LANGARA COLLEGE PSYCHOLOGY APPLIED EARLY CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

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1 LANGARA COLLEGE Department of Psychology PSYCHOLOGY APPLIED EARLY CHILD PSYCHOLOGY Summer Session 2010 CRN: Class Section: 001 Instructor: J.W. Barton, Ph.D. Class Time: Fridays; Office: B252d Class Location: A122B Office Phone: Prerequisites: Psyc. 1115/1215 or jbarton@langara.bc.ca Registration in: Early Childhood Education Education Assistant Program Course Description: Psychology 2328 is designed to examine theory and research in the area of early child development with an emphasis on contemporary issues. Text: Junn, E.N. & Boyatazis, C.J. (Eds.). 2010/11. Annuals Editions: Child Growth and Development (17th ed.). McGraw Hill Publishers. Learning Outcomes: 1. To examine the research and perspectives within the field of child development. Topics include: cognitive development, physical development, emotional development, social development and moral development. 2. To learn to apply critical thinking in analyzing information as relates to the area of child development. 3. To enhance library research, writing and oral presentation skills. By the end of the course, the student will be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of, comprehension of, and analytic abilities about the course content. Course Requirements: The course evaluation will be based on three separate examinations, major research paper, library assignment and oral presentation.

2 Examinations: (60%) Examination I (20%) June 18/10 Examination II (20%) July 16/10 Examination III (20%) As scheduled by the Registrar 1. Examinations will consist of objective questions covering both lecture and textbook content. 2. Each examination is based on the lecture content and assigned textbook readings as outlined on page four. 3. Examination results will be available one week following the scheduled date. 4. Students will have an opportunity to review their in class examinations at the next class meeting following the scheduled examination (only). 5. Absence from a scheduled examination will result in a grade of zero. 6. Dishonest conduct at examinations including communication with other students, copying of work, exposing information, using electronic devices or removing examination question papers from the classroom will result in disciplinary measures in accordance with the e Academic Dishonesty Policy. TERM PAPER (20%) Due: July 9/10 Prepare a 1,500 word term paper examining the empirical (research) literature on a selected specific aspect of child developmental psychology, ie. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Cognitive Deficits.The term paper should include: Title Page, Introduction (including the purpose of the paper), Review of the Literature, Summary and Conclusions, Future Directions and Research References (minimum of 8 peer reviewed journal articles). An APA writing style format must be employed. N.B. A late penalty of 2 marks per day will be applied to papers received after the due date excluding weekends; late papers must be dated and signed by a Langara faculty/staff personnel. Late papers may be submitted to my office B252d or in class. Graded papers will be returned at the Final Exam. Pg. 2 LIBRARY ASSIGNMENT (5%) Due: May 21/10

3 Complete either a "Core Concepts" Workbook or a Research Log (if you have already completed a workbook in the past). Completed assignment is to be handed into the Reference Desk Librarian by May 21st. Late Penalty of 1 mark per day will be applied (weekends not included). CLASS RESEARCH PRESENTATION (15%) 1. This assignment is a joint undertaking with another class member forming groups of two. Your partner selection is at your own discretion. 2. Choose a mutually agreeable research topic within the area of Early Child Development. 3. Select one research article from a referred journal which investigates some aspect of your chosen topic. ie. Topic: Attachment; Aspect: Separation Anxiety 4. Prepare a 15 minute powerpoint presentation on one research article. 5. Make a duplicate copy of the research article abstract for each member of the class (40 copies) which also will be critiqued by the class members collectively in a class discussion following the presentation. Ensure your names are on the handout. 6. Use the following guideline to critique the research article: a) Introduction: A general overview of the current state of the art in your chosen topic area. b) Research Source: What journal does your research come from? Include author(s), year, title, journal name, vol., pg. c) Research Hypothesis: What is the research question being postulated. d) Subjects: Describe the subjects used in the study and how they were selected (Random Assignment?). e) Variables: Describe the variables being manipulated (independent), measured (dependent) and held constant (control). f) Methodology: Outline how the experiment was conducted (Replication?). g) Results: Briefly state the results of the study. h) Summary and Conclusion: What conclusions did the investigators draw from their study. i) Strengths and Weaknesses: Identify three strengths and weaknesses of the selected study. You might review the following page entitled: 25 Characteristics of Good Research which may serve to assist you in addressing this dimension. In addition, prepare to conduct a short class discussion on your topic following your presentation. N.B. The time and date of the class research presentations will be assigned by the instructor and grades will be available at the final exam. Pg. 3

4 COURSE CONTENT Date May 14 May 21 May 28 June 4 June 11 June 18 Development) June 25 July 2 July 9 July 16 10/11) July 23 July 30 Aug 6 Development) GENERAL TOPIC Introduction / Library Assignment Developmental Psychology Theoretical Approaches/Research Methods Prenatal Development Cognitive Development Learning Theory Examination I ( Lecture notes; Units 1 & 2 - Child Growth and Social Development Moral Development Emotional Development Examination II (Lecture notes; Unit 3 - Child Growth and Development Parenting and Family Issues Sociocultural Influences Review Examination III (Lecture notes; Units 4 & 5 - Child Growth and As scheduled by the Registrar Research Papers Returned / Oral Presentation Grades Pg. 4

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