Psychology 105: Developmental Psychology
Summer 2009 Session B
MTWR 8:15-9:20 in BUCHN 1930
Description: An introduction to the scientific study of
developmental processes, with particular focus on child development. Examination
of research and theory in major areas of child psychology.
Course goals: This course provides an overview of psychological
development in infancy and childhood. The focus is on how scientific methods
produce and refine knowledge and theories of development. By the end of the
course, students will:
1. Learn basic theories and methods used to study
psychological development.
2. Learn to generate and compare predictions from
different developmental theories.
3. Learn to evaluate experimental results in terms of
their implications for various theories of development.
Instructor: Adam S. Cohen
ascohen at psych dot ucsb dot edu (please
put “psych 105” in the subject line)
Office hours: W 9:30-11:30 in
Bldg 411 Room D
Teaching Assistant: Mike Mrazek
mrazek at psych dot ucsb dot edu
Office hours: R 10:00-12:00 in Bldg 429 Room 102
Website: http://www.psych.ucsb.edu/~ascohen/teach/psych_105_m09.htm
Textbook: There is no required textbook.
How Children Develop (2nd Ed) by Siegler, DeLoache and Eisenberg will be
on reserve at the library.
Evaluation:
Articles:
Week 1: Luo et al (2003) (0%)
Week 3: Soska & Johnson
(2008) (15%)
Week 5: Birch & Bloom
(2003) (15%)
Advice: After you've read an article,
read it again. It often helps to read it a third time.
Exams:
Week 2: Exam
I (20%)
Week 4: Exam
II (20%)
Week
6: Exam III (30%)
Practice exams will be posted
ahead of the exam.
N.B. Make-ups for exams I and II will consist of all essay
questions. Make-up exams will not be granted without prior approval from the
instructor. No make-up exam is possible
for exam III: If you cannot take
exam III when scheduled, then you must drop the course.
Grading:
Plus and minus grades will be given within 2% of the
grade cutoff, lower bound inclusive, upper bound exclusive. This means
that an 87.9% is a B, an 88.0% - 89.9% is a B+, a 90.0% - 91.9% is an A-,
and a 92.0% is an A.
100% ≥ A ≥ 90%
90% > B ≥ 80%
80% > C ≥ 70%
70% > D ≥ 60%
60% > F ≥ 0%
New: grade calculator
Schedule:
|
Date |
|
Handouts |
Lecture Topic |
|
08/03 |
Themes in child
development |
||
|
08/04 |
Ch 1 SDE |
Themes (cont); Methods |
|
|
08/05 |
|
|
Methods (cont) |
|
08/06 |
NY
Times: “My Genome, My Self”[2] Ch 3 SDE |
Behavioral Genetics Article I: Luo et al. (2003) |
|
|
08/10 |
Ch 4 SDE |
(updated) |
Theories of cognitive
development |
|
08/11 |
Ch 5 SDE |
Perceptual and
attentional development |
|
|
08/12 |
|
|
Perceptual and attentional development
(cont.) Review |
|
08/13 |
|
Exam I |
|
|
08/17 |
Ch 5 SDE |
|
Motor development |
|
08/18 |
Excerpts from HTMW |
Cognitive development:
Object concept and physical reasoning |
|
|
08/19 |
(click on “The Magic Years” video) |
Cognitive development:
Object concept and physical reasoning (cont.) |
|
|
08/20 |
Excerpts from TLI Ch 6 SDE |
Language development:
Blank Slate v. Nativism Article II: Soska & Johnson (2008) |
|
|
08/24 |
Ch 6 SDE |
Language development:
Language acquisition |
|
|
08/25 |
Excerpts from Mindblindness I |
Cognitive development:
Theory of mind |
|
|
08/26 |
Excerpts from Mindblindness II |
|
Cognitive development:
Theory of mind (cont.) Review |
|
08/27 |
|
Exam II |
|
|
08/31 |
Theory of mind and
autism |
||
|
09/01 |
Ch 9 SDE |
Theories of social
development |
|
|
09/02 |
Ch 15 SDE |
|
Gender development |
|
09/03 |
Ch 10 SDE |
Emotional development Article III: Birch & Bloom (2003) |
|
|
09/07 |
|
|
|
|
09/08 |
Ch 11 SDE |
Attachment and the self
|
|
|
09/09 |
Ch 12 and 13 SDE |
|
Personality development
(outside readings) Review |
|
09/10 |
|
Exam III |
|
|
Extra |
Descartes’ Baby by Paul Bloom Moral Minds by Marc Hauser Video of Hauser on moral minds Ch 14 SDE |
|
Moral Development |
Secrets on how to do well
(...in any class):
[1] With
the exception of the first lecture, readings should be completed ahead of time
[2] Read
“With personal genomics…” section, although the entire article is worth
reading.
[3] Skip
the biography; read the theory section.
[4] Read
pages 165-176.
[5] Watch
Chapter 4.
[6] Watch
Chapters 5 and 6.
[7] Watch “Is morality hardwired into us?”
