PL4S156 - Lifespan Development in Context 01 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PL4S156
Module Title: Lifespan Development in Context
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology and Therapeutic Studies
Faculty Sub Group: Psychology
Module Leader: Rebecca Ward
Module Team: Victoria Markham, Kirsty Richards, Dan Bowers, Alexis Jones, Leigh Attwood
First Intended Intake: SEP 2027 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100493 - applied psychology 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 50 50

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 01 Sep 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

To provide students with core coverage of developmental psychology necessary for BPS accreditation.
To foster a critical appreciation of stability continuity and change across the lifespan.

Content Summary

This module will address core topics in developmental psychology including cognitive, social and emotional development across the lifespan (from early childhood to ageing). Students will be encouraged to critically appraise the concept of “typical” compared to atypical development; including how this is defined and assessed. Finally, students will critically assess the impact of contextual factors on development. These will include mental and physical health, poverty and economic disadvantage and cultural factors. Challenges of working with diverse individuals at different points in the life course will form part of the discussions in online seminars and students will be encouraged to formulate evidence-based solutions to meet these challenges.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Seminar 12
Independent Study 148
Directed Study 15
Formative Assessment - Independent 10
Problem / challenge based learning 15
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Provide a sophisticated critical articulation of how wider contextual factors impact on development across the life course.
LO2 Critically reflect on the challenges presented by working with children, adolescents and older adults and propose evidence-based solutions to addressing these challenges

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Online Practical Assessment Simulation (Online) 1 Students will complete an online simulation engaging a child, adolescent, adult or older adult with intervention. Participation in this simulation will include consideration of wider contextual factors and their impact on development. 10 N/A 50 No 50
Asynchronous Assessment Annotated Bibliography 1 An annotated bibliography of literature pertaining to a topic in lifespan development. This will include critical reflection on the challenges and solutions presented in the literature and their generalisability to novel situations. 0 1500 50 No 50

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Simulation (Online) 1
Annotated Bibliography 1

Reading List

Boyd, D., & Bee, H. (2019). Lifespan development (Eighth edition). Pearson

British Psychological Society (2020). From Poverty to Flourishing. Available at https://www.bps.org.uk/poverty-flourishing

Durkin, K., & Schaffer, H. (2016). The Wiley handbook of developmental psychology in practice: Implementation and impact (Wiley-Blackwell handbooks of developmental psychology). Wiley-Blackwell

Plus, relevant journals such as:
Ageing and Society
Annual Review of Psychology
British Journal of Developmental Psychology
British Journal of Educational Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Journal of Adolescence
Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology