Skills

Psychology 8: Developmental Psychology

10 weeks · 3 milestones

How people change from infancy to old age. Course 8 of the Varsity Curriculum: Psychology. Free sources only. Foundations only. Not a clinical or counselling qualification.

Part of: Psychology · Proves for: UG

Milestone map

3 milestones

Compare theories of development

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Read OpenStax chapter 9 and the Noba module on cognitive development. Self-check: chapter 9 review questions. Then make a comparison of two theories of development, each tested against one study.

Proof required

Link the public repo or shared document with a comparison of two theories of development, each tested against one study, with every source cited.

What gets checked

Each theory is stated fairly.
Each study is described correctly.
The comparison says which evidence fits which theory.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A comparison of two theories of development, each tested against one study.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 8: Developmental Psychology
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Each theory is stated fairly.
Each study is described correctly.
The comparison says which evidence fits which theory.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Analyse open developmental data

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Work through the MIT 9.85 readings on infant and child cognition. Self-check: chapter 9 review questions. Then make a notebook analysing an open developmental dataset (age against a measure), never data you collect from children.

Proof required

Link the public repo with a notebook analysing an open developmental dataset (age against a measure), never data you collect from children: the notebook, the data (or a link to the open dataset) and a README saying what it shows.

What gets checked

The dataset is open and cited.
Age effects are shown with uncertainty.
No child is identifiable.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A notebook analysing an open developmental dataset (age against a measure), never data you collect from children.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 8: Developmental Psychology
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The dataset is open and cited.
Age effects are shown with uncertainty.
No child is identifiable.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Teach one finding

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Pick the finding from your notebook or a study in the readings. Self-check: chapter 9 review questions. Then make a 5-minute talk on one developmental finding for parents or teachers, with what it does and does not mean.

Proof required

Name the people who heard a 5-minute talk on one developmental finding for parents or teachers, with what it does and does not mean and add the slides and the recording or their written questions.

What gets checked

The finding is described correctly.
Practical limits are stated.
Questions are answered.

Common mistakes

Reading slides aloud with no questions taken.
Claims with no study behind them.

Powstik Guide

A 5-minute talk on one developmental finding for parents or teachers, with what it does and does not mean.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Plan the talk or poster around one question.
Present it to at least two people who know some psychology.
Write down their questions and your answers.

Template

Plan
Course 8: Developmental Psychology
Question:
Studies I cite:
What I expect to be asked:

What gets sent back

Nobody heard it.
No sources.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The finding is described correctly.
Practical limits are stated.
Questions are answered.
Did the person explain it in their own words and answer a question?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Part of

Psychology 8: Developmental Psychology →

Related outcomes

Milestone map

3 milestones

Compare theories of development

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Read OpenStax chapter 9 and the Noba module on cognitive development. Self-check: chapter 9 review questions. Then make a comparison of two theories of development, each tested against one study.

Proof required

Link the public repo or shared document with a comparison of two theories of development, each tested against one study, with every source cited.

What gets checked

Each theory is stated fairly.
Each study is described correctly.
The comparison says which evidence fits which theory.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A comparison of two theories of development, each tested against one study.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 8: Developmental Psychology
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Each theory is stated fairly.
Each study is described correctly.
The comparison says which evidence fits which theory.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Analyse open developmental data

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Proof required

What gets checked

The dataset is open and cited.
Age effects are shown with uncertainty.
No child is identifiable.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A notebook analysing an open developmental dataset (age against a measure), never data you collect from children.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 8: Developmental Psychology
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The dataset is open and cited.
Age effects are shown with uncertainty.
No child is identifiable.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Teach one finding

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Proof required

Name the people who heard a 5-minute talk on one developmental finding for parents or teachers, with what it does and does not mean and add the slides and the recording or their written questions.

What gets checked

The finding is described correctly.
Practical limits are stated.
Questions are answered.

Common mistakes

Reading slides aloud with no questions taken.
Claims with no study behind them.

Powstik Guide

A 5-minute talk on one developmental finding for parents or teachers, with what it does and does not mean.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Plan the talk or poster around one question.
Present it to at least two people who know some psychology.
Write down their questions and your answers.

Template

Plan
Course 8: Developmental Psychology
Question:
Studies I cite:
What I expect to be asked:

What gets sent back

Nobody heard it.
No sources.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The finding is described correctly.
Practical limits are stated.
Questions are answered.
Did the person explain it in their own words and answer a question?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.