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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Demonstrate an ability to apply research in developmental psychology to real-world questions and scenarios. 
4. Contribute effectively to a major team-based project through active participation, cultural sensitivity, and respectful peer-to-peer learning and feedback.

Research-Led Teaching

The major assessment piece for this course is a lab report, supported by lab exercises. You will analyse and write-up data on a topic of key interest in developmental psychology.

Field Trips

N/A

Additional Course Costs

N/A

Examination Material or equipment

The final examination for this course will be administered in-person during the mid-year examination period. Students must be on campus to attend the exam. Information about the scheduling of the examination will be posted by the University at http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-timetable

Required Resources

• Good access to the internet for online lectures and assessments is essential.
• White, F., Hayes, B. & Livesey, D. (2016). Developmental psychology from infancy to adulthood. Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson. 4th Edition. (Textbook confirmed for 2024.)
• Access to JASP software for lab exercises. JASP can be downloaded from: https://jasp-stats.org/

Recommended Resources

Recommended student system requirements 

ANU courses commonly use a number of online resources and activities including:

• video material, similar to YouTube, for lectures and other instruction
• two-way video conferencing for interactive learning
• email and other messaging tools for communication
• interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities
• print and photo/scan for handwritten work
• home-based assessment.

To fully participate in ANU learning, students need:

• A computer or laptop. Mobile devices may work well but in some situations a computer/laptop may be more appropriate.
• Webcam
• Speakers and a microphone (e.g. headset)
• Reliable, stable internet connection. Broadband recommended. If using a mobile network or wi-fi then check performance is adequate.
• Suitable location with minimal interruptions and adequate privacy for classes and assessments.
• Printing, and photo/scanning equipment

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

Honours Pathway Option (HPO) (10%, in place of first five quizzes)

This course has an Honours Pathway Option. Students who are completing the Bachelor of Psychological Science must complete 24 units of HPOs throughout their degree. Students studying other degrees are not required to take any HPOs, but are encouraged to do so if they wish.

The HPO assignment will develop your skills in translating current research to a lay audience. You will be required to write a 750-word popular science article on a current topic in developmental psychology and produce a three-minute video on the same topic. The assignment must be submitted by 4pm Wednesday 17 April 2024.

Note: If you enrol in the HPO option, your marks for quizzes 1-5 will not count toward your final grade (i.e., your total mark across the first 5 quizzes = maximum possible score of 10% to be replaced with HPO). Students who enrol in the HPO may choose not undertake quizzes 1-5 or complete them to help revise/monitor progress. HPO students must complete quiz 6.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	1x pre-recorded lecture, 1x live online Q&A with lecturer	Quiz
2	1x pre-recorded lecture, 1x live online Q&A with lecturer, 1x lab	Quiz, lab exercise
3	1x pre-recorded lecture, 1x live online Q&A with lecturer, 1x lab	Quiz, lab exercise
4	1x pre-recorded lecture, 1x live online Q&A with lecturer, 1x lab	Quiz, lab exercise
5	1x pre-recorded lecture, 1x live online Q&A with lecturer, 1x lab	Quiz, lab exercise
6	1x pre-recorded lecture, 1x lab	Quiz, lab exercise
7	1x pre-recorded lecture, 1x live online Q&A with lecturer, 1x lab	HPO, lab exercise
8	1x pre-recorded lecture, 1x live online Q&A with lecturer, 1x lab	Lab exercise
9	1x pre-recorded lecture, 1x live online Q&A with lecturer, 1x lab	Lab exercise
10	1x pre-recorded lecture	Lab report
11	1x pre-recorded lecture, 1x live online Q&A with lecturer
12	1x pre-recorded lecture, 1x live online Q&A with lecturer

Tutorial Registration

Students must attend eight two-hour lab classes across the semester. In 2024, this course is on campus for the entire semester, including the mid-year exam period; it is not possible to complete the course remotely.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Online quizzes	12 %	1,2
Lab Exercises	18 %	1,3,4
Lab Report	30 %	1,3,4
End of Semester Examination	40 %	1,2,3
HPO assessment: students complete a research-based HPO option in place of some online quizzes	0 %	1,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using 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. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Lab attendance includes participating in the experiments, interacting with other students face-to-face, and completing tasks on your computer. Students who attend the live Q&A sessions with the lecturer must keep their video on for the duration of the session.

