PSY 2105 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Naturalistic Observation, Institutional Review Board, Dependent And Independent Variables
5 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
PSY2105A Dr. Isabelle Boutet
Chap 2 Research Methods 03.05.18
Main Goals of Research in Child Development
Developmental Psychology: study of changes in behavior and abilities over the course of development
• Describe – Idetif hildes ehaio at eah poit i thei deelopet
• Explain the causes and processes that produce changes in behavior from one point to the next
o Effects of genes inherited from parents, biological characteristics of the human brain, physical
and social environment of the child, types of experiences encountered
Scientific Method – system used by scientists to conduct and evaluate their research
1. Choose a topic of interest – refer to theories (describe relation btwn behavior and factors that influence
it) to organize findings and guide new research by indicating which hypotheses should be tested
2. Formulate a hypothesis – statement that proposes a relation
3. Choose or develop a methodology for testing the hypothesis – objective methods permit other scientists
to conduct the same research in the same manner and produce similar results
o Observable behaviors, measurable behaviors, quantifiable behaviors
4. Collect data
5. Analyze data
6. Interpret the data and draw conclusions regarding the hypothesis
7. Make the information public after being reviewed by peers
Basic Research Designs
1) Descriptive Research – research only based on observation; includes case studies and interviews
• Naturalistic observation – oseig hildes ehaio i atual settigs fo the hild
o i.e he do gils ad os stat segegatig? Is thee a oal patte i hih hildes oto
skills develop?
o Motor milestones – naturalistic observations of children as they develop their motor abilities
• Structural observation – observations of behavior in settings that are controlled by the investigator
o i.e strange situation – mother, baby, stranger in a room; mother leaves and comes back;
eseahe osees as attahet ehaio
limitations
• ol desies hat happes at a speifi age, doest eplai the ehais of hage
• risk of observer influence – subjects act differently knowing they are being observed
• risk of observers adding their interpretation to their observations
• observations made in lab may not be generalizable
2) Correlational Research – examine relation (strength and direction) btwn two or more variables
• Variable: any factor that can take on different values along some dimension
o behaviors can have many dimensions – frequency, intensity, duration
• positive correlation = two variables change in the same direction i.e time spent studying and grades
• egatie oelatio = to aiales hage i opposite dietio i.e hilds age ad tie spet at hoe
• i.e what is the influence of the media on child development?
o at of hous of t athed ad hilds BMI – determine the relationship btwn tv hours and
eight of hild; doest deteie ause
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