Development science and me

Overview

This capstone is designed to help you consider your own experience as it relates to developmental science by asking you to reflect on an important or significant event that occurred during a period of your earlier development and connect it to what we know about major developmental milestones, major developmental concepts, and major developmental theories.

Learning Outcomes

By completing this capstone, you will learn how to:

• Identify key biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes that occur in your selected developmental stage (infancy/toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood, ).
• Apply key concepts from developmental psychology to personal experiences.
• Define key issues relevant to your developmental stage from a lifespan perspective.
• Compare and contrast major developmental theories about key tasks in stages of .

Task

First, you will select one of the major early developmental stages: infancy/toddlerhood (0-3 years), early childhood (3-6 years), middle childhood (7-12 years), or (12-18 years). You will then explain the developmental stage in terms of major developmental milestones.

Next, you will describe your significant event in developmental context by explaining what happened and any impacts on your development during this time.

Then, you will define and apply two major concepts of development (1: , 2: continuity and discontinuity) to your significant event.

Finally, you will define and apply one major theory of development (Eriksons theory, Piagets theory, Vygotskys theory, information processing theory, theory, behavioral theory, theory) to your significant event.

Please use this chart to help you organize your capstone:

PartDescriptionTop Tips for SuccessPart I. Developmental Stage

Reflect on your development thus far. What stage of your development is most interesting to you?

• Infancy/Toddlerhood (0-3 years)
• Early Childhood (3-6 years)
• Middle Childhood (7-12 years)
• (12-18 years)

Choose ONE stage to focus on for this capstone.

First, create a header for this section (e.g., Developmental Stage).

Then, in one paragraph:

Articulate your selected developmental stage using a strong topic sentence. Then, in 3-4 sentences that follow, explain the major developmental milestones (i.e., biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social milestones) that occur during your selected stage.

Be specific in this paragraphmake sure to be very clear when articulating and explaining your chosen developmental stage.

Define and give concrete examples of each type of milestone (biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social).

Part 2. Significant Event

Think about your own experiences during your chosen developmental period (see Part 1).

What memorable events occurred during this time?

Select ONE significant event during this developmental period.

First, create a header for this section (e.g., Significant Event).

Then, in one or two paragraphs:

Explain the significant event in detail. What happened? Tell the story of the event in 3-4 sentences. Then, in another 3-4 sentences, explain why this event was important to your own development during this time by answering the question, What impact(s) did it have on your biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or social growth?

This part of the capstone asks you to do two things. Be sure to fully explain the event AND discuss how it impacted several parts of your development during this time.

Be sure that the effects you discuss make sense in the context of your chosen developmental stage.

Part 3. Major Concepts in Development

Consider two major concepts in development:

• Continuity and Discontinuity

What do these concepts mean? How are these concepts illustrated in your significant event and/or its important effects on your development?

First, create a header for this section (e.g., Major Concepts in Development).

Then, in one or two paragraphs:

Define both major concepts as they pertain to developmental psychology. After defining each, discuss how each concept is illustrated in the event you described and/or the effects of this event on your development.

The definition of each major concept AND discussion of how it is illustrated in your significant event will require at least 3-4 sentences.

You may wish to write one paragraph of 3-4 sentences for EACH major concept.

Part 4. Developmental

Think about the major theories of development you have learned about so far in this course:

Eriksons theory, Piagets theory, Vygotskys theory, information processing theory, theory, behavioral theory, and theory.

Which theory seems to have the most relevance for your developmental stage and the significant event you have discussed? Do any of the theories help you understand why this significant event was so important to your development?

First, create a header for this section (e.g., Developmental ).

Then, in one paragraph:

Describe the major ideas of your chosen theory in 3-4 sentences.

Then, in another 3-4 sentences, discuss how this theory (and its major ideas) relates to your significant event. Be specific in your discussion.

Like Part 3, remember that Part 4 requires you to define AND discuss a theory.

Your theory definition will be academic and will rely on textbook content. Your discussion of how the theory applies to your experience will require your own creative thinking.

Requirements

• Type your capstone using a word processing software program.
• Use a basic font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, etc.), 12-point size, and 1-inch margins.
• Use full and complete sentences. Do not include bullet points or incomplete sentences.
• Do not use ANY artificial intelligence (AI) program to generate text for your assignment. Use your own voice to explain the concepts.
• Do read your textbook to gather information for your assignment.
• Do not directly copy ANY information from your textbook or online sources.
• Cite the textbook for any information in your assignment that you did not discover yourself. Use parenthetical (in-text) citations in APA style. A reference page is NOT required.
• Successful assignments will be between 500-750 words.

Resources

Make sure to review these helpful resources associated with this capstone:

• Capstone Rubric: Developmental Science and Me
• Example Capstone Outline: Developmental Science and Me
• APA Style Guidance for parenthetical (in-text) citations: