Developmental Psychology

Developmental Psychology Fall, 2002
PSYCH—360

CLASS: Place—PENGLE 369
Time—1:00-2:10
Cycle—2-4-6

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Michael Livingston
Office—PENGLE 130
Office Hours—11:20-12:30 on days 1,2,3,4,6, & by appointment
Phone—363-3369
e-mail—mlivingston@csbsju.edu

TEXT: Child Development: Its Nature and Course (4th Ed.) by Ganie DeHart, L. Alan Sroufe, & Robert G. Cooper. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2000. [CD]
Adult Development and Aging (4th Ed.) by John C. Cavanaugh & Fredda Blanchard-Fields. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2002. [ADA]

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Developmental Psychologists study how people change from conception until death. Developmentalists (as we are known) study both the characteristics of people at different ages and the processes or factors that produce change and stability. Developmentalists are especially interested in patterns of change in perception, cognition, emotions, social behavior and relationships, and personality.

I have four specific objectives for this course. By the end of the course you should have:
(1) an understanding of the basic facts, principles, methods, and theories of developmental psychology;
(2) an ability to apply this material to your own life and to the world around you;
(3) an ability to think critically about developmental psychology and your own development; and
(4) the ability to do the first three objectives 10 years from now.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
All the course requirements are designed to help you achieve the course objectives. There are five sets of requirements: Pre-Lecture Assignments (PLAs), Tests, the Autobiography, Group Projects, and Service-Learning.

Pre-Lecture Assignments. There are eight PLAs, during the course. Each contains a small set of questions or activities for you to do before coming to class. They are worth 12 points and are usually due at the start of class on the first day of a unit (there are 8 units in the course, hence 8 PLAs). In total the PLAs are worth 96 points or 19.2% of the course grade. PLAs that are late will have the total possible points reduced by 3 for the first day it is late and by 1 additional point for every day after that. All PLAs must be typed.

Tests. There are four tests in this class. The fourth test is given during the final exam period on Tuesday, December 17 at 11 AM. All tests are worth 40 points. In total, the tests are worth 160 points or 32% of the course grade. Tests consist of short answer and essay questions. I will provide a study guide to you before the test. Only questions that are on the study guide will appear on the test.

The Autobiography. During the course you will write an autobiographical essay that will be from 8-10 pages long, typed, double-spaced, and based on journaling and research you have conducted during the semester. You determine the focus of the autobiography. The autobiography is worth 90 points or 18% of the course grade. Detailed instructions on the autobiography are attached to the syllabus. You have the option of doing a traditional library research paper in place of the autobiography should you wish to do so. If you decide to do a library research paper you must inform me in writing by putting a note on PLA 1. Instructions for the research paper follow the guidelines for the autobiography at the end of this syllabus.

Group Projects. A total of 64 points (12.8% of the course grade) will be earned by doing in-class group projects. This work cannot be made up, is done in class, and receives a group grade. Your lowest score will be dropped and replaced with your highest score at the end of the course (this means that everyone can miss one group project and have their highest score be counted in place of the missed project).

Service-Learning. Service-learning is a pedagogy that integrates classroom learning and service to the community. In this course you will be required to do 20 hours of service to the community in an agency or organization that serves people at one of the stages of development we will be studying. Your grade for this requirement in the course will be based on a) completion of the 20 hours of service; b) a record of your service kept on the class public folder; and c) a four page reflection paper on your experience due Dec. 17th. The reflection paper will describe what you did, some highlights of your experience, and what you learned about human development from the experience. The service-learning is worth 90 points or 18% of the course grade. You must record your weekly hours in the public folder by Friday of each week at 4 PM for the hours to be credited to you.

Other Requirements. One additional requirement is called the funny rule—After you come to class remove your watch and put it in your pocket, backpack, or bag. Also turn off or disarm the beepers and alarms. There are exceptions to the funny rule, such as during tests when you may wear a watch. I will explain the reason for the funny rule in class. Just remember—take off that watch!

GRADING:
Grades are based on the total number of points you accumulate out of the 500 possible points in the course. In terms of points, the course requirements break down as follows:

Assignments Points
PLAs (12x8) 96
TESTS (4x40) 160
GROUP PROJECTS 64
AUTOBIOGRAPHY 90
SERVICE-LEARNING 90

Your letter grade will be based on the number of points you accumulate, using the following cutpoints.

Total Points Final Grade Minimum %
500-470 A 94%
469-450 AB 90%
449-420 B 84%
419-400 BC 80%
399-360 C 72%
359-340 CD 68%
339-310 D 62%
309 or below F

TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
DATE TOPIC/READINGS NOTES
8/29 Course Overview

9/2-9/10 Theory & Method PLA 1 due 9/4
CD Chs. 1-2; ADA, Ch. 1

9/12-9/20 Infancy & Toddlerhood PLA 2 due 9/12
CD, Chs. 4-8; pp. 83-103 Journal due 9/20

9/24 TEST 1

9/26-10/8 Early Childhood PLA 3 due 9/26
CD, Chs. 9 & 10

10/10-10/18 Middle Childhood PLA 4 due 10/10
CD, Chs. 11 & 12 Journal due 10/18

10/22 TEST 2

10/24-11/1 Adolescence & Emerging Adulthood PLA 5 due 10/24
CD, Chs. 13 & 14

11/5-11/13 Adulthood I PLA 6 due 11/5
ADA, Chs. 2-3, 6-8 Journal due 11/13

11/15 TEST 3

11/19-12/2 Adulthood II PLA 7 due 11/19
ADA, Chs. 10-12

12/4-12/12 Death, Grief, & Dying PLA 8 due 12/4
ADA, Ch. 13 Auto. Due 12/6

12/17 TEST 4 (11 A.M.) Reflect. due

PRE-LECTURE ASSIGNMENT #1: Theory and Method

“There is nothing quite so practical as a good theory.”
Kurt Lewin

“All theories, dear friend, are gray; the golden tree of life is green.”
Goethe, from Faust

