Psychology has been studying the characteristics of human mental functions at each stage of development.In this regard, there are three of the largest unit (or section).Psychology of childhood has been studying the human psyche from birth to the onset of adulthood (approximately 18 years).Psychology examines the characteristics of adult mental development of adult and mature personality.Finally, gerontopsychology studying the mental development of the elderly.As a person throughout his life involved in a variety of relationships, methods of psychology borrow knowledge from related areas: general psychology, pedagogical, differential, social.
Features category "age»
study of this phenomenon, such as age, subject to certain difficulties.In particular, there are difficulties with its definition.There are chronological (which reflects the number of years lived), biological (physiological parameters of the body at the moment), and psychological age (level of mental development, including intellectual and psychosexual development).These categories determine the subject and methods of psychology.However, the object of her study is not only the concept of age.This also includes the changes undergone by the mind at every stage of development.Change the subject in the transition from one age category to another can be different (quantitative, qualitative, evolutionary and revolutionary, as well as situational).
Empirical methods
psychology methods varied.Almost all of them are borrowed from related disciplines are involved and for a comprehensive study of the changes taking place in the human psyche at the moment of his life.Research methods in psychology are selected depending on the objectives and strategies of research.
Observation
most common method (who came from general psychology) - observation.The researcher registers the facts and arranges them in chronological order.Monitoring is indispensable when working with young children.Despite the apparent simplicity, it is quite difficult to implement.All methods of psychology should contribute to achieving this goal.Monitoring should be objective, schematic, systematic and invisible to the observed.
Poll
Questionnaires psychology techniques include questionnaires, interviews, performance tests, product analysis activities.Here the subject is actively involved in the research process.
experiment
where the goal is, make plans, conducted the experiment itself, followed by data collection and analysis.The subject can know and not know about the study.In the experiment, there are special conditions that the researcher could examine the specific qualities of the subject.
Conclusion
All of these methods psychology may relate to the following groups of methods: a method of cross-section (the quality of the test are studied once with a view to ascertain certain facts about the age) and the longitudinal method (the subject under investigation for a long time in order to identifydynamic changes in the development process).
