Putting It Together
Complete the worksheet to deepen your understanding of research methods and ethics when studying child development, as well as to develop key skills related to creating a research plan.
Childhood is the phase of life lasting through about age 11 or 12. This pivotal phase of development includes changes in physical, cognitive, and social domains and is influenced by a multitude of environments surrounding the child. From studying the impact of poverty on an infant's learning, to investigating peer pressure in fifth-grade children, research plays a pivotal role in helping us understand the factors that most impact children's growth and development. It is important to learn how to find and understand psychological research to stay updated with the most current information in the field.
A variety of theoretical frameworks present different perspectives on children's development. Some theories, such as Piaget's theory, focus primarily on the child's cognitive development. Other theorists, such as Bronfenbrenner, tried to understand the influence of multiple social environments and political structures on children's growth. At the end of this assessment, you may find that you appreciate certain aspects of each theory and better understand the growth and development of the child when considering multiple theories simultaneously. You will want to keep these theories in mind as you work through the course and study child development.
- Download and review the Putting It Together Worksheet [DOCX] Download Putting It Together Worksheet [DOCX].
- Then, read Lindstedt et al.'s (2021) article, "Fathers' Prenatal Attachment Representations and the Quality of Father–Child Interaction in Infancy and Toddlerhood," which can be found in your Assessment Resource reading list
- To fill out the worksheet, work your way through each of the four sections:
- Part 1: Source Review.
- Part 2: Connecting Concepts.
- Part 3: Values, Ethics, and Interpersonal Relationships.
- Part 4: Project Management.
- Competency 1: Apply key concepts, principles, and themes in child development.
- Relate developmental psychological terminology, concepts, and research to mental processes.
- Competency 2: Describe basic psychological research.
- Describe research methods and quantitative data used in research.
- Competency 3: Describe how individual differences, social identity, and worldview may influence beliefs, values, and interactions with others.
- Describe the need for positive personal values in building strong relationships with others.
- Competency 4: Use project management skills.
- Describe how to find information needed to complete the second assessment including process, strategies, and solutions to possible problems.
- Competency 5: Write using a clear purpose, organization, tone, and sentence structure.
- Use APA style format for a reference and citations.
- Apply the standard writing conventions for the discipline, including structure, voice, person, and tone.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:- Competency 1: Apply key concepts, principles, and themes in child development.