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Unit of Study PSYC2004 - Development across the Lifespan (2022)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

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Unit description

Provides an overview of human development from conception, through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Introduces students to the scientific study of cognitive, social and physical development applying to human lifespan development. Biological, social and psychological factors which influence the course of human development are considered.

Unit content

  • The study of human development in general
  • Research methodologies
  • Biological and environmental influences
  • Pre-natal development
  • Cognitive and physical development
  • Emotional and social development
  • Early childhood development
  • Middle-childhood development
  • Development in adolescence
  • Development in adulthood
  • Development in late adulthood
  • Death, dying and bereavement

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour
Session1
Session1
Gold Coast
Session1
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Online
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Session1

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

describe and discuss the fundamental theories of developmental psychology and how they relate to the real world context

critically review and evaluate the relative benefits and disadvantages of the different research methodologies used to explore developmental processes in psychology

identify some of the significant changes that occur across an individual's lifespan in the domains of cognitive, social and physical development

explain how social and cultural factors influence development

explain the role of genetics in development, including pre-natal and brain development

write an APA lab report

critically discuss and communicate the ideas from contemporary papers in developmental psychology journals.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • Lally, M & Valentine-French, S, 2017, Lifespan development: A psychological perspective, https://scu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/61SCU_INST/hir31i/alma991012863198502368.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.