PSY2001 : Developmental Psychology
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Bess Price
- Lecturer: Professor Gwyneth Doherty-Sneddon, Dr Hannah Roome
- Owning School: Psychology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The module provides students with a thorough understanding of developmental psychology across several key domains, including perceptual, cognitive, and socioemotional changes throughout the lifespan. General aims of the module are:
1. To provide students with a solid foundation of the theoretical views underpinning our understanding of human development.
2. To encourage critical thinking regarding methodological approaches in developmental psychology, including the impact of the historical and cultural context.
3. To help students recognise how psychological research can and should be used to optimise human development across the lifespan.
Outline Of Syllabus
Research methods and theoretical approaches in lifespan development
Perceptual development
Language development
Cognitive development and brain maturation
Social cognition
Emotional and moral development
Neurodiversity in development
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 42:00 | 42:00 | |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 36:00 | 36:00 | |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The lectures are used as the principle and most effective mode of imparting the core knowledge of the module. The question and answer sessions are used to impart and discuss knowledge and understanding. Workshops will help students to consolidate knowledge gained through lectures. These include two writing workshops designed to help students practice their academic writing skills, familiarise themselves with marking criteria and receive constructive feedback related to short answer question prep and general academic writing skills. The private study is essential for in-depth review of knowledge imparted through lecture materials.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 90 | 1 | A | 100 | MCQs (45), SAQs (3), unseen, Inspera invigilated. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The MCQs are used to assess breadth of knowledge and understanding of material. The SAQs are used to assess the ability to integrate across materials, to demonstrate critical thinking and originality, and to communicate these clearly and concisely.
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 dates after the Christmas vacation will either be submitted at an earlier date or at the same time remotely.
If the module is failed or deferred students will resit failed or deferred assessments in the same format during the August resit period.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PSY2001's Timetable