PSY 302 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Dependent And Independent Variables, Confounding, Prenatal Development
Document Summary
Outline: scientific method, data collection methods, basic designs in developmental psychology, methods for studying infants. The scientific method: identify a problem/question, formulate a hypothesis, gather data to test the hypothesis. Basic methods of data collection (describing behaviour: self-report methodologies. General research design (detect relationships: correlational: predict behaviour, experimental: explain behaviour. Correlational design: relationship between two or more variables. Random assignment: randomly assign children to the experimental and. Experimental control: manipulate or control specific experiences control groups. encountered by children. Designs for examining development: quasi-experimental designs: Microgentic design: cross-sectional vs. longitudinal, microgenetic design: the same children studied repeatedly over a short period of time; example: counting-on strategy. Infants are difficult participants: no or little command of language, do not understand (complex) instructions, do not give (complex) verbal responses. Research methods with infants: preference method: robert fantz (1960, habituation method, evoked potentials, high-amplitude sucking. In-class assignment #1: prenatal development and the birth process.
