Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2008-2009 (archived)

Module PSYS3171: APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Department: Psychology (Applied Psychology) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

PSYS3171: APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Type Open Level 3 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2008/09 Module Cap None. Location Queen's Campus Stockton

Prerequisites

  • Modules to the value of 100 credits from Level 2 Applied Psychology (C810) OR Social and Developmental Psychology (PSYC2021)

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • PSYC3031 Developmental Psychology

Aims

  • To introduce students to the use and application of Developmental Psychology in the real world

Content

  • Applying developmental psychology in an educational context
  • Developmental disorders – diagnosis and aetiology
  • Abnormal vs. Delay – implications for pedagogy
  • SEN in schools – remediation and practical issues
  • Language and numeracy development
  • Early childhood language
  • Environmental influences on language
  • Symbolic skills and number development
  • Children’s real-world representations
  • The modules will also cover related conceptual and historical issues in psychology

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • At the end of the module students should be familiar with the methods used in Developmental Psychology and how they are applied to real world situations
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Students passing this module should be able to:
  • Locate, read and review a body of research evidence
  • Adopt and critically evaluate different theoretical perspectives and see the relationships between them
  • Interpret and evaluate the significance of empirical work
Key Skills:
  • Students passing this module should be able to:
  • Undertake critical evaluation of the quality and evidence of arguments
  • Communicate complex ideas effectively in their written work producing a clear, well-written essay
  • Demonstrate independent learning

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Knowledge and understanding is developed through the weekly 2 hour sessions involving a variety of learning modes including lectures and video based material
  • This knowledge will be assessed in the summative assignment, and the written examination. These assessments will be essay based, providing students with the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to appraise and apply empirical evidence and theoretical claims in a critical manner
  • Preparations for the summative assignments will promote students’ abilities to locate, read and evaluate a body of evidence. These abilities are assed via written examination. Feedback is provided for the summative essay
  • All modes of teaching are designed to promote critical evaluation of evidence and arguments, to adopt different theoretical positions, and to interpret empirical work in terms of theory. These abilities are also assessed via written examination. Feedback is provided for the summative essay

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lecture and seminar sessions 22 1 per week 2 hours 44
Preparation and Reading 156
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 75%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Examination two-hours 100%
Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 25%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Assignment 2000 words 100%

Formative Assessment:

500 word report or student presentation


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University