You will choose one developmental domain (physical, cognitive/language, social, or emotional), and prepare a two-page draft of the section of your research paper on that domain. In the draft, you will summarize the two empirical articles you plan to use for this domain, in your term paper. Each summary will include the purpose of the study and how it relates to your topic, a brief description of the sample, data sources, study design, key findings of the study, and what the findings tell us about the topic. You will also relate the findings from the two studies to each other.
Critical Issues in Infant/Toddler Development
Research Paper Assignment Guidelines
Assignment Overview
The Infant/Toddler period is a time of rapid growth and development across all major domains of development. Infants and toddlers interact directly with others (e.g., primary caregivers) within social contexts, and these interactions in turn are influenced by broader, indirect influences (e.g., availability of media).
For careers in the field of child and adolescent development, it is important to understand the principles of development in each major domain (e.g., cognitive, social, emotional, and physical) as well as how these domains are inter–related, and how they are influenced by (and influence) the environment, during the earliest years of life.
Preparing this 10–page term paper will give you an opportunity to search for, synthesize, and write critically about current research related to an aspect of infant/toddlers’ development or their context/experience.
Some possible topics include: effects of prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol; relationship between maternal depression and child development; relationship between early media exposure and child development; the role of father involvement in development; the role of gesture in early communication; effects of early deprivation (or intervention) on development; implications of cross–cultural variation in infant caregiving on development, etc.
For the paper, you will choose a topic or question that interests you, and identify empirical studies on infants/toddlers that relate your topic to four major domains of development (physical, cognitive, social and emotional). For each domain, you will need two empirical studies from peer–reviewed journal articles. Each study should involve infants/toddler (prenatal through age 36 months) or their caregivers.
Studies may examine 1) development/experiences of children during the prenatal period or during infancy/toddlerhood (0–36 months), or 2) longer–term effects of experiences during these time periods on later development (e.g., relationship between early caregiving qualities and behavior during the school years). Examples of topics include:
Effects of prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol
Relationship between maternal post–partum depression and child development
Relationship between early media exposure and child development
The role of father involvement in development
The role of gesture and emotion in early communication
Effects of early deprivation (or intervention) on development
Implications of cross–cultural variation in infant caregiving on development
Early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Early development of school readiness skills
Effects of breastfeeding
Effects of caregiver sensitivity/responsiveness
Effects of early childcare quality / early Home environment
Differences / Similarities between girls and boys under age 3
If you would like to propose a different topic, contact the instructor to confirm that it meets the requirements. If you plan to use a topic that you have used in a past or current class, contact the instructor to discuss it.
Based on the information that you collected and your critique of it, you will draw conclusions regarding the topic and discuss how the domains are inter–related. To further demonstrate your learning, you will also consider implications of the research findings for practice, as well as areas for future research.
Learning Objectives
This assignment assesses the ChAD Department’s Program Learning Outcome: “Define and
understand basic elements of the four domains of development and draw on multiple
perspectives to understand the interrelationships among these domains.”
Upon successful completion of this paper you will be able to:
• Find empirical studies on prenatal/infant/toddler development using electronic databases.
• Summarize and integrate the studies presented in each of the articles into a cohesive paper.
• Draw conclusions from this research, about development within and across domains.
• Discuss implications for practice and future research.
Research Paper Assignment #1: Paper Proposal
To help you write the paper, you will submit a brief typed proposal, following the template posted on
Canvas. The proposal will include a statement of your topic, references for eight empirical studies
(two for each domain of development) in APA style, and a brief statement (1 –2 sentences) with each
reference, summarizing a key finding from the study in your own words. To follow the proposal
template, you will need to identify which references will be used to reflect each domain (physical,
cognitive, social, and emotional). In your final paper, you will have four main body sections,
including one for each domain. Remember that each journal article must report on a study; look for a
sample, methods, and results section to confirm that an article is an empirical study. The instructor
will give you feedback on this proposal.
