The Scientific Method, Psychology, and Development

The scientific method is applied to study behavioral phenomena and mental processes.

The study of development focuses both on the individual human being and characteristics common to many people.

• Continuity
• How similar are the principals of development in humans to other species?
• Is development a gradual process of change, or punctuated by periods of rapid change and the sudden emergence of new forms?-starfish vs. butterfly
• Is the way in which the environment affects development continuous, or are there periods which certain experiences are critical for continued development?-critical periods
• Sources of development-nature vs. nurture
• Individual differences

Psychology, Development, and Education

• History and changing views of childhood
• Increases in the population of schoolchildren
• Increases in ethnic diversity
• Changes in poverty rates
• Changes in family structures