Due: Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the start of class
Readings: CD, Chs. 1 & 2; ADA, Ch. 1
Points: 12 possible

1. What single factor in your life has been the biggest force for change? What single factor in your life has been the greatest force for continuity? Why? (2 pts.)
2. Select two of the six theories of development described by DeHart et al. (Piaget’s theory, information processing theory, sociocultural theory. Psychoanalytic theory, social learning theory, and adaptational theory) and compare and contrast these theories. Describe what you think (and why) are the strengths and weaknesses of each theory and why these are strengths or weaknesses. (5 pts.)
3. Using the description of research methods and designs given in the texts, as well as your common sense and outside knowledge, design the best study you can on any aspect of developmental psychology that interests you. If you are not sure that a topic fits within developmental psychology, check the index of the texts. (5 pts.)

If you wish to do the library research paper instead of the autobiography, please make a note to that effect at the top of your PLA. If you do not make a note, it will indicate that you have decided to do the autobiography. Thanks!

PRE-LECTURE ASSIGNMENT #2: Infancy

“As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.”

Due: Thursday, September 12th at the start of class.
Readings: CD, Chs. 4-8; pp.83-103
Points: 12 possible

1. What role do genetic and biological factors play in infant development? (4 pts.)
2. Describe infant-adult attachment, the patterns of attachment, and the consequences of attachment for the child. (4 pts.)
3. Describe the course of language development during infancy and toddlerhood. What does language development tell us about human cognitive development? (4 pts.)

Grade Record Sheet

Use the following table to record your grades and calculate your grades over the semester.

TASK MY SCORE/POSSIBLE MY CUM./POSSIBLE %

PLA #1 _____/12 _____/12 _____
Group #1 _____/8 _____/20 _____
PLA #2 _____/12 _____/32 _____
Group #2 _____/8 _____/40 _____
Test #1 _____/40 _____/80 _____
PLA #3 _____/12 _____/92 _____
Group #3 _____/8 _____/100 _____
PLA #4 _____/12 _____/112 _____
Group #4 _____/8 _____/120 _____
Test #2 _____/40 _____/160 _____ PLA #5 _____/12 _____/172 _____
Group #5 _____/8 _____/180 _____
PLA #6 _____/12 _____/192 _____
Group #6 _____/8 _____/200 _____
Test #3 _____/40 _____/240 _____
PLA #7 _____/12 _____/252 _____
Group #7 _____/8 _____/260 _____
PLA #8 _____/12 _____/272 _____
Group #8 _____/8 _____/280 _____
Test #4 _____/40 _____/320 _____
Service-Lear. _____/90 _____/410 _____
Autobio _____/90 _____/500 _____

Additional Autobiography Guidelines

I have placed these additional guidelines on the last page because you don’t have to worry about them until later on in the course.

The autobiography is due on Friday, December 6th at the start of class. It is an 8-10 page, typed double-spaced (using 12 point type) paper that focuses on one aspect of your life, not a summary of your entire life. You also need to incorporate concepts from the text into the autobiography (this is VERY IMPORTANT). The autobiography is worth 90 points and your grade will be determined based on the number of points earned in the following areas:
Research 40%
Application of concepts 25%
Style, organization, etc. 25%
Length 5%
Self-evaluation 5%

Research includes your journal and the grades you receive on your journal as well as additional research you may wish to conduct such as interview your parents or old friends, using diaries or old yearbooks, and so on.

Application of concepts (if appropriate) can be done throughout your autobiography or as a section at the end of your paper, after you tell your story. Application of concepts involves using concepts from the course when they are relevant to the story you are telling.

The self-evaluation is a one page typed analysis at the end of your autobiography. In the self-evaluation you will describe what you got out of the project (including the writing of the journal), what was challenging for you about the autobiography, what you learned, and what grade you feel you deserve and why.

You do not need a reference list at the end of your autobiography but you do need to cite your sources in parentheses in the body of your paper, e.g., (DeHart et al., 2000, p. 123) or (Class Journal, p. 34).

Library Research Paper Option

If you do not wish to do the autobiography you may select the option of doing a traditional library research paper in the area of developmental psychology. This paper is to be at least 10 pages long, double-spaced 12-point type, in APA style. The final copy of the paper is due the same day as the autobiography. In addition, when other students turn in their journals (these dates are listed on the class schedule) you will need to turn in your research. This research consists of at least 10 references to books or journal articles (with full APA citation) and your notes on each reference. A rough draft of your paper is due on December 21st. The rough draft will give me the opportunity to give you feedback on your paper before your final draft gets turned in for a grade.

Additional Reflection Paper Guidelines

The service-learning reflection paper is due on the day of the final test. It is to be 4 typed pages, double-spaced in 12-point type. You will need to address four questions in the reflection paper: (1) what did you do; (2) what did you learn about human development; (3) what experiences were “highlights” for you; and (4) how did the service learning experience change the way you think or feel. If you wish to have the paper returned to you please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.