Information Package / Course Catalogue
PSYC 462 Readings and Research in Developmental Psychology II
MEF University
Degree Programs
Psychology
General Information For Students
Diploma SupplementErasmus Policy Statement
Psychology
Bachelor Length of the Programme: 4 Number of Credits: 240 TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF: Level 6

Ders Genel Tanıtım Bilgileri

School/Faculty/Institute Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences
Course Code PSYC 462
Course Title in English Readings and Research in Developmental Psychology II
Course Title in Turkish Gelişim Psikolojisinde Okuma ve Araştırma II
Language of Instruction EN
Type of Course Flipped Classroom
Level of Course Advanced
Semester Fall
Contact Hours per Week
Lecture: 1 Recitation: Lab: 2 Other:
Estimated Student Workload 189 hours per semester
Number of Credits 7.5 ECTS
Grading Mode Standard Letter Grade
Pre-requisites PSYC 205 - Research Methods I
Expected Prior Knowledge Research methods in Psychology
Co-requisites None
Registration Restrictions Only Undergraduate Students
Overall Educational Objective To become familiar with major areas of developmental psychology, to get deeper knowledge about and the ability to design and conduct scientific research in these areas.
Course Description This course is an advanced level course on readings and research in Developmental Psychology. We will focus on individual differences in development, specifically language development and development in the related areas, in infancy and early childhood years. In the first part, learners will gain perspective about the main constructs, theoretical approaches, research methods, and recent research findings in the given areas. In the second part, learners will get hands-on experience as a researcher in formulating research questions, designing an empirical research study, collecting data, analyzing data, and sharing their findings through a poster presentation.
Course Description in Turkish Bu ders Gelişim Psikolojisi alanında okuma ve araştırma konularını içeren ileri düzeyde bir derstir. Bebeklik ve erken çocukluk yıllarında gelişimdeki bireysel farklılıklara, özellikle de dil gelişimi ve ilgili alanlardaki gelişime odaklanacağız. İlk bölümde öğrenciler, verilen alanlardaki ana yapılar, teorik yaklaşımlar, araştırma yöntemleri ve son araştırma bulguları hakkında bakış açısı kazanacaklardır. İkinci bölümde, öğrenciler bir araştırmacı olarak araştırma sorularını formüle etme, ampirik bir araştırma çalışması tasarlama, veri toplama, veri analizi ve bulgularını bir poster sunumu aracılığıyla paylaşma konusunda uygulamalı deneyim kazanacaklardır.

Course Learning Outcomes and Competences

Upon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:
1) demonstrate knowledge in the key concepts, main theoretical perspectives, and research methods in the field of Developmental Psychology;
2) critically evaluate existing research in the subfields (i.e. language, early literacy, and academic development) of Developmental Psychology;
3) formulate research questions and hypotheses;
4) design an empirical research study;
5) test for different research questions and hypotheses;
6) analyze, interpret, and critically discuss about research findings.
Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes 1 2 3 4 5 6
1) Thorough knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology.
2) Understanding of and ability to apply essential research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and data interpretation.
3) Competence to use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and a scientific approach to solving problems related to behavior and mental processes.
4) Understanding and ability to apply psychological principles, skills and values in personal, social, and organizational contexts.
5) Ability to weigh evidence, to tolerate ambiguity, and to reflect other values that underpin psychology as a discipline.
6) Internalization and dissemination of professional ethical standards.
7) Demonstration of competence in information technologies, and the ability to use computer and other technologies for purposes related to the pursuit of knowledge in psychology and the broader social sciences.
8) Skills to communicate the knowledge of psychological science effectively, in a variety of formats, in both Turkish and in English (in English, at least CEFR B2 level).
9) Recognition, understanding, and respect for the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity.
10) Recognition for the need for, and the skills to pursue, lifelong learning, inquiry, and self-improvement.
11) Ability to formulate critical hypotheses based on psychological theory and literature, and design studies to test those hypotheses.
12) Ability to acquire knowledge independently, and to plan one’s own learning.
13) Demonstration of advanced competence in the clarity and composition of written work and presentations.

Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences

N None S Supportive H Highly Related
     
Program Outcomes and Competences Level Assessed by
1) Thorough knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology. H Participation,Project
2) Understanding of and ability to apply essential research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and data interpretation. H Participation,Project
3) Competence to use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and a scientific approach to solving problems related to behavior and mental processes. H Participation,Project
4) Understanding and ability to apply psychological principles, skills and values in personal, social, and organizational contexts. S Participation,Project
5) Ability to weigh evidence, to tolerate ambiguity, and to reflect other values that underpin psychology as a discipline. H Participation,Project
6) Internalization and dissemination of professional ethical standards. H Participation,Project
7) Demonstration of competence in information technologies, and the ability to use computer and other technologies for purposes related to the pursuit of knowledge in psychology and the broader social sciences. H Participation,Project
8) Skills to communicate the knowledge of psychological science effectively, in a variety of formats, in both Turkish and in English (in English, at least CEFR B2 level). H Participation,Project
9) Recognition, understanding, and respect for the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity. S Project
10) Recognition for the need for, and the skills to pursue, lifelong learning, inquiry, and self-improvement. H Participation,Project
11) Ability to formulate critical hypotheses based on psychological theory and literature, and design studies to test those hypotheses. H Participation,Project
12) Ability to acquire knowledge independently, and to plan one’s own learning. H Participation,Project
13) Demonstration of advanced competence in the clarity and composition of written work and presentations. H Participation,Project
Prepared by and Date DENİZ ÖZKAN GÖKTÜRK , December 2023
Course Coordinator DENİZ ÖZKAN GÖKTÜRK
Semester Fall
Name of Instructor Asst. Prof. Dr. BEYZA ATEŞ

