Developmental Psychology

6 ECTS credits
180 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1006155ANR for all students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences

Department

Klinische- en Levenslooppsychologie

Educational team

Eva Staels
Willem Van Den Broeck (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

39 contact hours Lecture
26 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals

Course Content

LESSONS: This course unit studies changes that occur in psychological processes during the life course from conception to adolescence. First the field is situated in a historical framework, whereby attention is also paid to the 'history of child' approach. Furthermore, the following topics are dealt with successively: prenatal development, development of perception and motor skills, cognitive development, language development and social-emotional development. For all these topics, the interactive role of heredity and environmental influences is always explained. The empirical nature of current scientific developmental psychology is emphasized by discussing empirical findings in all topics. In dealing with these empirical results, attention is regularly paid to the research methodology employed; this is with a view to developing a critical view of scientific findings.

EXERCISES: In the exercises, certain aspects from the lectures are demonstrated and applied. To carry out the exercises, the student must independently take, process and interpret a number of diagnostic instruments in the field and make a written report on them.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : PowerPoint presentations

Additional info

Course book:Berk, L.E. (9th Edition). Child Development. Boston. Pearson Education. And PowerPoint presentations supporting the lessons.

“PointCarré for more information!”

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

This course provides students with a thorough introduction into the domain of developmental psychology. The course aims to hand on knowledge about the diverse scientific approaches, themes, and research methods typical for developmental psychology. There is an accent on showing how empirical research data support theoretical claims. Methodological aspects are not avoided. During the exercises students are getting acquainted with some important diagnostic instruments to measure developmental milestones.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 75% of the final mark.
Practical Exam determines 25% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written exam multiple choice with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 75% of the final mark.

Note: Multiple choice exam. To pass, the student must have passed both the exam and the total points. If one has not passed the exam, the final grade is the grade for the exam. A passing grade for the exercises can be transferred to the next session.

Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Exercises with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 25% of the final mark.

Note: To pass, the student must have passed both the exam and the total points. If one has not passed the exam, the final grade is the grade for the exam. A passing grade for the exercises can be transferred to the next session.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Multiple-choice exam.

Distribution of marks:

75% theory and 25% exercises. To pass, the student must have passed both the exam and the total points. If one has not passed the exam, the final grade is the grade for the exam. A passing grade for the exercises can be transferred to the next session.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context