong. Until tested, they must be good reputation in your suburban community. Although most of viewed as hypotheses. the children in the class are quickly adjusting to the routine, Lee is having a great deal of difficulty. Lee has been whining about Scientific going to school for weeks and clings to you and cries at drop-off time. The teachers report that Lee was very quiet during the first Method Reliability - consistent measurement few days of class, tended to watch rather than participate in activities, and interacted to a limited degree with the other Validity - measuring what you want children. They also note that Lee is beginning to come to them for assistance and is making some progress. How do you explain Lee’s behavior to yourself? Why does Lee act this way? As a parent, have you done something wrong? If so, what? How can you help Lee adjust to kindergarten? How might Lee’s teachers help? 3 4 Do you want to describe or document What a behavior? Choose a descriptive approach. is your Do you want to predict a behavior’s occurrence? Interviews GOAL Choose a correlational approach. Ask kids questions… Structured interview: same for ?? everyone Do you want to explain a behavior (understand why it occurs)? Clinical interview: can depart Choose an experimental approach. from script Pros and cons? 5 6 1  6/4/24 Naturalistic Structured Observation Observation Observe kids in their natural Observe children performing environments. prescribed tasks in lab or Often useful for social interations. elsewhere. Pros and cons? Pros and cons? 7 8 Correlational Experimental Designs Designs Two basic requirements: Remember: Correlation doesn’t Random assignment confirm causation. Why? Direction, other variables Experimental control Pros and cons? Pros and cons? 9 10 Basic Dev Design Basic Dev Design #1: Cross-Sectional #2: Longitudinal Compare kids of different ages on Follow a single group of children over the same set of behaviors, abilities, or a longer period of time (often months characteristics. if not years). Shows similarities and diffs across Reveals something about stability ages…but… and change…but… Doesn’t tell us about the stability of a Practically difficult and often trait or behavior over time, nor about patterns of change. expensive. Plus repeated questioning can influence validity. 11 12 2  6/4/24 Basic Dev Design #3: Microgenetic Expose kids to experiences thought to produce or accompany change then watch carefully. Provides in-depth look at processes at the moment of change…but… Doesn’t reveal long-term patterns. 13 3