2. 1. Introduction
2. Fact or Fiction?
3. Defining Development
4. Four Characteristics of Development
5. Developmental Study as a Science
6. Cautions from Science
7. Closing Thoughts
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3. Introduction
[Video: Introduction to Human Development]
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4. Developmental Fact or Fiction? Fiction Fact
1. The science of human development is the study of how and
why people change as they grow older, as well as how and why
they remain the same.
2. An experiment is always the best way to investigate a
developmental issue.
3. Developmental psychologists almost never base their research
on the study of one group of people over a long period of time.
4. When two variables are correlated, it means that one
caused the other.
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5. Science
What causes people to change or remain the same over time?
science of human development: Seeks to
understand how and why people of all
ages and circumstances change or
remain the same over time.
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6. Influences
Is the question of nature or nurture more
about how much rather than which factor?
nature: Traits, capacities,
limitations each individual
inherits genetically from parents
(at conception).
nurture: All environmental
influences that affect
development (after conception).
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7. Influences
[Video: Albert Bandura’s classical experiment]

8. Connections Between Change and Time
What happens when a potentially harmful agent — a teratogen —
is introduced at a critical period of prenatal development?
Teratogen Effects Timing
Disrupted development of central nervous system. 8 to 15 weeks most critical
Radiation Radiation Growth and developmental retardation 3 to 8 weeks most critical
Microcephaly 3 to 38 weeks
Limb malformation
Tobacco use by mother 4 to 6 weeks
Urinary tract damage
Tobacco Tobacco use by father Low birthweight
Late pregnancy
(second-hand smoke) Reduction in weight by an average of 2 oz.
critical period: When a
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) 3 to 8 weeks most critical
particular type of
Fetal Alcohol Effect
Alcohol Alcohol development growth (in body
Growth and developmental retardation 3 to 38 weeks
Craniofacial dysmorphism or behavior) must happen if it
Growth retardation is ever going to happen.
3 to 8 weeks
Small head size
sensitive period: When a
Cocaine Premature birth
certain type of development is
Cocaine Problems with placenta After 17 weeks
Low birth weight most likely, although it may
Attention difficulties still happen later. for several years
After birth
Emotional regulation
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9. Dynamic Systems Theory
dynamic-systems theory: A view of
human development as an ongoing,
How do people interact with other
ever-changing interaction between
people, and do so continuously
the physical and emotional being
over time, each interaction
and between the person and every
affecting the other?
aspect of his or her environment,
including the family and society.
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10. Multidirectional
How do human characteristics
change in every direction to reflect
development as multidirectional?
life-span perspective: Study of
human development that takes
into account all phases of life.
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11. Multidirectional
[Video: Making the Most of Life During Adulthood]
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12. Multicontextual
How does the ecological-
systems approach work?
ecological-systems approach:
The view that in the study of
human development, the
person should be considered
in all the contexts and
interactions that constitute a
life.
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13. Multicontextual
culture ethnic group race
A group of people who
are regarded by
The enduring behaviors, People whose themselves or by others
ideas, attitudes, and ancestors were born in as distinct from other
traditions shared by a the same region and groups on the basis of
large group of people and who often share a physical appearance.
transmitted from one language, culture, and (Social scientists think
generation to the next. religion. race is a misleading
concept.)
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14. Multidisciplinary
When monkey
sees, why does
monkey do?
mirror neurons:
Cells in an
observer’s brain
that respond to
an action
performed by
someone else in
the same
way they would
if the observer
had actually
performed that
action.
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15. Plasticity
How plastic (moldable) are the brain and personality?
The brain Change may
Brain is plastic, occur, some
damage/ able to functions
injury reassign may be
neurons restored.
plasticity: Human traits can be molded (as plastic can be), yet
people maintain a certain durability of identity (as plastic does).
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16. Steps of the Scientific Method
What is the five-step procedure used to answer questions with empirical research
and data-based conclusions?
Curiosity 1 Develop hypothesis 2 Test hypothesis 3
Design and conduct
A prediction that research; gather
Raise a question can be tested empirical evidence
Draw conclusions 4 Report results 5
Support or refute Share data, conclusions,
hypothesis alternate explanations
scientific method: A way to answer questions using
empirical research and data-based conclusions. 16

