This activity/assignment provides an opportunity for you to explore various developmental stages by analyzing the reflections of various individuals at various stages of their development. The task involves surveying two individuals from two different age spans (for a total of FOUR INTERVIEWS) and explaining their responses based on the concept of development across the life span (physical, cognitive, emotional and social development); or more specifically, Piaget’s, Kohlberg’s, Gilligan’s, Vygotsky’s or Erikson’s Stage Theories of Development. You are expected to identify your survey participants, orally survey them asking the appropriate questions, record their responses, and finally, write and submit an analysis of your findings. This is detailed below, along with an explanation of the format in which to submit your findings.
1. Identify two individuals from two of the seven age spans below.
Early Childhood 18 months-6 yrs
Middle Childhood, 6-12 yrs.
Adolescence, 12-18 yrs
Emerging Adulthood, ages 18-26 yrs
Early Adulthood, ages 26-45 yrs
Middle Adulthood, ages 45-60 yrs
Late Adulthood, ages 60+
2. Prepare a questionnaire to use in soliciting and recording their answers to the following (note: you may add to or alter the questions below however you wish in efforts to obtain good insight into the interviewee’s development) :
a. Describe to me who you are.
b. What do you like best about yourself?
c. What do you see as your main responsibilities and goals?
d. What is most challenging in your life right now? What problems do you face?
e. What do you value most in life?
f. What is your greatest accomplishment to date?
g. What do you do in your free time?
h. How, when and where do you socialize with others?
i. What kinds of things do you most often think about?
j. How has your culture contributed to who you are today?
k. ** For your final question, create a hypothetical situation relevant to the interviewee’s age and ask how he/she would handle the situation.
3. For both age groups, compare and analyze their answers for patterns and similarities. Compare answers BETWEEN the different age groups and WITHIN each age group. Upon identifying the patterns or similarities, justify their remarks based on one or more of the following:
a. Piaget’s Cognitive Theory
b. Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory
c. Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage Theories of Personality.
d. Gilligan’s Moral Development Theory
e. Vygotsky’s Theories Cognitive/Cultural Theory
** Attempt to observe your interviewees for behavioral and cultural influences as well.
Written Format:
Divide your paper into three parts:
A: Comparison and analysis within age group one. Include a brief discussion of the responses to the hypothetical question you asked (10 pts.).
B. Comparison and analysis within age group two. Include a brief discussion of the responses to the hypothetical question you asked (10 pts.)
C. Comparison and analysis between age group One and group Two. (10 pts.)
Please Note: Within each section of your paper, bullet or list the patterns or similarities you found in the responses. You don’t necessarily have to quote the survey participants, but briefly describe their similar ideas, feelings and behaviors. The important point here is to JUSTIFY how you see that their responses support developmental theory.