PSYC 1101
Introduction to Human Growth and Development
Summer 2013
Instructor: Dr. Barry Kicklighter
Office Location: Russell 309
Office Phone: 678-359-5036
E-mail address: bkicklighter@gdn.edu
Office Hours: M-T 12:30-1:30
General Course Description
This course is a broad survey of the major topics in psychology, including research
methodology, biological and social factors influencing behavior, development, learning,
memory, personality, and abnormal psychology. Credit Hours: 3
Textbook
Santrock, John. (2012) A Topical Approach to Life-Span Development (5th or 6th
Edition). McGraw Hill.
Online Information
Class information can be found online at http://www.gdn.edu/Faculty/bkicklighter/.
Instructional Objectives
Instructional objectives of this course are to enable students to acquire knowledge of the
physical, cognitive, and social-emotional changes that occur during the human lifespan and to
assist them in applying this knowledge toward planning for life improvement.
Student’s Responsibility
Attendance and class participation. Records of attendance will be kept. While class
attendance will not directly affect the course grade, it is expected that students will attend class,
and they are responsible for knowing information given in class. No one will be allowed to enter
the class room during a quiz or after 15 minutes. Class participation, discussion of relevant
topics, and asking questions is always encouraged.
Cell Phone Disruptions: Cell phones are not allowed during class time. Each occurrence
of cell phone usage will result in a 2 point test grade reduction.
Talking Disruptions: You are encouraged to participate in class discussions, but personal
talking will result in a warning and then a 2 point test grade reduction.
Preparation for class and completion of assigned work: In order to take the best
advantage of classroom lecture and discussion, it is important to prepare for classes ahead of
time by reading assigned material. Tests should be taken on the assigned day, and assigned work
should be completed by the due date.
Awareness and communication: It is the student’s responsibility: 1) to be aware of test
dates and assignment deadlines; 2) to obtain notes or other information missed; 3) to turn in
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assignments by deadline dates; 4) to communicate any special circumstances, events, or needs
that will interfere with his/her course work to the instructor in a timely fashion.
Academic Honesty
See the Gordon College Academic Catalog 2011-2012 for the official college policy.
Evidence of cheating on examinations or plagiarism of written assignments will, at minimum,
result in a grade of zero for the test or assignment.
Evaluation and Assessment
Exams: There will be 3 exams and a final. Exams will cover material discussed both in
the textbook and in class.
Research Assignment: Each student will pick from 2 research assignment options and
complete it no later than July 17. (See Attached) A copy of the assignments must be emailed to
the instructor on July 17. The research assignment can be turned in early but NO
ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DUE DATE.
Quizzes: On most days, we will have a quiz at the beginning of class based on the key
terms found in the chapter that will be discussed that day in class. A list of each chapter’s key
terms is found at the end of the chapter. The chapter that should be studied is shown on the
course schedule beside the class date. Any correct answers will result in a .25 bonus point on the
upcoming test. There will be no makeup quizzes.
Extra Credit Essay Assignment: Three essays will be offered during the session. These essays
should be typed, double-spaced, and one and one-half to two pages long. These will be counted as a
possible five extra credit points. The essays will be evaluated to ensure that you followed the instructions
and that you put some thought into the answer.
Grading Scale
Your final grade will be based on the following:
Exams: 200 points
Research Assignment: 50 points
Grading Scale
A = 225-250 points
B = 200-225 points
C = 175-200 points
D = 150-175 points
F = 0–150 points
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Introduction to Human Growth and Development
Tentative Schedule
Summer 2013 – 10:15 - 12:20 Russell 326 (M-F)
DATE
6/25
6/26
6/27
6/28
Chapter
1
1
2
3
7/1
4
7/2
7/3
7/4
7/5
5
6
Class Topics and Due Dates
Syllabus review. Introduction to course.
Research
Biological Beginnings
Physical Development and Biological Aging
Health
Essay Assignment 1 Due
Motor, Sensory, and Perceptual Development
Exam 1 (Chapters 1, 2, 3)
Cognitive Developmental Approaches
HOLIDAY – NO CLASS
7/8
7/9
7/10
7/11
7/12
10
11
12
Information Processing
Essay Assignment 2 Due
Exam 2 (Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7)
Emotional Development
Self, Identity and Personality
Gender and Sexuality
7/15
13
Moral Development, Values, and Religion
Essay Assignment 3 Due
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7/16
14
7/17
7/18
7/19
7/22
15
16
17
Family, Lifestyles, and Parenting
Exam 3 (Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13)
Peers and Sociocultural World
Research Assignment Due
Schools, Achievement, and Work
Death, Dying and Grieving
FINAL EXAM (Chapters 14, 15, 16, 17)
*ITALICS ARE USED FOR SECOND EDITION.
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Research Assignments
Pick one of the two projects and complete it by July 17.
