Year 1 -
Undergrad
PS51005B: The
Psychology of the Person
Research Methods in Developmental Psychology
Research Methods Covered
Case Studies
Used for unique individuals (e.g. giftedness, disability)
Provide rich, in-depth data
Limitations: Low generalisability, potential bias, researcher sensitivity
Example – Darwin’s Baby Biography
Noted early visual attention and behavioural differences between sons and daughters
Example quote on vision:
“His eyes were fixed on a candle as early as the 9th day…”
Example – Piaget
Studied his own children to develop cognitive development theory
Exercise 1
Distinguish between:
Bias: Personal or methodological distortion
Generalisation: The Extent to which results apply beyond the individual
Sensitivity: Risk of overinterpreting subtle data
Beyond Case Studies – Broader Research Designs
Cross-Sectional Design
Test different age groups once
Useful for collecting normative data (e.g., vocabulary, grammar)
Often used in educational settings
Disadvantages: Cohort effects, lacks developmental continuity
Undergrad
PS51005B: The
Psychology of the Person
Research Methods in Developmental Psychology
Research Methods Covered
Case Studies
Used for unique individuals (e.g. giftedness, disability)
Provide rich, in-depth data
Limitations: Low generalisability, potential bias, researcher sensitivity
Example – Darwin’s Baby Biography
Noted early visual attention and behavioural differences between sons and daughters
Example quote on vision:
“His eyes were fixed on a candle as early as the 9th day…”
Example – Piaget
Studied his own children to develop cognitive development theory
Exercise 1
Distinguish between:
Bias: Personal or methodological distortion
Generalisation: The Extent to which results apply beyond the individual
Sensitivity: Risk of overinterpreting subtle data
Beyond Case Studies – Broader Research Designs
Cross-Sectional Design
Test different age groups once
Useful for collecting normative data (e.g., vocabulary, grammar)
Often used in educational settings
Disadvantages: Cohort effects, lacks developmental continuity
