Biological age | A persons age in terms of biological health
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Biological processes | Changes in an individuals physical nature
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Case study | An in-depth look at a single individual
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Chronological age | The number of years that has elapsed since a persons birth
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Cognitive processes | Changes in the individual's thought, intelligence, and language
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Cohort effects | Effects due to a persons time of birth or generation but not actual age
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Continuity-discontinuity issue | The issue regarding whether development involves gradual change or distinct stages
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Correlational research | To describe the strength of the relationship between two or more characteristics
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Cross-sectional approach | A research strategy in which individuals of different ages are compared at one time
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Descriptive research | Has the purpose of observing and recording behaviour
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Experiment | A carefully regulated procedure in which one or more of the factors believed to influence the behaviour being studied are manipulated, while all other factors are held constant
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Hypotheses | Specific assumptions and predictions that can be tested to determine their accuracy
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Laboratory | A controlled setting in which many of the complex factors of the real world are removed
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Life-history records | Records of information about a life time chronology of events and activities
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Longitudinal approach | A research strategy in which the same individuals are studied over a period of time
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Mental age | An individuals ability to solve problems relative to others of the same chronological age
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Naturalistic observation | Observing behaviour in real world settings.
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Nature-nurture issue | Debate about whether development is primarily influenced by heredity or experience
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Psychological age | An individuals adaptive capacities compared with those of other individuals with the same chronological age
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Social age | Social roles and expectations related to a person's age
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Socio-emotional processes | Changes in an individuals relationships with other people, emotions, and personality
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Stability-change issue | The issue of whether development is best described as involving stability or as involving change
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Standardized test | A test with uniform procedures for administration and scoring to allow a persons performance to be compared with other individuals
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Theory | An interrelated, coherent set of ideas that help explain and make predictions
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