Theory
is a logically set of ideas or beliefs that seek to organize, explain and predict
data in order that one can make a hypothesis (guess or explanation) that can be tested by research.
THEORETICAL
ISSUES
THERE ARE THREE BASIC THEORETICAL ISSUES ON WHICH DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENTIST DIFFER?
1. Which
is more important, heredity or environment?
If heredity, then one is destine to be a certain way. If environment, we can control
what we become.
2. Active (initiate events) verses passive (react to events) character of
development. If passive, we can manipulate and predict development.
3. Is
development continuous or does it occur in stages?
Are we continuously changing or developing thru out the life span, or does certain things occur at various times
thru our life span?
THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES
THERE ARE SIX THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN DEVEVLOPMENT
PSYCHOANALYTIC.Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson
believes that behavior is controlled by powerful
unconscious urges.
LEARNING.Ivan P. Pavlov, Burrhus F. Skinner, John B. Watson, ...believes people are responders; and environment controls behavior.
HUMANISTIC. Abraham Maslow,.. Carl Rogers.believes
people have the ability to take charge of their lives and foster their own development or behavior.
COGNITIVE. Jean Piaget.believes Qualitative changes
in thought occur between infancy and adolescence. Person is active initiator
of development or behavior.
ECHOLOGICALBowlby and Ainsworth.believes humans
have the adaptive mechanisms to survive; critical or sensitive periods are stressed; biological and evolutionary bases for
behavior and predisposition toward learning are important.
CONTEXTUAL.Bronfenbrenner.believes development
occurs through interaction between a developing person and five
surrounding, interlocking contextual systems
of influences, from microsystem to chronosystem.
Self-Actualization
needs to find self
fulfillment or realize
ones potential
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Esteem
need to achieve, be
competent, and gain approval
and recognition
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Belongingness
need to affiliate with others, to be
accepted
to belong and to be loved
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Safety
need to feel secure and safe,
out of danger
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Physiological
need to have basic physical necessities
to sustain life fulfilled
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Maslow believed that only when people have satisfied
basic needs can they strive to meet higher needs . Starving persons will take
great risks to get food; only when they have obtained it can they worry about the next level of needs, those concerning personal
safety,security etc. These needs, in turn, must be substantially met before people can freely seek love and acceptance, esteem
and achievement, and finally self-actualization, the full realization of potential.
According to Maslow, a satisfied need is no longer a motivator of behavior.
RESEARCH METHODS
When research is conducted, two key issues prevail.
·
How participants are
chosen for the research?
·
How data is collected
for the research?
These decisions depend on what questions the researcher wants to answer.
Research in human development
works within two methodologies:
Quantitative = focus is on
“hard” data (numbers, statistics)
Qualitative =focus on “soft”
data (subjective experience, feelings
SAMPLING
When studying a population, it is generally to costly and time
consuming to study an entire population. Consequently, a sample is taken.
Sampling…… Simply
refers to group of participants chosen to represent the entire group being studied.
Care must be taken to ensure the sample is representative, that is, it must show or include
relevant characteristics of the target population.
FORMS OF DATA COLLECTION
Four common ways of gathering data include:
·
Self Reports
·
Interviews
·
Questionnaires
·
Laboratory Observation
BASIC RESEARCH DESIGNS
There are a number of research designs. The more common
designs are:
·
Case Studies (In dept study of a single
individual, example Wild Child)
·
Ethnographic Studies
(In dept study of a culture or subculture)
·
Correlation Studies
(attempts to find positive or negative
relationships between variables)
·
Experimental Studies
(controlled procedures in which
variables manipulated)
DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
·
Longitudinal Studies
(date collected on the same person over a
period of time)
·
Cross-Sectional Studies
(data collected on people of different
Ages at the same time)
·
Sequential Studies
(data collected on successive cross-sectional
Or
longitudinal samples)
ETHNIC RESEARCH
Should research that might harm its participants ever be undertaken?
How can we balance the possible benefits against the risk of mental, emotional, or physical injury
to individuals?
“Genie” and “The Wild Child” are good examples
·
Right to informed
Consent (young children cannot give
Meaningful voluntary consent since they cannot fully
Understand what is involved)
·
Avoidance Deception
(can consent exist if participants are
Deceived about nature and purpose of the study or procedures
·
Right to privacy and
Confidentiality (is it ethical to use
One way mirrors and hidden cameras to observe people without
Their
knowledge?
