INTRODUCTION
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
Replicate the study – Why should we do it? Repeat the study with different participants Confirm earlier results
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
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?
Life-Span Perspectives Multidirectional Multicontextual Multicultural Multidisciplinary Plastic
What is a multidirectional approach?
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
What is a multicultural approach? People experience a culture differently based on their previous cultural experiences Patterns of behavior Norms Customs Values Ethnicity Race
What is a multidisciplinary approach? Biosocial Biological Cognitive Thought Psychosocial Psychological
What is plasticity? Traits can be molded during development Culture Genes Provides hope and ability to change
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?
How can we use the Scientific Method? (Types of studies) Observational Surveys Experiments Studies over time Cross-sectional Longitudinal
What are observational studies? Natural setting Laboratory Archival data Files
What are surveys? Questionnaires Interviews
How can we study change over time? Cross-sectional Different groups of different ages Longitudinal Same group over time as they age
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?
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
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
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Quantitative – Numbers Qualitative – Written descriptions, ideas
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?