Open AccessFrontiers in Theory-Predicated Research in Youth Development: A Commentary
Author(s) -
Richard M. Lerner
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of youth development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.191
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2325-4017
pISSN - 2325-4009
DOI - 10.5195/jyd.2019.739
Subject(s) - thriving , positive youth development , metatheory , frontier , development theory , context (archaeology) , psychology , field (mathematics) , sociology , computer science , developmental psychology , political science , social science , economic growth , paleontology , mathematics , pure mathematics , law , economics , biology , programming language
The field of youth development sits at the frontier of new opportunities for research and practice. These opportunities are enabled by innovations in theory and in theory-inspired research methods. Framed by relational developmental systems metatheory, dynamic systems models of youth development emphasize that every young person has the potential to change positively by aligning specific individual strengths and contextual resources that, together, can optimize the life paths of a young person. The methods linked to these theoretical models combine to help identify the specific links between an individual and his or her context that may maximize thriving across the adolescent decade. The evidence derived from theory-predicated use of these methods may be used to create innovations in youth development programs and policies that promote lives of personal thriving and social contribution among the diverse young people of our world.