Addressing practical issues rarely covered in methods texts, this user-friendly, jargon-free book helps students and beginning researchers plan infant and child development studies and get them done. The author provides step-by-step guidance for getting involved in a developmental laboratory and crafting effective research questions and proposals. Tips on recruiting study participants cover access issues--such as how to overcome language and cultural barriers--and include helpful sample scripts. The book offers time management strategies, pointers for organizing and communicating data, and a roadmap of the journal publication process, complete with an annotated sample article. Numerous concrete examples, checklists, worksheets, and exercises are featured. Reproducible forms can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2 x 11 size. Pedagogical Features *Chapter subheadings written as questions to help students quickly find the answers they need. *Key tips and checklists for managing each phase of a study. *Exercises that build core research skills. *Annotated sample journal article with commentary on the writing and publication process.

Addressing practical issues rarely covered in methods texts, this user-friendly, jargon-free book helps students and beginning researchers plan infant and child development studies and get them done. The author provides step-by-step guidance for getting involved in a developmental laboratory and crafting effective research questions and proposals. Tips on recruiting study participants cover access issues--such as how to overcome language and cultural barriers--and include helpful sample scripts. The book offers time management strategies, pointers for organizing and communicating data, and a roadmap of the journal publication process, complete with an annotated sample article. Numerous concrete examples, checklists, worksheets, and exercises are featured. Reproducible forms can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. Pedagogical Features *Chapter subheadings written as questions to help students quickly find the answers they need. *Key tips and checklists for managing each phase of a study. *Exercises that build core research skills. *Annotated sample journal article with commentary on the writing and publication process.

1. Selecting a Laboratory2. Your First Days and Weeks in the Laboratory3. Managing Your Time4. Developing Your Ideas and Immersing Yourself in the Culture of Research5. Developing Your Research Question and Proposal6. Recruitment and Access7. Organizing and Planning Your Study8. Strategies for Statistics9. Writing Up Your Research10. Selecting a Journal and Establishing Authorship11. Communicating Your ResearchIndexAbout the Author