Developmental Psychology Research Methods

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCross-Sectional Research MethodsLongitudinal Research MethodsCorrelational Research MethodsExperimental Research Methods

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Table of Contents

Cross-Sectional Research Methods

Longitudinal Research Methods

Correlational Research Methods

Experimental Research Methods

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There are many differentdevelopmental psychologyresearch methods, including cross-sectional, longitudinal, correlational, and experimental. Each has its own specific advantages and disadvantages. The one that a scientist chooses depends largely on the aim of the study and the nature of the phenomenon being studied.

Research design provides a standardized framework to test a hypothesis and evaluate whether the hypothesis is correct, incorrect, or inconclusive. Even if the hypothesis is untrue,the researchcan often provide insights that may prove valuable or move research in an entirely new direction.

At a GlanceIn order to study developmental psychology, researchers utilize a number of different research methods. Some involve looking at different cross-sections of a population, while others look at how participants change over time. In other cases, researchers look at how whether certain variables appear to have a relationship with one another. In order to determine if there is a cause-and-effect relationship, however, psychologists much conduct experimental research.Learn more about each of these different types of developmental psychology research methods, including when they are used and what they can reveal about human development.

At a Glance

In order to study developmental psychology, researchers utilize a number of different research methods. Some involve looking at different cross-sections of a population, while others look at how participants change over time. In other cases, researchers look at how whether certain variables appear to have a relationship with one another. In order to determine if there is a cause-and-effect relationship, however, psychologists much conduct experimental research.Learn more about each of these different types of developmental psychology research methods, including when they are used and what they can reveal about human development.

In order to study developmental psychology, researchers utilize a number of different research methods. Some involve looking at different cross-sections of a population, while others look at how participants change over time. In other cases, researchers look at how whether certain variables appear to have a relationship with one another. In order to determine if there is a cause-and-effect relationship, however, psychologists much conduct experimental research.

Learn more about each of these different types of developmental psychology research methods, including when they are used and what they can reveal about human development.

Cross-sectional researchinvolves looking at different groups of people with specific characteristics.

For example, a researcher might evaluate a group of young adults and compare the corresponding data from a group of older adults.

The benefit of this type of research is that it can be done relatively quickly; the research data is gathered at the same point in time. The disadvantage is that the research aims to make a direct association between a cause and an effect. This is not always so easy. In some cases, there may be confounding factors that contribute to the effect.

To this end, a cross-sectional study can suggest the odds of an effect occurring both in terms of the absolute risk (the odds of something happening over a period of time) and the relative risk (the odds of something happening in one group compared to another).

Longitudinal researchinvolves studying the same group of individuals over an extended period of time.

Data is collected at the outset of the study and gathered repeatedly through the course of study. In some cases, longitudinal studies can last for several decades or be open-ended. One such example is the Terman Study of theGifted, which began in the 1920s and followed 1528 children for over 80 years.

The benefit of this longitudinal research is that it allows researchers to look at changes over time. By contrast, one of the obvious disadvantages is cost. Because of the expense of a long-term study, they tend to be confined to a smaller group of subjects or a narrower field of observation.

Challenges of Longitudinal Research

While revealing, longitudinal studies present a few challenges that make them more difficult to use when studying developmental psychology and other topics.

Correlational researchaims to determine if one variable has a measurable association with another.

In this type of non-experimental study, researchers look at relationships between the two variables but do not introduce the variables themselves. Instead, they gather and evaluate the available data and offer a statistical conclusion.

For example, the researchers may look at whether academic success in elementary school leads to better-paying jobs in the future. While the researchers can collect and evaluate the data, they do not manipulate any of the variables in question.

A correlational study can be appropriate and helpful if you cannot manipulate a variable because it is impossible, impractical, or unethical.

For example, imagine that a researcher wants to determine if living in a noisy environment makes people less efficient in the workplace. It would be impractical and unreasonable to artificially inflate the noise level in a working environment. Instead, researchers might collect data and then look for correlations between the variables of interest.

Limitations of Correlational ResearchCorrelational research has its limitations. While it can identify an association, it does not necessarily suggest a cause for the effect.Just because two variables have a relationship does not mean that changes in one will affect a change in the other.

Limitations of Correlational Research

Correlational research has its limitations. While it can identify an association, it does not necessarily suggest a cause for the effect.Just because two variables have a relationship does not mean that changes in one will affect a change in the other.

Unlike correlational research, experimentation involves both the manipulation and measurement ofvariables. This model of research is the most scientifically conclusive and commonly used in medicine, chemistry, psychology, biology, and sociology.

