Module PSYC2021: SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Department: Psychology

PSYC2021: SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Prerequisites

• Either (i) or (ii). (i) PSYC1081 Introduction to Psychology 2: Developmental, Social & Abnormal Psychology OR (ii) PSYC1071 Introduction to Psychology 1: Cognitive & Biological Psychology AND PSYC1062 Introduction to Psychological Research

Corequisites

• PSYC2081 Topics in Cognitive Psychology AND PSYC2111 Biological Psychology & Perception

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• The developmental psychology lectures introduce the student to the study of social development as a branch of developmental psychology
• These lectures focus on social influences on cognitive development during infancy, childhood and adolescence
• The social psychology lectures examine the contribution that social psychology has made to an understanding of the relations between persons and social structures
• These lectures will explore the nature of joint activity and such social products as crowds and groups

Content

• The module provides broad coverage of social development including topics such as: attachment, social influences on language, play, peers and friendship, theory of mind and self concept
• The social psychology lectures introduce students to studies of groups, group processes and intergroup relations, and the reciprocal relations between social structure and cognition, emotion and personality
• The module will also cover related conceptual and historical issues in psychology

Learning Outcomes

• A broad body of knowledge relating to social and developmental psychology, with in-depth knowledge of some topics

• Understand the relationship between theory and data, including the ability to evaluate theories and concepts
• Ability to formulate research questions and hypotheses

• Competent in written communication skills
• Competent IT skills in word processing and data presentation
• Effective retrieval and organisation of material
• Locate, read and review a body of research evidence
• Critical evaluation of the quality of evidence and arguments
• Ability to adopt different theoretical positions and see relationships between them

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

• Acquisition of knowledge and understanding in the areas of social and developmental psychology is facilitated by the material covered in lectures, tutorials and in the provision of detailed reading lists
• This knowledge will be assessed in the written assessments and the examination
• These assessments will be essay-based, providing students with the opportunities to demonstrate their abilities to organise, review and evaluate evidence and theory, to provide critical appraisal, and to contrast theoretical positions
• Feedback on progress in acquiring knowledge in the module is provided in the tutorials and in the written assessments
• The skills of understanding of the relationship between theory and data, effective retrieval and organisation of material, abilities to locate, read, review and critically evaluate research evidence, and to interpret theoretically are fostered through lectures and tutorials, and will be assessed in the written assessments and the examination
• Feedback on student progress in developing these skills is provided in the tutorials and in the essays
• Scientific reasoning skills will be fostered through feedback on the essays and in tutorials
• The written assessments and examination will assess students' abilities in this area
• The ability to organise and utilise knowledge is developed thtrough preparation for essays and examinations
• Feedback on the written assessments allows students to gauge their progress in this area
• Assessment is via essays and the examination
• Written communication skills are developed through feedback on the written assessments, and are assessed in the essays and written examination
• A key component in the preparation of essays is the acquisition of adequate word processing skills
• Feedback is provided regarding the adequacy of these skills where necessary

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Students will submit two 2,000 word essays; one in Term 1 and one in Term 2. The higher of the two essay marks will be weighted 70% and the lower of the two essay marks will be weighted 30%.

■ 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