17. Scientific Observation as a Way to Test Hypotheses
Where do scientific observation: A method of testing
scientific a hypothesis by unobtrusively watching and
observations recording participants’ behavior in a
take place? systematic and objective manner.
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18. The Survey as a Way to Test Hypotheses
What happens when a survey is taken?
Randomly
selected
Information is
collected from a
Survey
large number of
people Acquiring valid
survey data is not
easy
Survey
answers are Some people
influenced by wording lie and some
and sequence of change their
questions minds
survey: A research method in which information is collected from a large
number of people by interviews, written questions, or some other means.
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19. The Experiment as a Way to Test Hypotheses
independent variable: In an dependent variable: In an
experiment, the variable that is experiment, the variable
introduced to see what effect it has that may change as a result of
on the dependent variable. whatever new condition or
(Also called experimental variable.) situation the experimenter adds.
How Do You Design an Experiment?
Experimental Special treatment Significant change
Many participants, group (independent in the dependent
measured on many variable) variable
characteristics,
including the (two equal
dependent groups) (predicted
outcome)
variable
(the behavior
being studied) Comparison No special No change in the
(or control) group treatment variable
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20. Studying Change Over Time
Does one of these patterns
T = Score
cross-sectional research: accurately represent intelligence
A research design that as people age?
compares groups of people who
differ in age but are similar in
other important characteristics. 65 Longitudinal
longitudinal research: A 60
research design in which the 55
same individuals are followed
over time and their 50
development is repeatedly 45
assessed. Cross-Sectional
40
cohort: A group defined by the 35
shared ages of its members.
30
25 32 39 46 55 60 67 74 81 88 Age
Source: Schale, 1988
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21. Studying Change Over Time
cross-sequential research: A hybrid research design in which researchers first study several
groups of people of different ages (a cross-sectional approach) and then follow those groups
over the years (a longitudinal approach). (Also called cohort-sequential research or time-
sequential research.)
How are cross-sectional and longitudinal research designs combined?
Cross-sequential
Total time: 16 years, plus double and triple analysis
2-year-olds 6-year-olds 10-year-olds 14-year-olds 18-year-olds
[4 years later] [4 years later] [4 years later] [4 years later]
For cohort 2-year-olds 6-year-olds 10-year-olds 14-year-olds
effects compare
[4 years later] [4 years later] [4 years later]
groups on the
diagonals
(same age, 2-year-olds 6-year-olds 10-year-olds
different years).
[4 years later] [4 years later]
Time 1 Time 1 + 4 years Time 1 + 8 years Time 1 + 12 years Time 1 + 16 years 21

22. Correlation and Causation
correlation: How do variables correlate?
A number
between +1.0 Quiz on Correlation
and -1.0 that
indicates the
degree of Positive, Negative, Why?
Two Variables
relationship or Zero Correlation? (Third Variable)
between two
variables, 1. Ice cream sales third variable:
expressed in and murder rate Positive
heat
terms of their
likelihood that
one variable 2. Learning to read and third variable:
Negative
will (or will not) number of baby teeth age
occur when the
other variable no third variable:
3. Sex of adult and each child must
does (or does their average number Zero
not). have a parent of
of offspring each sex
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23. Quantity and Quality
How is quantitative and qualitative research used?
quantitative research: Research
data expressed with numbers,
such as ranks or scales.
qualitative research: Research
that considers qualities instead of
quantities.
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24. Ethics
How do we ensure that research is
done ethically?
code of ethics: A set of moral and specific
guidelines principles that members of a
profession or group are expected to
follow.
Institutional Review Board (IRB): A group
that exists within most educational and
medical institutions whose purpose is to
ensure that research follows established
guidelines and remains ethical.
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25. Closing Thoughts
How does science make the study
of human development possible?
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