Differential 2.3

Question 1

What are quantitative changes of development? (2 sentences)

Answer 1

Differences in the magnitude of the same mechanisms
They require a common measuring rod used in the same way

Question 2

What are qualitative changes of development? (3 points)

Answer 2

Capacities have come online or eroded
There is no common measuring rod
Pervasive in childhood, young adulthood, and other life transitions

Question 3

What is a cross-sectional developmental research design? (1 sentence)

Answer 3

Examine behavior in participants of different ages who are tested at the same point in time

Question 4

What is a longitudinal developmental research design? (1 sentence)

Answer 4

Beginning with a group of people who may be of the same age and background (cohort) and measuring them repeatedly over a long period of time

Question 5

What are the advantages of a cross-sectional study design? (6 points)

Answer 5

• Less expensive (e.g. self-report surveys)
• Less time-consuming (can collect lots of information quickly)
• Can access multiple variables e.g. gender, age, educational status, income
• Data can be used to spur further experimental studies
• Participants are less likely to drop out (data collected all at once)
• Use new participants with each study

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of a cross-sectional study design? (6 points)

Answer 6

• Difficulties in confirming causal effects due to variation
• Cohort effects - groups born in the same period might affect how they perceive events depending on their location, religion, political beliefs
• Varying levels of sample selectivity
• Unable to evaluate prior influences on individual differences
• Report biases - inaccurate reporting due to embarrassment, fear etc.
• Does not evaluate change (cannot observe causality)

Question 7

What are the advantages of a longitudinal study design? (3 points)

Answer 7

• Can measure causality
• Can measure individual differences in change
• Can evaluate prior influences on individual differences

Question 8

What are the disadvantages of a longitudinal study design? (2 points)

Answer 8

• Expensive
• Time-consuming
• Selective attrition - some individuals may be more likely to drop out than others
• Usually limited to one cohort
• Potential practice effects
• Questions/measurements get dated

Question 9

What is a cohort-sequential design?

Answer 9

An experimental design in which multiple measures are taken over a period of time from two or more groups of different ages (birth cohorts).