Developmental Follow-Up Concepts, Domains, and Methods

Developmental Follow-Up: Concepts, Domains, and Methods is a compendium of papers that deals with developmental follow-up research, follow-up studies, criterion assessment variables and instruments, as well as analyses of developmental data. The book discusses the historical, theoretical, and methodological considerations in developmental follow-up strategies. Some papers review the history of developmental follow-up research from the early 1920s to the late 1980s, with some insights into future-oriented themes. The book also cites as an example the study of the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on child development. Other papers address health surveillance and child development, including early cognitive development and the contribution of peer interaction. Some papers consider the experimental design and data analysis such as those concerning planning for follow-up studies that will involve finances, time and resources, as well as the career impact for the investigator. Another paper reviews the significance of the time when children in the United States received a significant amount of care from someone who was not their mother. The book also discusses the role of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development propelled by societal change in a postindustrial age. The text can prove valuable for psychologists, developmental scientists, social workers, and practitioners involved in human behavioral sciences and policy studies.