Conducting Child Development Research - Lecture Flashcards

This vocabulary deck covers measurement methods, research designs, ethical standards, and communication processes in child development research as outlined in the lecture from May 11, 2026.

Naturalistic Observation

A research method where children's spontaneous behaviors are observed in their natural environments, such as a classroom, without interference.

Structured Observation

A research strategy where investigators create a specific setting, like a simulated living room, designed to elicit behaviors of interest for controlled observation.

Sampling Behaviors with Task

A measurement method used when direct observation is difficult, involving specific activities like memory tests or the Peabody Vocabulary Picture Test.

Self-Reports

A measurement tool where children answer questions about specific topics via questionnaires or interviews, sometimes including parent or teacher reports.

Physiological Measures

Assessments of bodily functions related to psychological processes, such as heart rate to measure stress or brain activity during cognitive tasks.

Validity

The extent to which a measurement tool accurately assesses the intended construct, such as ensuring a test measures depression rather than self-esteem.

Reliability

The consistency of measurement results over time or across different observers; for example, a scale providing the same weight for repeated measures.

Representative Sample

A group of participants that accurately reflects the population of interest, such as grade $4$ students in Ottawa, allowing for generalizable results.

Correlational Study

A research design used to examine relations between variables as they exist in the real world, though it cannot establish causation.

Positive Correlation

A relationship where both variables increase together, such as height and age.

Negative Correlation

An inverse relationship where one variable increases as the other decreases, such as age and the number of baby teeth.

Correlation Coefficient ($r$)

A numerical representation of the relationship between variables ranging from $-1$ to $+1$, where $0$ indicates no correlation.

Experimental Study

A design involving the manipulation of independent variables and measurement of dependent variables to establish causality.

Independent Variable

The factor or variable that is manipulated by the investigator in an experimental research design.

Dependent Variable

The behavior or factor that is measured in an experiment to observe the effects of the independent variable.

Field Experiment

A research design where the manipulation of independent variables occurs in a natural setting to maintain ecological validity.

Quantitative Research

Methods where results are expressed in numbers and analyzed using statistics, such as frequency counts or test scores.

Qualitative Research

Methods involving words, ideas, and themes, often used to investigate children's thoughts and experiences through interviews.

Longitudinal Study

A research design where the same individuals are tested repeatedly over a long duration, such as assessing children at ages $6$, $9$, and $12$.

Microgenetic Study

A type of longitudinal design involving frequent assessments over a short span of time, such as weekly from age $12$ months to $24$ months.

Cross-Sectional Study

A research design where different age groups are tested at a single point in time, essentially representing a snapshot of development.

Longitudinal-Sequential Study

A hybrid research design that follows multiple age groups over multiple time points, combining elements of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.

Meta-Analysis

A specialized quantitative review article that synthesizes and evaluates results from many different studies to answer a single research question.

Canadian Ethics Guidelines for Consent

The requirement that a parent or legal guardian must provide written consent for participants under the age of $18$ before they can participate in research.

Peer-Review Process

The system where scientific manuscripts are evaluated by expert researchers in the field to ensure quality and credibility before publication.

Converging Evidence

The gathering of consistent results from multiple studies to reach robust conclusions, rather than relying on isolated findings for policy recommendations.