Study of Child Development & Research Methods

Hypothesis

Possible explanation to predict an outcome

Research Finding

• Information gained through research/experiments

  • May or may not support a hypothesis

Continuous Development

• Gradual growth overtime

  • e.g.) A sapling growing into a tree

Discontinuous Development

• Stage-like growth

  • e.g.) Caterpillar —> Chrysalis —> Butterfly

Correlational Study

• Studies the relation between variables

  • e.g.) Are children who play video games more likely to be aggressive?

    • Measuring the amount of violet video games and aggression

• Does not show causation, only shows association between variables

  • e.g.) Does not show if violent video games ACTUALLY causes aggression

• Nothing within theses studies are manipulated/changes

Experimental Study

• Examines how a treatment effects an outcome

  • e.g.) Can eating a healthy breakfast improve performance in school

    • Measuring the effects of having a healthy breakfast for students

Individual Differences

• Differences that are specific to an individual

  • e.g. 1) Genetic disorders

  • e.g. 2) IQ

  • e.g. 3) Going to a private/public school

Group Differences

• Differences between groups of individuals

  • e.g. 1) Gender

  • e.g. 2) Culture

  • e.g. 3) Age

Longitudinal Research Design

• Follows the same group of children over a period of time

  • e.g.) Testing a group a three year olds over the course of two years. Researchers give the three year olds a test and then give the same test at four and five years old, comparing their various test scores

Cross-Sectional Research Designs

• Comparing children of different ages

  • e.g.) Testing a group of three year olds and a group of five year olds by giving them the same test between both groups. Both groups continue to take the same test during different periods of their life and results are compared between both groups

Physical Development Topics

• Brain development

• Gross/fine motor skills

• Pushing and pulling objects

• Supporting themselves throughout different stages (e.g. rolling over, crawling, pulling themselves up, walking)

Cognitive Development Topics

• Language development

• Growth of reasoning & understanding

• Imagination vs. Reality (differentiating the two)

• Problem-solving

Emotional Development Topics

• Emotional Regulation (How well a child has mastered this skill)

• Confidence/Self-Esteem

• Identity Formation

Social Development Topics

• Interactions w/ Others

• Empathy

• Peer Pressure