Understanding Social Development

Module code: PSY4010-B

Module Aims


In this module, you will explore psychological approaches to understanding and researching how we become social beings. This means understanding psychological theories of how we develop the capabilities to think, feel and behave in relation to others throughout the lifespan. Alongside lifespan development, this module aims to help you understand psychological theories of the social, such as what makes a group or a community and the roles - leader and followers, for example ? within them. This will also include methodological and ethical issues, particularly the role of experiments and the measurement of personality.
As befits the module aims to understand social development, you will also explore key aspects behind the learning strategy, which is based on psychological theories about how to develop effective communication and problem-solving skills as independent learners and professionals. Called team-based learning, this is a 'flipped' model where you engage with the learning materials before class (rather than during or after class). Classes start with a readiness assurance process in which you complete a multiple-choice question quiz on the learning materials as an individual (individual readiness assurance test; i-RAT) and subsequently in your team (team readiness assurance test; t-RAT).
Classes follow the readiness assurance process with a range of team application exercises in which you apply the knowledge from the learning materials. You will, for example, make decisions based on a theory or finding of social development. Through writing justifications for their choices, your team will learn how to reliably describe the material in the syllabus with structured and coherent arguments.

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