Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2017-2018 (archived)

Module PSYC3257: CHILD HEALTH IN A SOCIAL CONTEXT

Department: Psychology

PSYC3257: CHILD HEALTH IN A SOCIAL CONTEXT

Type Open Level 3 Credits 10 Availability Not available in 2017/18 Module Cap Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • PSYC2021 Social & Developmental Psychology or 100 credits from C817 Psychology (Applied) Level 2 modules

Corequisites

  • PSYC3xx7 Fetal Development

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To further understanding of psychological aspects of health, especially in childhood, and of some related aspects of epidemiology

Content

  • Topics can vary from year to year but are likely to include:
  • Pain in infants and children, and in childbirth
  • Sudden infant deaths
  • Failure to thrive
  • Malnutrition
  • Emotions and Speech
  • Depression
  • Stress
  • The module will also cover related conceptual and historical issues in psychology

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Detailed knowledge of key areas of psychological research involving child health development, and of the methods used in their investigation
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Ability to review critically and consolidate understanding of a coherent body of psychological knowledge and apply it appropriately
Key Skills:
  • Good written communication skills
  • Ability to work independently in scholarship and research within broad guidelines

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Students' acquisition of detailed knowledge will be facilitated by lectures, some small group work, audio-visual materials, discussions and detailed reading lists
  • These modes of teaching provide students with detailed knowledge of the key theories and the skills needed to evaluate different theoretical positions in light of current evidence
  • The summative essay will assess students' detailed subject knowledge
  • An assessment of the range, recency and appropriateness of sources will be included in the overall assessment of the essay
  • The use of group discussions / small group work will ensure that students are exposed to a range of different theoretical positions, and encouraged to understand their inter-relations
  • Lectures, discussions and small group work will also give students the opportunity to interpret and evaluate the significance of empirical work
  • The summative essay assesses students' acquired knowledge of theoretical principles and empirical studies and their ability to organise and synthesise them coherently and critically in written form in response to a set question
  • The summative essay will also assess students' written communication skills

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 1 per week 2 Hours 20
Preparation and Reading 80
Total 100

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Examination 90 Minutes 100%

Formative Assessment:

None


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University