PSYC 2450 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Idiopathy, Heredity, Philosophical Perspectives

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2450
• Professor: Carol Anne Hendry

Document Summary

Introduction to developmental psychology & its research strategies. What is development: development refers to systematic continuities and changes in the individual that occur between conception and death. In sum, human development is best described as a continual and cumulative process. Early philosophical perspectives on childhood: original sin: idea that children are inherently negative creatures who must be taught to rechannel their selfish interests into socially acceptable outlets. Self-report methodologies: 3 common procedures developmentalists use to father information and test hypothesis; similar in that each asks participants to answer questions, they differ in the extent to which the investigator treats individual participants alike. Experimental design: a research design in which the investigator introduces some change in the participant"s environment and then measures the effect of that change on the participant"s behaviour. The field experiment: an experiment that takes place in a naturalistic setting such as a home, school, or playground.