Author Description

Psychology as a Science. Child psychology is presented in a way that reflects its scientific underpinnings. A Contextualist Approach. In addition to discussing the effects of schools, families, and peers in separate chapters, the text considers such contextual factors for each relevant topic. This approach allows students to appreciate the forces that shape different aspects of development. Balanced Coverage of Theory and Research. The textbook offers a good balanced treatment of the theories and the research that have shaped developmental psychology. The consistent and balanced framing of issues and research in terms of the major theoretical positions in the field allow the reader to learn not only what was done, but why, and what the broader implications are for our understanding of development. Cultural Diversity. Vasta et al., has a strong emphasis on cultural diversity and the cultural context for development. This emphasis helps students appreciate that development occurs within a cultural context, and that this contextand also some aspects of developmentmay be different from what they are familiar with in their own culture. Strong Cognitive Coverage. Vasta et al., is widely regarded for its coverage of the cognitive aspects in child psychology. Chapter 9, Cognitive Development: The Sociocultural Approach provides further context on the social and cultural foundations of developmental processes. Readability. The clear and accessible writing style of Child Psychology enables the reader to appreciate and understand child psychology without sacrificing important information on the theories and research of the discipline. Strong Pedagogical Features. The pedagogy has been designed to compliment the writing style of the text and to assist in reader comprehension. Chapter opening vignettes, a running glossary, in-text summaries, end-of-chapter visual summaries and boxed material all assist in communicating and reinforcing the material