Experimental research uses manipulation to understand cause and effect in a sampling of subjects. The sample is comprised of two groups: an experimental group in whom the variable (such as a drug or treatment) is introduced and a control group in whom the variable is not introduced.

Deciding the sample groups can be done in a number of ways:

Challenges in Experimental Resarch

One way to avoid this is to conduct adouble-blind studyin which neither the participants nor researchers are aware of which group is the control. A double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) is considered the gold standard of research.

What This Means For YouThere are many different types of research methods that scientists use to study developmental psychology and other areas. Knowing more about how each of these methods works can give you a better understanding of what the findings of psychological research might mean for you.

What This Means For You

There are many different types of research methods that scientists use to study developmental psychology and other areas. Knowing more about how each of these methods works can give you a better understanding of what the findings of psychological research might mean for you.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Capili B.Cross-sectional studies.Am J Nurs. 2021;121(10):59-62. doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000794280.73744.feKesmodel US.Cross-sectional studies - what are they good for?.Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2018;97(4):388–393. doi:10.1111/aogs.13331Noordzij M, van Diepen M, Caskey FC, Jager KJ.Relative risk versus absolute risk: One cannot be interpreted without the other.Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation.2017;32(S2):ii13-ii18. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfw465Kell HJ, Wai J.Terman Study of the Gifted. In: Frey B, ed.The SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation. Vol. 4. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.; 2018. doi:10.4135/9781506326139.n691Curtis EA, Comiskey C, Dempsey O.Importance and use of correlational research.Nurse Res. 2016;23(6):20–25. doi:10.7748/nr.2016.e1382Misra S.Randomized double blind placebo control studies, the “Gold Standard” in intervention based studies.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2012;33(2):131-4. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.102130

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Capili B.Cross-sectional studies.Am J Nurs. 2021;121(10):59-62. doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000794280.73744.feKesmodel US.Cross-sectional studies - what are they good for?.Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2018;97(4):388–393. doi:10.1111/aogs.13331Noordzij M, van Diepen M, Caskey FC, Jager KJ.Relative risk versus absolute risk: One cannot be interpreted without the other.Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation.2017;32(S2):ii13-ii18. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfw465Kell HJ, Wai J.Terman Study of the Gifted. In: Frey B, ed.The SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation. Vol. 4. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.; 2018. doi:10.4135/9781506326139.n691Curtis EA, Comiskey C, Dempsey O.Importance and use of correlational research.Nurse Res. 2016;23(6):20–25. doi:10.7748/nr.2016.e1382Misra S.Randomized double blind placebo control studies, the “Gold Standard” in intervention based studies.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2012;33(2):131-4. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.102130

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Capili B.Cross-sectional studies.Am J Nurs. 2021;121(10):59-62. doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000794280.73744.feKesmodel US.Cross-sectional studies - what are they good for?.Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2018;97(4):388–393. doi:10.1111/aogs.13331Noordzij M, van Diepen M, Caskey FC, Jager KJ.Relative risk versus absolute risk: One cannot be interpreted without the other.Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation.2017;32(S2):ii13-ii18. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfw465Kell HJ, Wai J.Terman Study of the Gifted. In: Frey B, ed.The SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation. Vol. 4. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.; 2018. doi:10.4135/9781506326139.n691Curtis EA, Comiskey C, Dempsey O.Importance and use of correlational research.Nurse Res. 2016;23(6):20–25. doi:10.7748/nr.2016.e1382Misra S.Randomized double blind placebo control studies, the “Gold Standard” in intervention based studies.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2012;33(2):131-4. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.102130

Capili B.Cross-sectional studies.Am J Nurs. 2021;121(10):59-62. doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000794280.73744.fe

Kesmodel US.Cross-sectional studies - what are they good for?.Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2018;97(4):388–393. doi:10.1111/aogs.13331

Noordzij M, van Diepen M, Caskey FC, Jager KJ.Relative risk versus absolute risk: One cannot be interpreted without the other.Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation.2017;32(S2):ii13-ii18. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfw465

Kell HJ, Wai J.Terman Study of the Gifted. In: Frey B, ed.The SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation. Vol. 4. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.; 2018. doi:10.4135/9781506326139.n691

Curtis EA, Comiskey C, Dempsey O.Importance and use of correlational research.Nurse Res. 2016;23(6):20–25. doi:10.7748/nr.2016.e1382

Misra S.Randomized double blind placebo control studies, the “Gold Standard” in intervention based studies.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2012;33(2):131-4. doi:10.4103/2589-0557.102130

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