Lester, Conradt, and Marsit (2016) have assembled a set of articles that bring to readers of "Child Development" the scope and impact of the exponentially growing research on epigenetics and child development. This commentary aims to place this work in a broader context of theory and research by (a) providing a conceptual framework for…

Although epidemiological data provide evidence that early life experience plays a critical role in human development, the mechanism of how this works remains in question. Recent data from human and animal literature suggest that epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, are involved not only in cellular differentiation but also in the…

Developmentalists are often interested in understanding change processes, and growth models are the most common analytic tool for examining such processes. Nonlinear growth curves are especially valuable to developmentalists because the defining characteristics of the growth process such as initial levels, rates of change during growth spurts, and…

Drawing on developmental and policy research, this study examined whether 3 dimensions of caseworker-recipient interaction in welfare offices functioned as critical ecological contexts for recipient families. The sample consisted of 1,098 families from 10 welfare offices in National Evaluation of Welfare to Work Strategies (NEWWS). In multilevel…

Argues that researchers can achieve objectives of advancing basic knowledge and addressing applied problems within a single research program. Provides a framework for this perspective by examining historical trends of basic and applied developmental research and examining potential approaches. Uses research on affordances and childhood injuries to…

Reviews the history of applied child development research. Suggests that future studies address questions that society needs to answer as well as questions that might contribute to theory, and that research methods be adjusted accordingly. Urges academics to broaden their audience to focus on practitioners, policymakers, and the public. Concludes…

Results of this replication study indicate considerable agreement with Piaget and Inhelder's description of stage-related verbal features while failing to confirm their description of stage-related nonverbal features. (JMB)

Examined the relationship between two components of class inclusion (hierarchical classification and quantification of inclusion) and investigated the effects of methodological modifications. Subjects were nine girls and nine boys each from first, second, and third grades. (Author/JMB)

Using the multitrait-multimethod matrix design, this study investigated the convergent and discriminant validity of three selected measures of aggression in second, third, and fourth grade children based on three methods of data collection: teacher ratings, peer ratings, and self report. (BD)

Examined the distinction between preschool children's incorrect and opposite interpretations of "less" and investigated the influence of contextual/procedural factors on their comprehension of "less." (Author/JMB)

Sixty kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade children were required to construct numerically equivalent collections and to determine asymmetric-transitive relations among nonequivalent collections, using two strategies of cardinal number: correspondence and counting. A novel "collinear correspondence" task was also introduced and compared…

Describes how applied developmental science (ADS) integrates developmental research with policies and programs promoting positive development or enhancing life chances of vulnerable children and families. Maintains that ADS contributes to social justice, promotes outreach, and serves as a model of how higher education may engage policymakers,…

By using a modified Color Meaning Test in which alternative evaluative criteria (animal type as well as animal color) are available, this study examines the hypothesis that children evaluate the color white as positive and the color black as negative. Results with primary school children suggest that the addition of other criteria decreases the…

Inspection of findings from Denney and Ziobrowski (1972), in light of problems of analysis and method, seriously questioned the validity of their reported crossover interaction of clustering criteria with age. In addition, a replication of their experiment, correcting for methodological problems, revealed no interaction of clustering criteria with…

Data from infants unable to complete experimental sessions were compared to those for whom there were complete data. Results suggest that the elimination of large numbers of infants may have a potentially biasing effect on reported data. (Authors)