ADVANCED CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
PSY 5220 – FALL 2007
PROFESSOR: RODNEY E. MCNEAL, PH.D., MBA
EMAIL: mcneal@ucmo.edu
OFFICE: LOV 1111
PHONE: 660-543-4185
TEXT(S): BORNSTIEN, M. H., & LAMB, M. E. (2005). DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE: AN ADVANCED
TEXTBOOK (5TH EDITION). MAHWAH, NJ: LAWRENCE ERLBAUM ASSOCIATES.
ROTENBERG, K. L. (2006). DISCLOSURE PROCESSES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, NY:
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
This syllabus describes the requirements and procedures for PSY 5220. You are responsible for
knowing this information, so read this document carefully. Any changes in schedule or in the
course syllabus will be announced by e-mail or general announcement using Blackboard. The
instructor reserves the right to make modifications to the course as needed. You will be
responsible for all changes. Your continued enrollment in this course is your implicit agreement to
abide by the requirements of this class.
COURSE OBJECTIVE
This course will examine fundamental biological, cognitive, as well as psychosocial aspects of
child development. We will focus primarily on developmental research in psychology and on the
prevailing theories describing the course of perceptional development, cognition and thinking,
language development, emotions and social interaction. These areas will serve as a backdrop to
specialized readings in the area of child and adolescent disclosure processes. We will examine
the why, to whom and under what conditions are children and adolescent more likely to reveal
their thoughts and emotions. The way in which children disclosure their concerns are of particular
importance to medical personnel, psychologist, social workers, and educators as these
professionals often have direct access to children and are required to take action under penalty of
law when they become aware of child abuse (i.e., physical, emotional, sexual) and child neglect.
Critical thinking skills and an appreciation of clinical research will be emphasized within the
course.
COMMUNICATIONS
I will ONLY e-mail you through the Blackboard. If your information is incorrect in the database,
my messages will not reach you. It is very important that you check your personal information
and make sure that your e-mail address is listed. The default e-mail is your UCM student email
account. To check this, go on the main menu to TOOLS, then click on PERSONAL
INFORMATION. Choose “Edit Personal Information” and then check the e-mail address that is
listed
GOLDEN RULE
All assignments may be completed at any time during the course as long as they are submitted
by the due date and time. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS, PAPERS OR EXAMS WILL BE
ACCEPTED.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Research Task (200 points)
Students in the course will complete a total of (4) research article summaries throughout the
semester. In order to meet this requirement, you will be asked to select any research journal
article published on the topic of prosocial development and/or child development. The article must
have been published in either 2004, 2005, or 2006 in order to meet this requirement of the course.
You will need to read the article and submit a (2) page double spaced typed summary of your
reading. In addition, you must attach a full copy of your article to your typed summary. No
web journal articles may be used to complete this assignment. Completed article summaries
must be sent to the mailing address listed below (see mailing address section). Summaries
articles will not be returned but will be kept on file as proof of your partial completion of the
requirements of this course.
All papers must be received by mail by December 1, 2006 at the address listed
below. Students who use the USPS as a method of delivery are encouraged to send
their papers by registered mail and request a signature up delivery. This will provide you
confirmation that your paper has been received. If you wish to receive your paper back
after it has been graded you must include a self-addressed & stamped envelope for its
return.
2. Exams (500 points)
There will be (2) exams given during the course and a comprehensive final at the conclusion of
the course. You will have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete each exam and 3 hours to
complete the final.
Exam
Points
Type
1
150
2
Final
150
200
Multiple
Choice/
Essay
Essay
Due Date
5. Mail Address
You research paper and all article summaries should be mailed to the follow address:
Mailing Address
Johnson County Mental Health Center
c/o Rodney McNeal, Ph.D.
6000 Lamar, Suite 130
Mission, Kansas 66202
COURSE GRADING & EXPECTATIONS
GRADING SCALE
Grades will be based upon your performance on written assignments and exams. Grades will
NOT be curved and extra credit will NOT be offered. Students are expected to complete all
assignment for the course. Any student who does not complete all assignment will be given
an incomplete for the course.
A
90% - 100% of maximum possible
B
80% - 89% of maximum possible
C
70% - 79% of maximum possible
I
Incomplete
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Information regarding academic honesty/dishonesty is covered in the UCM Academic
Calendar/Handbook and in the general university catalog. I do not anticipate any
problems whatsoever in this arena. However, please know that I take this issue quite
seriously and I will follow the university policy regarding academic dishonesty throughout
this course. Please be sure to see me if you have any questions. Ignorance of
acceptable academic behavior is not an acceptable excuse for violation of stated policies
and regulations.
All work within this course must be your own unless collaboration is authorized.
If collaboration is authorized, you must acknowledge the collaboration in writing.
Presenting as one's own the words, ideas, or expression of another in any form is
cheating through plagiarism. If you are unsure about what constitutes plagiarism, review
the rules of original writing at the website listed below:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
WEEK
CHAPTER
READING
TOPIC
ASSIGNMENT
Text: Developmental Science: An Advanced Textbook – Bornstien & Lamb
8/22 – 8/24
1
Theories of Human Development
8/27 - 8/31
2
Cultural Development
9/3 – 9/7
5
Physical and Motor Development
9/10 -9/14
6
Perceptual Development
9/17 – 9/21
7
Cognitive Development
9/24 – 9/28
EXAM I
10/1 – 10/5
8
Language Development
10/8 – 10/12
9 & 10
Temperament and Emotions
Parent-Child Relationship
10/15 – 10/19 11
Peer Relationships
10/22 – 10/26
EXAM II
Text: Disclosure Processes in Children and Adolescents – Rotenberg
10/29 – 11/2
1&2
Disclosure Processes: Introduction
Patterns and Functions of Disclosure
11/5 – 11/9
3&7
Disclosure in Friendships
Moral Development and Disclosure
11/12 – 11/16 5 &10
Preadolescent Disclosure
Adolescent Disclosure
11/19 – 11/23 9
Child Sexual Abuse
11/26 – 11/30
EXAM III
12/3 – 12/7
12/8 - 12/11
4&8
Parental Influences
Disclosure and Siblings
Comprehensive Final (Essay)
DUE 7PM ---- 12/11/07
RESEARCH TASK
DUE 11.23.07