Answering Questions About Development
The goal of this research project is to conduct research on a topic in developmental psychology that you
find interesting. On the first day of class, your instructor asked you to write down one or two questions
you would like to have answered by the end of this course (e.g., Does bilingualism influence cognitive
development?). Over the course of the semester, investigate the topic by going to the library and finding
at least 10 relevant journal articles. Then, write a brief report that incorporates your answers to the
following questions.
1. What is the question you are investigating?
2. Why is this question interesting to you?
3. How did you go about determining the answer to your question?
4. Describe the information you located to address your question.
5. What questions has this new information stimulated?
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Journal Article Critique
Part of conducting psychological research is reviewing and understanding published research studies. In
this research project, you will choose one of the topics that will be covered in this course (e.g., play,
gender roles, moral development, effects of television) and find a research report in a journal (e.g.,
Adolescence, Child Development, Developmental Psychology, Family Therapy, Journal of Marriage and
the Family) on the chosen topic. Read the article, and answer the following six questions. Enclose a copy
of the research article with your report. In addition to including the main points of the study, give your
personal reactions to the research findings.
1. Can you use the title of the study to identify the independent and dependent variables? (Many titles
are in this format: “The effects of IV on the DV.”).
2. What did you learn from the introduction section? What is the historical background of the research
topic? Which earlier research findings are given as most relevant to this study? What theoretical
explanations are emphasized in this section? What is the hypothesis of the present study?
3. What did you learn from the methods section? Who were the subjects? What procedures (e.g.,
apparatus, directions, assessment tools) were used?
4. What did you learn from the results section? What kinds of statistical procedures were used? What
did you learn from charts, frequency tables, and bar graphs? What results did the authors say were
statistically significant?
5. What did you learn from the discussion section? How did the authors interpret their results? Did they
provide alternative explanations? Did they talk about the limitations of the present research study?
What future research studies were suggested?
6. What kinds of ideas did this article make you think about? Can you design a similar study on this
topic?
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Human Growth & Development
Extra Credit Essay Assignment 1
This Essay is due on Monday, July 1.
This essay should be typed, double-spaced, and one and one-half to two pages long. Short papers
will be penalized; long papers will not. It is an opinion paper. No references are required and none should
be used.
Event of a Lifetime
This exercise demonstrates the impact of non-normative life events on an individual’s development.
During this period of the study of life-span development, it is important to recognize the numerous
influences on an individual’s behavior. From this perspective, we learn what influences are common to
everyone, and how certain people experience different circumstances that contribute to their development.
Not only is it important to consider the particular experiences in one’s life, but how one responds to those
experiences as well. This is necessary for a more complete understanding of life-span development, and
non-normative events can contribute significantly.
Essay Instructions: Write about any non-normative life events you or someone close to you has
experienced. What happened? How did you (or your friend) react? What visible effect has the event had
on your behavior since it occurred? Why do you think it has affected your development in this way? Can
you imagine what your personality and life might be like had you not had this particular experience? If
you are considering someone else as the focus of this answer, ask if they would be willing to share these
thoughts with you, promising them anonymity for their responses.
This will be counted as a possible five extra credit points. It will not be graded, only evaluated to
ensure that you followed the instructions and that you put some thought into the answer.
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Human Growth & Development
Extra Credit Essay Assignment 2
This Essay is due on Monday, July 8.
This essay should be typed, double-spaced, and one and one-half to two pages long. Short papers
will be penalized; long papers will not. It is an opinion paper. No references are required and none should
be used.
Personal or Social Responsibility
Essay Instructions: We hear all the time about obesity in America. Is a person’s weight completely their
concern? Obesity increases health costs. Who should pay for these costs? Is a person’s weight their
responsibility or should society share that responsibility? If you believe that society should share in the
responsibility and cost, explain why. If society is to share the health cost should society be able to impose
diets on overweight people? New York has a new law limiting the size of soft drinks sold in restaurants;
do you support efforts by the government to control eating?
This will be counted as a possible five extra credit points. It will not be graded, only evaluated to
ensure that you followed the instructions and that you put some thought into the answer.
Human Growth & Development
Extra Credit Essay Assignment 3
This Essay is due on Monday, July 15.
This essay should be typed, double-spaced, and one and one-half to two pages long. Short papers
will be penalized; long papers will not. It is an opinion paper. No references are required and none should
be used.
Mothers and Fathers… The Same or Different?
Essay Instructions: Think about your childhood experiences with both your mother and your father. If
you were asked to classify each parent’s parenting style (e.g., authoritarian, authoritative, and so on found
in Chapter 14), would your parents be classified the same? Did your parents engage in different activities
with you (e.g., mother took care of the house and helped with homework, father was active in sporting
activities)? Did you behave differently with each parent? Could your behavior have affected your
parents’ behavior towards you? How has your mother and father influenced your development? Do you
think that they influenced you in similar ways (e.g., your values are a product of both parents) or different
ways (e.g., you are more concerned with meeting your father’s expectations than your mother’s, your
mother seems easier to please/more accepting)?
This will be counted as a possible five extra credit points. It will not be graded, only evaluated to
ensure that you followed the instructions and that you put some thought into the answer.
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