ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the main characteristics and uses of a developmental orientation to life, the goals of developmental psychology, and some of the ways of studying the context of development. It then describes levels of knowledge, which will involve us in distinguishing between common-sense observation, clinical case studies, and systematic research. Developmental psychology differs from the study of subjects such as astronomy and cell physiology because its subject matter–how the peoples grow up–is already familiar to us before the peoples begin systematic study. The most general goal of developmental psychology is discovery of invariant sequences, so that the peoples identify where an infant or child is on a given developmental path and make predictions about the sequence and timing of coming changes. The goals of developmental psychology can be seen in a hierarchy, ranging from simple description of developmental facts, through description of integrated patterns and sequences, finally reaching comprehensive explanation of developmental patterns.
