Applied Child Psychology - MSc

This module will examine development from birth through childhood and adolescence, focussing on changes to biological, cognitive, social and emotional elements of psychological functioning. It will provide you with an understanding of the general principles and concepts, different theoretical perspectives, research methodologies, contemporary debates and areas of application of child psychology to the real world. The role of social and cultural context of development is also explored.

Through engagement with the module and the assessment you will think about child and adolescent development from different theoretical perspectives and from an applied perspective as well. You will be encouraged to consider how your knowledge gained from the lectures, in class activities and the additional reading can inform our understanding of real life events and help explain the behaviour observed around us. You will be engaged in class discussions and peer conversations alongside learning and teaching activities which will further contribute to exploring different perspectives.

There are direct links to career paths in psychology such as Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology and counselling. There are also a number of transferable skills such as communication, group working, critical reading and analysis of literature, concise academic writing, ability to link theory to the real world and time management which are embedded into this module.

This module will enable you to develop a critical awareness of the issues and debates relating to neurodiversity in childhood and adolescence. The module will examine psychological, social, cultural and biological influences in the causation of developmental disorders and intellectual disabilities. We will focus in-depth on some specific diagnoses that may be received during childhood and adolescence. In doing so, we will examine diagnostic criteria and approaches taken towards assessment, the cognitive and social development of neurodiverse groups, effective methods of intervention, and the overlap between neurodiversity and mental health. The module will also examine the role of social and cultural factors in the diagnosis, interpretation, and treatment of these conditions.

By engaging with the module and completing the assessments you will demonstrate an advanced knowledge of etiology, diagnosis, intervention, and comorbidity in relation to different developmental disorders and intellectual disabilities. The module will involve class discussion and a focus on providing support in educational and family contexts in order to give a strong applied focus to your learning.

As well as a core understanding of neurodiversity in childhood and adolescence, you will also develop transferrable skills in communicating complex and sensitive information to different audiences and making practical recommendations on the basis of theory and a critical evaluation of relevant research evidence. Completing this module will help to prepare you for job roles in clinical or educational settings and for careers in Clinical Psychology or Educational Psychology.

This module will equip you with the core knowledge and practical skills required to conduct research with children and adolescents and to address practical issues and questions using empirical data. You will learn how to formulate testable research questions, design different types of research study and understand their strengths and limitations, and how to collect, analyse, interpret, and report quantitative and qualitative data.

Learning on this module will take a ‘hands-on’ approach and during weekly practical sessions you will work collaboratively with your peers to develop your confidence and expertise in research design and data analysis. Feedback, tutor support, and formative activities will also be provided to help you monitor your learning as your progress through the different topics.

These skills are foundational for your learning elsewhere on the course. For example, they will enhance your ability to engage with and understand empirical evidence in child psychology, to critically evaluate research evidence, and to conduct your own piece of original research while completing your Empirical Research Project in Applied Child Psychology. In addition to this, these skills are essential for practice in education, counselling, and other applied contexts where it is important to make evidence based decisions and demonstrate research informed practice. Research Methods and Statistics is also a core area of competency required to practice psychology, e.g., as an Educational Psychologist or Clinical Psychologist.

You will also acquire additional transferable skills in the areas of numeracy, IT literacy, data visualisation, and research communication and dissemination through competing this module. These skills are applicable in a broad range of contexts and will be particularly useful if you hope to pursue a career as a researcher or as a practicing psychologist.

This module will enable you to develop a critical awareness of the issues and debates relating to mental health in childhood and adolescence. The module will examine psychological, social, cultural and biological influences in the development of different mental health conditions. We will focus in-depth on some of the more prevalent mental health conditions observed in childhood and adolescence, e.g., anxiety. In doing so, we will examine diagnostic criteria and approaches taken towards assessment, the impact of different mental health conditions on cognitive and social development, effective methods of intervention, and strategies for preventing mental health difficulties, fostering resilience, and supporting good mental wellbeing. The module will also examine the role of social and cultural factors in the diagnosis, interpretation, and treatment of these conditions.

By engaging with the module and completing the assessments you will demonstrate an advanced knowledge of etiology, diagnosis, intervention, and prevention in relation to different mental health conditions. The module will involve class discussion and the application of knowledge gained from lectures and seminars to individual case studies in order to give a strong applied focus to your learning.

