Course Description: Social relationships and social understanding are important parts of our lives from infancy onward. In this course we will explore the developmental significance of parent-child and peer relationships from infancy into childhood and adolescence. We will also discuss children's understanding of theory of mind, gender, emotions, and self. In particular, we will focus on age-related changes in these skills and how they impact social relationships. We will also consider cross-cultural differences in patterns of social behavior. Evaluation will be based on participation, a series of short papers, and a longer final project. Students will read research articles and be responsible for class presentations. This course satisfies Division I distribution requirements in MBI (WRI, QUA)
Course Format: The format of the course will include lecture, discussion, and informal student presentations. I encourage everyone to actively participate in generating questions and contributing to the conversation. Therefore, students are required to read the material before coming to class and to come to class prepared by posting a weeekly question or comment to the course moodle. Informal student presentations will be used to incorporate other research findings and theoretical perspectives into the discussions; as a group we will respond to these ideas to consider how they relate to the other material for the course. Adjustments to the course schedule may be made throughout the semester; it is important to come to class to receive announcements about assignments and readings. The course website (available through moodle.hampshire.edu) will also be updated frequently. Please check your Hampshire email account regularly so that you receive any messages that we send about the course and assignments.
Course Expectations: In addition to attending class, students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time. This time includes completing course readings, preparing written responses and discussion questions, and researching and writing an integrative final paper. This is a guide; students may need to spend more time during some weeks when working on assignments or based on particular readings.
Course Objectives: Students will
1) Understand the main issues of social development
2) Be able to describe the sociocultural contexts of development
3) Integrate findings on multiple levels of analyses to consider the processes of development
4) Summarize research articles and critique and evaluate research design.
Objectives for cumulative skills:
1) Writing will be evaluated for coherence, the development of the argument, the use of evidence, and overall clarity
2) Quantitative skills that will be addressed in the course include the interpretation of graphs and tables, the use of specific research findings to support claims, and evaluation of research design and conclusions
Readings: Required course readings are available on the course website (available through moodle.hampshire.edu).
Assignments: Written work are due in class. We will not evaluate late work. However, if a medical or personal emergency arises, please contact me as soon as possible so that we can make arrangements. All assignments must be completed and included in the final portfolio in order to receive an evaluataion.
Course Format: The format of the course will include lecture, discussion, and informal student presentations. I encourage everyone to actively participate in generating questions and contributing to the conversation. Therefore, students are required to read the material before coming to class and to come to class prepared by posting a weeekly question or comment to the course moodle. Informal student presentations will be used to incorporate other research findings and theoretical perspectives into the discussions; as a group we will respond to these ideas to consider how they relate to the other material for the course. Adjustments to the course schedule may be made throughout the semester; it is important to come to class to receive announcements about assignments and readings. The course website (available through moodle.hampshire.edu) will also be updated frequently. Please check your Hampshire email account regularly so that you receive any messages that we send about the course and assignments.
Course Expectations: In addition to attending class, students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time. This time includes completing course readings, preparing written responses and discussion questions, and researching and writing an integrative final paper. This is a guide; students may need to spend more time during some weeks when working on assignments or based on particular readings.
Course Objectives: Students will
1) Understand the main issues of social development
2) Be able to describe the sociocultural contexts of development
3) Integrate findings on multiple levels of analyses to consider the processes of development
4) Summarize research articles and critique and evaluate research design.
Objectives for cumulative skills:
1) Writing will be evaluated for coherence, the development of the argument, the use of evidence, and overall clarity
2) Quantitative skills that will be addressed in the course include the interpretation of graphs and tables, the use of specific research findings to support claims, and evaluation of research design and conclusions
Readings: Required course readings are available on the course website (available through moodle.hampshire.edu).
Assignments: Written work are due in class. We will not evaluate late work. However, if a medical or personal emergency arises, please contact me as soon as possible so that we can make arrangements. All assignments must be completed and included in the final portfolio in order to receive an evaluataion.
- Teacher: Melissa Burch