The Developmental Scientist's Companion
Improving Research Methodology and Achieving Professional Success

An engaging guide to improving methodological practices and achieving professional success for students and early to mid-career developmental scientists.

J. Steven Reznick (Author)

9781107194281, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 3 April 2017

218 pages
23.5 x 15.7 x 1.7 cm, 0.44 kg

'As the author practiced in over thirty years of mentoring/advising trainees, this companion/guide informs, challenges, and scaffolds the reader to new levels of understanding and engagement with developmental science. This book should be required reading for aspiring developmentalists and those in training.' Jed T. Elison, University of Minnesota

Written by one of developmental science's foremost methodologists, The Developmental Scientist's Companion provides an engaging and accessible guide to the scientific techniques that have been devised to investigate human development. Adopting an original approach to what can be a dry yet essential topic, Reznick enlivens his coverage of key issues in developmental methodology - measuring psychological phenomena, assessing reliability and validity, experimental design, interviews and surveys, data collection and analysis and interpreting research results - with discussion of his own experiences of those various techniques, gained over a substantial research career. The Companion concludes with practical tips for improving the field and navigating a path to professional success. Reznick's 'behind-the-scenes' view of empirical research and career progression, told with wit, wisdom and insight, is essential reading for students and young researchers launching their careers in developmental science.

1. The broad goals of science
2. Developmental science in context
3. Defining constructs and variables
4. Validating measurement
5. Designing developmental research
6. Selecting a sample
7. Collecting behavioral data
8. Interviews and surveys
9. Analyzing data
10. Interpreting research results
11. Building better developmental science
12. Becoming better developmental scientists.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS], Child & developmental psychology [JMC], Psychology [JM]