Introductory Information
Developmental Psychology as a field; Characteristics of development
History of the field (know
names)
Methods:
e.g., Naturalistic vs. structured; cross-sectional vs. longitudinal; experimental vs. correlational;
qualitative vs. quantitative; retrospective vs. prospective.
Ethics; bias in research and the scientific method
Theories (know names):
e.g., Issues; theorists and their theories (who said what, comparisons); stage vs. non-stage theories.
Ecological theory; Freud, Piaget, Erikson, Learning theory (classical/operant; social learning), Humanistic.
Reproduction:
Genetics (chromosomes; phenotypes/genotypes; transmission of characteristics; meiosis/mitosis)
Prenatal Development: Stages, structures and development.
Prenatal Influences: prenatal risks; genetic (e.g., sex-linked characteristics; chromosomal anomalies); metabolic; environmental.
Pregnancy and Birth:
Reproductive technologies: types of; methods; infertility
Attitudes toward; Stages of Pregnancy: psychological; physical; tasks; changes; tests
Stages of Birth; Types of birth
Father's role
Prematurity:
Definition; Causes; Effects
INTRODUCTION / HISTORY
1. Define development. What are its major characteristics?
2. What are the fundamental domains within which development occurs. Give an example of each
3. Define growth, maturation, learning.
4. Discuss the importance of the timing of developmental events.
5. How have our conceptions of age strata been shaped by cultural and historical factors?
6. How has the concept of childhood changed
historically beginning before the Middle Ages? Who are the people who had
the greatestest influences on the concept of development, and what were
their views and contributions?
METHODS
1. What steps constitute the scientific method? What is its relation to bias?
2. Define the following as they relate to the
experimental method; provide an
example of each:
independent variable, dependent variable, control group,
experimental group
3. Define, compare and contrast the various
methods used to study
development. Where do different methods fall on the continua (e.g.,
structured vs. naturalistic, etc.)
4. Discuss the relationship between establishing
cause and effect and various
methods.
5. What are the major ethical concerns incorporated
into guidelines for doing
research with humans?
THEORIES
1. What is a theory, and what functions does it serve?
2. Describe each of the following theories. What
issues are all theories
concerned with? Where do
each of the following theories fall on each of
these issues? Classical
Conditioning, Instrumental Conditioning, Social
Learning, Erikson's Psychosocial
theory, Piaget's Cognitive Theory, Freud's
Psychoanalytic Theory, Bronfenbrenner's
Ecological Approach, Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs.
3. Compare and contrast the above theories
4. What are the stages in each of the above theories, where relevant?
5. What contribution has the ethological viewpoint
made to our understanding of
cognitive development; define
the following terms: releasing stimuli,
imprinting, critical period,
sensitive period, natural selection.
6. Summarize the basic theoretical controversies
(e.g., nativism vs. empiricism)
about development and explain
where the various theories stand in regard to
these.
REPRODUCTION
1. What kinds of things are inherited? How?
2. Distinguish between meiosis and mitosis, sex cells and body cells
3. Describe reproduction. You will NOT be asked to
label parts of the
reproductive systems 
4. Describe the various methods used for prenatal
screening.
PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT
1. Describe the significant events in the three stages of prenatal development.
2. What is the importance of timing in prenatal development?
3. Describe the kinds of genetic, metabolic, and
environmental factors that may
influence prenatal development and how they work.
PREGNANCY and BIRTH
1. What kinds of factors determine how people react to pregnancy?
2. What are the major models used to describe pregnancy?
3. Discuss some cross-cultural attitudes toward pregnancy?
4. What are some of the complications of pregnancy?
5. What are the major stages of the birth process?
6. What is natural childbirth? Discuss some techniques of natural childbirth. What are the pros and cons?
8. What are birthing rooms and why might they be used?
9. Discuss some cross-cultural differences
in the way fatherhood is treated.
REMEMBER To USE THE
STUDY GUIDES ON THE PUBLISHER"S
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