1. INTRODUCTION

3. Scientific Method – What are the steps? 1. Pose a question (the problem) 2. Develop a hypothesis A testable prediction 3. Test the hypothesis Gather data 4. Draw conclusions State the results of the research 5. Report the results Publish the findings

4. Replicate the study – Why should we do it? Repeat the study with different participants Confirm earlier results

5. Nature-Nurture debate Nature = Genes Nurture = Environment Family Culture Etc. Size can be a result of biology (genetics) and the environment. Fish in a pond Plants in soil

6. Do you remember? What are the steps in the scientific method? Why would someone replicate a study? What part of your nature influenced your development? What part of your nurture influenced your development?

7. Life-Span Perspectives Multidirectional Multicontextual Multicultural Multidisciplinary Plastic

8. What is a multidirectional approach?

9. What is a multicontextual approach? Historical Cohort Cohort People experiencing same historical perspective E.g. “Baby boomers” Values Events Technologies Culture Socioeconomic Cohort Social class Occupation Education

10. What is a multicultural approach? People experience a culture differently based on their previous cultural experiences Patterns of behavior Norms Customs Values Ethnicity Race

11. What is a multidisciplinary approach? Biosocial Biological Cognitive Thought Psychosocial Psychological

12. What is plasticity? Traits can be molded during development Culture Genes Provides hope and ability to change

13. Do you remember? What are the different lifespan perspectives? What directions are involved in the multidirectional approach? Which of these perspectives holds the most hope that human traits can be molded during development?

14. How can we use the Scientific Method? (Types of studies) Observational Surveys Experiments Studies over time Cross-sectional Longitudinal

15. What are observational studies? Natural setting Laboratory Archival data Files

16. What are surveys? Questionnaires Interviews

17. How can we study change over time? Cross-sectional Different groups of different ages Longitudinal Same group over time as they age

18. Do you remember? If you are watching children at play on the playground to see how they respond, you are using what type of study? If you talk to parents about their child’s behavior, you are using what type of study? In one year, if you study children in the 1 st. 2 nd.,3 rd., and 4 th. grades to see how children change over time, you are using what type of study? If you follow the same group of children from the first grade through the fifth grade, you are using what type of study?

19. What are experiments? Can experiments determine cause and effect? Yes (The only type of study that can) Two groups Experimental group Comparison (control) group Variables Independent variable Dependent variable E.g. Classroom vs. distance learning

20. Correlation If two things are correlated, did one cause the other? No – Correlation is not causation Correlation may be caused by a 3 rd. Variable Correlation Positive, Negative, or Zero

21. Quantitative vs. Qualitative Quantitative – Numbers Qualitative – Written descriptions, ideas

22. Do you remember? What scientific method can determine if one thing caused another? What are the two groups in an experiment, and what are the differences in these groups? What would be an example of the different types of correlation? If two things are related (correlated) why can you not assume one caused the other?