Conceptions of Development: Lessons from the Laboratory

This is a volume about the process of scientific discovery. Thirteen leading senior scientists, each interested in some aspect of behavioral development, recount their intellectual journeys over the course of their careers and document their individual struggles to better understand and describe various developmental phenomena. Covering a broad range of topics, including perceptual, motor, social, and cognitive development, the contributors to this volume provide case studies of how one pursues a long-term, systematic research program and how scientists continually formulate and reformulate their working conceptual frameworks based on their research results. Conceptions of Development provides a unique and personal, "behind-the-scenes" account of the process of scientific discovery, illustrating that useful and enduring scientific insight derives from the bidirectional interplay between empirical work and theory formulation. This volume will be of interest to a broad audience consisting not only of psychologists and psychobiologists interested in the study of development, but also teachers and students interested in behavioral development and its investigation, and the general reader interested in the process of scientific discovery.

Table of Contents:
D. Lewkowicz, R. Lickliter, Introduction. M. Hofer, The Riddle of Development. G. Gottlieb, Emergence of the Developmental Manifold Concept from an Epigenetic  Analysis of Instinctive Behavior. C. Moore, On Differences and Development. M. West, A. King, The Ontogeny of Competence. W. Mason, The Natural History of Primate Behavioral Development: An Organismic Perspective. R. Clifton, Learning about Infants. G. Michel, Development of Infant Handedness. Gerald Turkewitz, Wasn't I Stupid: Or, Once You Know It's So Obvious. D. Bjorklund, Memory, Strategies, Knowledge, and Evolution: The Evolution of a Developmentalist. S. Trehub, The Musical Infant. L. Smith, How to be Smart: Lessons from Word Learning. K. Fischer, Z. Yan, The Development of Dynamic Skill Theory. R. Lerner, Multigenesis: Levels of Professional Integration in the Life Span of a Developmental Scientist.

Review :
'The approach is very original, given that the authors tell their own stories. This perspective is an excellent way to expose students to the scientific process.' - Jacqueline V. Lerner, Boston College; 'This is an interesting and original book, which brings research and research endeavor alive for students.' - Nancy Eisenberg, Arizona State University; 'I could not stop reading this fascinating collection. In this book, some of the most influential figures in the field of developmental science have written their own personal stories of scientific discovery. The exceptionally well-written essays provide a detailed, but accessible (actually engrossing) examination of many of the most important discoveries, methods, and constructs that guide developmental theory and research today. This book is a "must read" for infancy researchers, from seasoned academics to upper level undergraduates.' - Janet F. Werker, University of British Columbia