Aims

This module aims to:

Introduce students to the main methods used in the psychological study of the neurodiversity of development.
Enable students to develop knowledge of key aspects of cognition that are often examined in neurodiverse populations.
Enable students to understand key developmental disorders that can disrupt typical development and their impact upon psychological functioning.
Introduce students to some of the assessments and interventions that are offered to neurodiverse populations.
Enable students to understand neurodiversity across the lifespan.

Outline Of Syllabus

Students will cover a broad range of topics and disorders of development throughout the module. The module will begin by introducing key aspects of cognition that are examined in neurodiverse populations (e.g., sensation and perception, memory, executive functions), and the methods for assessing these. The module will then cover a range of disorders of development, for example autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and specific learning disabilities.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will introduce core concepts for the study of disorders of development, beginning with aspects of cognition and behavior, and their assessment. Lectures will be supported by seminars in which students will work in small groups to complete tasks and answer questions, and to design an assessment that could be used within neurodiverse populations. There will also be structured reading activities and formative quizzes on Canvas.

Private and self-study is encouraged to think critically about published research exploring cognition and behavioural phenotypes associated with disorders of development, and to prepare for and complete the coursework and end of semester exam.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Written Examination:

The unseen examination will show if students have managed to extract and combine the relevant information presented across various lectures in order to formulate a coherent ‘story’ or ‘argument’. The questions are designed so that a satisfactory answer cannot be achieved by focusing on only the material from a single lecture, and they require the student to pull together / compare / contract aspects of different topics.

Poster::

Students will design an assessment / resource that could be used with neurodiverse populations, and present this in the form of a poster. This will assess students’ ability to comment critically on research methods that are used to explore the neurodiversity of development, as well as work with other students in the sessions that will prepare students to design a new assessment / resource.

These methods of assessment support student learning by encouraging wider reading / critical analysis skills and assimilation of arguments based on theory and evidence.

FMS Schools offering Semester One modules available as ‘Study Abroad’ will, where required, provide an alternative assessment time for examinations that take place after the Winter vacation. Coursework with submission dates after the Winter vacation will either be submitted at an earlier date or at the same time remotely. The assessment format will not normally vary from the original to ensure learning outcomes are met. Any changes to the original format must meet module learning outcomes and be approved by the school.

If the module is failed, Stage 3 students may only be offered a resit if an honours degree is not awarded on the first occasion. Failed assessments will be the same format during the August resit period.