Children are a valuable population in society that scientists research and observe. When conducting research on a vulnerable population like children and minors, investigators will need to include additional steps to ensure the safety and protection of the children (Society for Research in Child Development [SRCD], 2012). Standard ethical principles must still be followed based on the APA Code of Ethics (American Psychological Association [APA], 2010).
A child or minor’s guardian will be required to offer consent as children are often assumed to be unable to understand the context to which they are consenting (Fisher & Vacanti-Shova, 2012). However, according to the SRCD (2012), if a child is old enough to understand and comprehend what is being asked, they should also give their consent to participate. Additionally, when obtaining consent from a child, investigators should ensure that the language being used is comprehensible to the child based on age, perceived cognitive abilities, and developmental level (Fisher & Vacanti-Shova, 2012).
In addition to consent, scientists should also ensure that there is a developed sense of honesty and trustworthiness throughout the study to ensure the safety and protection of the child and minors (SRCD, 2012). If scientists find any potential risks or potential harm to the participants in the study, scientists are required to find alternative and safer ways to obtain the information (APA, 2010; SRCD, 2012) PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development.
References
American Psychological Association. (2017, January 1). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct.
Fisher, C. B., & Vacanti-Shova, K. (2012). The responsible conduct of psychological research: An overview of ethical principles, APA
Ethics Code standards, and federal regulations. In APA handbook of ethics in psychology, Vol 2: Practice, teaching, and research. (pp. 335–369). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/13272-016
Society for Research in Child Development. (2021, March). Ethical principles and standards for developmental scientists.
Life is simply a matter of concentration: you are what you set out to be. You are a composite of things you say, the books you read, the thoughts you think, the company you keep, and the things you desire to become.
—B.C. Forbes (1880–1954)
Scottish journalist
Welcome to the first week of Lifespan Development. Forbes presents a compelling quote, but he left out one part—the impact of biology. Have you thought about to what degree human development is the product of biology and genetics or the result of environmental factors? This week, you begin to investigate the “nature and nurture” topic and examine other concepts that frame lifespan development. You learn how these concepts form the basis of many lines of research in lifespan development. You also explore how and why the populations typically studied in developmental research are considered vulnerable and require particular ethical protections PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development.
Berk, L. E. (2018). Development through the lifespan (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
American Psychological Association. (2020). Scholarly writing and publishing principles. In Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Fisher, C. B., & Vacanti-Shova, K. (2012). The responsible conduct of psychological research: An overview of ethical principles, APA ethics code standards, and federal regulations. In S. J. Knapp, M. C. Gottlieb, M. M. Handelsman, & L. D. VandeCreek (Eds.), APA handbook of ethics in psychology, Vol. 2: Practice, teaching, and research (pp. 335–369). American Psychological Association.
Pinker, S. (2004). Why nature and nurture won’t go away. Daedalus, 133(4), 5–17.
Meyer, D., Wood, S., & Stanley, B. (2013). Nurture is nature: Integrating brain development, systems theory, and attachment theory. The Family Journal, 21(2), 162–169. doi:10.1177/1066480712466808
Vaillancourt, T., Hymel, S., & McDougall, P. (2013). The biological underpinnings of peer victimization: Understanding why and how the effects of bullying can last a lifetime. Theory Into Practice, 52(4), 241–248. doi:10.1080/00405841.2013.829726 PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development
Document: Final Project Assignment Overview document (PDF)
Document: Example of Discussion Post and Response (PDF)
American Psychological Association. (2016b). Developmental psychology. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/division/div7.aspx
American Psychological Association. (2010a). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct with the 2010 amendments. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx
As you review this website, focus your reading on the Introduction and Applicability section, the Preamble section, and the General Principles section.
Society for Research in Child Development. (2012a). Retrieved from http://www.srcd.org/
Society for Research in Child Development. (2012b). Ethical standards in research. Retrieved from http://www.srcd.org/about-us/ethical-standards-research
Walden Writing Center. (2015). Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/home
Harris, N. B. (Producer). (2014). How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime [Video file]. Retrieved August 26, 2016, from http://www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_trauma_affects_health_across_a_lifetime?language=en
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 16 minutes.
Developmental psychology attempts to understand cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development throughout the lifespan. In order to understand, for example, how maternal stress during pregnancy might impact the child later in life, pregnant women and children could be studied. Vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women, newborns, children, cognitively impaired individuals, incarcerated individuals, or older adults, require additional consideration and protection when planning to conduct research with them.
When conducting research in the field of human development, particularly with vulnerable populations, it is important to keep in mind that a unique set of ethical considerations should be taken into account. These populations need extra care to ensure their rights because some individuals may lack the mental capacity to give informed consent, may have decreased free will, or may be vulnerable in terms of their physical or mental welfare. As you approach this Discussion, keep in mind how ethical considerations might have affected the type of research that could be conducted.
