How much of our behaviour is learned or innate? How much does the culture in which we are raised affect the person we become? What is the relationship between our childhood behaviours and experiences and our adult self? Developmental Psychology is the study of developmental processes across the range of human experience and abilities. This course provides a broad foundation in the discipline, focusing on early lifespan development. This course takes a topic-based approach, covering: (i) Biological and Motor Development, (ii) Perceptual Development, (iii) Cognitive Development, (iv) Play, (v) Language Development, (vi) Social Development, (vii) Emotional and Moral Development, and (viii) Developmental Disorders. A particular feature of this course is a dual emphasis on research and application. Students complete a laboratory report with a teamwork component.
This course can be taken as an HPO.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of developmental psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Critically analyse and synthesise theory and evidence to explain how nature and nurture interact across the course of human development, with an emphasis on individual and cultural universalities and differences.
- Demonstrate an ability to apply research in developmental psychology to real-world questions and scenarios.
- Contribute effectively to a major team-based project through active participation, cultural sensitivity, and respectful peer-to-peer learning and feedback.
Other Information
Important information for 2024 delivery:
- Students admitted to their program in 2023 or thereafter who seek to complete the accredited pathway of PSYC courses must complete this course.
- Students admitted to their program prior to 2023 who seek to complete the accredited pathway of PSYC courses must complete this course if they have not already completed PSYC2002.
- Students who have already completed PSYC2002 are not eligible for this course (i.e., PSYC3202 is incompatible with PSYC2002).
- For enrolment advice about this course please contact science.enquiries@anu.edu.au.
- For academic advice about this course please contact amy.dawel@anu.edu.au
- To obtain a permission code please complete the form available from this link: https://students.science.anu.edu.au/program-admin/requesting-permission-enrol
Incompatibility with PSYC2002: Note that although this course is incompatible with PSYC2002, the content and expectations are higher in PSYC3202. Students having undertaken PSYC2002 may be eligible to receive an exemption from PSYC3202 but will not receive specific credit for the higher level course (PSYC3202), and it will not contribute towards satisfying the 3000 level requirements of the relevant program, major, minor or specialisation.
Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) required competencies:
As part of the mandatory requirements from the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), students must demonstrate the specific competencies listed in the learning outcomes for this course. For example, group tasks assess the required demonstration of teamwork skills. Some students may be eligible to have recommended reasonable adjustments applied to materials, activities or assessment tasks provided the integrity of the course, and the competencies being assessed, are maintained.
For more information, please contact the Course Convenor.
Indicative Assessment
- Online quizzes (12) [LO 1,2]
- In-lab exercises (18) [LO 1,3,4]
- Major written report (30) [LO 1,3,4]
- End of semester exam (40) [LO 1,2,3]
- HPO assessment: students complete a research-based HPO option in place of some online quizzes (0) [LO 1,3]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- 12 x ~2 hours of lecture content delivered weekly online.
- Face-to face component comprising 8 x 2 hour laboratory classes.
- Approximately 90 hours of self-directed study, which will include preparation for lectures and other assessment tasks.
Inherent Requirements
To be determined.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
White, F., Hayes, B., & Livesey, D. (2016). Developmental Psychology: From infancy to adulthood (most recent edition). Frenchs Forest, Australia: Pearson.
Assumed Knowledge
Completion of PSYC2009 (or equivalent) is strongly recommended.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 4B
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4680 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6360 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3599 | 19 Feb 2024 | 26 Feb 2024 | 05 Apr 2024 | 24 May 2024 | In Person | View |
