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EDUC 302: Human Growth & Development

These pages contain resources for Mason Education students to seek multiple sources to use for your EDUC 302 course assignments

Find a Topic

Ideas for research topics can be found via

  • Your textbook - Berk, L. (2014). Exploring lifespan development. (3rd ed). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
  • Class discussions or readings
  • Articles in discipline related journals and trade publications For example:  Journal of Counseling & Development  OR Child Development
  • Relevant current events

Narrow a Topic

Narrowing a topic requires you to be more specific about your research interest and can help you to develop a thesis.

Questions to Narrow Your Topic

  • Who? Who is the specific person/group to which you would like to limit your research?
  • What? What specific aspect of the broad topic idea is interesting to you?
  • Where? To which specific geographic area or region would you like to limit your research?
  • When? On what time period would you like your research focused?
  • Why? Why do you think this is an important/interesting topic?

What is a Thesis Statement?

A thesis is typically a one sentence statement in the first paragraph, or beginning, of your project that states your purpose. Thesis statements should be arguable, specific, detailed, and meaningful.

For example:  How does parenting style affect adolescent development of independence?