CDEV 1000 - Theorist/Theory Report

The following databases have been identified as potential resources for information on child development theories and theorists.

When you know the name of a specific theory you would like to research, simply type the theory name into the database search box and search.  Remember to use the Advanced Search option to allow yourself more options to manipulate your search results.

You may also wish to put quotation marks (" ") around your theory name to ensure it searches as an exact phrase.

Scroll below the Example Searches for even more Tips.

 

TIPS TO TRY AS YOU SEARCH!

• If your search returns too many results on your theory of choice, try:  

  • Adding the name of the theorist in an empty search box.

  • Selecting Abstract from the drop-down menu next to your search box.

  • Adding one or two additional keywords in the other empty search boxes.  These keywords could be related to a specific population (i.e. adolescents, parents, etc.), or a specific area of development (i.e. emotional, physical, cognitive, etc.)

• If your search does not return enough articles on your theory of choice, try:

  • Removing the quotation marks around the theory name/phrase.

  • Removing unnecessary words from the search box, such as the word "theory" or the theorist's name.

EXAMPLE SEARCHES:

See how the Search Tips above are incorporated into these searches.

 

 

PRO RESEARCHER TIP!

 Some theories are known by different names. For example:

 

Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory has been called

• Ecology of Human Development

• ecological framework

 

Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development has been referred to as:

• Cognitive Theory

• Piaget's Developmental Theory

 

To get past these inconsistencies, try searching for the name of the theorist and one core word of the theory name (i.e. cogntive or ecolog*). 

Remember the asterisk (*) added to the root of a word will find any ending.  Ecolog* =  ecology and ecological.

 

EXAMPLE SEARCHES: