|
| Module Availability |
Semester 1 |
|
|
| Assessment Pattern |
Research methods proposal based on material covered in lecture/tutorial sessions covered in weeks 1 - 5 (2000 words) - 50% weighting
1 hour exam (covers material in weeks 6 - 11) - 50%
Qualifying Conditions
Students must achieve 40% in each component of assessment |
|
|
| Module Overview |
This module will cover key topics in developmental psychology across the life-span, focusing on social and cognitive development. The module will draw on material, methods and theories in level 1, but at a more fine-grained level. The module will encourage critical evaluation of developmental psychology, and will provide support in developing independent reasoned thought on the issues covered. The module is in two parts:
Part 1: Unresolved issues in Cognitive Development
* Lecture covering research on a key topic in developmental psychology
During the same week, there will be a journal club tutorial where set articles are discussed in groups of 5 (see methods of teaching).
* Identify unresolved issues with the research discussed
* Design a study which will address one of the unresolved issues (assessment 1: design proposal) * Taught by Emma Williams (EW) and another
Part 2: Theoretical Issues in Social Development
* Lecture covering different aspects of social development, focus on theoretical issues and debates
* Encourage to integrate the different topics of social development into wider theoretical framework
* Revision tutorial
* Assessment of understanding and critical evaluation of the empirical evidence and theoretical issues on social development (assessment 2: 1 hour exam)
* Taught by Meenakshi Menon (MM)
|
|
|
| Prerequisites/Co-requisites |
N/A |
|
|
| Module Aims |
This course, which presupposes knowledge of the material covered in Developmental Psychology 1, aims to:
- provide an in-depth coverage of selected topics in the study of children's social and cognitive development;
- explore the theories, methods and applications of developmental psychology
It also aims, through the use of small group 'journal club' tutorials, to:
- foster skills required for reading and evaluation original journal articles in developmental psychology;
- develop critical evaluation of developmental psychology;
- develop the ability to identify unresolved issues in developmental psychology and to design, outline and justify research that will address these issues |
|
|
| Learning Outcomes |
By the end of the course students should:
-have an understanding of the main theoretical frameworks that are used in current research into the topic covered in the lectures & tutorials:
- have knowledge of the prinicipal empirical findings that have been obtained on each topic, and;
- be able to critically evaluate, both verbally and in writing, the theoretical frameworks in relation to the available evidence
They should also be able to:
- formulate and define an issue arising from the research outlined;
- locate this issue in its theoretical and empirical context;
- design, outline and justify an appropriate study to address this issue
- demonstrate an awareness of any ethical issues that may arise from their proposal project |
|
|
| Module Content |
Week 1
Lecture 1: Introduction to module, brief recap of core issues in level 1, outline of research proposal AF (2 hours)
Part 1: Identifying unresolved issues in Cognitive Development
Week 2
Lecture 2: Infant Cognition AF (2 hours)
Journal club tutorial on selected Infant Cognition papers AF (2 hours * 4 repeats)
Week 3
Lecture 3: Infant Cognition AF (2 hours)
Journal club tutorial on selected Infant Cognition papers AF (2 hours * 4 repeats)
Week 4
Lecture 4: Social Cognition EW (2 hours)
Journal club tutorial on Social Cognition EW (2 hours * 4 repeats)
Week 5
Lecture 5: Cognition in Autism and Theory of Mind EW (2 hours)
Journal club tutorial on Cognition in Autism and Theory of Mind EW (2 hours)
Part 2: Theoretical Issues in Social Development
Week 6
Lecture 6: Attachment MM (2 hours)
Week 7
Lecture 7: Self-concept MM (2 hours)
Week 8
Lecture 8: Gender MM (2 hours)
Week 9
Lecture 9: Peer relationships MM (2 hours)
Week 10
Lecture 10: Parent-child relationships MM (2 hours)
Weel 11
Lecture 11: Theoretical Issues and revision MM (2 hours)
Revision tutorial MM (1 hour * 4 repeats) |
|
|
| Methods of Teaching/Learning |
- Lectures
- Journal club tutorials: 1-3 journal articles to be read for each tutorial, discussion in groups of 5, discussion around set questions, and general issues such as critical evaluation of methods and theory, facilitated by tutorial leader. Class size will be roughly 30.
- Independent student learning |
|
|
| Selected Texts/Journals |
Smith, P., Cowie, H. & Blades, M. (2003). Understanding children's development. (4th ed). Oxford: Blackwell.
Schaffer, D.R. (2005). Social and personality development. (5th ed). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
Durkin, K. (1995). Developmental Social Psychology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Miller, P.H. (2001). Theories of Developmental Psychology. (4th ed revised). US: Worth Publishers.
But with the expectation of broader reading:
- books and journal articles from reference lists distributed in individual lectures
- other textbooks in library
- recent issues of Developmental Psychology journals in library |
|
|
| Last Updated |
| 5.5.11 |
|
