The focus of this module will be on drawing on psychological evidence (theory and research) and applying it to areas of applied psychology, including education and health. The module will include:

- Links to a wide range of psychology theories
- Evaluation of up-to-date research at the forefront of the discipline
- Consideration and practice in applying the BPS Code of Conduct
- Looking at examples of how psychology evidence can be shared with parents and professionals working with children.

You will be given a list of dissemination tasks (e.g. blog post/email/magazine article) which involve writing for different audiences about different topics in child psychology. Each task will outline a problem, or concern, that a parent or a professional who works with children may have, and students will be required to give evidenced based advice, which demonstrates their expertise in psychology and child development which includes appropriate recommendations. Where possible these will be authentic assessments, which will be informed by the experiences of potential employers.

You must select two dissemination tasks from the list made available to them at the beginning of the module. Each task must relate to a different topic. In addition to these they must show evidence of receiving and reflecting on formative feedback. Therefore, the portfolio assessment will consist of three parts:

1. Dissemination Task 1 (LO 1, 2, 3)
2. Dissemination Task 2 (LO 1, 2, 3)
3. Students' summary of feedback they received during the module and a reflection of how they acted on this feedback (LO 4)

You will also be guided to complete formative tasks, this will include in class activities and tasks you are asked to complete in their independent study time. For example, you may be asked to present, in writing or verbally, a short research informed scenario response or dissemination of a piece of research suitable for a lay audience. Peer and tutor formative feedback will be provided for these tasks.

Sessions will include lectures, workshop activities, discussions, groupwork and drop-in support sessions.

1. Demonstrate detailed contemporary knowledge and a critical understanding of psychological theories, research evidence and professional standards with a focus on child development.

Knowledge and understanding

2. Integrate your knowledge to formulate well-evidenced arguments and devise a range of appropriate recommendations to address ‘problems’ relevant to psychology and child development.

Application and Problem Solving

3. Communicate effectively to professional and non-specialist audiences about the practical implications of knowledge, skills and research findings in psychology and child development.

Communication

4. Take responsibility in engaging with lifelong learning opportunities in line with your development needs to continue growing your transferable skills and competencies.

Personal Development & Entrepreneurship

Cline, T., Gulliford, A., & Birch, S. (Eds.). (2023). Educational Psychology (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429322815
Provides a useful overview of a wide range of topics relating to educational psychology including special educational needs and mental health. Includes lots of scenarios and mini case studies so good for helping you feel prepared for the assessment too!

Davey, G. (2023) Applied psychology. 2nd ed. BPS Blackwell. A general introduction to applied psychology, the section on educational psychology is the one relevant to this module!

Faulconbridge, J., Hunt, K., & Laffan, A. (Eds.). (2019). Improving the psychological wellbeing of children and young people: Effective prevention and early intervention across health, education and social care. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
This book is a little older but it introduces you, in a very accessible way, to a wider range of topics covered on this module.

*Note: Reading lists will be shared with students which will be updated regularly to reflect contemporary research in the topics covered - these will mainly consist of peer-reviewed journal articles. All the lectures will include references for further reading.

You are becoming an expert in Psychology and Child Development, and now it is time to develop your skills at sharing your expertise with others! During this module you will continue to develop your in-depth understanding of child psychology, and we will be focusing on your ability to think about how this knowledge can be applied to real-world setting – and communicated in a way that non-psychologists will be able to understand.