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Developmental Psychology (PSYC20008)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Dr Abi Brooker
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is a second-year core subject of the psychology major. In this subject, we explore a sub-discipline of psychology (developmental psychology) that focuses on the changes and continuities in how people think about and interact with the world around them. We explore cognitive, biological, social, and emotional perspectives of developmental psychology across infancy, childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. We incorporate contemporary theories with historical accounts of development. Alongside learning theories of developmental psychology, students will conduct research that interrogates some of those theories, using a specific statistical analysis (chi-squared test of independence). In doing so, they will have an opportunity to experience developmental research, including how ethical considerations shape research with young people, and how the scientific method contributes to theory development and scientific knowledge. Students find developmental psychology useful for better understanding their own development, and for supporting their academic, professional, and clinical pathways in a variety of ways, depending on their interests. Developmental psychology can inform scholarly pathways that investigate human nature, professional pathways that shape policy, and clinical pathways that influence education or childhood mental health.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge
- Explain some of the factors that influence cognitive, biological, and social development
- Identify historical as well as contemporary frameworks or theories of development
- Identify ethical considerations of developmental research with children and young people
Skills
- Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of adopting different perspectives for studying developmental processes
- Demonstrate an ability to conduct a constructive peer review of an academic piece
- Analyse and interpret data relevant to developmental inquiry
Application of knowledge and skills
- Provide constructive feedback of an academic piece
- Use developmental theory and analytic techniques to understand how children and young people change
Generic skills
Students should further develop generic skills in:
- analysing research literature
- interpreting research data
- evaluating research methodology
- writing reports
Last updated: 28 March 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
512221 Developmental Psychology 2
512227 Developmental Psychology
Recommended background knowledge
Prior coursework in the two Level 1 psychology subjects, Mind Brain and Behaviour 1 and Mind Brain and Behaviour 2 is recommended.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 28 March 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
3 x Revision Quizzes. Each quiz contains 10 multiple-choice questions focusing on content delivered in recent lectures.
| Throughout the teaching period | 15% |
An examination
| During the examination period | 45% |
An assignment
| From Week 7 to Week 11 | 40% |
An online module
| From Week 4 to Week 7 | 0% |
Attendance of at least 80% of laboratory classes. Hurdle requirement: In case of failure to meet the attendance requirement, additional work related to the missed activities (e.g., an essay whose length is 500 words for each tutorial missed) will be required before a passing grade can be awarded. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 28 March 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Abi Brooker Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours of Lectures and 12 hours of Practical/Tutorial Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2024 to 26 May 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 March 2024 Census date 3 April 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 May 2024 Assessment period ends 21 June 2024 Semester 1 contact information
Dr Abi Brooker
Time commitment details
36 contact hours with an estimated 170 hours time commitment
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 28 March 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Hoffnung, M., Hoffnung, R.J., Seifert, K. L., Hine, A., Pausé, C., Ward, L., Signal, T., Swabey, K., Yates, K, & Burton Smith, R. (2019). Lifespan Development: A chronological approach [4th Australasian edition]. John Wiley & Sons, Australia.
Recommended texts and other resources
PDFs of research articles available via the Library's portal.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Psychology Major Psychology Major Psychology Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 28 March 2024