Human Development-Chapter 1

Front 1

Science of Human Development

Back 1

seeks to understand how and why people change or remain the same over time.

Front 2

Empirical

Back 2

Based on observation, experience, or experiment; not theoretical

Front 3

Dynamic-Systems Theory

Back 3

View of human development as always changing. Life is the product of ongoing interaction between the physical and emotional being between the person and every aspect of his or her enviorment, including the family and society. Flux is constant, and each change affects all others.

Front 4

Ecological-Systems Approach

Back 4

Vision of how human developemtn should be studied, with the person considered in all the contexts and interactions that constitute a life.

Front 5

Butterfly Effect

Back 5

The idea tha a small effect or thing can have a large impact if it happens to tip the balance, causing other changes that create a major event.

Front 6

Cohort

Back 6

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

Front 7

Socioeconmic Status-SES

Back 7

Person's position in society as determined by income, wealth, occupation, education, place of residence, and other factors

Front 8

Ethnic Group

Back 8

People whose ancestors were born in the same region and who often share a language, culture, and religion

Front 9

Race

Back 9

Group of people who are regarded (by themselves or others) as genetically distinct from other groups on the basis of Physical apperance.

Front 10

Social Construction

Back 10

Idea that is built more on shared perceptions than on objective reality. Many age-related terms, such as childhood, adolescence, yuppies, & senior citizens are social constructions.

Front 11

Mirror Neurons

Back 11

Brain cells that respond to actions performed by someone else, as if the observer had done the action. EX: brains of dancers who witness another dancer moving are activated in the same movement areas as if they did the dance step themselves

Front 12

Scientific Method

Back 12

Way to answer questions that requires empirical research and data-based conclusions

Front 13

Hypothesis

Back 13

Specific prediction that is stated in such a way that it can be tested and either confirmed or refuted.

Front 14

Replication

Back 14

Using the same procedures on a similar(but not identical) group of participants, in order to verify, refine, or dispute the orginal study's conclusions

Front 15

Scientific Observation

Back 15

Method of testing a hypotheses by unobtrusively watching and recording participant's behavior in a systematic and objective manne, either in a laboratory or natural setting

Front 16

Independent Variable
(experimental variable)

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In an experiement, the variable that is introduece to see what effect it has on the dependet variable.

Front 17

Dependent Variable

Back 17

Inan experient the variable that may change as a result of whatever new condition or situation the experimenter adds. In other words, the dependent variable DEPENDS on the indepent variable

Front 18

Experimental Group

Back 18

Group of participants in a research study who experience some special treatment or condition(the independent variable)

Front 19

Comparison Group/Control Group

Back 19

Group of participants in a research study who are similar to the experimental group in all relevant ways but who do not experience the experimental condition (independent variable)

Front 20

Survey

Back 20

Research method in which information is collected from a large number of people by interviews, written questionaires, or some other means

Front 21

Case Study

Back 21

Research method in which one indivdual is studied intensively

Front 22

Cross-Sectional Research

Back 22

Research design that compares groups of people who differ in age but are similar in other important characteristics

Front 23

Longitudinal Research

Back 23

Research design in which the same individuals are followed over time and their development is repeatedly assessed

Front 24

Cross-Sequential Research
(cohort-sequential or time-sequential research)

Back 24

Hybrid research method in which researchers first study several groups of people of different ages (a cross-sectional) and then follow those groups over the years(a longitudinal approach)

Front 25

Correlation

Back 25

Number indicating the degree of releationship between two variables, expressed in terms of the likelihood that one variable will or will not occur when the other variable does or does not. A correlation is not an indication that one variable caused the other, only that the two variables are related to the indicated degree.

Front 26

Quantitative Research

Back 26

Research that provides data that aca be expressed with numbers, such as ranks or scales

Front 27

Qualitative Research

Back 27

Research that considers qualities instead of quantities. Descriptions of particular conditions and participants' expressed ideas are often part of qualitative studies

Front 28

Code of Ethics

Back 28

Set of moral principles that members of a profession or group are expected to follow