This book takes a scientific approach to the study of human development by exploring the chronology of a typical lifespan through research stories. The primary goal of this book is to help readers learn to be intellectually critical, by reading contemporary research literature on human development and evaluating the assertions that are made. Each of the 32 chapters is a separate research "story," telling why the study was done, what was done, and what the results tell us about development. For psychologists, educators, or anyone interested in human development or family studies.