IDPSP Methods Info Treasure Hunt

You've found it!

1. IDPSP Methods Info Treasure Hunt
Well doneYou’ve followed the clues successfully and found the methods “treasure”. The
information you were looking for is below. Jenna

Research designs and methods in developmental psychology

Carrying out research with children can make some of the more ‘traditional’ methods
in psychology difficult to use. This is particularly relevant for research with very
young children. As such, developmental psychologists often use a range of different
research designs and methods to investigate development (see table 1 & 2 below).
To find examples of research that employs these designs and methods, start with
Chapter 1: The scope and methods of developmental psychology (Slater and
Bremner 2011 – core text).

Table 1: Research designs for studying age-related changes in development


Research Design Description Examples?

Cross-sectional
Involve participants of
different ages being studied
at a single point in time



Longitudinal
Involve the same participants
being studied over time at
different points in their
development.



Sequential
(or age/cohort)


Involve a combination of
longitudinal and cross-
sectional designs to explore
differences in the
development of individuals
from different age cohorts.



Micro-genetic




Involve the same participants
being repeatedly studied
over relatively short period of
time. A method that enables
change to be mapped as it
occurs.


There are other designs.
Have you come across any
other research designs
used to study child
development?

2. Table 2: Developmental Psychology Research Methods
Research Method Description Example
Observational methods

- Experimental
- Naturalistic
Behaviour is observed and
recorded. Observations can
be in laboratory
(experimental) or natural
(naturalistic) settings.



Biographical Diaries often kept by primary
caregiver documenting child
development. These are
sometimes referred to as an
observational method.


Experimental Used to establish cause and
effect in child development.
Use of control groups.

Psychological testing Standardised tests to
measure psychological
functioning.


Correlational
- Concurrent
- Predictive
Looks at the relationship
between two variables.
Concurrent – interested in
the relationship between two
variables at the same time.
Predictive – can one variable
predict another variable

Neurodevelopmental Used for understanding
Brain-behaviour links. Brain
development studies often
make use of technology such
as fMRI and PET


There are other methods.
Have you come across any
other research methods
applied to study child
development?