PSYC1210 – Introduction to Developmental Psychology
Course description
Course content
The course provides an introduction to developmental psychology. It focuses on conveying an understanding of key developmental phenomena and theories of typical development in children and adolescents. Perceptual, cognitive, linguistic, emotional, personality and social development will be discussed, in light of developmental models and developmental studies. The phenomena and theories within the various development areas are considered in the light of modern empirical research.
Learning outcome
Knowledge:
You should be able to:
- Describe the main characteristics and variations in human development and the most important development mechanisms.
- Explain the most important conditions that influence development in different areas of childhood and adolescence.
- Outline the main theoretical points of view in different development areas and document knowledge of key empirical studies
Skills:
You should be able to:
- Provide a written description of child development in key development areas and the relationship between different development areas.
- Provide a written description of the main theories within the different development areas and discuss theories based on key empirical findings.
General competence:
You should have acquired:
- The ability to read critically and think independently about the development of children and adolescents under different conditions.
- An understanding of development as a complex interaction between biological conditions and social and cultural experience.
- An understanding that developmental psychological research requires a sensitive approach and an awareness of ethical considerations.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with PSY1200 – Introduction to developmental psychology
- 10 credits overlap with PSY2200 – Utviklingspsykologi I (discontinued)
- 5 credits overlap with PSYG
- 5 credits overlap with PSY120
Teaching
The teaching will consist of lectures and seminars. The seminars offer instruction in writing skills with reference to the semester assignment.
The e-learning tool Canvas will be used during the course.
Seminar 99 is the alternative to be chosen in Studentweb for those students NOT following seminars, or will be the group that is allocated if you do not have a place on a seminar class.
Information regarding change of seminar group
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
- Individual semester essay. Requirements about the form and the content of the essay will be provided at the beginning of the course and posted on Canvas.
- 1 hour multiple-choice school exam.
One grade will be given, based on both grade from semester essay and multiple-choice exam. The essay will count for 80 percent of the final grade, and the multiple-choice exam will count 20 percent. Students have to pass both the individual semester essay and the multiple-choice exam in the same semester to receive a passing grade in this course. If you do not pass one of the two exam components, you will have to take both components the next semester the course is offered.
Examination support material
Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.
Language of examination
You may write your semester essay in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
The multiple-choice exam will be given in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Ask for explanation of your grade in this course (semester thesis)
Resit an examination
If you are sick or have another valid reason for not attending the regular exam, we offer a postponed exam later in the same semester.
See also our information about resitting an exam.
Candidates who resit exam to improve grade or have previous failed exam in course must take all parts of the exam again (both term paper and multiple choice test). Candidates are not allowed to hand in a rewritten term paper. It is prohibitited to chose same topic twice.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.