PE7027 - Cognitive and Developmental Psychology

The module is delivered entirely online via our electronic learning platform (elp). You will interact with a range of materials on the module site. The module home page provides you with quick access to detailed information about the module in an interactive, easily accessible format. This is designed to broach new, and challenging information, and to provide breadth and depth of conceptual knowledge across topics in developmental and cognitive psychology. The teaching materials support your learning. Each session delivers flexible, interactive learning materials, accessible in a variety of formats such as audio and video presentations. Tasks to extend and test your learning are interspersed within the learning materials. A range of different tasks, with formative feedback, are aimed at supporting your learning. In addition to this you will be encouraged to utilise peer to peer support opportunities through the use of elp supported platforms for interaction. Each session is supported by directed reading from the core texts accessed through the electronic reading list.

You will be an autonomous, self-motivated learner within a supportive distance learning environment. You will be introduced to the module by the module tutor in an introductory video. The online module sessions and interactive tasks form the cornerstone for supporting you during your study. Academic support is available from the teaching team and each session includes a link to enable you to email a question directly to the tutor from within the session. Responses will be fed back either directly or via the module discussion board. In advance of each assessment a video presentation is uploaded to support you in your preparation for this session. This is followed by an online live question and answer session prior to submission of your assessed work. Focused academic support coupled with timely formative and summative feedback should enable you to meet your full academic potential within this module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
MKU1: By the end of the module you will be expected to discuss, and critically evaluate current knowledge derived from theoretical and empirical evidence drawn from Developmental and Cognitive Psychology.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
MIPSA1: By the end of the module you will be expected to demonstrate independent and original thinking in terms of research planning.
MIPSA2: By the end of the module you will be expected to identify relevant competences underpinning your development in the evaluation of research literature.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
MPVA1: By the end of the module you will be expected to demonstrate, with the use of oral presentation, an ability to critically evaluate research literature within the fields of Developmental and Cognitive Psychology.

The summative Developmental Psychology assessment, with a module weighting of 50%, will be a 10 minute oral presentation where you will critically evaluate a developmental research article. (KU1, IPSA2, PVA1)
Specific Feedback will be in a written form.
In the summative Cognitive Psychology a 3000- word-assignment, also with a 50% weighting, you will carry out a written research critique on a cognitive research article. (KU1, IPSA1, IPSA2)
Specific Feedback will be provided on scripts.
Prior to this you will have the opportunity to carry out two formative assessments by way of a presentation and a critique of cognitive research article..

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The aim of this module is to provide you with an opportunity to understand and interrogate the contemporary theory and research findings in two fields of Psychology; Developmental Psychology and Cognitive Psychology. The weekly sessions are constructed so that you will have access to a diverse range of theoretical and empirical literature, through tutor-led discussion, student group led discussion and access to the primary sources. Throughout each of the components of the module you will be able to develop your research critique skills which are aimed to enhance your ability to critically examine psychological literature and become more competent in planning and carrying out your own research. This is a competence not only important within the MSc Psychology programme but a key skill across the various professional career pathways in Psychology.