Module: Child Development

Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Child Development
Module Code	PSYC106
School	37
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Richard Lombard Vance Semester 2: Richard Lombard Vance Autumn: Richard Lombard Vance
Module Teachers	Pamela Gallagher Emma Nicholson Richard Lombard Vance
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

None
Repeat examination and coursework

Description

This module will provide the student with an understanding of child development, highlighting the nature of physical, cognitive, social and emotional development during the childhood years. The module will explore and evaluate the various theoretical approaches to child development. The module will present to the student, in a comprehensive and meaningful way, key influential studies alongside contemporary and cross-disciplinary developments that have emerged in the field and will consider the practical applications of theoretical knowledge about child development.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify key figures, theoretical approaches, and research in the field of developmental psychology
2. Critically evaluate major and contemporary theory and research in the area of child development
3. Examine child development from a multidisciplinary perspective through the adoption of knowledge from social, emotional, biological, cognitive and language developmental theory
4. Recognise the role of social and cultural contexts on child development
5. Discuss challenges and controversies in the field of developmental psychology

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	20	Synchronous lectures based on indicative content and learning outcomes
Directed learning	30	Assignment Completion
Independent Study	75	Lecture review and independent learning
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction to Development Psychology: themes, theory and research

Research in developmental psychology

Prenatal development and birth

Cognitive development

Language Development

Emotional, Social and Moral Development

Atypical Development

Adolescence

Contexts of Child Development

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	30%	Examination Weight	70%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Assignment	Written report on observation of free play	30%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Santrock, J. W.: 2014, Child development, 14th edition, New York: McGraw-Hill.,
Berk. L.: 2017, Child development, International, London: Allyn & Bacon.,
Bee, H.: 2007, The developing child., 11th Edition, London: Allyn & Bacon.,
Mercer, Jean: 2010, Child development: myths and misunderstandings, Sage, Los Angeles,
Levine, Laura & Munsch, Joyce: 2011, Child development: an active learning approach, Sage, Thousand Oaks,
Greene, S., & Hogan, D.: 2005, Researching children's experiences: Methods and approaches., London: Sage.,
Clarke-Stewart, A., & Dunn, J.: 2006, Families count: Effects on child and adolescent development., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.,
Freeman, Mellissa & Mathison, Sandra: 2009, Researching children's experiences, Guilford Press, New York,
Meadows, Sara: 2010, The child as social person, Routledge, New York,
Prinstein, Mitchell & Dodge, Kenneth: 2008, Understanding peer influence in children and adolescents, Guilford, London,
Strasburger, Victor, Wilson, Barbara, & Jordan, Amy: 2013, Children, adolescents, and the media, 3rd, Sage, Thousand Oaks,

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

AFU	Age Friendly University Programme
BPDT	BSc Psychology & Disruptive Technologies
BPM	BSc in Psychology with Mathematics
BPY	BSc (Honours) in Psychology

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