As a professor, Diane E. Papalia has taught thousands of undergraduates at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She received her bachelor’s degree, majoring in psychology, from Vassar College and both her master’s degree in child development and family relations and her Ph.D. in life-span developmental psychology from West Virginia University. She has published numerous articles in such professional journals as Human Development, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, Sex Roles, Journal of Experimental Child Psychology and Journal of Gerontology. Most of these papers have dealt with her major research focus, cognitive development from childhood through old age.
Ruth Duskin Feldman is an award-winning writer and educator. With Diane E. Papalia and Sally Wendkos Olds, she coauthored the fourth and the seventh through the twelfth editions of Human Development and the eighth through the twelfth editions of A Child's World. She also is coauthor, with Dr. Papalia, Harvey Sterns and Cameron J. Camp, of Adult Development and Aging. A former teacher, she has developed educational materials for all levels from elementary school through college and has prepared ancillaries to accompany the Papalia-Olds books. She is author or coauthor of four books addressed to general readers, including Whatever Happened to the Quiz Kids? Perils and Profits of Growing Up… Gifted. She has written for numerous newspapers and magazines and has lectured extensively and made national and local media appearances throughout the United States on education and gifted children. She received her bachelor's degree from Northwestern University, where she was graduated with highest distinction and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.