Course Contents

Week Subject
1) Introduction & Course Requirements
2) Introduction of research topics in Developmental Psychology key concepts and theoretical frameworks about language, early literacy, & academic development in babyhood and childhood
3) Introduction of research topics in Developmental Psychology-continued scientific research process ethical & practical issues in research tips for literature review: use of scientific databases & online platforms
4) Research project, Part 1: Writing up a research proposal selecting a research topic and reviewing relevant literature (step 1 & 2)
5) Research project, Part 1: Writing up a research proposal continuing the literature review (step 2)
6) Research project, Part 1: Writing up a research proposal preparing a presentation summarizing the chosen articles & leading a discussion session (step 3 & 4)
7) Research proposals, Part 1: Writing up a research proposal preparing a presentation summarizing the chosen articles & leading a discussion session (step 3 & 4)
8) Research proposals, Part 1: Writing up a research proposal proposing your research question(s) & hypotheses, clarifying operational definitions, & determining research design, participants, & general methodology (step 4, 5, & 6)
9) Research proposals, Part 2: Collecting and analyzing data piloting and updating instruments/tools & research procedure (step 7 & 8)
10) Research proposals, Part 2: Collecting and analyzing data collecting data, entering and analyzing data set, & writing up a brief research report (step 9, 10, & 11)
11) Research proposals, Part 2: Collecting and analyzing data collecting data, entering and analyzing data set & writing up a brief research report (step 9, 10, & 11)
12) Research proposals, Part 2: Collecting and analyzing data collecting data, entering and analyzing data set, & writing up a brief research report (step 9, 10, & 11)
13) Research proposals, Part 3: Preparing a poster presentation (step 12)
14) Research proposals, Part 3: Preparing a poster presentation (step 12)
15) Final Examination Period
16) Final Examination Period
Required/Recommended ReadingsThere will be a reading package including a set of empirical articles and book chapters.
Teaching MethodsThis course will be taught entirely in the flipped format. In the first part of the course, learners will be assigned some reading materials with several questions attached to these articles in the first three weeks of the course. During class time, based on the assigned readings, learners gain a deeper knowledge about main concepts, methods, and theoretical frameworks about language, early literacy, and academic development in babyhood and childhood years. In the second part of the course, learners get a hands-on experience through actively designing and conducting their own research. As a part of this process, they participate in different pre-, in-, and after- class activities including literature review, research design, data collection, preparation, & analysis, and poster presentation.
Homework and ProjectsLearners will be to design and conduct their own research throughout the semester. In order to successfully complete the research project, they are expected to successfully complete the following thirteen steps: Part 1: Writing up a research proposal (30p) 1. Selecting a research topic (2p) 2. Reviewing relevant literature (10p) 3. Preparing a presentation summarizing the chosen articles & leading a discussion session (10p) 4. Proposing research question(s) & hypotheses (2p) 5. Clarifying operational definitions (2p) 6. Determining research design, participants, & general methodology (4p) Part 2: Collecting and analyzing data (35p) 7. Piloting instruments/tools & research procedure (5p) 8. Updating general protocols and tools (5p) 9. Collecting actual data set (10p) 10. Entering and analyzing data (10p) 11. Writing up a brief research report (5p) Part 3: Preparing and presenting a poster presentation (15p) 12. Preparing a poster presentation 13. Presenting the poster
Laboratory WorkLearners will use the lab SPSS facilities to do literature review for their empirical paper, read theoretical papers and empirical articles together with their group members (through perusal), to enter and analyze their data set through SPSS, and to prepare a PowerPoint presentation about their research.
Computer UseLearners will work with SPSS to enter and analyze the data they have collected as well as to do literature review for their empirical paper.
Other ActivitiesLearners will be asked to read assigned articles prior to that week’s classroom session, do a literature review, read the articles together with their group members, prepare a brief presentation and lead a discussion session about their literature review.
Assessment Methods
Assessment Tools Count Weight
Attendance 14 % 10
Presentation 1 % 10
Project 1 % 80
TOTAL % 100
Course Administration ozkande@mef.edu.tr

Academic honesty: As an academic misconduct, cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and will be immediately resulted in failing the course or a disciplinary action. Some exemplary behaviors of plagiarism: 1) quoting without citing the reference (cut & paste behavior), 2) extensive quoting (even you cite the reference), 3) submitting the same or similar assignment/project you had already prepared for another work (e.g. course, workshop, presentation), 4) submitting the same or similar assignment/project prepared by someone else. In group studies, if academic honesty is violated, all the group members will be accepted as responsible for the incident. To learn more about academic dishonesty and plagiarism please also see YÖK Disciplinary Regulation. Attendance policy: Learners are expected to attend every class. Regular attendance is required to be successful at this course, which will be graded on a 10-point scale. Please be careful about arriving at the class on time. Late arrivals are disruptive for both the class members and the instructor. If you come to the class later than the first 15 minutes or leave the class before the last 15 minutes, you will not be allowed to sign the attendance sheet. Make-up policy: Make-ups for the assignments will be accepted in the presence of an eligible excuse (e.g. illness, surgery, death of relatives, a task by the University or other institutions such as national or international meetings or competition, etc.) and if you present a valid document (e.g. a medical report, a petition with the necessary report(s) attached to it, to be presented to the Dean’s Office or Directorate) for your excuse.

ECTS Student Workload Estimation

Activity No/Weeks Hours Calculation
No/Weeks per Semester Preparing for the Activity Spent in the Activity Itself Completing the Activity Requirements
Course Hours 14 1 3 3 98
Project 13 2 3 2 91
Total Workload 189
Total Workload/25 7.6
ECTS 7.5