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Models and rulers in dynamical development
Author(s) -
Rose Samuel P.,
Fischer Kurt W.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
british journal of developmental psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 2044-835X
pISSN - 0261-510X
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-835x.1998.tb00752.x
Subject(s) - cognitive science , field (mathematics) , focus (optics) , dynamics (music) , development (topology) , dynamical systems theory , psychology , epistemology , mathematics , mathematical analysis , pedagogy , philosophy , physics , pure mathematics , optics , quantum mechanics
Non‐linear dynamics holds enormous promise for transforming the field of development, moving it from rich but loose descriptions of developmental processes toward powerfully explicated dynamical models of change that are closely linked to empirical data about growth functions. The study of cusp catastrophes in developmental transitions provides an example of the beginning of this transformation. For the dynamics revolution to live up to its promise, researchers need not only to build on the tools that are explained in this special issue but also to move beyond catastrophe models of transition to deal with a fuller range of developmental processes, including hierarchical‐growth and predator‐prey models. If researchers are to ground these models effectively in observations, they must focus on building sound rulers of development to replace the poorly constructed scales that are the norm in the study of cognitive development. The papers in this special issue point the way towards achieving important parts of this agenda.