Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Web Exercises

1. Go to one of the following websites and explore the current research being conducted in the topic area:

Literacy: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/research/supported/Pages/nrp.aspx

Bullying: http://www.stopbullying.gov/

Childhood Obesity: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html

• Explore the current research being conducted in the topic area.
• Imagine you are interested in conducting a pilot study to investigate one of these areas.
• Create a study using a quasi-experimental developmental design.
• Why did you select that design?
• Review section 9.6 Ethics in Focus: Development and Aging in your textbook.
• What ethical considerations would you keep in mind when conducting your pilot study?

2. Read the brief overviews of the case study about Genie Wiley.

Overview of Genie Wiley 1

• What type of single-case design is this?
• What ethical dilemmas arose from this study?

Search online for more information about the Genie Wiley case.

• What information did this case study provide to researchers?

Search online for additional high-profile case studies conducted in psychology.

• Why were these studies conducted as single-case designs?
• How were these case studies you found similar to or different than Genie’s, both methodologically and ethically?

3. Watch the TED Talk video by Joachim de Posada: Don’t eat the marshmallow! 

https://www.ted.com/talks/joachim_de_posada_says_don_t_eat_the_marshmallow_yet

In this short talk from TED U, Joachim de Posada shares a landmark experiment on delayed gratification—and how it can predict future success. With priceless video of kids trying their hardest not to eat the marshmallow.

• What was the research question?
• What were the variables being measured?
• What types of research designs are described?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of the designs described?