Thematic Features
Scientific American: Child and Adolescent Development integrates thematic features in every chapter that spotlight key aspects of developmental science and help students build critical-thinking skills.
Can You Believe It? features present a controversial topic or common myth in the field and ask readers to unpack the evidence. Each section examines study designs, identifies author biases, and searches for outsized claims in the context of high-interest topics, such as whether mobile apps have changed dating, or whether knowing your time is limited makes you more aware of what is important.
Making a Difference features present the important work and interventions from developmental science that promote well-being in the lives of children and families. For example, these cover how science is changing attitudes about spanking, how research on the long-term effects of concussions is making sports safer in high school, and how culturally appropriate interventions support marriage.
Science in Practice features profile people from a variety of professions who use developmental science at work, such as pre-K teacher Jonathon Hines from Atlanta, GA, who applies the charisma that once helped him on the basketball court to teach phonics. Or robotics engineer Randi Williams from Cambridge, MA, who applies lessons from Piaget to designing interactive machines for children. These profiles introduce a variety of potential careers and help explain how research informs the world of work in diverse professions including teaching, nursing, medicine, criminal justice, case work, child care, and neuroscience.