Examination(s)

There is one end of semester exam.

The date range in the Assessment Summary indicates the start of the end of semester exam period and the date official end of semester results are released on ISIS. Please check the ANU final Examination Timetable http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-timetable to confirm the date, time and location exam.

Assessment Task 1

Online quizzes

In Weeks 1 to 6, you will be required to complete a weekly multiple choice quiz on that week’s lecture and reading. Each quiz is worth 2% and will be on Wattle. Each quiz will include 5 questions (0.4% per question x 5 questions = 2% per quiz x 6 weeks = 12% total). You will have only one chance to answer each question. Each quiz will go live at 9am on Monday of the lecture week and close at 9am the following Monday. Quiz marks and feedback will become available online when the quiz closes.

For students undertaking the HPO, please see the "Other information section" for additional details.

Assessment Task 2

Lab Exercises

You will work through an exercise in each lab class that scaffolds the main assessment item for this course, i.e., the lab report. 7 of the 8 exercises are worth 2%; the remaining 1 is worth 4% (2% x 7 lab classes + 4% x 1 lab class = 18% total). You will be awarded full marks for the exercise if you hand it in on time, unless the work does not meet the basic standard required (e.g., you would be awarded zero marks if you handed in a list of five references if the exercise asked for a list of ten, but would not lose any marks if you made some minor formatting errors). Some weeks, the lab exercise will be done individually; other weeks, the exercise will be completed in pairs or small groups. While you will start the exercise in class, you may need to finish it across the rest of the week (except for the final lab). Each lab exercise must be submitted via Turnitin prior to the start of your next enrolled lab class. Feedback will be provided in summary form to the lab class, not individually.

Assessment Task 3

Lab Report

Research is the backbone of Psychology, informing both theory and application (e.g., therapy). In this course, you will write a lab report based on research that you will complete in your lab classes. The report will allow you to delve deeper into an area of developmental psychology and hone both your analysis and report-writing skills. The lab report will be 3000 words long and must be submitted via Turnitin by 4pm Wednesday 8 May 2024.

Assessment Task 4

End of Semester Examination

The exam will be in the formal final exam period. Please check the exam timetable for the date and location. The exam is based on content in the lectures, labs, and required readings. Further details about the format of the exam will be provided throughout the course.

The final examination is a hurdle requirement. A Pass mark (50% or greater) is required in the final examination before the course can be passed as a whole.

Note. To confirm the date, time, and location of the final examination, please check the ANU Examination Timetable: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-timetable

Assessment Task 5

HPO assessment: students complete a research-based HPO option in place of some online quizzes

This course has an Honours Pathway Option. Students who are completing the Bachelor of Psychological Science must complete 24 units of HPOs throughout their degree. Students studying other degrees are not required to take any HPOs, but are encouraged to do so if they wish. The HPO assignment will develop your skills in translating current research to a lay audience. You will be required to write a 750-word popular science article on a current topic in developmental psychology and produce a three-minute video on the same topic.

Note: If you enrol in the HPO option, your marks for quizzes 1-5 will not count toward your final grade (i.e., your total mark across the first 5 quizzes = maximum possible score of 10% to be replaced with HPO). Students who enrol in the HPO may choose not undertake quizzes 1-5 or complete them to help revise/monitor progress. HPO students must complete quiz 6.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

No submission of a quiz or lab exercise without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If a quiz or lab exercise is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded. Late submission of the lab report without an extension is penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of the lab report is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

Assignments will be available from the course Wattle site approximately three weeks after the due date. Late assignments usually cannot be marked within this three-week timeframe.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students