Development of the Thinking Child (PSYC30019)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The subject will provide students with an opportunity to evaluate the relationship between cognitive and neuropsychological typical and atypical development in children.
Contemporary theory and research methods for investigating cognitive and neuropsychological development will be reviewed. The focus will be on the adequacy of research methods for answering questions about typical and atypical cognitive and neuropsychological development. Subject themes will include:
- Characterizing the development of thinking and reasoning abilities.
- Characterizing neuropsychological development in children.
- Understanding links between the adequacies of research questions, research methods and data analyses.
- Understanding the meaning and significance of variability in cognitive and neuropsychological change in children.
- Formulating research questions that investigate typical and atypical development.
- Writing research reports that reflect an awareness of differences in typical and atypical developing children.
The overall aim of the subject is to help students acquire an understanding of the issues associated with identifying typical and atypically cognitive and neuropsychological development in children.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge
On completion of the subject students will demonstrate knowledge of:
- The trajectories of change in cognitive and neuropsychological development of children.
- The history of different methods and analytic techniques used to study cognitive and neuropsychological development.
- The difficulties associated with identifying different patterns of cognitive and neuropsychological changes in children.
- Types of interventions used to help children.
Skills
On completion of the subject students will have developed skills to:
- Characterise typical and atypical developmental patterns and change trajectories.
- Evaluate the adequacy of research methods used to study cognitive- and neuropsychological development.
- Interpret cognitive and neuropsychological developmental research data.
- Communicate different issues associated with variability in development.
Application of knowledge and skills
On completion of this subject students will be able to apply their knowledge and skills to:
- Distinguish different patterns of cognitive and neuropsychological changes in children as they grow.
- Critically evaluate different methods and techniques used to study cognitive and neuropsychological development.
- Work with others to assess different psychological interventions for children.
Generic skills
- Present, develop, and support an argument for a position and anticipate criticism
- Analyse information critically
- Interact with peers to facilitate respectful development of communication and listening skills
Last updated: 10 April 2025