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Course module: UCSSCPSY22
UCSSCPSY22
Developmental Psychology
Course info
Course codeUCSSCPSY22
EC7.5
Course goals
After completing this course students are able to:
  • describe key concepts that help our understanding of human development
  • compare and contrast different theories and discuss their impact on how we view development
  • differentiate between research methods used in this specific field
  • summarize recent approaches, controversies and issues in developmental psychology
  • critically evaluate research findings and recognizing niches in research
  • write a research proposal and formulate research-based expert opinion
Content
Development is an exciting lifelong process with constant change occurring at different levels. In developmental psychology the aim is to unravel the mysteries of human body and mind that take place between conception and death. This course gives a general overview of current research and theory on lifespan developmental psychology. The major questions that will be covered during this course are: (1) how we develop over time, (2) which factors influence the process, and (3) how we can apply psychological theories, research methods and findings to address issues in real-life settings. Therefore we will examine developmental stages during the whole lifespan focusing mainly on social and emotional development with somewhat less emphasis on cognitive and physical development. Furthermore, special attention will be given to the most important developmental contexts and agents, such as family, friends and school. Finally, students will gain some insights of the applied developmental psychology field by examining how scientific knowledge can be used in various (e.g., clinical, educational or legal) settings.

 
Format
The first class of each week usually consists of a lecture combined with class activities for which students read preparatory materials. The second weekly session is devoted to student presentations, discussions, and demonstrations. The first half of the semester is more research focused and students will write an individual research proposal during this period. During the second half of the term students will work in pairs to write a final paper.
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Kies de Nederlandse taal