Students must be registered on the Psychology and Child Development award.

This module will consider a range of topic areas related to child development (e.g., cognitive development, social development) and how this theory and research is applied in a real world setting. Lectures will provide a review of contemporary research and will highlight techniques used in research with children (e.g., coding behaviour). On this module, sStudents will develop an in depth understanding of some of the difficulties and controversies in studying children and willthe pre-verbal population. The module will 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.

Scheduled Learing and Teaching Activities: (24hours)
12 x 2 hour class sessions
Class sessions will be used flexibly to incorporate lectures, activities and discussions and, practical observation-related tasks., and lab based observation

Guided Independent Study: (126)
In your independent study you will
(i) read some key articles/ book chapters on each of the topic areas to give you a broad overview of the area covered by the module
(ii) read extensively on one topic area in preparation for your assessment
(iii) write a critical evaluation of a methodology in developmental psychology.

Independent study 76 hours
Assessment preparation 50

Access to Observation lab, with suitable recording equipment
Play equipment
Video analysis suite
Video Observer Pro software, or equivalent

The workbook will include a critical review of a specific research topic and a critical evaluation of a practice methodology in Developmental Psychology (assesses all LO's).

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.

Bakeman, R & Gottman, JM (1994) Observing Interaction: An introduction to sequential analysis. Cambridge, CUP.
Gillibrand, R., Lam, V. & OżDonnell, V. L. (2011). Developmental Psychology. Harlow: Prentice Hall.
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.