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Details Title: Developmental Psychology Description: Chapter 1 Total Flash Cards: 38 Created: 09/08/2005 08:10:52	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term nature Definition Refers to our biological endowment, in particular, the genes we receive from our parents. Term nurture Definition Refers to the wide range of environments, both physical and social, that influence our development. Term continuous development Definition The idea that changes with age occur gradually, in small increments, like that of a pine tree growing taller and taller. Term discontinuous development Definition the idea that changes with age include occasional large shifts, like the transition from caterpillar to cocoon to butterfly. Term stage theories Definition approaches that propose that development involves a series of discontinuous, age-related phases. Term variation Definition differences in thought and behavior within and among individuals. Term selection Definition the more frequent survival and reproduction of organisms that are well adapted to their environment. Term sociocultural context Definition the physical, social, cultural, economic, and historical circumstances that make up any child's environment. Term socioeconomic status Definition A measure of social class based on income and education. Term Scientific method Definition An approach to testing beliefs that involves choosing a question, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and drawing a conclusion. Term hypothesis Definition educated guesses Term reliability Definition the degree to which independent measurements of a given behavior are consistent. Term interrater reliability Definition the amount of agreement in the observations of different raters who witness the same behavior. Term test-retest reliability Definition the degree of similarity of a child's performance on two or more occasions. Term validity Definition the degree to which a test measures what it is intended to measure. Term internal validity Definition the degree to which effects observed within experiments can be attributed to the variables that the researcher intentionally manipulated. Term external validity Definition the degree to which results can be generalized beyond the particulars of the research. Term structured interview Definition a research procedure in which all participants are asked to answer the same questions. Term clinical interview Definition a procedure in which questions are adjusted in accord with the answers the interviewee provides. Term naturalistic observation Definition examination of how children behave in their usual environments - schools, playgrounds, homes and so on. Term structured observation Definition a procedure that involves presenting an identical situation to each child and recording the child's behavior. Term variables Definition attributes that vary across individuals and situations, such as age, gender, and expectations. Term correlational designs Definition studies intended to indicate how variables are related to each other. Term correlation Definition the association between two variables Term correlational coefficient Definition a statistic that indicates the direction and strength of a correlation. Term direction-of-causation problem Definition the concept that a correlation between two variables does not indicate which, if either, variable is the cause of the other. Term third-variable problem Definition the concept that a correlation between two variables may stem from both being influenced by some third variable. Term experimental designs Definition a group of approaches that allow inferences about causes and effects to be drawn. Term random assignment Definition a procedure in which each child has an equal chance of being assigned to each group within an experiment. Term experimental control Definition the ability of the researcher to determine the specific experiences that children have during the course of an experiment. Term experimental group Definition a group of children in an experimental design who are presented the experience of interest. Term control group Definition the group of children in an experimental design who are not presented in the experience of interest. Term independent variable Definition the experience that children in the experimental group receive and that children in the control group do not receive. Term dependent variable Definition a behavior that is measure to determine whether it is affected by exposure to the independent variable. Term naturalistic experiments Definition a type of experimental design in which data are collected in everyday settings. Term cross-sectional design Definition a research method in which children of different ages are compared on a given behavior or characteristic over a short period of time. Term longitudinal design Definition a method of study in which the same children are studied twice or more over a substantial period of time. Term microgenetic design Definition a method of study in which the same children are studied repeatedly over a short period of time.