Lester, Conradt, and Marsit (2016) have assembled a set of articles that bring to readers of "Child Development" the scope and impact of the exponentially growing research on epigenetics and child development. This commentary aims to place this work in a broader context of theory and research by (a) providing a conceptual framework for…

Exposure to nonionizing radiation used in wireless communication remains a contentious topic in the public mind--while the overwhelming scientific evidence to date suggests that microwave and radio frequencies used in modern communications are safe, public apprehension remains considerable. A recent article in "Child Development" has…

This commentary on J. Kagan (2008) addresses 2 issues. The first concerns the importance of studying developmental sequences and processes of change. The second concerns epistemological differences between contemporary neonativist approaches and classical theories of development. The commentary argues that classical theories of infant cognition…

Argues that researchers can achieve objectives of advancing basic knowledge and addressing applied problems within a single research program. Provides a framework for this perspective by examining historical trends of basic and applied developmental research and examining potential approaches. Uses research on affordances and childhood injuries to…

Contrary to the deterministic nature of the adipocyte- number hypothesis, correlations between adiposity data recorded during infancy and data recorded during the school- age period or later are very low. There is no convincing evidence the obese infant has more than a slight tendency to become an obese adult. (Author/MP)

J. Kagan (2008) urges contemporary developmentalists to (a) be cautious when attributing conceptual knowledge to infants based on looking-time performance, (b) constrain their interpretation of infant performance with multiple methodologies, and (c) reconsider the possibility that qualitative development may be the path by which perceptual infants…

In response to criticisms of a study conducted by Shaffran and Decarie, the author underscores the need for objective, accurate peer evaluation. Errors and misinterpretations in the critical article are reported and corrected. (Author/RH)

Replies to Solomon's paper that basic criticisms made earlier of Shaffran and Decaries' study still apply. Views the study as essentially a confirmation of the null hypothesis based on weak measures. (Author/RH)

Suggests that designing home-based interventions as longitudinal development research (rather than outcome evaluation) can provide valuable knowledge about ecological factors that affect the development of competence in parents and children and about effective ways to support families. (Author/MP)

Identifies interaction effects as the defining feature of resilience and resilience research. Maintains that interaction effects are responsible for the unique contributions of this field of study to the understanding of human development. Suggests that the methodological and statistical challenges posed by interaction effects do not, by…

Argues that dynamic systems theories may illuminate processes whereby public policy influences child development and highlight gaps in current relevant research. Discusses five principles of dynamic systems theories using examples from research addressing effects of current antipoverty and welfare policies on children. Concludes by suggesting…

Reviews the history of applied child development research. Suggests that future studies address questions that society needs to answer as well as questions that might contribute to theory, and that research methods be adjusted accordingly. Urges academics to broaden their audience to focus on practitioners, policymakers, and the public. Concludes…

Examines and rejects common criticisms of the causality concept; shows causality is a relation implied in the grammar of a language about objects. Discusses objective criteria for concepts of causal relations and explains how the concept of causality may be modified to have causes determine probabilities of outcomes. (Author/RH)

This paper provides a critical examination of the current status of metamemory. First, review of background influences and a critique of conceptualizations of metamemory are presented. Next, research methods are examined, and empirical results concerning the relationship between metamemory and memory are reviewed. Finally, several suggestions are…

Provides a set of guidelines for evaluating research using structural equation modeling (SEM). Offers insight into how someone familiar with SEM would judge the adequacy of a study using such methods. (Author/RH)