For this Discussion, you will examine the role of ethics in developmental psychology research as it relates to vulnerable populations PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Based on the population you selected, post an explanation of the role of ethics in developmental psychology research with attention to the characteristics of this vulnerable population. Be specific in your post and use the Learning Resources to support your post. Use proper APA format and citations to support your explanation.
Respond to a post from at least one of your colleagues who selected a population different from that of your Discussion post and add one additional ethical consideration.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting and respond to any questions. Note what you have learned and/or any insights that you have gained as a result of your colleagues’ comments.
To access your rubric:
Week 1 Discussion Rubric
To participate in this Discussion:
Week 1 Discussion
The purpose of this Final Project Assignment is for you to recognize human development and outcomes (e.g., developmental constructs, processes, milestones, and stages) through the lifespan of an influential person. You will describe this person’s development through cognitive, physical, and social-emotional processes at various key periods, and how his or her development is influenced by nature (genetics), nurture (environment), or both PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development.
For this Final Project Assignment, you will read a biography about an individual of your choosing. Think about leaders, artists, composers, researchers, professors, and otherwise influential people, etc. The person you choose should be someone who has had an impact (positive or negative) on others and/or on society.
This Final Project Assignment is a 6- to 8-page paper composed of three parts. These parts include: the Summary during Week 2, Part 1 during Week 7, and the Final Project submission during Week 10. Note: It is recommended that you begin reviewing the biography you chose starting at Week 2 and plan your time accordingly.
For this week, you will review the Final Project Assignment Overview document and consider an influential person you would like to learn more about.
To prepare for this Final Project Assignment:
No Assignment submission due this week.
Submit your Final Project Assignment in Week 10.
This week, you analyzed the role of ethics in developmental psychology research as it relates to vulnerable populations. Also, you reviewed the Final Project Assignment for this course and selected a biography of an influential person to begin analyzing developmental concepts as they would apply to the life of this individual.
To end this week, your Instructor may provide a brief summary. Be sure to access the Faculty Corner to review your Instructor’s summary, which will help you focus on the important aspects of this week’s learning.
Next week, you will examine cognitive, physical, and social-emotional developmental processes specific to a period of a character’s life. You also will determine the impact of diversity on those developmental processes. For your Final Project, you will provide a brief summary of the individual and the biography you selected PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development.
To go to the next week:
Human behavior is varied and complex. So how does one organize the research findings into a framework that can be applied across the lifespan? One technique used when examining lifespan development is to describe the findings in terms of developmental processes: cognitive, physical, social, and emotional. The latter two developmental processes align closely; therefore, they are sometimes combined and described as social-emotional. Each developmental process, in turn, can be discussed within each major age range/stage.
An individual’s age, however, is not the only variable that determines his or her development. Diversity is another important aspect that influences human development. Except for rare instances, individuals do not develop in isolation—environmental context and culture, along with biology, contribute to development. In your own development, you have probably interacted with parents, caregivers, children, teachers, peers, and other adults. Most likely, you had exposure to television programs and commercials, print media, and music. Even your gender has had an impact on how you behave and, in turn, how others respond to you. Cultural and social environments influence your interactions and experiences. This week, and throughout this course, it is important to consider how diversity impacts cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development.
This week, you will examine cognitive, physical, and social-emotional developmental processes. You also will determine the impact of diversity on those developmental processes. For your Final Project, you will provide a brief summary of the individual and the biography you selected.
Bailey, R. (2005). Physical development and growth. In Neil J. Salkind (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human development (pp. 1001–1007).
Harris, Y. R. (2005). In Neil J. Salkind (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human development (pp. 275–280).
Susskind, J. (2005). Social development. In Neil J. Salkind (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Human Development (pp. 1191–1197).
Jensen, L. A. (2012). Bridging universal and cultural perspectives: A vision for developmental psychology in a global world. Child Development Perspectives, 6(1), 98–104. doi:10.1111/j.1750-8606.2011.00213.x PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development
Consider the role each process—cognitive, physical, and social-emotional—plays on the development of an individual. The cognitive developmental process involves the ability to think, remember, reason, problem-solve, and communicate. The physical developmental process entails not only changes in height and weight, but also fine and gross muscle control, balance, strength, reproductive ability, and appearance. Finally, the social-emotional developmental process involves beliefs about oneself in relation to others, including self-identity, self-concept, morality, and relationships.
