| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Thaatsha Sivananthan
Unit Convenor
Josephine Paparo
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to BPsych or BPsych (Hons) AND 60cp at 1000 level or above including (PSYU1101 or PSYX1101 or PSYU1104 or PSYX1104) AND (PSYU1102 or PSYX1102 or PSYU1105 or PSYX1105)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
PSYX2235
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit involves the study of how humans grow and change across the life span from conception until death. Here, you will consolidate and extend on topics introduced in the developmental section of your introductory psychology units. You will explore developmental continuities and changes that are normative and common to most people, but also ways in which people differ from one another. In particular, you will focus on theories that seek to explain development and the extent to which development is influenced by genes, the physical environment, social relationships, and the context in which the individual lives. You will survey major theories, research findings, and contemporary issues in physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and personality development across the life span. The tutorials will complement the lectures and here, you will focus on developmental research methodologies and practical applications of developmental theory. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.
All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.
Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128).
To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.
All extensions need to be formally requested via MQ Service Connect in line with the special consideration policy.
Students are expected to make themselves available for the final examination, at the date and time set by the University, in line with the Assessment Policy and Procedure.
Supplementary assessment tasks will only be provided following an approved Special Consideration application, and only when appropriate.
Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.
For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.
For example:
| Number of days (hours) late | Total Possible Marks | Deduction | Raw mark | Final mark |
| 1 day (1-24 hours) | 100 | 5 | 75 | 70 |
| 2 days (24-48 hours) | 100 | 10 | 75 | 65 |
| 3 days (48-72 hours) | 100 | 15 | 75 | 60 |
| 7 days (144-168 hours) | 100 | 35 | 75 | 40 |
| >7 days (>168 hours) | 100 | - | 75 | 0 |
Please note no submissions will be accepted after marked assignments are returned and feedback is released to students.
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due | Groupwork/Individual | Short Extension | AI Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation | 20% | No | Week 5 | Individual | No | Observed |
| Literature Review | 40% | No | 20/04/2026 | Individual | Yes | Open |
| Final Examination | 40% | No | During the final examination period | Individual | No | Observed |
Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed
You will prepare and present a brief audiovisual recorded proposal for funding to support an initiative that will address an important contemporary issue in developmental psychology.
Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 20/04/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open
You will complete a literature review on theory and research related to a particular developmental phenomenon.
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: During the final examination period
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed
You will complete a summative final exam covering the unit's content under formal examination conditions.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.
3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.
As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of learning activities, including online asynchronous lectures and tutorials, as well as readings and videos.
Further details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.
Please note week-to-week lecture readings are prescribed for this unit. It is recommended that students read these following the lecture. These are freely available to all students via Leganto. Please see iLearn for more information.
There is no required textbook for this unit, however, links to useful texts for students wishing for more information regarding lecture topics are also provided via Leganto.
Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device.
*Subject to Change
|
MODULE 1 INTRODUCTION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT |
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Week 1 No Tutorial |
Introduction to the Unit and Overview of theory – A/Prof Josephine Paparo Reading: Nil |
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Week 2 No Tutorial |
Prenatal Development, Genes, and Environment – A/Prof Josephine Paparo Reading: Faa et al. (2024) |
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Week 3 Tutorial 1 |
Birth, Motor and Perceptual Development – A/Prof Josephine Paparo Reading: Mottram et al. (2025) |
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MODULE 2 COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT |
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Week 4 No Tutorial |
Cognitive Development A – A/Prof Josephine Paparo Reading: Cerovac & Keane (2025) |
| NOTE: Assessment Task 1 Presentation (3-minute Pitch) is due Monday 23 March by 11:55pm | |
|
Week 5 Tutorial 2 |
Cognitive Development B – Prof Wayne Warburton Reading: Siegler (1989) |
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MODULE 3 SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN A FAMILY CONTEXT |
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Week 6 No Tutorial |
Temperament and Emotion Regulation – A/Prof Josephine Paparo Reading: Coyne et al. (2021) |
| Mid-Session Break 3 – 19 April | |
| NOTE: Assessment Task 2 Literature Review is due Monday 20 April by 11:55pm | |
|
Week 7 Tutorial 3 |
Attachment and Emotion Regulation – A/Prof Josephine Paparo Reading: Cibralic et al. (2025) |
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Week 8 No Tutorial |
Contexts for Development: Parenting, Siblings, Families – A/Prof Josephine Paparo Reading: Langsford (2022) |
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MODULE 4 GENDER AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT |
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Week 9 Tutorial 4 |
Gender Development – Prof Kay Bussey Reading: Jackson & Bussey (2023) |
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Week 10 No Tutorial |
Moral Development – Prof Kay Bussey Reading: Bussey et al. (2024) |
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MODULE 5 ADOLESCENT AND EARLY ADULT DEVELOPMENT |
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Week 11 Tutorial 5 |
Adolescent and Early Adult Development – Prof Wayne Warburton Reading: Casey et al. (2008) |
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Week 12 No Tutorial |
Adult Development – A/Prof Carly Johnco Reading: Johnco et al. (2024) |
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Week 13 Tutorial 6 |
Adult Development and Death and Dying – A/Prof Carly Johnco Reading: McGrath & Phillips (2008) |
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Unit information based on version 2026.04 of the Handbook