Developmental psychologists who study children use a number of research methods. For example, they make observations of children in natural settings such as preschools and engage them in experimental tasks.Schonfeld, I. S. (1986). The Genevan and Cattell-Horn conceptions of intelligence compared: The early implementation of numerical solution aids. Developmental Psychology, 22, 204–212. Such tasks often resemble specially designed games and activities that are both enjoyable for the child and scientifically useful. Developmental researchers have even devised clever methods to study the mental processes of infants.Hunnius, S., & Bekkering, H. (2010). The early development of object knowledge: A study of infants' visual anticipations during action observation. Developmental Psychology, 46, 446–454. In addition to studying children, developmental psychologists also study aging and processes throughout the life span, including old age. These psychologists draw on the full range of psychological theories to inform their research.Crain, W. (2014). Theories of development: Concepts and applications. 6th ed. Edinburgh: Pearson.
dEvelopMentaL PsYcholOgists WhO sTUDY CHilDrEn use A NUmbER of REsearch METHOds. foR eXample, they mAke oBservations Of chilDren In Natural sETtings SucH aS PRESChoOLs AnD eNgagE Them In exPErImeNtal tasks.schonfEld, i. s. (1986). the genEVan and catTElL-HoRn conCeptions Of inTElligEnce compared: tHe eaRly impLeMEntAtion Of NuMerIcaL soLuTIon Aids. dEveLoPmEnTal psyCHolOgY, 22, 204–212. SucH tAsks often resEMBle sPeciAlLy deSiGned gaMes and activitieS that arE both Enjoyable for tHe chiLd And sCienTificaLLy usEFuL. dEvelopmENtal researchers havE even devIsed Clever methodS tO stuDy thE mental processeS of infAnts.HunNius, s., & bekKering, h. (2010). the earLy deVelopMent of OBject kNoWledGe: A StudY of infAnts' vIsuaL anTIcipaTions DurIng ACtioN OBserVatIon. DEVElOPmental psyChoLogy, 46, 446–454. In addiTioN tO STuDYinG chILdReN, DevelOpmental PsychOlogists alSo STudy aging and procEsseS througHOut tHe lIFE span, incluDING old age. tHeSe psycHologistS drAw ON tHe FuLl RanGe oF pSYchologiCal thEoRies to inFOrm thEir rESearCh.crain, w. (2014). theories of develOpmeNt: ConCePts and aPplicatiOns. 6th eD. EDINbURGh: PEarson.