Applied Developmental Systems Science: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Theories, Meta-Theories, Methods, and Interventions but Didn't Realize You Needed to Ask. An Advanced Textbook
Ellen Skinner, Portland State University
Thomas Kindermann, Portland State University
Robert W. Roeser, Pennsylvania State University
Copyright Year:
Publisher: Portland State University Library
Language: English
Formats Available
Conditions of Use
Attribution-NonCommercial
CC BY-NC
Reviews
The text covers the application of systems methodologies to the study of life span developmental psychology in a robust and comprehensive manner. However the inclusion of an index or glossary would assist the student. read more
The text covers the application of systems methodologies to the study of life span developmental psychology in a robust and comprehensive manner. However the inclusion of an index or glossary would assist the student.
No noticeable errors or accuracy issues were observed.
The text is specifically oriented to a systems approach of life span developmental psychology and thus somewhat narrow in scope. However with some moderate adaptation the methodologies could be more broadly applied to a systems approach for other areas in the social sciences.
Terminology is explained and used in appropriate context. At times the question and answer format is helpful in clarifying information, but at other times it reads in a somewhat disjointed manner.
The responses to students Frequent Asked Questions (FAQs) provides a consistent framework for the text. Theories and subject matter are used consistently throughout.
The sections and exercises have some modularity for utilization as stand-alone elements. However as a whole the text builds from a foundation in theory and proceeds through increasingly complex methodological approaches making a reorganization challenging.
The organization of information as responses to student FAQs provides the structural framework. This mostly works, but at times was difficult to follow or presented other questions which were not addressed.
There were no major issues in navigating the text. However, the presentation as an APA-style report could benefit from a greater design aesthetic to improve readability and display.
There were no major grammatical errors observed.
The text is considerate of individual differences and does not have any questionable or insensitive content.
With some adaptation I intend to use some elements of this text to supplement the research project for a course in urban planning and public policy.
Table of Contents
- Section I: Goals of Developmental Science, Theories, and Target Phenomena
- Section II: Metaphors and Meta-theories in Applied Developmental Science
- Section III: Systems Meta-theories
- Section IV: Relational Developmental Systems Meta-theories
- Section V: Study of Development: Description
- Section VI: Study of Development: Explanation
- Section VII: Study of Development: Optimization
Ancillary Material
Submit ancillary resourceAbout the Book
This textbook provides a toolbox, a guidebook, and an instruction manual for researchers and interventionists who want to conceptualize and study applied problems from a developmental systems perspective, and for those who want to teach their graduate (or advanced undergraduate) students how to do this. It is designed to be useful to practitioners who focus on applied developmental problems, such as improving the important developmental contexts where people live, learn, and work, including the applied professions in education, social work, counseling, health care, community development, and business, all of which at their core are concerned with optimizing the development of their students, clients, patients, workers, citizens, and others whose lives they touch.
About the Contributors
Authors
Ellen Skinner, PhD is a Professor of Human Development & Psychology Chair in the Department of Psychology at Portland State University.
Dr. Kindermann has been teaching at Portland State University since 1989.
He received his B.A. in 1976 from the University of Trier (Germany), his M.S. in 1980, also from the University of Trier, and his Ph.D. in 1986 from the Free University Berlin (Germany).
Robert W. Roeser is the Bennett Pierce Professor of Care, Compassion and Human Development at Penn State University. He has a Ph.D. from the Combined Program in Education and Psychology at the University of Michigan (1996) and masters degrees in religion and psychology, developmental psychology and clinical social work.