PSYC 3490- Final Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam ( 77 pages long!)

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Chapter three the study of adult development and aging: research methods. Variables in developmental research: variable is a (cid:272)hara(cid:272)teristi(cid:272) that (cid:862)(cid:448)aries(cid:863) fro(cid:373) i(cid:374)di(cid:448)idual to i(cid:374)di(cid:448)idual, dependent variable is the outcome that researchers observe, researchers use an experimental design to study a question of interest decide on. Independent variable is the factor that the researcher manipulates conditions that will allow them to manipulate a particular independent variable: randomly assigns respondents to groups. Same is true for sex, ethnicity, or social class differences (no cause-and-effect conclusion) In a process called terminal decline, individuals gradually lose cognitive abilities as they draw closer to death. Or is it better to compare people at the two extremes of the adult span: the possibility that different age groups will react differently to the test materials, quick and inexpensive. Sequential research designs: these designs consist of different combinations of the variables age, cohort, and time of measurement.