Lifespan Lecture 1

Introduction to Psychology Across the Lifespan

• Acknowledgment of traditional custodians of the land: Ngunnawal people, and respect to elders.

• Instructor: Caroline Ning, with focus on cultural and social identities in adolescents and young people.

• Qualifications: BSc Honours (University of Surrey), Masters of Psychology of Education (UCL), PhD in adolescent social identities (Utrecht).

• Contact Information: Email responses within three working days, consultation hours online (no appointment needed).

• Tutor: Mick, PhD student researching microaggressions towards LGBTQ individuals in healthcare.

Course Overview

• Introduction to unit objectives for the semester.

• Content includes: developmental psychology, assessments, lifespan approach, and research methods.

• Emphasis on understanding language barriers and encouraging students to communicate if they don’t understand.

Unit Information

• Lectures are recorded and available on Canvas within 30 minutes.

• Tutorials are weekly (face-to-face, starting in week 2) but not compulsory; highly recommended.

• No prescribed textbook; required readings available on Canvas, with some accessible through the library.

• Required readings are essential for the week, while further readings are optional.

• Recommended resources: APA Publication Manual and "An Interactive Approach to Writing Essays and Research Reports in Psychology" by Burton.

• General help: Unit outline and Canvas pages provide detailed information.

Key Course Dates

• Mid-Semester Break: Week 8.

• Assessment deadlines including:

  • Early assessment quiz (5%): Due Week 3.

  • Cluster assessment (10%): Reference search process evaluation.

  • Essay (40%): Due April 11, Topic - Development of theory of mind in early childhood and cultural influences.

  • Final exam (45%): Online proctored during exam period, assessing content from weeks 3 to 13.

Assessment Guidelines

• Quizzes: Online assessment based on lecture material with a timeline for responses.

• Late policy: 10% penalty for the first 3 days of late submission, zero beyond that.

• Extensions: Must apply through proper channels, evident with required documentation.

Content Structure

• Topics include:

  • Sequence of human development.

  • Psychological developmental theories and their application.

  • The role of context and culture in development (etic vs. emic perspectives).

  • Interdependence of physical, cognitive, and emotional domains of development.

Development and Context

• Discussion of normative vs. non-normative influences on development.

• Examination of age grades, age norms, and social clocks.

• Exploration of psychological ageism and its implications.

Developmental Areas of Study

• Areas discussed include:

  • Physical/Biological Development: Growth and motor skills.

  • Cognitive Development: Perception and memory.

  • Psychosocial Development: Personal relationships and identity.

Lifespan Perspective in Development

• Understanding development as a continuous process with change, stability, and decline across all life stages.

• Identification of developmental markers and the evolution of emerging adulthood as a life stage.

Research Methods in Developmental Psychology

• Importance of the scientific method: Developing hypotheses from observations.

• Focus on reliable and valid measurement techniques in developmental studies.

• Different methods used: Observations, self-reports (limitations with young children), and physiological measures (e.g., FMRI).

Designing Developmental Research

• Experimental vs. correlational designs.

  • Experimental: Causation analysis through manipulation of variables.

  • Correlational: Examines relationships without implying causation.

• Types of design:

  • Cross-sectional: Different age groups at one time.

  • Longitudinal: Same group studied over time.

  • Sequential: Combines both approaches to reduce cohort effects.

Ethical Considerations in Research

• Importance of ethical standards in conducting research with human subjects.

• Consideration of harm, informed consent, debriefing, confidentiality, and participant care in developmental studies.

Conclusion

• Recap of the course structure, expectations for assessments, and research methods to be implemented throughout the semester.

• Encourage participation and highlight the relevance of the topics in understanding developmental psychology.