SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT WITH RESEARCH METHODS - 2025/6

Module Overview

 

This module teaches you the main theories and empirical evidence in developmental psychology. It also enables you to demonstrate your prior knowledge of Jamovi and statistical techniques gained in first semester and supports you in further modules that require written research reports, such as your dissertation. In this module we will critically evaluate empirical research and theoretical knowledge. One way we will engage in critical evaluation is to examine whether previous work is cross-culturally valid.

You will develop your written and numerical communication skills by performing data analysis, writing up a research report, and evaluating a topic in-depth for the exam.

 

Module provider

Psychology

Module Leader

WONG Yetta (Psychology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

Child Development in

• Attachment theory


• Socio-cultural theories


• Emotion


• Neurodevelopmental disorders


• Language


• Literacy

 

The small-scale research study will introduce you to quantitative research methods and the design, execution, and analysis of a study. This will include multiple opportunities to develop digital literacy, including the evaluation of previous theory, development of research tools using knowledge learnt throughout the module and gaining experience of transferable skills, and integration of this analysis with prior theory. The exam will provide students with opportunities to demonstrate in-depth critical evaluation of developmental theories and evidence.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

  The assessment strategy is designed to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate:

1. core knowledge in developmental psychology


2. an ability to critically evaluate the appropriateness of different methodological approaches and theoretical approaches to developmental psychological problems


3. appreciation of the stages of the developmental psychological research process


4. an ability to evaluate development in its socio-cultural context, which will help you to develop global and cultural capabilities


5. statistical knowledge, which will increase your digital capabilities


6. a schema for how to write up research in an APA-style report

 

  Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• One research methods report 

• One online examination 

 

  Formative assessment

The understanding of the topics will be assessed by multiple-choice questions, open-ended questions or other group learning activities during lectures, seminars or guided-learning activities. Feedback from students will also be used to assess learning during seminar and lectures.   

 





 

Module aims

• - provide an in-depth coverage of children's development;
• - explore the theories, methods, and applications of developmental psychology in relation to a variety of topics;
• - develop research ability through guided practical work in carrying out, analyzing and writing up a small-scale developmental study, and setting this in an appropriate theoretical and empirical context
• - Increase understanding of how development occurs in a socio-cultural context;
• - Provide students with opportunities to be critical and effective communicators, through written assessment.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

 The learning and teaching strategy is designed to ensure the module aims are met and students perform optimally in respect to the learning outcomes.

During the lectures, students are provided with core knowledge, which we will then together critically evaluate in the lectures and seminars through exploring individual differences, operational definitions, and  cultural perspectives. As a result, you will learn how to critically evaluate theories and empirical evidence in developmental psychology. You will then be able to demonstrate this knowledge from in the research report and exam. The module will:

• Give you the skills to critically evaluate theory in developmental psychology as assessed both in the exam and the research report


• Provide you with core foundational knowledge in developmental psychology and the ability to critique the conclusions of this knowledge base by answering the exam question


• Give you an enhanced literacy (including methodological and statistical literacy) of the current research in the field through using Jamovi and reporting your findings in the research report. 


• Develop a critical understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the major research methods used in psychology through critical analysis of a topic on the exam

 

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

•Lectures

•Tutorials

Based on active learning by engaging with readings before the seminars and completing questions relating to the readings during the seminars and peer interaction, you will be taught to develop schemas for reading journals and to conduct research. Attendance will increase active learning.

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: PSYM096

Other information

Global and Cultural Capabilities:

Students will read research from scholars from the global south, and learning outcomes focused on diversity and equality. These learning outcomes detailed that students should be able children from global majority ethnic backgrounds to critically evaluate whether particular developmental theories should be modified based on data from non-WEIRD (Western, educated, industrial, rich, and democratic) populations. We will also read research discussing effects of discrimination, racism, and sexism on child development.

 

Digital Capabilities:

Students are provided with multiple opportunities to develop their digital literacy, including searching for articles and using open-source statistical software, Jamovi.

 

Employability:

The learning aims and assessments are designed to develop students’ employability skills. These skills include incorporating formative feedback, managing a project deadline, and writing a report. The lab report also supports students to improve their numeracy and writing skills, both important in the workplace.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.