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 1st. 2nd.,3rd., and

4th. 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 3rd. 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?