In this chapter we suggest how the relational-historical perspective, outlined in Chapter 3, can be translated into a research program on developmental change processes. Relational-historical research is the study of how relationships change with respect to their own history. The purpose of this method is to describe not only the quantitative changes in the relationship, but also the historical changes in the meaning of the actions for the participants. The detection of differences that make a difference can only be done with respect to the bases for intersubjectivity that have been established in the past within the relationship.

Relational-historical research is an adaptation of a research approach that has come to be called microgenetic. The microgenetic research design has three features. First, observations begin before the onset of a change, continue through the change process, and conclude once a new pattern has clearly emerged. Second, observations are made frequently across this period of time in order to observe the system while it is changing. Finally, analyses focus on the study of processes that contribute to an understanding of how change occurs (Fogel, 1990; Granott & Parziale, 2002; Lavelli, Pantoja, Hsu, Messinger, & Fogel, 2005; Overton, 2002; Siegler & Crowley, 1991). This is illustrated in Figure 4.1, in which the time between observations (t) is considerably less than the time taken for the developmental transition (T).

Microgenetic designs are typically carried out with large numbers of observations on a relatively small number of cases.