As well as a core understanding of mental health in childhood and adolescence, you will also develop transferrable skills in listening, communicating complex and sensitive information to different audiences, and critical evaluation of research evidence. Completing this module will help to prepare you for job roles in clinical or educational settings and for careers in Clinical Psychology or Educational Psychology.

This module aims to equip you with core knowledge and skills relevant to the practice of Educational Psychology. We will discuss the structure and principles underlying the different educational systems and explore the ways in which psychological research and theory can contribute to best practice in different educational settings.

You will learn about different psychological perspectives on learning and education as well as the ways in which Educational Psychologists may assess and support the learning of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The module will also help you to appreciate the inter-relationships between different theoretical perspectives in developmental and cognitive psychology and specialised areas of applied work within the education sector. Cultural differences in education will also be considered alongside an appreciation of the role of multiculturalism in schools.

The module will involve class discussion and the application of knowledge gained from lectures and seminars to individual case studies in order to give a strong applied focus to your learning. You will also develop transferrable skills in communicating complex and sensitive information to different audiences and the critical evaluation of research evidence. Completing this module will help to prepare you for job roles in educational settings and for further postgraduate training and careers in Educational Psychology.

Understanding the research process and possessing advanced research skills is essential for psychologists operating in academic and applied evidence-based contexts. In engaging with this module and completing the assessments you will plan and execute an original piece of research in the field of child psychology and disseminate this to both academic and practitioner audiences. As an integral part of this process, you will learn about research ethics and, prior to commencing your project, you will apply this knowledge to obtain approval for your research from the Psychology Departmental Research Ethics Committee.

You will be allocated an academic supervisor with whom you should meet on a regular basis to discuss and receive feedback on your plans and ideas and provide updates on the progress of your project. The majority of the teaching for this module comes in the form of this collaborative interaction with your academic supervisor. Supervision is supplemented by lectures and drop-in sessions offering support with data analysis.

This module builds upon and applies the learning achieved in other modules and draws in particular upon skills acquired in the Research Skills and Methods in Child Psychology module. The assessments allow you to demonstrate both advanced topic knowledge and empirical research skills.

As well as demonstrating these key competencies, you will also acquire the transferable skills that are associated with delivering a large project, such as organisation and planning, time and resources management, communication, and presentation skills. These skills are all highly relevant to future careers as a practicing psychologist, educator, researcher, or academic.

This optional module has been designed for students who already have a substantial amount of professional experience, past or present, in a field relevant to child psychology. The module will introduce you to influential models and theories of critical reflection and support you as you reflect on your progress to date as a learner and apply this learning to your professional experiences. These reflections will inform the creation of your personal action plan for your continued personal and professional development.

Teaching on this module is student-led and you will be allocated to an Action Learning Set. Each week you will attend a meeting with your Action Learning Set where you will discuss and apply relevant principles of critical reflection. The module team will also provide weekly readings.

Critical reflection is now widely acknowledged as a fundamental skill for practitioners working in many areas of health, social care, and education. Good critical reflection skills will enhance your current and future performance as an educator or psychological practitioner. More broadly, developing strong critical reflection skills will allow you to honestly appraise your performance in many areas, recognise your strengths and development needs, and use your personal and professional experiences to improve performance and work towards your long-term goals and aspirations.

This optional module has been designed for students who do not yet have a substantial amount of professional experience in a field relevant to child psychology. The module will introduce you to influential models and theories of critical reflection and support you as you reflect on your progress to date as a learner, your current skills, and your development needs. These reflections will inform the creation of your personal action plan for your continued personal and professional development.

Teaching on this module is student-led and you will be allocated to an Action Learning Set. Each week you will attend a meeting with your Action Learning Set where you will discuss and apply relevant principles of critical reflection. The module team will also provide weekly readings.

Critical reflection is now widely acknowledged as a fundamental skill for practitioners working in many areas of health, social care, and education. Good critical reflection skills will enhance your future performance as an educator or psychological practitioner. More broadly, developing strong critical reflection skills will allow you to honestly appraise your performance in many areas, recognise your strengths and development needs, and use your personal and professional experiences to improve performance and work towards your long-term goals and aspirations.