topic 2
Research Methods in Developmental Psychology
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Critical Thinking Questions Researchers in
developmental psychology seek to know the processes and patterns behind human development. The challenges of doing this type of research have required the development of unique research methodologies to help researchers gather as much
information about developmental mechanisms as possible while controlling for outside factors that might confound (or mistakenly influence) explanations of their observations.
After reading the articles, try to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each of the research methods critiqued in the articles you read. In what way does each design discussed make it
possible to see developmental changes in behavior? What are some of the problems with the design that might lead to incorrect explanations of behavior change? "The 'window problem' in studies of children's attainments: A
methodological exploration." Barbara Wolfe, Robert Haveman, Donna Ginther and Chong Bum An. Journal of the American Statistical Association, Sep 1996 v91 n435 p970(13). "A contextually relevant assessment of the
impact of child maltreatment on the social competencies of low-income urban children." John W. Fantuzzo, Andrea DelGaudio Weiss, Marc Atkins, Raymond Meyers and Megan Noone. Journal of the American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry, Nov 1998 v37 n11 p1201(8).
Research Questions Two articles are listed in this section. Each deals with
a different approach to research in human development. They are included to provide students of human development research methods an opportunity to see the variety of methods that may be employed by the researcher and to critique
these methods for strengths and weaknesses.
Much research in human development is longitudinal, measuring changes in a group of individuals across time. The first study below
examines one of the often cited weaknesses of longitudinal research: participant attrition. Participant attrition refers to dropping out of research by some participants. If participants who fail to complete the study differ
significantly from those who choose to remain, this is a threat to the validity of the study. The second article is a computer-generated simulation of twin-research that extends this form of research to include triplets and
quadruplets. This research represents a novel approach to developmental research which may prove to be quite controversial, since there are no actual participants and no actual data collected. After reading the articles answer the
following questions: How are the results of each study interpreted by the researchers? Do you agree with their conclusions? Explain why or why not. What weaknesses do you detect for each of the cited research examples? What strengths
does each of the research examples possess? "Panel attrition from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics: household income, marital status, and mortality." (attrition in longitudinal surveys) Lee A. Lillard and W.A.
Constantijn Panis. Journal of Human Resources, Spring 1998 v33 n2 p437(21). "Quantitative variation in sets of triplets and quadruplets: a simulation." Gordon Allen. Human Biology, April 1995 v67 n2 p251(13).
Suggested Readings from Infotrac College Edition "Biases in
the interpretation and use of research results." Robert J. MacCoun. Annual Review of Psychology, Annual 1998 v49 p259(29). This is a thoughtful and thorough examination of the processes of bias that affect research
interpretation and uses.
"Elu(ci)d(at)ing epistemelogical impasses: re-viewing the qualitative/quantitative debates in psychology." (Transforming psychology:
Interpretive and participatory research methods) Vita Carulli Rabinowitz and Susan Weseen. Journal of Social Issues, Winter 1997 v53 n4 p605(26). This article examines the dichotomy between qualitiative and quantitative
research methods and relates this to research methods in psychology. "Evaluating the validity of a research study." George A. Morgan, Jeffrey A. Gliner and Robert J. Harmon. Journal of the American Academy of
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, April 1999 v38 i4 p480(6). This article is research examining a research study. "Researching diverse populations." Karla A. Henderson. Journal of Leisure Research, Wntr 1998 v30
n1 p157(14). The author offers observations on the enterprise of doing research on diverse populations from the perspectives of a researcher and a member of a researched population. "Some further observations concerning
Sir Cyril Burt." (premier British psychologist in the first half of the 20st century) Brian E. Butler and Jennifer Petrulis. British Journal of Psychology, Feb 1999 v90 i1 p155(6). This article describes a controversial
case of twin research fraud which discredited a noted British psychologist and those who have relied upon his research for their own theories. The author provides historical background and possible explanations for the errors and
apparent fabrications associated with Burt's research.