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PSYC 3206—Developmental Psychology—Dr. Eppler
Study Guide for Chapter 1
Understanding Life-Span Human Development (Research Methods)
1. Define development and describe the three broad domains that are studied.
o Systematic changes and continuities in individuals between conception and death
o Biological/physical development: growth of the body and organs
o Cognitive development: changes that happen within the mind(language, memory,
mental process)
o Psychosocial development: changes that carryover in personal and interpersonal
aspect( emotions and personality traits)
2. Define the different periods of the life span (see Table 1.1).
3. Summarize the extreme positions one can take on the nature-nurture issue and the position
most developmental scientists take today.
o The factor of money. If a person is brought up in a setting where the family has an
abundance of money the child has more of a chance of not having to grow up as
fast as a child that was brought up in a setting where there is not enough money to
provide the basic needs for living
4. Identify and briefly describe the five major influential theories. Know names that are
associated with each theory and a few key concepts. Also identify whether each theory takes
a continuity or discontinuity view of development.
o Development Life-Long process: development not just done as a child it is done
well into age.
o Multidirectional: there is no one way to develop as a person, many factors go into
developing into the person that you want to become.
o Loss/Gain:
5. Describe when case studies are useful and what their limitations are.
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6. Describe the experimental method. Using the three critical features of a true experiment,
discuss why the DeLoache et al. (2010) study is a true experiment.
7. Define independent and dependent variables, and be able to recognize new examples of each.
8. Identify the strengths and limitations of the experimental method.
9. Explain how quasi-experiments differ from true experiments. [from lecture video]
10. Describe the correlational method and explain how it differs from the experimental method.
11. Define correlation coefficient and positive and negative correlations, be able to recognize
new examples of positive and negative correlations, and be able to interpret new examples of
correlation coefficients. Also describe the findings of Zimmerman et al.’s (2007) study.
12. A major limitation of correlational studies is that they do not allow for cause and effect
conclusions. This is explained in the discussion of two rival interpretations for the results of
correlational studies. Describe these two rival interpretations and explain why they make it
impossible to assume cause and effect.
13. Integrate what you have learned above: Be able to recognize new examples of true
experiments, quasi-experiments and correlational designs. Know when it is appropriate to use
each kind of design and be able to interpret the results of each. [see practice problems below]
14. Describe the cross-sectional research design, and identify the strengths and limitations of
cross-sectional designs.
15. Define cohort, age effects, and cohort effects. Explain how age effects and cohort effects
differ, give examples from the chapter, and be able to recognize new examples of each.
16. Describe the longitudinal research design, and identify the strengths and limitations of
longitudinal designs.
17. Describe the sequential research design, and identify the strengths and limitations of
sequential designs.
18. Integrate what you have learned above: Be able to recognize new examples of cross-
sectional, longitudinal, and sequential research designs. Know when it is appropriate to use
each kind of design and be able to interpret the results of each. [see practice problems below]
19. Try the practice questions in the Engagement 1.1 box. Commit to an answer for each
question (write it down) and think about why it is correct before checking the correct
answers.
20. What are some challenges to conducting culturally sensitive research?
21. List four ethical considerations for doing developmental research with human participants.
Practice Questions
Let's apply what you've learned about experimental and correlational methods and see how we
use these methods to test hypotheses. Say that you want to test the hypothesis that smoking by
the mother during pregnancy causes lower birth weight for the infant. You locate a group of 30
PSYC 3206—Developmental Psychology—Dr. Eppler
Study Guide for Chapter 1
Understanding Life-Span Human Development (Research Methods)
1. Define development and describe the three broad domains that are studied.
o Systematic changes and continuities in individuals between conception and death
o Biological/physical development: growth of the body and organs
o Cognitive development: changes that happen within the mind(language, memory,
mental process)
o Psychosocial development: changes that carryover in personal and interpersonal
aspect( emotions and personality traits)
2. Define the different periods of the life span (see Table 1.1).
3. Summarize the extreme positions one can take on the nature-nurture issue and the position
most developmental scientists take today.
o The factor of money. If a person is brought up in a setting where the family has an
abundance of money the child has more of a chance of not having to grow up as
fast as a child that was brought up in a setting where there is not enough money to
provide the basic needs for living
4. Identify and briefly describe the five major influential theories. Know names that are
associated with each theory and a few key concepts. Also identify whether each theory takes
a continuity or discontinuity view of development.
o Development Life-Long process: development not just done as a child it is done
well into age.
o Multidirectional: there is no one way to develop as a person, many factors go into
developing into the person that you want to become.
o Loss/Gain:
5. Describe when case studies are useful and what their limitations are.
, 2
6. Describe the experimental method. Using the three critical features of a true experiment,
discuss why the DeLoache et al. (2010) study is a true experiment.
7. Define independent and dependent variables, and be able to recognize new examples of each.
8. Identify the strengths and limitations of the experimental method.
9. Explain how quasi-experiments differ from true experiments. [from lecture video]
10. Describe the correlational method and explain how it differs from the experimental method.
11. Define correlation coefficient and positive and negative correlations, be able to recognize
new examples of positive and negative correlations, and be able to interpret new examples of
correlation coefficients. Also describe the findings of Zimmerman et al.’s (2007) study.
12. A major limitation of correlational studies is that they do not allow for cause and effect
conclusions. This is explained in the discussion of two rival interpretations for the results of
correlational studies. Describe these two rival interpretations and explain why they make it
impossible to assume cause and effect.
13. Integrate what you have learned above: Be able to recognize new examples of true
experiments, quasi-experiments and correlational designs. Know when it is appropriate to use
each kind of design and be able to interpret the results of each. [see practice problems below]
14. Describe the cross-sectional research design, and identify the strengths and limitations of
cross-sectional designs.
15. Define cohort, age effects, and cohort effects. Explain how age effects and cohort effects
differ, give examples from the chapter, and be able to recognize new examples of each.
16. Describe the longitudinal research design, and identify the strengths and limitations of
longitudinal designs.
17. Describe the sequential research design, and identify the strengths and limitations of
sequential designs.
18. Integrate what you have learned above: Be able to recognize new examples of cross-
sectional, longitudinal, and sequential research designs. Know when it is appropriate to use
each kind of design and be able to interpret the results of each. [see practice problems below]
19. Try the practice questions in the Engagement 1.1 box. Commit to an answer for each
question (write it down) and think about why it is correct before checking the correct
answers.
20. What are some challenges to conducting culturally sensitive research?
21. List four ethical considerations for doing developmental research with human participants.
Practice Questions
Let's apply what you've learned about experimental and correlational methods and see how we
use these methods to test hypotheses. Say that you want to test the hypothesis that smoking by
the mother during pregnancy causes lower birth weight for the infant. You locate a group of 30
