Chapter 2: Research in Child Development

1. Chapter 2: Research in Child Development Module 2.1 Doing Child-Development Research Module 2.2 Child-Development Research and Family Policy Children and Their Development, 3/e by Robert Kail

2. 2.1 Doing Child-Development Research Measurement in Child-Development Research General Designs for Research Designs for Studying Development Ethical Responsibilities Communicating Research Results

3. Systematic Observation: naturalistic observation and structured observation Sampling behavior with tasks Self reports include questionnaires and interviews Measures should be both valid and reliable Samples of children who participate in research should be representative of the population of interest 2.1 Measurement in Child-Development Research

4. Correlational studies look at relations as they exist in the real world These real-world relations are expressed as a correlation coefficient, r, that ranges from -1 to 1 Experiments involve manipulating key factors that an investigator thinks are important The manipulated factor is the independent variable; the behavior measured is the dependent variable In field experiments, the researcher manipulates independent variables in a natural setting 2.1 General Designs for Research

5. Three Interpretations of a Correlation Coefficient 2.1: General Designs for Research

6. Example of an Experiment 2.1: General Designs for Research

7. Longitudinal study: the same individuals are tested repeatedly Microgenetic study: children are tested repeatedly over a span of days or weeks Cross-sectional study: children of different ages are tested Longitudinal-sequential studies are hybrids of longitudinal and cross-sectional studies 2.1 Designs for Studying Development

8. Cross-Sectional Study 2.1: Designs for Studying Development

9. Longitudinal Study 2.1: Designs for Studying Development

10. Longitudinal-Sequential Study 2.1: Designs for Studying Development

11. Minimize risks to research participants Describe the research to potential participants Avoid deceiving the participants Keep results anonymous or confidential 2.1 Ethical Responsibilities

12. Research results are reported in scientific journals Results of individual studies will be reported in the Focus on Research features Converging evidence from many studies is necessary 2.1 Communicating Research Results

13. 2.2 Child-Development Research and Family Policy Why Link Research to Policy? Ways to Influence Family Policy An Emphasis on Policy Implications Improves Research

14. Results of child-development research can improve children’s lives Research can help changing families decide what is best for their children Research can help children who face hurdles to healthy development 2.2 Why Link Research to Policy?

15. Build understanding of children’s development Be advocates for children Evaluate policies and programs Develop a model program 2.2 Ways to Influence Family Policy

16. Focusing on policy implications leads to improved theory and research Concern with family policy has improved research methods 2.2 An Emphasis on Policy Implications Improves Research