Developmental Psychology
Overview
This unit aims to provide students with an understanding of human development. Students will gain familiarity with the main theories of human development and the processes, periods, and issues in development. The unit will also address topics in relation to the physical, cognitive and socioemotional development of individuals from infancy to adulthood. Students will be given the opportunity to develop professionally relevant skills and experience in applying statistical knowledge to answer research questions relevant to developmental psychology.
Requisites
PSY10003 Psychology 100
PSY10007 Brain and Behaviour
PSY10004 Psychology 101
PSY10008 Fundamentals of Psychology
PSY10005 Introduction to Research Methods
Rules
Pre-requisite
STA10003 Foundations of Statistics and Admission into BA-SSCPSY2S Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) OR BA-SSPSY6 Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) OR BA-BEHP Bachelor of Behavioural Studies (Psychology)
and PSY10003 Psychology 100
OR
PSY10007 Brain and Behaviour and PSY10004 Psychology 101
OR
PSY10008 Fundamentals of Psychology
OR
PSY10003 Psychology 100
OR
PSY10007 Brain and Behaviour and PSY10004 Psychology 101
OR
PSY10008 Fundamentals of Psychology and STA10003 Foundations of Statistics and PSY10005 Introduction to Research Methods
Equivalent
HAY206 - Developmental Psychology; HAYG420 - Developmental Psychology; LSY201 - Developmental Psychology; LSY521 - Developmental Psychology; PSS250(C) - Developmental Psychology; SLSY201 - Developmental Psychology
09-February-2025
01-June-2025
05-October-2025
08-February-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Describe the main theories of human development
- Evaluate how research on the lifespan is conducted using different research designs and methods
- Identify the most important processes, periods and issues in development
- Describe biological, cognitive and socioemotional development in infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood
- Apply statistical knowledge to a human development-related research question and communicate this in a clear and concise manner
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Lecture | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| On-campus Class | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Specified Activities Various | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Unspecified Activities Various | 6.50 | 12 weeks | 78 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Class | 1.00 | 4 weeks | 4 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 12.17 | 12 weeks | 146 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Report | Individual | 25% | 2,3,5 |
| Research Report | Individual | 35% | 1,2,5 |
Content
- Introduction to the lifespan perspective
- Theories of human development
- Research designs and methods related to human development
- Physical development in infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood
- Cognitive development in infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood
- Socioemotional development in infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood
- Contemporary issues in developmental psychology
- Graduate Attribute 1 (Communication 1 - Verbal Communication)
- Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
- Graduate Attribute 5 (Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy)
- Graduate Attribute 6 (Digital Literacies 2 - Technical literacy)
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.