Namegiven to the combination of naturalistic observation, psychometricquestioning, and psychiatric clinical examination devised by Jean Piaget (see Mayer, 2006). . See Cognitive development, Neo-Piagetian theories of cognitive development, Qualitative research Mayer, S. J. (2005). The earlyevolution of Jean Piaget’s clinical method. History of Psychology, 8,362.
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Lysosomes
Sometimes referred to as the ‘stomach of the cell’ (or a cell’s waste disposal system), these microscopic organelles are found in just about every eukaryotic cell. They contain about 40 different types of hydrolase enzymes that not only break down waste material from carbohydrates, fats and proteins, but also clear out cellular debris (thus being …
Lumbosacral plexus
A group of nerves formed from vertebral levels L4-S3 of the spinal cord, which are responsible for innervating most of the structures in the lower limb (see figure below). Lumbosacral plexus. Iliohypogastric nerve: a branch of the first lumbar nerve with branches distributed to the skin of the lateral buttocks and the pubic area, and …
Lumping (versus splitting)
The strategy of merging similar behavioral coding categories together into one superordinate code for subsequent analyses (lumping) as against creating new categories to classify samples (splitting). Seemingly, the distinction was first expressed by Charles Darwin (1809-1882) in a letter to the botanist Joseph D. Hooker (1817-1911) in August, 1857. Darwin wrote: “It is good to have …
Longitudinal studies
Ones that follow people over an extended period of time, usually several or more years, to examine patterns involving earlier and later experiences and development. The US is replete with such studies. See Attrition, Autoregressive series/model, Cohort, Cohort effect, Compound symmetry, Cross-lagged correlation/regression model, Early Childhood Longitudinal Studies (ECLS), Follow-back design, Latent growth model, Linear …
Longitudinal-experimental studies
Studies of large samples followed over long periods of time, in which a preventive intervention is targeted to a randomly selected part of an ‘at-risk’ group. The relative benefits and drawbacks should be compared to those carried out using the microgenetic method. See ‘At-risk’ concept, Auto-regressive models, Follow-back design, Growth models, Longitudinal design, Longitudinal …
Longitudinal design
A study that takes place over time, preferably with at least three time points so that change both between and within individuals can be charted. See Auto-regressive models, Cohort, Cohort effect, Cross-lagged correlation/regression model, Cross-sectional design, Developmental research, Follow-bacjk design, Latent growth model, Longitudinal-experimental studies, Longitudinal studies, Microgenetic method, Multiple cohort study, Panel studies, Prodiction …
Logistic growth function
A growth curve in which the rate of growth is proportional to the product of the size at the time and the amount of growth remaining. It has an S-shaped or sigmoid curve, indicating little growth, followed by a sudden spurt to an asymptote, and has been used to identify continuous accelerations in the development …
Logographic writing systems
A system of writing in which the printed symbols represent entire words without relating to pronunciation. The main contemporary example of this system is Chinese whose characters, or logograms, are used with various degrees of modifications in Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese and a number of other East Asian languages. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and the writing …
Logical reasoning
In general, reasoning in which conclusions can be derived from a set of related premises. More specifically, it entails three main types: deduction (applying a general rule, or major premise, to a specific situation, or minor premise, to arrive at a conclusion, e.g., all humans are mortal, Mick Jagger is human, Mick Jagger is mortal), …