Psychology Department
PSYC 102, Child Psychology, Sec 2, Fall, 2014
Robert Cooper
Issues for those wishing to add.
Importance of attending one of the first
two classes for those registered.
Outline for each Lecture
• 10 PM the day before a lecture the outline will be available on my web
site: www.sjsu.edu/people/robert.cooper
• Psyc 102.02, Lecture Outline, August 22, 2014
•
• Introduction to course (readings, assignments, tests, grading scheme, etc.)
•
• Intro to Professor – Focus on characteristics that are relevant to
Developmental Psychology (e.g., SES, family structure, ethnicity, etc.)
•
• Conception of human development and the nature/nurture issue
• Preformationism, Empiricism, Predeterminism, etc.
•
• In-class writing assignment: self-concept at 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, 15
years
•
• Developmental Psychology as a Science
Faculty Web Page and MYSJSU
Messaging
• Course materials such as syllabus, handouts,
notes, assignment instructions, etc. can be
found on my faculty web page at
http://www.sjsu.edu/people/robert.cooper.
You are responsible for regularly checking with
the messaging system through MySJSU to
learn any updates.
Course Description
• SJSU Course Catalog Description:
“Psychological development of children from
conception to adolescence, including
perceptual, cognitive, personality and social
development. Outside activities may be
required. Prerequisite: PSYC 001 (General
Psychology).”
Course Goals and Learning Objectives
• Upon successful completion of this course, students
will be able to:
• CLO1: Recognize normative (i.e., “average” or “typical”)
and individual aspects of development
• CLO2: Identify and describe psychological theories and
concepts of cognitive, social, and emotional
development
• CLO3: Have an appreciation of the variety of factors
that may influence the process of development,
including the potential impact of such factors as
genetics, ethnicity, culture, gender, and socioeconomic
status
Textbook
• DeHart, G. B., Sroufe, L. A., & Cooper, R. G.
(2004). Child development: Its nature and
course (5th Ed,). McGraw Hill. ISBN: 0-07249141-8.
• Donate proceeds from books bought for this
class to ALS Association
• Ice bucket challenge after class on Thursday
The course requirements and their weighting in
the grading system are as follows:
• Two “mid-term” tests (20% of the grade each)
40%
• In-class writing
10%
• Paper
20%
• Analysis of popular article (5%)
• Evaluation of popular article with at least
• two research studies (15%)
• Final
30%
Course Schedule
Week
Date
Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines
1
8/22
Introduction to course, Introduction to Developmental Psychology
2
8/27
8/29
9/3
Chapter 1, The Nature of Development, Major theories
Major issues in Developmental Psyc., Developmental Methods
Chapter 2: Contexts of Development, Bronfenbrenner’s Model
***Last day to drop a class**
Family, SES, Culture
3
9/5
Conception of Human Development
• Preformationism: dark ages, roots of nativism
• Empiricism: John Locke (1632-1704), roots of
learning approaches
• Preformationism: Jean-Jacque Reusseau (17121778), roots of interactionist approaches
• Evolution: Charles Darwin(1809 – 1882)
• Behaviorism: John Watson (1878 – 1958)
• Constructivism: Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980)
Intro to Robert Cooper
• Ethnic background includes Scottish, English
Moroccan Jewish, and Native American.
• Parents were school teachers and I am the
second of five children.
• Began college as a physics major, but changed to
psychology in my junior year.
• Areas of specialization in
cognitive/developmental psychology:
development of math and science concepts,
ethnicity and SES effects on school success.
Computers & Power Points
• Computers in class
– Effects of taking notes on computers
– Effects of multitasking
Power Points
Controversy about providing slides
I will post them after the lecture
Self Concept—In-class writing
• Retrospective report: Describe your concept
of yourself at different points in your life.
• 1. At age 2
• 2. At age 5
• 3. At age 10
• 4. At age 15
• One or two sentences for each age. Put your
name and date at the top of the page.
Developmental Psychology as a Science
•
•
•
•
Diary Studies
Normative/descriptive studies
Correlational studies
Experimental Studies