Theoretical Perspectives on Lifespan Development and Research Methods

Flashcards covering key vocabularies and concepts from the lecture on lifespan development and research methods.

Humanistic Perspective

The viewpoint that individuals have a natural capacity to make decisions and control their behavior, emphasizing free will and the drive towards self-actualization.

Self-Actualization

A state of self-fulfillment where individuals achieve their highest potential in their own unique way.

Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Approach

A theory that suggests there are five levels of environmental influence on an individual, including microsystem and macrosystem.

Microsystem

The immediate environment in which a child lives, including family, caregivers, and peers.

Macrosystem

The larger cultural context that influences an individual's development, such as societal norms and values.

Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory

A theory that emphasizes the role of social interactions and cultural context in cognitive development.

Correlational Research

A research method that seeks to identify whether an association exists between two factors without determining causality.

Experimental Research

A research method that is designed to discover causal relationships between variables by manipulating one variable to see its effect on another.

Independent Variable

The variable that researchers manipulate in an experiment to observe its effect.

Dependent Variable

The variable that researchers measure in an experiment to see if it changes as a result of the manipulation of the independent variable.

Naturalistic Observation

A research method in which behavior is observed and recorded in its natural environment without interference.

Cross-Sectional Research

A research design that compares individuals of different ages at the same point in time.

Sequential Research

A research method that combines both longitudinal and cross-sectional designs by studying multiple age groups over time.