Research Methods in Lifespan Development: Observation, Surveys, and Experimental Designs

Observation

A method of collecting data by watching subjects in a systematic way.

Lab research

A controlled setting where many of the complex factors of the 'real world' are absent.

Naturalistic observation

Observing behavior in real-world settings without attempting to manipulate or control the situation.

Survey

A standard set of questions designed to obtain people's self-reported attitudes or beliefs about a particular topic.

Standardized test

Uniform procedures for administration and scoring that allow performance comparisons.

Case study

An in-depth look at a single individual.

Physiological measures

Methods such as neuroimaging, heart rate, cortisol, eye-tracking, and genetics used to collect data.

Descriptive research

Aims to observe and record behavior but cannot prove cause.

Correlational research

Focuses on describing the strength of the relation between two or more events/characteristics.

Correlation coefficient

A number based on statistical analysis used to describe the degree of association between 2 variables.

Experimental research

A carefully regulated procedure in which one or more factors believed to influence behavior are manipulated.

Independent variable (IV)

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment.

Dependent variable (DV)

The variable that can change in response to the independent variable.

Random assignment

A method that reduces the likelihood that results will be due to preexisting differences between groups.

Cross-sectional approach

A research method where individuals of different ages are compared at one time.

Longitudinal approach

A research method where the same individuals are studied over a period of time.

Cohort

A group of people who are born at a similar point in history and share similar experiences.

Cohort effects

Effects due to a subject's time of birth/generation, not age.

Informed consent

A process ensuring participants are fully aware of the research and its implications.

Confidentiality

The ethical principle of keeping participant information private.

Debriefing

The process of informing participants about the study after it has been completed.

Deception

The act of misleading participants about the true purpose of a study.

Ethnic gloss

Using an ethnic label in a superficial way that portrays an ethnic group as being more homogenous than it really is.