Cognitive, physical, and social-emotional developmental processes influence and interact with one another. For example, a child’s ability to consider another person’s perspective will, in part, determine the quality of friendships and how long they are maintained. An adult who is physically mature has the cognitive capacity to weigh the pros and cons of becoming sexually active. Keep in mind that the relative importance of cognitive, physical, and social-emotional developmental processes may vary depending upon the age of the individual (e.g., infant, adolescent, young adult, older adult) and any physical or developmental challenges that may arise.
For this Discussion, you will examine cognitive, physical, and social-emotional processes at a specific period of a character’s life.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Post a brief description of the fictional human character (i.e., cartoon character, film/TV character, virtual character) and the event/period of time you selected. Describe two of the three developmental processes—cognitive, physical, and social-emotional—and explain whether they were affected and/or changed in relation to the event/period of time. Be specific in your post and provide examples. Use your Learning Resources to support your post. Use proper APA format and citations to support your explanation.
Respond to at least one of your colleagues’ posts and describe the developmental process that was not included in your colleagues’ posts. Explain whether that process was affected in relation to the event/period of time. Use your Learning Resources to support your response.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting and respond to any questions. Note what you have learned and/or any insights that you have gained as a result of your colleagues’ comments.
To access your rubric:
Week 2 Discussion 1 Rubric
To participate in this Discussion:
Week 2 Discussion 1PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development
Understanding the impact of diversity on an individual’s cognitive, physical, and social-emotional developmental processes requires an examination of a multitude of characteristics, including gender, race, ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability, etc. In addition, behavior within a group is important to examine, along with the similarities and differences of behaviors and attitudes across groups. The goal of understanding the impact of diversity is not to determine whether one group is inferior to another, but to gain an appreciation of the breadth and depth of variability in human behavior. Cross-cultural investigation allows for the testing of theoretical concepts and predictions to evaluate their generalizability (Jensen, 2012). Another outcome of studying the results of cross-cultural research is that, as a psychology professional, you will be better equipped to empathize with and advocate for those you will be serving.
For this Discussion, you will explore how diversity shapes and influences cognitive and social-emotional developmental processes.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Post a 1- to 2-sentence description of the fictional human character (i.e., cartoon character, film/TV character, virtual character) you selected. Then, explain how diversity might shape and influence his/her cognitive and social-emotional developmental processes. Be specific in your post and provide examples. Use your Learning Resources and/or other scholarly sources to support your post. Use proper APA format and citations to support your post.
Respond to at least one of your colleagues’ posts and search the Internet or the Walden library to locate an article related to how diversity might shape and influence their fictional human character’s cognitive or social-emotional developmental processes. Referring to the article you found, explain how an aspect of diversity could impact the fictional character’s development.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting and respond to any questions. Note what you have learned and/or any insights that you have gained as a result of your colleagues’ comments.
To access your rubric:
Week 2 Discussion 2 Rubric
To participate in this Discussion:
Week 2 Discussion 2
For this part of your Final Project Assignment, you are to provide a brief summary of the individual and the biography you selected for your Final Project Assignment.
To prepare for this Summary of your Final Project Assignment:
For this Assignment:
Write a 100- to 200-word summary that includes:
Note: This Assignment will not be graded, but is required for the course.
Submit your Final Project Summary Assignment.
To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:
To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:
Submit your Week 2 Assignment draft and review the originality report.
To submit your Assignment:
Week 2 Assignment
This week, you evaluated cognitive, physical, and social-emotional developmental processes based on a fictional human character and a period of time in their life. You also evaluated the impact of diversity on those developmental processes. Finally, you submitted a brief summary of the individual and the biography you selected for your Final Project Assignment.
To end this week, your Instructor may provide a brief summary. Be sure to access the Faculty Corner to review your Instructor’s summary, which will help you focus on the important aspects of this week’s learning.
Next week, you will contrast developmental theories as well as the strengths and limitations of each theory.PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development
To go to the next week:
Most people who have a passing knowledge of human development will recognize Jean Piaget as being a major contributor to the field. But did you know Sigmund Freud also proposed a theory of human development? As you familiarize yourself with the major theories in developmental psychology this week, you see how the constructs you learned in Week 1 and the processes you learned in Week 2 come together to form theories. This week, you compare and contrast the earlier theories, such as those developed by Freud, Erikson, Piaget, Watson, and Bandura with more contemporary theories, such as those developed by Vygotsky, Langer, Case, Demetriou, and Fischer. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory is considered a contemporary theory by some because, while it was originally proposed in the 1930s, it was not translated into English and widely accepted as a developmental theory until decades later. As you compare and contrast, think about the implications of each theory in terms of research and its practical applications (e.g., therapy, intervention, education, childcare, career development, relationships, and life satisfaction).
