Research Methods
Differentiate between an independent and a dependent variable (cause).
IV is a variable manipulated by the experimenter whereas the DV is the effect/being measured.
Differentiate between nature and nurture using an example.
Nature - a person is unique due to their biology or genes. emphasis on hereditary factors – factors that influence development and are genetically passed down from biological parents to their offspring.
Nurture - suggested that each individual was unique due to their experiences and how these experiences shaped them. This school of thought put an emphasis on environmental factors – factors that influence development and arise from an individual’s physical and social surroundings.
Name the theorist who researched cognitive development.
Jean Piaget
Define neurotypical
neurotypical is a term used to describe individuals who display neurological and cognitive functioning that is typical or expected.
Name and explain one ethical guideline
Any of the following with appropriate explanation:
- confidentiality
- informed consent procedures
- use of deception
- debriefing
- voluntary participation
- withdrawal rights
Describe the biopsychosocial model.
an interdisciplinary holistic framework, for understanding how biological, psychological and social factors impact psychological development.
Name all four stages (in order) of Piaget's theory of cognitive development.
Define neurodivergent and provide an example.
Neurodivergent are individuals who have a variation in neurological development and functioning. eg: ADHD
List the 4 things that should be included in a hypothesis
- population
- IV (both levels)
- DV
- directional prediction
Jasmine is the top student in her university class. She has always found school to be relatively easy and has always been praised for her intelligence.
In terms of psychological development in relation to the biopsychosocial model, name a influence for each of the 3 factors that would have likely influenced Jasmine’s intelligence?
Bio - parents are intelligent and passed down.
Psychological - high self esteem - belief in her own ability, positive attitude, good coping skills and resilience etc.
Social - good education, supportive family, competitive but supportive friend group.
Name one of the first 3 relevant stages and identify and explain one key development that takes place in this stage.
sensorimotor - object permanence or goal directed behaviour
pre-operational - egocentric, centration reversibility, animism
concrete operational - conservation, classification,
Differentiate between typical and atypical behaviour and provide an example of how the one behaviour could be classified as both.
Typical - a behaviour or activity that is consistent with how an individual usually behaves
Atypical - a behaviour or activity that is unusual or or unnatural according to how an individual usually behaves
Feeling worried about an upcoming job interview would be typical however feeling so worried for days on end that you don't leave the house would be atypical.
Name and explain the 3 types of sampling
Convenience sampling any sampling technique that involves selecting readily available members of the population, rather than using a random or systematic approach
Random sampling any sampling technique that uses a procedure to ensure every member of the population has the same chance of being selected
Stratified sampling any sampling technique that involves selecting people from the population in a way that ensures that its strata (subgroups) are proportionally represented in the sample
With reference to the biopsychosocial model, provide an example of a negative biopsychosocial influence that may occur during childhood and explain how it may create a pattern of negative outcomes later in life.
According to the biopsychosocial model, biopsychosocial factors interact and influence one another. As such, experiencing a negative influence from one of these factors in childhood may influence
negative outcomes in other factors later in life.
For example, if a child is put down a lot during school (social) they may experience low self-esteem during their adolescence (psychological).
Evaluate Piaget's theory
Strengths:
Provided a detailed understanding the way in which children develop as they age.
Weakness:
*Children often reach the particular stages outlined by Piaget much sooner than he thought
* Children may have misunderstood the task or did not explain their answers clearly enough
*Small number of participants and he often used his own children as a sample
Define autsim spectrum disorder and explain why it is referred to as a spectrum.
ASD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by impaired social interactions, verbal and non-verbal communication difficulties, narrow interests and repetitive behaviours.
It is referred to as a spectrum because there would be ‘varying degrees’, or a wide range and experience of autistic-like traits that each individuals experience.
Pedro conducted research to find out whether the type of music people listened to affected their levels of stress. Twenty participants were exposed to simulations of two different stressful scenarios. In the morning, the participants were told to listen to classical music after exposure to the first simulation and, in the afternoon, they were told to listen to heavy metal music after exposure to the second simulation. Physiological measures of stress were used before and during the simulations. Higher levels of arousal indicated greater stress.
Readings from the EEG and EMG were quantified as stress level scores from 0 to 10. A change score was calculated by subtracting the pre-simulation stress level score from the during-simulation stress level score
Identify and explain one potential confounding variable in pedro's research and suggest how he could control for it in future.
Order effects - the tendency for the order in which participants complete conditions to have an effect on their behaviour or performance.
Control for it through:
Counterbalancing - ordering experimental conditions in a certain way - splitting participants in half and being exposed in a different order.
Critical periods are the narrow, rigid developmental period in which a specific skill or function must be learnt for example - first language acquisition. Whereas sensitive periods refer to the optimal developmental period for specific function or skill to be learnt in the fastest and easiest way, for example second language acquisition.
Name and explain the 2 key developments that take place in the formal operational stage.
Abstract thought - consideration of concepts that are not tangible and therefore require imagination rather than senses.
For example, the concept of love or the concept of society would require abstract thought to be understood.
Reason and logic - Logic is the ability to objectively consider a problem and consider all possible solutions, whereas reasoning involves using logic to process a concept and to reach a sensible and valid conclusion.
Calista grew up in rural Victoria with her parents and five siblings. As a child, Calista was very bubbly and positive. Unfortunately, her parents used to fight a lot and often left Calista and her siblings to look after themselves. Calista now wishes her parents were more involved in her life but doesn’t really feel comfortable when they try to get involved. She also struggles to make new friends and trust others because she is afraid they will ignore her as her parents did. This has now begun to affect her bubbly personality and her performance at school.
In terms of emotions, behaviours, and cognitions, explain how Calista’s environment could lead her to become a ‘maladaptive individual’.
Being a ‘maladaptive individual’ means that you are unable to adapt to the environment appropriately and function effectively.
Calista feeling uncomfortable when her parents try to be more involved in her life could become maladaptive if she becomes uncomfortable with anyone getting involved in her life as it would hinder her relationships.
Calista could also exhibit the maladaptive behaviour of skipping school because she wants to avoid interactions with others, which would then affect her grades and not allow her to succeed in school.
Finally, Calista may also start to think that no one likes her and that she will forever be alone, which is also maladaptive as it would reduce her self-esteem and hinder her ability to function effectively in everyday life.