Developmental Research Methods

Thoroughly updated and expanded, this classic successfully overviews methods to prepare students to carry out, report, and evaluate research on human development, with a focus on the whole lifespan. It explores every step in the research process, from the initial concept to the final written product, covering conceptual issues of experimental design as well as the procedural skills necessary to translate design into research.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction Goals of the Book Steps in a Research Program Plan of the Book Summary Exercises 2. General Principles Variables Validity Sampling Control Subject Variables Outcomes Threats to Validity Summary Exercises 3. Design Age Comparisons Box 3.1: The Microgenetic Method Condition Comparisons Correlational Research Summary Exercises 4. Measurement Some Basic Concepts Quality of Measurement Box 4.1: Looking Inside the Brain: Methods of Measuring Brain Activity Tests Regression Observational Methods Summary Exercises 5. Procedure Standardization Some Sources of Bias Reactivity and Related Problems Box 5.1: Archival Data Experimenter Bias Loss of Participants Summary Exercises 6. Contexts for Research Lab and Field Box 6.1: The Experience Sampling Method Ecological Systems Summary Exercises 7. Qualitative and Applied Research Qualitative Research Applied Research Summary Exercises 8. Statistics Uses of Statistics Some More About Significance Choosing a Statistical Test Correlations Alternatives to and Extensions of ANOVA Box 8.1: Meta-Analysis Some General Points Summary Exercises 9. Ethics Guidelines and Procedures Rights of the Research Participant Summary Exercises 10. Writing Some General Points Sections of an Article Some Specific Stylistic Points Summary Exercises 11. Infancy General Issues Infant Perception Infant Cognitive Development Infant Social Development Box 11.1: Attachment and Infant Day Care Summary Exercises 12. Cognitive Development The Piagetian Approach The Intelligence Test Approach Memory Theory of Mind Box 12.1: Executive Function Concepts Summary Exercises 13. Social Development Moral Development Self-Concept Sex Differences Child Rearing Summary Exercises 14. Aging General Issues (As Illustrated by the Study of IQ) Box 14.1: Wisdom Memory Personality and Social Development Summary Exercises Appendix Glossary References Indexes

About the Author :
Scott A. Miller (Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, University of Minnesota, 1971) is Professor of Psychology at the University of Florida, where he regularly teaches survey courses in developmental psychology at the undergraduate and graduate levels and a course on research methods in developmental psychology. He is a Fellow in the American Psychological Association Division 7, Developmental Psychology, and in the Society for Research in Child Development. His areas of research are cognitive development, social cognition, and Piaget. He has authored numerous research articles in such journals as Child Development, the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, Cognitive Development, the Journal of Cognition & Development, and the British Journal of Developmental Psychology. He is also an experienced textbook writer. In addition to Developmental Research Methods, he is a coauthor on Flavell, Miller, and Miller's Cognitive Development, Fourth Edition (Prentice Hall, 2002) and Vasta, Miller, and Miller's Child Psychology, Fourth Edition (Wiley, 2004).

Review :
"Miller's Developmental Research Methods text is unmatched in its blend of sophisticated, complete, and coherent coverage of matters of developmental design and methods, presented in a way that is accessible to undergraduate and beginning graduate students. As with the previous editions, Miller effectively leads the reader through the 'forest' of issues to be addressed when studying the complexity of development, without losing sight of the exciting and interesting aspects of the endeavor. 'Refreshed' to include several new methodological advancements in developmental psychology, I welcome this new edition of an excellent book." -- Catherine A. Haden, Ph.D. 20061023 "One of the challenges of teaching a research course in developmental psychology is introducing students in rigorous ways to research methods in general, and developmental methods in particular. Miller's 3rd edition of Developmental Research Methods offers within one book up-to-date coverage that spans both of these needs. The latest edition includes a clear and readable discussion of qualitative methods and applied research, as well as a lucid discussion of writing like a developmental psychologist. Miller provides students with a well-stocked tool kit to help prepare them to ask important questions and find intriguing answers to central questions in the field." -- Nancy Budwig 20061023 "I have used Miller's textbook, Developmental Research Methods, with undergraduates in a developmental research course and with undergraduate and graduate students conducting research in my lab. Students find Developmental Research Methods readable and relevant. As a professor, I am reassured that students are getting a comprehensive treatment of the topic. For instance, the design chapter is extremely detailed, with information on specific developmental designs that can't always be found in a text on general psychological methods. The book is written in a clear and engaging style, with up-to-date research citations, and fun suggestions at the end of each chapter for applying students' knowledge. I found the observational methods section in Chapter 4 to be a wonderful jumping-off point for students to create their own observational coding schemes." -- Elaine Reese, Ph.D. 20061023