Developmental Psychology

Subject PSYC20008 (2014)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2014.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 2 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2014.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 hours of Lectures and 12 hours of Practical/Tutorial
Total Time Commitment:

36 contact hours with an estimated 120 hours time commitment

Prerequisites:

No prerequisistes are required for this subject.

Corequisites:

No corequisistes are required for this subject

Recommended Background Knowledge:

Prior coursework in the two Level 1 psychology subjects, Mind Brain and Behaviour 1 and Mind Brain and Behaviour 2 is recommended.

Non Allowed Subjects:

512221 Developmental Psychology 2

512227 Developmental Psychology

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards of Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison unit Website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Contact

Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

12th floor Redmond Barry building (Building 115 Map)

Telephone: = 61 3 8344 6377

Email: enquiries@psych.unimelb.edu.au

Web: http://www.psych.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

Developmental science attempts to answer questions about the ways in which: (1) nature and nurture together shape development; (2) development is continuous and/or discontinuous; (3) cognitive and sociocultural factors affect the developing person; and (4) the reasons for individual differences in psychological functioning.

This subject examines the ways in which biological, genetic, neuropsychological, cognitive, social, emotional, personality and cultural factors affect developmental functioning from conception and infancy, through childhood and adolescence. Contemporary theories of development are reviewed to determine how well they account for the nature of changes in infancy, childhood and adolescence.

A quantitative methods component will be integrated into the lecture, practical class, and assessment structure of this subject. The aim is to provide an understanding of, and practical experience with, the appropriate experimental design and statistical analysis techniques used to evaluate research in Developmental Psychology.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • critically review theories of development
  • evaluate the adequacy of developmental research questions and methodologies
  • interpret development research data
  • understand basic analytic techniques pertinent to development
  • construct defensible research hypotheses about developmental issues, and
  • write laboratory reports that reflect an understanding of developmental psychological issues.
Assessment:

Laboratory report(s) of not more than 2000 words (40%) to be submitted during semester.

An examination of no more than two hours (60%) to be completed at the end of semester during the specified university examination period.

Each piece of assessment must be completed (hurdle requirements). Attendance at 80% or more of the laboratory classes and a class presentation are hurdle requirements. In case of failure to meet either hurdle requirement, additional work will be required before a passing grade can be awarded.

Prescribed Texts:

Siegler, DeLoache and Eisenberg. How Children Develop. (3rd ed.) Worth Publishers 2011

Recommended Texts:

PDFs of research articles available via the Library's portal.

Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Students will be given appropriate opportunity and educational support to develop skills to:

  • critically review research literatures
  • assess research claims
  • interpret research findings
  • evaluate research methods, and
  • write research reports
Related Course(s): Graduate Diploma in Psychology
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Psychology
Psychology
Psychology Major
Science credit subjects* for pre-2008 BSc, BASc and combined degree science courses
Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI and B-ENG.
Related Breadth Track(s): The Developing Mind

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