Medical Settings as a Context for Research on Cognitive Development

Abstract

Medical contexts provide a rich opportunity to study important theoretical questions in cognitive development and to investigate the influence of a range of interacting factors relating to the child, the experience, and the broader social context on children's cognition. In the context of examples of research investigating these issues, we consider several specific advantages of conducting research in medical settings: the diverse range of participants, experiences, and potential research paradigms and the opportunities for student training. We discuss the benefits and challenges of conducting research within medical contexts and consider ways of attempting to maximize the former and of addressing the latter.

Notes

Further reading, particularly in relation to research ethics in medical contexts:

Note: Presents findings showing that common terms used in pediatric research (e.g., research project, study, experiment) are not taken as identical by potential participants and provides brief recommendations to address this issue.

Note: Aims to provide ethical guidance for psychologists who are engaged in pediatric e-health research. There is a particularly useful discussion of ethical issues relating to recruitment, informed consent and debriefing, privacy and confidentiality, and safety.

Note: A useful general overview, from a pediatric psychology framework, of issues to consider when conducting research in pediatric settings.

Note: Written for medical practitioners, both Sibley et al. (2012) and Spriggs and Caldwell (2011) provide interesting perspectives on issues surrounding child assent.