Developmental Psychology – Paper #3
Developmental Assessments:
You will observe individuals at various stages of development and write about your observations, as they relate to theories and what we have been learning in class.
OBJECTIVE:
TO OBSERVE DEVELOPMENTAL CONCEPTS WITHIN THE LIFESPAN AND LINK YOUR OBSERVATIONS TO OUTSIDE RESEARCH AND THEORIES TO FORMULATE INTERPRETATIONS AND HYPOTHESES.
This paper is to be based on observations with someone from one of the following age groups:
Please pick ONLY one group
Adolescence
Young Adulthood
Middle Adulthood
Late Adulthood
REQUIREMENTS:
1- Use a minimum of FOUR (4) outside references to support your observations when analyzing the development of your individual.
2-MINIMUM PAGES = 5 (FIVE WORKING PAGES)
3-Consent form (only for minors – if this is not included for minors, 5 points will be deducted)/
Write-Up for An Observation Must Include the Following:
Paragraph 1: Why you picked the age group that you chose. Please include What is interesting to you about that age group and what you hope to learn from your observations of your individual.
Paragraph 2: Introduction of your individual
Describe the person (age, marital status [if adult], job, educational level achieved, current living situation, family composition, etc.…
YOUR TASK: Describe the person in terms of each level of functioning:
Physical, cognitive, relational, self-concept, and emotional functioning.
Paragraph 3: Physical functioning: Pick a concept of physical functioning (e.g., gross motor skills). How will you observe that concept within the individual? What does research say about that concept and how that relates to the age of the individual (e.g., where is the individual supposed to be functioning?). Describe the task that you chose to observe your concept. What are your hypotheses about your individual and how he/she will perform on the task you chose to measure? What was the individual’s response? Was this accurate with research? Was your hypothesis correct? Why/why not?
Paragraph 4: Cognitive functioning: Pick one cognitive piece to observe (e.g., working memory). How will you observe that concept in the individual? What does research say about that concept and how that relates to the age of the individual (e.g., where is the individual supposed to be functioning?). Describe the task that you chose to observe cognitive functioning. What are your hypotheses about your individual and how he/she will perform on the task you chose to measure? What was the individual’s response? Was this accurate with research? Was your hypothesis correct? Why/why not?
Paragraph 5: Social/Relational Functioning. Pick one social/relational piece to observe (e.g., friendships/attachments). How will you observe that concept in the individual? What does research say about that concept and how that relates to the age of the individual (e.g., where is the individual supposed to be functioning?). Describe the task that you chose to measure the individual’s social/relational functioning. What are your hypotheses about your individual and how he/she will perform on the task you chose to measure? What was the individual’s response? Was this accurate with research? Was your hypothesis correct? Why/why not?
Paragraph 6: Self-Concept: Pick one self-concept piece to observe (e.g., self-awareness). How will you observe that concept in the individual (e.g., rouge test)? What does research say about that concept and how that relates to the age of the individual (e.g., where is the individual supposed to be functioning?). Describe the task that you chose to measure the individual’s self-concept. What are your hypotheses about your individual and how he/she will perform on the task you chose to measure? What was the individual’s response? Was this accurate with research? Was your hypothesis correct? Why/why not?
Paragraph 7: Emotional functioning: Pick one emotional piece to observe (e.g., feelings). How will you observe that concept in the individual? What does research say about that concept and how that relates to the age of the individual (e.g., where is the individual supposed to be functioning?). Describe the task that you chose to observe emotional functioning. What are your hypotheses about your individual and how he/she will perform on the task you chose to measure? What was the individual’s response? Was this accurate with research? Was your hypothesis correct? Why/why not?
Paragraph 8: What is your conclusion about the individual, based on your observations and research? What might be some recommendations that you can give to the individual/parents/teachers (depending on the age of the person you observed) to help foster the individual’s development in that area?