This book and the symposium on which it was based were designed to cross the boundaries of subdiscipline and theoretical orientation to address four critical issues in understanding development: explanation of change and development; the nature and process of change; forms of variability in performance; and the promotion of change through application.

The chapters suggest that change and development in target systems from cells to selves, may not be explainable, assessable, or promotable without careful reference to the context (social and otherwise) of the system, and that the process of change and development may involve variability of the system in addition to periods of stability. Together the chapters harken back to the spirit of the grand theory.

Instead of proposing a grand theory, they provide an excellent foundation for considering the importance of an individual's (or particular group's) context and variability, and discussions to facilitate thinking about what still needs to be worked out.

About the Author
Eric Amsel, K. Ann Renninger, Ann Renninger

Reviews

"...the Amsel and Renninger book meets its goals admirably--every chapter is a good read that presents state-of-the-art material to the broad readership in the field. I learned something of value from every chapter."
-Contemporary Psychology

"Taken as a whole, the book's chapters make a welcome case for the role of theory in developmental research."
-Child Development Abstracts & Bibliography

"...I would like to stress that [the] book implicitly and explicitly offer[s] teaching strategies that are appropriate for learners of all ages. I believe the strategies are useful because of the disciplined theoretical grounding found in the writings which explicate the coherence of the instructional interactions, with attention paid toward cultural and social contexts, explicit and implicit goals of the diverse learning activities, as well as the acute concern that the researchers have for the learning, change, and development of children."
-Mind, Culture, and Activity

Book Information
ISBN 9780805818253
Author Eric Amsel
Format Hardback
Page Count 352
Imprint Psychology Press
Publisher Taylor & Francis Inc
Weight(grams) 810g