Grandma vs. Research

Prior to completing this journal assignment, please read Modules 1 and 2 in
your textbook, view the “Endless Questions” video, and review any relevant
Instructor Guidance. You may want to look specifically at the interactive media
tools demonstrating information on theory which are provided in the Section 1.5
(within Module 1) of the textbook.

In a Journal entry of about 500 words, you will be addressing the role of
theory and evidence – both scholarly and personal – and how they can be utilized
in the classroom or other professional settings.

Begin by reflecting on the benefits and drawbacks of accepting advice from
stories told by previous generations (i.e. “I did that with my kids and they
turned out just fine.”). For example, you may have heard a grandparent suggest
that you put a bit of whiskey on an infant’s gums to help with teething.
Describe your own thoughts about anecdotal advice such as this and explain why
it may be true in some cases, but not in others.  

• Beatty, S. (Producer). (2006) Endless questions [Video
  file]. Retrieved from the Intelecom database.

Then, watch the Endless Questions video analyzing
child development research and find one additional scholarly source of your
choice (see tips and a link to tutorials below) and use it to reflect on and
answer the following questions:

• Why is it important to utilize developmental theory to explain children’s
  development?
• Identify and briefly describe the key points of one of the major
  developmental theories and why you feel that theory is applicable to child
  and/or adolescent development.
• What makes scholarly research different from anecdotal evidence (personal
  experience) in explaining child and adolescent development? [Hint: Consider the
  methodology of the article you are reading.]
• Finally, demonstrate the value of continued learning with a concluding
  reflection on why we should incorporate both personal experience and scholarly
  research or theory to help support any statements made in this class or any
  other professional setting.

You are required to utilize at least one (1) additional scholarly source not
from this week’s required readings (including, but not limited to, the
multimedia in the recommended resources for Week 1). You must cite all of your
sources (including the video embedded above) in proper APA style. If you are
unsure how to create an APA style reference page, please visit the Ashford Writing Center website. Aside from the video
embedded in the prompt, you are to find one other scholarly through the Ashford
Library website to help support your reflections in PART II. View this great tutorial provided by the Ashford University Library
which will show you how to find scholarly articles and how to assess the
scholarly quality of the resource.  

psy104.docx