PSYC 336 - Childhood Development: Observation and Research Application

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

(Same as EDUC 336) What differentiates the behavior of one young child from that of another? What characteristics do young children have in common? This course provides students with direct experience in applying contemporary theory and research to the understanding of an individual child. Topics include attachment; temperament; parent, sibling and peer relationships; language and humor development; perspective taking; and the social-emotional connection to learning. Each student selects an individual child in a classroom setting and collects data about the child from multiple sources (direct observation, teacher interviews, parent-teacher conferences, archival records). During class periods, students discuss the primary topic literature, incorporating and comparing observations across children to understand broader developmental trends and individual differences. Synthesis of this information with critical analysis of primary sources in the early childhood and developmental literature culminates in comprehensive written and oral presentations. Julie Riess.

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 231 and permission of the instructor. For Psychology Majors: completion of a research methods course.

One 3-hour period. and 4 hours of laboratory observation work.