Research Paper Assignment #2: Domain draft (Two pages)
Once you have reviewed your proposal feedback, choose one developmental domain (physical,
cognitive/language, social, or emotional). You will prepare a two–page draft for this section of your
final paper. Include your name, paper topic, and domain at the top of the draft. No title page is
needed.
1. In the first paragraph, summarize one of your two empirical studies for this domain. Identify
the purpose of the study and how it relates to your topic, and use the in–text citation (Author,
year) to identify the source. Briefly describe the sample of participants (e.g., number, age),
the data sources used (e.g., parent interviews, laboratory observations), important
characteristics of the study design (e.g., longitudinal, experimental, correlational; use of
comparison groups) and the key findings from the study. Finally, discuss what these results
tell us about your topic.
2. In the second paragraph, summarize your second empirical study for this domain. Include the
same information about the study as in (#1).
3. In the third paragraph, integrate the findings from the two studies. Discuss how the findings
of the two studies either complement, support, or contrast with each other. (e.g., How do the
two studies differ in the perspective they take on the topic? How might one set of findings
help to explain the other? If the findings across the two studies conflict, why might that be
the case?).
4. Include a Reference page, with the references for both studies in APA format.
The instructor will give you feedback on this summary through Canvas, to help you prepare your
final paper.
Research Paper Assignment #3: Peer Feedback on Introduction & Domain
This mini–assignment gives you the opportunity to work with one other student to give each other
input on your introduction and domain draft to ensure that they are clear and meet the paper
criteria. You are responsible for writing your own introduction and domain. However, you will
discuss with your partner how you are each meeting the following requirements for this part of the
paper (from Assignment Guidelines):
v Introduce topic; Provide background (cite sources); Define any key terms
v Provide a clear thesis that you seek to support or question that you seek to answer
v Identify whether the prenatal, infancy, or toddler period will be discussed
v Succinctly describe the sections of your paper, including how each domain will be addressed
Coming up with an introduction section can be a challenging step in the writing process. An
Excellent Introduction will meet the following criteria (from Grading Rubric): Clear and thoughtful
statement of paper goals. Defines key terms and related issues. States specifically, but briefly, how
each domain will be addressed. Presents overview of the paper content (e.g., this paper will
examine). Indicates whether pre–natal, infancy, or toddler period is being discussed.
As you draft your introduction, you have access to additional writing resources. Links are available
on Canvas: SJSU Writing Center video on “How to Write a Killer Introduction” (14 minutes), ChAD
guide for APA style for help with citations, and Criterion for checking writing mechanics.
In addition to your introduction draft, you will include a draft of a domain. This domain must be
different than the domain you chose for our earlier Research Paper Assignment #2: Domain draft.
You will share your draft introduction and domain with your partner (e.g., via email or Google
Docs). When you receive and read your partner’s draft, prepare some ideas to offer as feedback using
the guide listed below. Feedback can be given either using text, video or audio.
When providing feedback for the introduction draft, use the questions below:
• Clarity: Is the first statement clear and interesting? Is the topic of the paper clear to you? At
what point, if any, do you get unclear as to what your partner is trying to say?
• Background: Does your partner provide background information and/or definitions of key
terms? In other words, does your partner include information that is “good to know” in the
middle lines? Should more information be added? Are there additional key terms that should be
defined or explained?
• Developmental period: Does your partner clearly state whether the prenatal, infancy, and/or
toddler period will be discussed?
• Paper Overview: Does your partner provide a paper overview (e.g., this paper will examine)
which indicates the paper topic? Does the overview go on to briefly indicate how each domain
will be addressed (e.g., what aspect of social behavior will be discussed?).
When providing feedback for the domain draft, use the questions below:
• Domain: Does your partner present the domain, using research that fits into the domain and the
developmental stage correctly? Do they effectively integrate the findings from two references? Is the
topic specifically linked to the research findings?
• Use of Primary Source Research Studies: Does your partner accurately present current research
findings; succinctly describes the goals of the study (1–2 sentences) subjects (age, gender, ethnicity,
etc.), data sources (standardized tests, parent questionnaires), and key results? Do they specifically
demonstrate how the results are related to the topic, and the broader context (e.g., what do the results
mean for the topic)?
