Module Descriptors
FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE - UNDERSTANDING THE INFANCY RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT
PSYC60463
Key Facts
Faculty of Health Sciences
Level 6
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Doreen Thompson
Email: D.Thompson@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 24
Independent Study Hours: 126
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- REPORT weighted at 50%
- WORK BOOK weighted at 50%
Module Details
Module Special Admissions Requirements
Students must be registered on the Psychology and Child Development award.
Module Indicative Content
On this module, students will develop an in depth understanding of some of the difficulties and controversies in studying the pre-verbal population. The module will provide opportunities for students to critically apply relevant knowledge and theory gained in earlier childhood development modules within the context of observing young children. Class sessions will consider the ways in which the research environment can influence interactions with children, and students will explore and critically evaluate some of the ethical issues/dilemmas, controversies and difficulties raised when attempting to apply psychological models and paradigms of child development to real situations.
Students will have the opportunity to gain practical experience by observing lab based research techniques used in child development, and will critically evaluate some of the research paradigms involved in these observations, including testing, videotaping, scoring and analysis.
Students will receive practical experience in scoring video-taped recordings of research work using video analysis software and will explore and evaluate the capacity of the software to generate meaningful and robust descriptive data.
Students will have the opportunity to gain practical experience by observing lab based research techniques used in child development, and will critically evaluate some of the research paradigms involved in these observations, including testing, videotaping, scoring and analysis.
Students will receive practical experience in scoring video-taped recordings of research work using video analysis software and will explore and evaluate the capacity of the software to generate meaningful and robust descriptive data.
Module Additional Assessment Details
Observation Report (maximum 2,000 words) 50% (to assess learning outcomes 2, 4 & 5)
The principal focus of the observation must be negotiated with the tutor, to ensure appropriate coverage of a number and range of relevant issues on the module. Students will be expected to demonstrate an evaluation of the inherent controversies and difficulties that arise within the observation situation, as well as suggest appropriate ways of overcoming them.
Workbook (to contain a number of short answer tasks, approximately 1500 words in total) 50% (to assess learning outcomes 1 & 3)
All students will be expected to demonstrate the application and critical evaluation of relevant psychological theory and knowledge within illustrations of real life settings, along with a critical evaluation of some of the techniques and research paradigms involved in psychological investigations within these settings.
Additional Assessment Details (including formative feedback / assessment:)
Formative learning will take place through class based activities, seminars and lab based sessions, along with guided independent learning. Class sessions will illustrate and develop ideas for the assessment, and a practice observation and report writing session will be held. Peer and tutor feedback will be offered for negotiated report titles. Tutor feedback on draft report plans will be available.
The principal focus of the observation must be negotiated with the tutor, to ensure appropriate coverage of a number and range of relevant issues on the module. Students will be expected to demonstrate an evaluation of the inherent controversies and difficulties that arise within the observation situation, as well as suggest appropriate ways of overcoming them.
Workbook (to contain a number of short answer tasks, approximately 1500 words in total) 50% (to assess learning outcomes 1 & 3)
All students will be expected to demonstrate the application and critical evaluation of relevant psychological theory and knowledge within illustrations of real life settings, along with a critical evaluation of some of the techniques and research paradigms involved in psychological investigations within these settings.
Additional Assessment Details (including formative feedback / assessment:)
Formative learning will take place through class based activities, seminars and lab based sessions, along with guided independent learning. Class sessions will illustrate and develop ideas for the assessment, and a practice observation and report writing session will be held. Peer and tutor feedback will be offered for negotiated report titles. Tutor feedback on draft report plans will be available.
Module Texts
Bakeman, R. & Gottman, J.M.. (1994) Observing Interaction: An introduction to sequential analysis. Cambridge, CUP.
Gopnik, A., Meltzoff, A.N., Kuhl, P., (1998) How babies think. Weidenfield and Nicholson.
Woodward, A. & Needham, A (2008) Learning and the Infant Mind. Oxford University Press. USA.
Gopnik, A., Meltzoff, A.N., Kuhl, P., (1998) How babies think. Weidenfield and Nicholson.
Woodward, A. & Needham, A (2008) Learning and the Infant Mind. Oxford University Press. USA.
Module Resources
Access to Observation lab, with suitable recording equipment
Play equipment
Video analysis suite
Video Observer Pro software, or equivalent
Play equipment
Video analysis suite
Video Observer Pro software, or equivalent
Module Learning Strategies
12 x 2 hour class sessions, total 24 hours. Class sessions will be used flexibly to incorporate lectures, activities and discussions, practical observation-related tasks, and lab based observation.
Independent study 76 hours
Assessment preparation 50
Independent study 76 hours
Assessment preparation 50