Chapter 1: The Science of Development

seeks to understand how and why people – all kinds of people, everywhere, of every age-change over time.

5 basic steps.
1. Begin with curiosity, on the basis of theory, prior research, or personal observation, pose a question.
2. Develop a hypothesis - shape the question into a hypothesis, a specific prediction that can be tested.
3. Test the hypothesis - design and conduct research to gather empirical evidence (data).
4. Draw conclusions - use the evidence to support or refute the hypothesis.
5. Report the results - share the data and conclusions, as well as alternative explanations. Each new finding extends or clarifies earlier work.

the repetition of a study, using different participants – often follows the fifth step – is needed before the scientific community accepts the study’s conclusion’s.

refers to environmental influences, beginning with the healthy and diet of the embryo’s mother and continuing lifelong, including family, school, community, and society.

refers to the influence of genes that people inherit.

is a time when certain things must occur for normal development.

may take place at certain points during early childhood, when a particular development occurs most easily, although it may still happen later with more difficulty. For example, early childhood is considered a sensitive period for language learning.

to assume otherwise-to conclude that someone, who is different from us, is inferior-is to commit a mistake.

as first set forth by Paul and Margaret Baltes and their associates, is an approach to the study of human development that takes into account all phases of life, not just childhood or adulthood.
This perspective notes that development though out life is,
1. multidirectional
2. multicontextual
3. multicultural
4. multidisciplinary, and
5. plastic

all persons born within a few years of one another are said to be this… a group defined by its members shared age which means that they travel through life together. Each member is affected by the values, events, technologies, and culture of his or her era