Exam 1: Introduction to Developmental Psychology and Its Research Strategies
In comparison to correlational studies,what are two main advantages of the field experiment?
Field experiments offer several advantages over correlational studies, particularly in terms of establishing causality and ecological validity. Here are two main advantages:
1. Ability to Establish Causality: One of the most significant advantages of field experiments is their ability to determine cause-and-effect relationships. Unlike correlational studies, which can only identify associations between variables, field experiments manipulate one or more independent variables to observe the effect on a dependent variable. This manipulation, combined with random assignment of participants to different conditions, allows researchers to infer causality. By controlling for extraneous variables and ensuring that any observed changes in the dependent variable are due to the manipulation of the independent variable, field experiments provide stronger evidence for causal claims.
2. Ecological Validity: Field experiments are conducted in natural settings, which means that the environment in which the experiment takes place is more representative of real-world situations. This enhances the ecological validity of the study, as the behavior of participants is more likely to reflect genuine reactions and interactions as they would occur in their everyday lives. This is in contrast to correlational studies, which often rely on data from artificial or controlled settings that may not accurately represent the complexity of the real world. By preserving the natural context, field experiments can yield findings that are more generalizable and applicable to real-life scenarios.
In summary, field experiments offer the advantage of establishing causality through controlled manipulation and random assignment, as well as providing greater ecological validity by studying behavior in natural settings. These features make field experiments a powerful tool for understanding the dynamics of cause-and-effect relationships in the context of the complex, real-world environment.
Erika has been living in an Inuit community for the past three years in an attempt to understand how the Inuit culture affects different aspects of development.Based on this example,which research method is Erika using?
B
Which method of studying developmental change would a researcher be using if he or she compared the television-viewing habits of three different cohorts of children who were attending the same middle school but were in different grades?
A
Caleb is 12 years old and as part of an ongoing research study he has been assessed for "creativity" every six months for the past six years.Now that Caleb understands what is expected on the test,his answers have become more creative and he achieves higher scores.What accounts for Caleb's increased performance?
Lia has found a strong positive relationship between pet ownership and children's academic performance.What can Lia conclude from this result?
Merlin is analyzing the event-related potential data from his most recent research study.Which research method is Merlin using?
Which of the following is an interview technique in which a child's response to each successive question determines what the investigator will ask next?
Provide one example of normative development and one example of ideographic development.
What is one limitation to the use of the ethnographic approach?
Which research design should you choose if you were interested in exploring children's answers to the following questions: "When can children first understand the notion that germs can cause illness?","At what age do children benefit most from drug education?",and "Do the effects of a training program to reduce prejudice persist over time?"
A researcher videotaped preschoolers at a playground for a study of the frequency of cooperative behaviours.What was the researcher's goal?
Which of the following defines the term dependent variable?
Which research design involves experimenter control of an independent variable?
Briefly describe the research method known as structured observation and explain when this method might be used.
Michaela is 24 months old and she still has not spoken her first word.All four of her brothers spoke their first words at about 12 months of age,which is typical for most children.In this example,which general developmental concept does Michaela's lack of speech illustrate?
Reginald is conducting research related to moral development in children of different ages.Initially he asks each participant in his study the same set of questions,but he follows up each answer,and asks participants to elaborate and clarify their responses.Which research method is Reginald using?
When interviewed,Mr.and Mrs.Williams said that their two children,Jack and Wilbur,were different from the day each child was born.Jack was very affectionate,almost never cried or fussed,and always seemed curious about the faces that appeared above his crib,even those of strangers.Wilbur,on the other hand,was irritable from the outset and often cried for no apparent reason,and usually became upset when strangers' faces came into view.Thus the Williams wondered about their children's early personalities and about children in general.
(a)Whose basic theory about children is favoured here,Locke's or Rousseau's? Why?
(b)Which child do you think Rousseau would pick as representative of all children? Which child would Hobbes pick? In each case,why?
(c)What basic methods might the investigators employ in collecting information on Jack and Wilbur?
What shortcoming of the case study approach is exemplified by the early "baby biographies"?
What is the major limitation of the correlational research design?
What is a measure said to be if it consistently gives the same results?
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