PSY 2401 1st Edition Lecture 3 Outline of Last Lecture I. What is Science?II. Scientific MethodIII. Scientific Integrity- How can we take a scientific approach to the study of development? How can developmental science explain HOW children develop?Outline of Current Lecture I. Applying the Scientific MethodII. Research questions based on 7 themesIII. Research MethodsCurrent LectureI. Applying the Scientific Methoda. How do we use the scientific method?i. First Step: start with some good questions…1. How do we explain the behavior of a shy child struggling to keep up in class?ii. Second Step: formulate some hypotheses1. Maybe there’s a language barrier?2. Maybe the parents don’t encourage the child enough?b. Steps 1, 2 bring together the first elements of the scientific methodc. Each hypotheses we came up with has a broader “naïve theory” or “theme” underlying it (general  specific and vice versa)i. Parents didn’t teach good social skills (nurture; environmental contribution)ii. Shy personality (nature; temperament; genes)iii. In developmental science the general  specific could be a little murky d. Third Step: test hypothesis using appropriate methods…i. Steps 2, 3 bring together the next elements of the scientific methode. Each hypothesis must be tested in an experiment….i. Must develop appropriate methodsThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.ii. Must use an appropriate research designiii. Must draw appropriate conclusionsII. Research questions based on 7 themesa. Nature and nurturei. Nature- refers to our biological endowment, especially the genes we receive from our parents (nativists)ii. Nurture- physical and social environments that influence our development (empiricists)1. Important: NOT nature vs. nurture; fully integrative and not separable; nature x nurture b. The active childi. Children are active explorers. This activity in first few years shapes:1. Attentional patterns2. Language3. Play (why do we play?)a. Kids learn through play; playing is learningii. Children actively choose environments, friends, and activities; choices shape developmental trajectoriesiii. Development is all about activity; kids shaping their own developmentc. Continuity/discontinuity i. Continuous development: development occurs gradually, quantitative change1. Quantitative change: i.e. growth of a tree from small to largeii. Discontinuous development: development occurs via sudden jumps to new behaviors (stage theories); qualitative change1. Proposed by Piagett2. Qualitative change: i.e. caterpillar  butterfly iii. Not one or the other- can be both!iv. Appearance of continuous vs. discontinuous view is subtle! d. Mechanisms of developmental changei. How does change happen?ii. One example is to use ideas from Darwin’s theory of evolution…1. Variation- generate lots of different thoughts and behaviors2. Selection- strengthen the patterns that are successfula. Could select these patterns at a neural level (brain development) or behavioral level (strategies for problem solving)e. The sociocultural contexti. Development is embedded in structured contexts: physical, social, cultural, economic, and historical circumstances create an environment for development1. Title 9: women being allowed to participate in sports2. Sleeping arrangements differ between Mayan and US3. US culture prizes independence and self-reliance, whereas the Mayan culture values interdependence4. Key question: what are the outcomes of these sleeping patterns?f. Individual differencesi. Why are children so different?1. Genes interact with environment (GXE)2. Children treated differently by others3. Children react differently to treatment by others4. Children choose different environments (even within same family!)5. After completing this course, you might also ask: why would we ever think children would be very similar?g. Research and children’s welfarei. Practical benefits of developmental research1. Can be used to design intervention/prevention programsIII. Research Methodsa. Way to elicit the behavior you are interested in from a particular set of participantsb. The methodology you choose should be based on… i. Your theory/hypothesisii. Your research questioniii. The age/abilitiesc. Example: What can very young infants do?i. Suckii. Turn their headiii. Track objects with their eyesiv. Fixate on objectsd. Infant Methodologies/Paradigmsi. Operant conditioning paradigms1. Pacifier sucking2. Mobile-kicking3. Head turn ii. Habituation paradigms (one item on screen)iii. Preferential looking (one item on left; other on