Chapter 1
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28 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 science of human development | the science that seeks to understand how and why people of all ages and circumstances change or remain the same over time |
| empirical | based on observation, experience, or experiment; not theoretical |
| scientific method | a way to answer questions that requires empirical research and data-based conclusions |
| hypothesis | a specific prediction that is stated in such a way that it can be tested and either confirmed or refuted |
| continuity | signifies developments over time that appear to persist, unchanging, from one age to the next |
| discontinuity | signifies developments that appear quite different from those that came before |
| critical period | a time when a particular type of developmental growth (in a body or behavior) must happen |
| sensitive period | a time when a certain type of development is most likely to happen and happens most easily (ex: language learning) |
| cohort | a group of people who were born at about the same time and thus move through life together, experiencing the same historical events and cultural shifts at about the same time |
| socioeconomic status (SES) | a person's position in society as determined by income, wealth, occupation, education, place of residence, and other factors |
| ethnic group | people whose ancestors were born in the same region and who often share a language, culture, and religion |
| race | a group of people who are regarded by themselves or by others as distinct from other groups on the basis of physical appearance |
| social construction | an idea that is built on shared perceptions, not on objective reality |
| plasticity | the idea that abilities, personality, and other human traits can change over time |
| scientific observation | a method of testing a hypothesis by unobtrusively watching and recording participants' behavior in a systematic and objective manner, in a natural setting, in a laboratory, or in searches of archival data |
| experiment | a research method in which the researcher tries to determine the cause-and-effect relationships between two variables by manipulating one and observing and recording the results |
| independent variable | the variable that is introduced to see what effect it has on the dependent variable |
| dependent variable | the variable that may change as a result of whatever new condition or situation the experimenter adds |
| experimental group | a group of participants in a research study who experience some special treatment or condition |
| comparison group/ control group | the group who doesn't experience the special condition or treatment in an experiment |
| survey | a research method in which information is collected from a large number of people by interview |
| case study | a research method in which one individual is studied intensively |
| cross-sectional research | a research design that compares groups of people who differ in age but are similar in other important characteristics |
| longitudinal research | a research in which the same individuals are followed over time and their development is repeatedly assessed |
| cross-sequential research | a hybrid research method in which researchers first study several groups of people of different ages |
| quantitative research | research that provides data that can be expressed with numbers, such as ranks or scales |
| qualitative research | research that considers qualities instead of quantities |
| code of ethics | a set of moral principles that members of a profession or group are expected to follow |
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