Child Psychology
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Theory: Coherent set of logically related concepts that seeks to organize, explain and predict data
Hypotheses: Possible explanations for phenomena, used to predict the outcome of research
Mechanistic model: Model that views development as a passive, predictable response to stimuli
Organismic model: Model that views development as internally initiated by an active organism and as occurring in a sequence of qualitatively different stages
Psychoanalytic perspective: View of development as shaped by unconscious forces
Psychosexual development: In Freudian theory, an unvarying sequence of stages of personality development during infancy, childhood, and adolescence, in which gratification shifts from the mouth to the anus and then to the genitals
Psychosocial development: In Eriksons eight stage theory, the socially and culturally influenced process of development of the ego, or self.
Learning perspective: View of development that holds that changes in behaviour result from experience, or adaptation to the environment
Behaviourism: Learning theory that emphasizes the predictable role of environment in causing observable behaviour
Classical Conditioning: Learning based on associating a stimulus that does not ordinarily elicit a particular response with another stimulus that ordinarily does elicit the response
Operant Conditioning: Learning based on reinforcement or punishment
Reinforcement: In operant conditioning, a stimulus that encourages repetition of a desired behaviour
Punishment: In operant conditioning, a stimulus that discourages repetition of a behaviour
Social Learning Theory: Theory that behaviours are learned by observing and imitating models; also called social cognitive theory
Observational learning: Learning through watching the behaviour of others
Cognitive perspective: View that thought processes are central to development
Organization: Piagets term for integration of knowledge into systems
Schemes: Piagets term for organized patterns of behaviour used in different situations
Adaptation: Piagets term for adjustment to new information about the environment
Assimilation: Piagets term for incorporation of new information into an existing cognitive structure
Accomodation: Piagets term for changes in a cognitive structure to include new information
Equilibration: Piagets term for the tendency to seek a stable balance among cognitive elements
Information – processing approach: Approach to the study of cognitive development by observing and analyzing the mental processes involved in perceiving and handling information
Cognitive neuroscience approach: Approach to the study of cognitive development that links brain processes with cognitive ones
Ethological perspective: View of development that focuses on biological and evolutionary bases of behaviour
Contextual perspective: View of development that sees the individual as inseparable from the social context
Bioecological theory: Brofenbrenners approach to understanding processes and contexts of development
Microsystem: Brofenbrenners term for a setting in which a child interacts with others every day face to face
Mesosystem: Brofenbrenners term for linkages of two or more microsystems
Exosystem: Brofenbrenners term for linkages between two or more settings, one of which does not contain the child
Macrosystem: Brofenbrenners term for overall cultural patterns
Chronosystem: Brofenbrenners term for effects of time on other developmental systems
Socio-cultural theory: Vygotskys theory of how contextual factors affect childrens development
Zone of proximal development: Vygotskys term for the difference between what a child can do alone and with help
Scaffolding: Temporary support to help a child master a task
Scientific method: System of established principles and processes of scientific inquiry
Sample: group of participants chosen to represent the entire population under study
Operational definitions: Definitions stated in terms of operations or procedures used to produce or measure a phenomenon
Naturalistic observation: research method in which behaviour is studied in natural settings without intervention or manipulation
Laboratory observation: Research method in which all participants are observed in the same situation, under controlled conditions.
Case study: Study covering a single case or life
Ethnographic study: In depth study of a culture, which uses a combination of methods including participant observation.
Participant observation: Research method in which the observer lives with the people or participates in the activity being observed.
Correlational study: Research design intended to discover whether a statistical relationship between variables exists
Experiment: Rigorously controlled, replicable procedure in which the researcher manipulates variable to assess the effect of one on the other
Experimental group: In an experiment, the group receiving the treatment under