A Dynamic Systems Approach to Adolescent Development

The dynamic systems approach is increasingly popular within developmental research, especially in the domain of adolescent development.

This edited book provides both theoretical and technical knowledge about the application of dynamic systems theory in such a way that the readers will be able to implement this approach themselves.

This book is ideal for researchers who study development who are not statistical or methodological specialists. It provides clear, step-by-step descriptions of theories and techniques that are designed for the study of developmental processes.

The dynamic systems approach is a rapidly expanding advancement in the study of developmental research, particularly in the domain of adolescent development. It provides a unique way of examining the subject, and this innovative study of developmental processes helps social scientists to translate dynamic systems conceptualizations into clear empirical research that readers will be able to implement themselves.

The first part of this edited book discusses techniques that describe and assess specific process characteristics such as variability, sudden jumps and attractor states. The second part explores the different techniques for building a dynamic systems model, which can simulate the behaviour of a system to investigate the mechanisms behind the processes. Each chapter describes one technique and is based on a specific practical example of its application in adolescent development. Step-by-step instructions for model-building and examples of ready-made models are provided on the website that belongs to the book: www.psypress.com/dynamic-systems-approach.

This book provides a clear step-by-step description of theories and techniques that are designed for the study of developmental processes, and is therefore ideal for researchers of developmental psychology who do not specialise in statistics or research methods.