The Research with Children Was Conducted in a Child-Friendly, Ethnically Accountable, Way, from the Perspective of Developmental Psychology

The Research with children was conducted in a child-friendly, ethnically accountable, way, from the perspective of developmental psychology

Developmental psychology theories are diverse focusing on many different aspects of human development. These theories are used as a basis for research done on children, whilst developing. In order to support psychologist research theories, they need to perform experiments and interpret their qualitative information into data to support their research statements. These experiments entail interactions with children. Thus the experiments performed need to be designed carefully, in order for the experiment to be child friendly as well as ethnically accountable.

Developmental Psychology:

Development psychology focuses on the stages of development of humans from infancy to adulthood (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014). Developmental psychology consists of many different theories based on how human beings development; the most common theories are based around physical, cognitive and social perspectives (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014).

Biological perspective believes that humankind develops through the body’s physical structures; including hereditary genes and traits, nervous system and endocrine system. This perspective rejects the environmental influences such as society and cultural norms (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014).

A perspective which focuses on the social perspective of developmental psychology is the social cognitive theory. This theory believes that children develop through observing people around them and then imitating, modelling or learning from them (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014). Bandura (the theorist) focus on how development is based on the learning from societies and cultures around humans.

Lastly, a perspective which included the cognitive aspect of development psychology is the psychodynamic perspective. This perspective believes human beings develop through unconscious psychological motives (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014). Freud’s psychoanalysis theory is an example which focuses on the influences of subconscious conflicts on human development. Freud believed that humans develop through stages which focus on conflicts which need to be dealt with or resolved based on erogenous zones (Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency and Genital) (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014).

Research

In order to prove these theories of development as correct and valid, experiments and research need to be done in order to substantiate the theorist hypothesis (a predictive statement or opinion) on development of human kind. Research is known as a process of actively and systematically collecting data or information (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014). There are two types of research which can be done; qualitative and quantitative. Quantitative is the process of collecting data statically, thus focusing of means and averages and frequencies of the data (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014). Qualitative data differs as it involves taking into account individual’s feelings and thoughts. Thus human development research predominately involves qualitative data as theorist need individual’s perspective (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014). Each type however consists of a research design which is the method of investigation (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014).

There are three different types of research designs. Firstly is systematic observations of behaviour which entails observing children in their natural environment or creating an environment where a likely behaviour is willing to occur (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014). Secondly is self-reports which involves interviews and questionnaires which are based on a question and answer basis. This type of method is reliable, especially when behaviour is not easily observable (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014). The last method used is the psychological tests, this entails items such as statements, questions, pictures or problems which require a response (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014).

However not all of these methods are appropriate for children development, such as observation of behaviour. For example, testing for fear and coping mechanisms would entail putting the child into an environment where fear is promoted, which is unethical and harmful. Thus testing for children development entails carefully structuring methods of research which as child friendly as well as ethnically accountable (Punch, S, 2002).

Research methods which are suitable for children development are The Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test which involves using children’s drawing as a means of communication (Loxton, 2009). The semi-structured interview is also a good method of research which is an informal conversation with the intension of getting answers to the researcher’s questions. This informality allows the child to feel more comfortable and at ease (Loxton, H, 2009).

Child-friendly

When investigating children development it is important to make the experiment child friendly especially when interacting with children. This is important in order to get a close understanding and interpretation of the child’s world as well as the child’s views and experiences of the world (Punch, S, 2002). Thus researchers need to focus on reflexivity on their role, assumption as well as their method and application, in order to get an accurate interpretation of data (Punch, S, 2002).

In order to get each child’s co-operation and active involvement, it is important for children to feel comfortable and at easy during the experiment, as children already are constrained by adult society. Children are marginalized due to the unequal power relations between adults and themselves as they are controlled and limited in action by adults (Punch, S. 2002). Thus, the child already feels intimidated by adults in general; hence the importance of making children feels equal to the researcher in order to get honest and truthful information on developmental issues from the child (Loxton, H. 2009).

Furthermore, children feel undermined and misinterpreted by adults. This is due to the fact that children are separated by a limited and different use of vocabulary as well as a lack of understanding words, mainly caused by having less experience in world and a short attention span (Punch, S. 2002). Therefore it is important to ensure that the researcher makes the experiment do-able for the children to avoid drop outs (Louw, D & Louw, A, 2014) or confusion and misinterpretation, which could cause anxiety on the child’s behalf (Loxton, H. 2009).

Throughout the experiments done on fear, all of the researchers had similar procedures which embraced children-friendliness. Firstly, the researchers used translators in order for the child to feel as ease by speaking