Advanced Developmental Psychology (PSY 620-P 2891), Spring 2021
Tuesday, Thursday 11:20AM - 12:35PM, FLP 402
Department of Psychology, University of Miami
Course Objectives. To provide you with a) a critical understanding of current developmental theories, methods, and research; b) an ability to present, critique, and defend developmental research; and c) the capacity to address questions in developmental science by integrating research results.
Course Description: The course is designed to involve you in developmental science. It involves lecture, discussion, a mid-term exam, and a final project. Multiple topics in developmental psychology will be covered through lecture and discussion. They are organized into four sections: 1) developmental theories, methodologies and conceptualizations of the biological and cultural processes that influence development; 2) specific domains of development (perceptual, cognitive, social/emotional); 3) socialization processes including parent, peer, school, and community influences on development; 4) emerging adulthood, parenting, and aging. Emphasis will be placed on mechanisms underlying continuity and change over the lifespan.
Format. The instructor will introduce key concepts, issues, and lines of research. Students are expected to take an active role in discussing and developing topics under consideration. Everyone is expected to complete all assigned readings and actively contribute to discussion.
Required Readings: Readings are chosen to provide exposure to the theory, methods, and findings of current developmental research. One to two articles (and an occasional chapter) will be assigned for each class. Of the articles listed, the presenting student will choose between them. You are not responsible for additional readings on the syllabus but exam questions may ask you to integrate material from these additional readings. Readings are linked to this syllabus. Though less central, Bornstein, M. H., & Lamb, M. E. (2011) (Developmental
Science: An Advanced Textbook, 6th Edition) will be available through the
library and
BlackBoard.
Facilitating Discussion:
Presentations. Students will be responsible for presenting an article and facilitating class discussion approximately once during the semester (30 points). Your presentation should cover the article’s unique contribution, integrative themes across the readings (particularly for that day), the pros and cons of different research methods for addressing the topic, and ideas regarding potential future directions/applications of the findings. Your discussion should address discussion questions that students post on Blackboard prior to class. You should be familiar with the entire PowerPoint presentation for that day and be prepared to field questions and lead discussion integrating the article you are presenting with other content.
Evaluation. Presentations will be evaluated based on a) the clarity of your presentation and slides, b) your understanding of the article (e.g., adequacy of responses to questions), c) the depth of your communicated understanding of the issues raised by the article (e.g., what is the unique message of the article), and d) the quality of the ensuing discussion (e.g., relationship to ongoing class themes), which includes a leadership role in that day’s discussion. Hallmarks of quality involve identifying strengths of the article, weaknesses, and specific, article-pertinent ideas for addressing those weaknesses. Weaker presentations often focus on common methodologic weaknesses without identifying solutions. Stronger presentations often focus on key strengths and results.
Slides. Your presentations should use Power-Point slides. I prefer figure-based presentations where the title of each slide is communicative (e.g., not “Results”) and slide titles do not repeat. I prefer large text (> 24 font). In some instances, online slides exist with which to present your article. As needed, please edit the slides and/or create new slides. If you create new slides, please put your last name in the footer section of the slide (it’s your work). The new slides—only send the slides you will be presenting—will be due by email 12 hours before class. You should have a balance of presentations with respect to using existing slides and creating new ones.
Feedback. I am available to discuss articles before your presentation. We can discuss elements of the article that are difficult to understand, and your questions about what is most important to present, and how it should be presented. In other words, if there is something about the article you are planning to present that you don't understand, come discuss it with me beforehand. .
Participation, Participation refers to your level of engagement in class.
1. Participation includes submission of at least 15 substantive questions/comments/responses to the Blackboard Discussion Board.
a. Approximately 10 should pertain to the reading and be posted by 7:00 pm before the class at which we discuss the reading.
b. Approximately 5 should be reactions/questions/suggestions pertaining to your classmate/colleague’s Final Project PowerPoint presentations. Which should be posted the day of the Final Project presentation.
2. Participation also includes attendance, having clearly done the required reading, asking pertinent questions, offering informed responses to questions, and constructive debate. Use of electronic devices for anything except class work is prohibited. Attendance is mandatory.
Exams. Exams will be short essay format and will require students to reflect upon and integrate the readings and class discussions. Each question should be answered with a one page, single-spaced response with spaces between paragraphs (1” margins, 12-point font).
Midterm Exam. All students will complete a midterm exam (distributed Mar 4 and due Mar 11). The midterm will have 3-4 required questions (25 points).
Final Exam. Students may elect either a final paper or a final exam (40 points). The final exam will be distributed May 5 and be due May 12, 11:00 pm. It will contain five to six required questions.
Final project. For the final project, choose a question which can be addressed from a developmental perspective emphasizing change over time. It can be grounded in your research or can be an exploration of developmental themes unrelated to your work. The paper must constitute new work. Any relation with ongoing work (for another class or one’s own research) must be stated in all final project assignments. I’m available to discuss all aspects of the final project.
Collaborative proposals and presentations are allowed. They must include a significant component of individual work for each collaborator and must result in a proportionately higher quality final project (e.g., 2 people could collaborate on a RO1 proposal). In that case, each team member will independently submit their assignments.
The project should take one of the following forms.
1) An empirical study in the form of a journal submission (10-25 double spaced pages). This is an ideal format for completing an ongoing research project.
2) A
NIH F31/R03, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, or comparable proposal to which I agree. This is an ideal format for exploring ideas by proposing developmental research. The final paper should include all substantive areas of the proposal (5 – 6 single-spaced pages).
3) A publication-quality literature review in summary-article format or chapter format (i.e., organized by theme, not by article (10-25 double spaced pages).
Final project assignments. For each date below, be prepared to discuss your assignment in class. If some feature of the assignment is missing in one of these assignments, and I do not draw your attention to its absence, this does not constitute license to omit that portion of the assignment.