Human Development Comprehensive Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from the complete lecture notes covering Research in Human Development, Developmental Theories & Evolution, and Late Adulthood.

Research

A systematic way of collecting and analyzing information to answer questions.

Critical Consumer of Information

Someone who carefully evaluates information instead of automatically accepting it as true.

Variable

A characteristic or factor that can have different values or change.

Independent Variable

The variable that is changed, controlled, or used as a predictor.

Dependent Variable

The outcome that is measured to determine whether it changes.

Confounding Variable

An outside variable that could affect the results and make it difficult to determine what actually caused an outcome.

Hypothesis

A specific, testable prediction about what a researcher expects to happen.

Random

Determined by chance rather than personal choice or researcher preference.

Random Assignment

Participants are placed into different groups by chance.

Random Selection

Participants are selected from a population by chance.

Reliability

The consistency of a measurement or research method.

Validity

The extent to which something accurately measures what it is supposed to measure.

Descriptive Research

Research used to describe characteristics, behaviors, or experiences.

Case Study

An in-depth examination of one person, small group, event, or situation.

Qualitative Research

Research focused on people's experiences, meanings, opinions, or perspectives, usually using detailed descriptions rather than primarily numerical data.

Comparative Research

Research that compares two or more groups, individuals, or situations.

Correlational Research

Research that examines whether variables are related.

Causal-Comparative Research

Research that compares existing groups to investigate possible explanations for differences between them.

Cross-Sectional Research

Research that studies people of different ages or groups at the same point in time.

Longitudinal Research

Research that follows the same individuals over a period of time.

Quasi-Experimental Research

Research that resembles an experiment but does not have full experimental control or random assignment.

Experimental Research

Research in which variables are manipulated under controlled conditions to test cause-and-effect relationships.

Observation

Collecting information by watching and recording behavior.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in a person's normal environment.

Laboratory Observation

Observing behavior in a controlled environment.

Survey/Questionnaire

A method of collecting information by asking participants questions.

Self-Administered

A survey or questionnaire that participants complete themselves.

Interview

A researcher directly asks a participant questions and records the responses.

Focus Group

A small group of participants who discuss a topic with guidance from a researcher.

Exams/Tests

Structured assessments used to measure knowledge, abilities, characteristics, or performance.

Research Ethics

Principles and rules used to protect research participants and their information.

Do No Harm

Researchers should avoid or minimize unnecessary harm to participants.

Consent

Participants agree to participate in research.

Informed Consent

Participants receive important information about a study before voluntarily agreeing to participate.

Confidentiality

Protecting participants' private information.

Data Security

Protecting research information from unauthorized access, theft, loss, or exposure.

Accurate Reporting and Interpretation

Researchers should honestly report findings and avoid claiming that the evidence proves something it does not support.

Theory

An organized set of ideas designed to explain development.

Prenatal Development

Development before birth.

Infancy

The earliest developmental period following birth.

Childhood

The developmental period that includes early, middle, and late childhood/preadolescence.

Adolescence

The developmental period between childhood and adulthood.

Adulthood

The adult portion of the lifespan, including early, middle, and late adulthood.

Physical Development

Changes involving the body and physical functioning.

Cognitive Development

Changes involving thinking and mental abilities.

Socioemotional Development

Changes involving emotions, relationships, personality, and social interactions.

Nature

Biological and genetic influences on development.

Nurture

Environmental and experiential influences on development.

Nature vs. Nurture

The issue of how biological/genetic factors and environmental/experiential factors influence development.

Continuous Development

Development that occurs gradually.

Discontinuous Development

Development involving distinct stages or qualitative changes.

Quantitative Change

A change in amount or degree.

Qualitative Change

A change in the type or nature of an ability.

Critical Period

A particular developmental period when certain experiences or processes are especially necessary.

Sensitive Period

A developmental period when a person is especially responsive to particular experiences or influences.

Freud's Psychosexual Developmental Theory

An early stage theory focused on biologically based development and personality.

Id

The part of personality associated with unconscious drives and desires.

Ego

The part of personality that deals with conscious reality and decision-making.

Superego

The part of personality associated with internalized standards and rules.

Erikson's Psychosocial Developmental Theory

A lifespan theory in which people experience developmental crises whose resolution is influenced by social experiences.

Psychosocial

The interaction between psychological development and social influences.

Developmental Crisis

A challenge or conflict experienced during a particular developmental period.

Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Theory

A stage theory focused on how thinking changes and improves during development.

Constructivism

The idea that people actively construct their understanding through experiences.

Schema

A mental framework used to organize and understand information.

Assimilation

Fitting new information into an existing schema.

Accommodation

Changing an existing schema or creating a new one when information does not fit.

Equilibration

The process of balancing existing knowledge with new information.

Behaviorism

An approach that focuses on observable behavior and how the environment influences behavior.

Stimulus

An event or situation that produces or triggers a response.

Response

A behavior or reaction.

Consequence

What happens after a behavior and may influence whether the behavior occurs again.

Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory

A developmental theory focused on environmental and social systems surrounding an individual.

Vygotsky's Social Constructivist Theory

A theory emphasizing that social interaction, language, and culture influence learning and development.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The range between what a learner can do independently and what they can accomplish with assistance.

Scaffolding

Support provided to help someone complete a task or learn a skill they cannot yet perform independently.

Bandura's Social Learning Theory

A theory proposing that learning can occur through observing other people.

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs by watching others.

Modeling

Learning or demonstrating behavior by observing and imitating someone else.

Evolution

Change in populations across generations, connected to common ancestry and descent with modification.

Descent with Modification

The idea that organisms share ancestry while populations change across generations.

Fossil Record

Preserved evidence of organisms from the past that provides evidence for evolutionary change.

Lamarck

An early evolutionary theorist whose idea is summarized as species progressing to adapt.

Darwin

Associated with evolution by natural selection; specifically noted regarding Galápagos finches and their beaks.

Variation

Differences in characteristics among individuals.

Heritability

The extent to which differences in traits have a genetic component that can be passed across generations.

Selection

Differences in survival or reproduction that affect which traits become more common.

Intrasexual Selection

Competition among members of the same sex.

Intersexual Selection

Mate selection or preference between sexes.

Ego Integrity

Feeling satisfied with and accepting of the life you have lived.

Despair

Feeling dissatisfied or regretful when looking back over your life.

Wisdom

Acceptance and understanding of one's life and experiences.

Regret

A negative feeling about a decision, action, or missed opportunity.

Positivity Effect

The tendency for older adults to focus more on positive information and experiences.

Prospective Regret

Anticipating regret before making a decision.

Retrospective Regret

Regret about a decision or event that has already happened.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Basic everyday self-care activities needed to function independently.

Eating

Ability to feed oneself.

Bathing

Ability to wash and clean oneself.

Dressing

Ability to put on and remove clothing.