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Developmental Research Methods
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Developmental Research Methods

Fifth Edition


February 2017 | 480 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

The Fifth Edition of the classic Developmental Research Methods presents an overview of methods to prepare students to carry out, report on, and evaluate research on human development across the lifespan. The book explores every step in the research process, from the initial concept to the final written product, covering conceptual issues of experimental design, as well as the procedural skills necessary to translate design into research. Incorporating new topics, pedagogy, and references, this edition conveys an appreciation of the issues that must be addressed, the decisions that must be made, and the obstacles that must be overcome at every phase in a research project, capturing both the excitement and the challenge of doing quality research on topics that matter.


 
1: Introduction
Goals of the Book

 
Steps in a Research Program

 
Plan of the Book

 
Summary

 
Exercises

 
 
2: General Principles
Variables

 
Validity

 
Sampling

 
Control

 
Subject Variables

 
Outcomes

 
Threats to Validity

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
 
3: Design
Age Comparisons

 
Condition Comparisons

 
Correlational Research

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
 
4: Measurement
Some Basic Concepts

 
Quality of Measurement

 
Tests

 
Regression

 
Observational Methods

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
 
5: Procedure
Standardization

 
Some Sources of Bias

 
Reactivity and Related Problems

 
Experimenter Bias

 
Loss of Participants

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
 
6: Contexts
Lab and Field

 
Ecological Systems

 
Cross-Cultural Research

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
 
7: Qualitative Research
Characteristics of Qualitative Research

 
Methods of Study

 
Overview and Evaluation

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
 
8: Applied Research
Assessment

 
Socially Important Issues

 
Intervention

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
 
9: Statistics
Uses of Statistics

 
Some More about Significance

 
Choosing a Statistical Test

 
Correlations

 
Multiple Regression

 
Meta-Analysis

 
Some General Points

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
 
10: Ethics
Guidelines and Procedures

 
Rights of the Research Participant

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
 
11: Writing
Sections of an Article

 
Some Specific Stylistic Points

 
Summary

 
Exercises

 
 
12: Infancy
General Issues

 
Infant Perception

 
Infant Cognitive Development

 
Infant Social Development

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
 
13: Cognitive Development
The Piagetian Approach

 
The Intelligence Test Approach

 
Memory

 
Theory of Mind

 
Concepts

 
Executive Function

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
 
14: Social Development
Moral Development

 
Emotions

 
Gender Differences and Gender Typing

 
Peer Relations

 
Child Rearing

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
 
15: Aging
General Issues (as Illustrated by the Study of IQ)

 
Memory

 
Wisdom

 
Memory

 
Personality and Social Development

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Exercises

 
Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION: 

  • New topics expose students to current research issues in human development. Topics include: emotional development, bullying, early forms of moral understanding, the “replication crisis” in psychology, the role of gestures in cognitive development, the study of false belief in infancy, the “teenage brain” and its implications for adolescent behavior, the study of the “oldest old,” and the population of centenarians.
  • Key Terms lists now appear at the end of each chapter to help students master the vocabulary of research methods.
  • New boxes, exercises, glossary items, and tables and figures bring the book completely up to date.
  • Approximately 400 new references reflect recent scholarship in the field

KEY FEATURES: 

  • Flexible chapters provide instructors the ability to cover material in any order they prefer.
  • A student-friendly design and engaging approach provides extended coverage of especially interesting and important contemporary topics through chapter boxes, tables, figures, and photos.
  • Built-in study tools, including exercises, chapter-ending summaries, key terms lists, a glossary, citation of further sources, and relevant websites, help students master key content.

 

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 8


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