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PSY20020

Academic Year 2024/2025

Child & Adolescent Development (PSY20020)

Subject:
Psychology
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Psychology
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Laura Taylor
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

During childhood and adolescence human development is taking place at a phenomenal pace, with children learning many of the skills that are crucial to their current and future emotional well being, relationships and cognitive functioning. This module explores the complex biological, psychological and cultural factors that influence this developmental process. The module introduces and critiques the major theories of developmental psychology that underpin understanding of development during childhood and adolescence. Lectures span all aspects of child development from birth through adolescence pointing to important methodological issues and gaps in our current understanding.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to: Describe the main changes that take place in children's cognitive, social and emotional development from infancy through adolescence. Evaluate the role of biological, psychological and cultural factors in development. Evaluate the major theoretical explanations of children's development and compare these theories with one another. Assess the strength of the empirical support for the major theories of development and give examples illustrating the links between theory and empirical research.

Indicative Module Content:

This module covers a wide range of theoretical and empirical topics within child and adolescent development and usually includes (for example): brain development, perception and motor skills, memory, the ecology of childhood, prosocial and aggressive behaviour, parenting, adolescent identity and self esteem.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Autonomous Student Learning

101
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The teaching and learning approaches used in the module are lectures and tutorials.

There will be three tutorials on weeks 6, 9 and 10 of one hour each. Tutorial content is related to the lectures but aims to promote debate. Tutorial sessions will be in groups of 24/25 students once a week. Each tutorial will have five in-person sessions.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Intro to Child Development (PSY10070)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): An essay demonstrating critical thinking by applying two relevant module topics using developmental theory and empirical research to on child/adolescent development to the real-world. Week 14 Graded No
60
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: A multiple-choice quiz completed in-person during the class session. Week 5 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
40
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive feedback on their MCQ score automatically from Brightspace

For each lecture, it will be indicated up to two open access scientific articles. These will be uploaded to Brightspace.
There will be a recommended textbook:

Smith, P. K., Cowie, H., & Blades, M. (2015). Understanding children's development (6th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 15:00 - 16:50
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