This week, you explore classical (i.e., seminal, important and older) and contemporary (i.e., more recent) developmental theories. Theories are vital to the psychology profession, as they inform practice, research, and trends. You must critically evaluate theories to determine which theories are applicable to certain developmental processes. For each theory, examine the construct (e.g., cognition, motivation, intelligence, etc.) that has been emphasized. Think about how this construct relates to developmental processes. For example, a toddler’s intelligence differs in quality from an adult’s intelligence. By examining developmental theories of intelligence, such as Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence, you can gain an understanding of the basis for developmental differences in toddler and adult intelligence.
When examining theories, it is important to delineate the strengths and limitations of each theory. Think about how each theory accounts for atypical development or a developmental delay. If a specific construct is identified, ask yourself: Can the theory be extended to apply to other constructs, as well? Does the theory adequately predict future behavior? How would one apply a particular theory to help improve people’s lives? Keep these questions in mind as you examine classical and contemporary theories.
Berk, L. E. (2018). Development through the lifespan (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Aldwin, C. M. (2014). Rethinking developmental science. Research in Human Development, 11(4), 247–254. doi:10.1080/15427609.2014.967045
Lillard, A. S., Lerner, M. D., Hopkins, E. J., Dore, R. A., Smith, E. D., & Palmquist, C. M. (2013). The impact of pretend play on children’s development: A review of the evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 139(1), 1–34. doi:10.1037/a0029321
Greenfield, P. M. (2009). Linking social change and developmental change: Shifting pathways of human development. Developmental Psychology, 45(2), 401–418. doi:10.1037/a0014726 PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development
Laureate Education. (Producer). (2010a). Cognitive development theories [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 10 minutes.Accessible player –Downloads–Download Video w/CCDownload AudioDownload Transcript
Credit: Includes:[cgtoolbox]/[Vetta]/Getty Images
While all major developmental theories attempt to explain the growth of individuals, each theory has a slightly different perspective. Some theories emphasize environmental (nurture) more than biological (nature) influences. Some theories focus on a particular construct (e.g., cognition), while others emphasize the impact of age range in shaping development. Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory emphasizes fixed stages during which the mind’s capacities allow an individual to learn about the world. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, on the other hand, is not stage-based and describes growth as an interaction between the individual and his or her environment.
Contemporary theories (e.g., Langer’s theory of mindfulness) typically build upon the foundation generated by earlier theories. Langer’s theory of mindfulness contains similarities to classical theories, such as Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, in that they both agree that development is contextual and the organism is an active “mindful” participant. Langer took Vygotsky’s theory to a new level, focusing specifically on education and the learner. Other contemporary theories include neo-Piagetian cognitive developmental theories, which attempt to address the limitations found within Piaget’s classical theory. Robbie Case, Andreas Demetriou, and Kurt Fischer proposed theories that were extensions of Piaget’s theory. These theorists added concepts that expanded on cognitive functioning within the stages of development. Most developmental psychologists today do not believe that a single perspective or theory can sufficiently explain lifespan development; rather, an eclectic approach accounts for development better.
For this Discussion, you will examine classical and contemporary developmental theories as they relate to current applications in developmental psychology.
To prepare for this Discussion:
| Classical Theories | Contemporary Theories |
|---|---|
| Psychoanalytic/PsychosexualPsychosocialBehaviorism/LearningSocial LearningCognitive-Developmental | Information ProcessingDevelopmental Cognitive NeuroscienceEthology/Evolutionary DevelopmentalSocioculturalSystems Theory |
Post a brief description of the two theories you selected (one classical and one contemporary). Contrast the theories you selected. Specifically, identify important similarities and differences, including an explanation of the strengths and limitations of each theory in explaining developmental processes (i.e., cognitive, physical, and social-emotional). Note: Your descriptions should be in paragraph form, not bullet points. Use your Learning Resources and/or other scholarly sources to support your post. Use proper APA format and citations.PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development
Respond to at least one of your colleagues’ posts and search the Internet and/or the Walden Library and select a current article (within the last 5 years) that is related to the same developmental process (i.e., cognitive, physical, and social-emotional) that your colleague posted. Summarize the article and describe the theory identified within the article.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting and answer any questions. Note what you have learned and/or any insights that you have gained as a result of your colleagues’ comments.
To access your rubric:
Week 3 Discussion Rubric
To participate in this Discussion:
Week 3 Discussion
This week, you contrasted developmental theories as well as analyzed the strengths and limitations of each theory.
To end this week, your Instructor may provide a brief summary. Be sure to access the Faculty Corner to review your Instructor’s summary, which will help you focus on the important aspects of this week’s learning.
Next week, you will examine both genetic and environmental influences on fetal development PSYC 6215/ DPSY 8215: Lifespan Development.
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