Merits and Limitations of Microgenetic Method as a Means of Studying Developmental Change

아동 발달연구에 있어서 미시발생적 방법의 실과 허

This study argues the nature of the microgenetic method in respect to child development research and explores its merits and limitations. The microgenetic method focuses on observations that span the entire period from the beginning of developmental change to the time it reaches a relatively stable state. This produces a high density of observations relative to the rate of change in the phenomenon. In this way, observed behavior may be used in intensive trial-by-trial analysis. The microgenetic method is superior to other methods in the possibilities for observing developmental changes as they occur, examining various aspects of change, detecting variability in behavior, and flexibility in application regardless of theoretical perspectives. Limitations of this method include reliability problems due to repeated observations, artificiality relative to the natural situation, inconsistency of short-and long-term change, and demands on children's motivation for participation in research.