Psychology 2320B-001
Abnormal Child Psychology
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
1.0 CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
This is a theory course designed to introduce the wide-ranging theories of developmental psychopathology in children and adolescents. Topics will include the major DSM-5 diagnostic categories for childhood disorders, as well as research and treatment. The course orientation is empirical, with an emphasis on recent research findings with this population.
Antirequisites: Psychology 2042A/B, 2043A/B, 3320F/G
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. So if you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.
Prerequisite: At least 60% in a 1000 level Psychology course
Unless you have either the requisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2 lecture hours and 1 tutorial hour, 0.5 course
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
INSTRUCTOR: Graham J. Reid, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Office and Phone Number: Westminster Hall, Room 319E 519-661-2111 (x84677)
Office Hours: Thurs 1:30-2:30, or by appointment
Email: greid@uwo.ca
TEACHING ASSISTANTS:
Name: Aviva Blacher Office: WH-West 60K
Office Hours: By Appointment Email: ablacher@uwo.ca
Tutorial Sections Section 2 - 09:30-10:30 AM - SSC-3018 Section 3 - 10:30-11:30 AM - SSC-3018
Name: Adam Newton Office: WH-West 60K
Office Hours: By Appointment Email: anewton9@uwo.ca
Tutorial Sections Section 7 - 10:30-11:30 AM - SSC-3026
Name: Kimberly Dossett Office: WH-West 60K
Office Hours: By Appointment Email: kdossett@uwo.ca
Tutorial Sections Section 4 - 09:30-10:30 AM - SSC-3024
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you. Please visit: http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Required: Mash, E.J. & Wolfe, D.A. (2019). Abnormal Child Psychology (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
https://www.vitalsource.com/products/mindtap-psychology-for-mash
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
The goal of this course is to familiarize you with current concepts and research on major psychologycal and mental disorders of childhood, including issues of assessment, prevalence, course, major etiological theories, and treatment. Class meetings will consist of lectures that give a broad overview of the topic for that class, and tutorials designed to provide the opportunity for greater in-depth discussion and exploration of specific topics.4.1 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
• Describe key concepts, principles, and overarching themes relevant to abnormal child psychology.
• Define the features and diagnostic criteria relevant to psychological problems amongst children and youth. • Explain the current conceptual frameworks for understanding developmental disturbances in childhood and youth;
• Explain current approaches for the assessment, prevention and treatment of psychological problems amongst children and youth.
• Critically appraise information related to abnormal psychological problems of children and youth reported in the media in light of the relevant scientific evidence.
5.0 EVALUATION
Evaluation Summary
ASSIGNMENTS DEADLINES EVALUATION 5.1 Tutorial participation Every tutorial class 10% 5.2 Mid-term exam Friday, March 1 6:30 – 8:30 pm 35% 5.3 Final exam As scheduled during final exam period 40% 5.4.1 “In the News” assignment 1 Feb 5; Before midnight 5% 5.4.2 “In the News” assignment 2 Apr 2; Before midnight 10%
5.1) Participation Participation should be a natural extension of your preparation for class. A grade for participation will be based on your teaching assistant’s assessment of the quality of your participation. You have to say something, but what you say is more important than how much you say. Quality participation is a reflection of your mastery of required readings and reflected in thoughtful questioning, raising points/issues you encounter in the reading, and your involvement in seminars. Evaluation: A mark for class participation will be assigned for each tutorial class. You will receive feedback at least by the mid-term and again at the end of the course. Class participation will count for 10% of the course grade.
5.2) Mid-term Exam The mid-term exam will consist primarily of multiple-choice questions, along with matching, fill in the blank, and short-answer questions as well. ANY material from the textbook or lectures may be selected for the exam. No "aids" are allowed. Evaluation: The mid-term exam will count for 35% of the course grade.
5.3) Final Exam There will be a final examination. The exam will consist primarily of multiple-choice questions, along with matching, fill in the blank, and short-answer questions. The final exam is not fully cumulative per se, but some questions will require integration of material covered prior to the midterm. About 80% of the exam will cover material not previously tested in the midterm; the remainder, about 20% will include material previously tested material. As such, ANY material from the textbook or lectures may be selected for the exam. No "aids" are allowed. Evaluation: The final exam will count for 40% of the course grade.
5.4) “Abnormal Child Psychology - In the News” Assignments Two “In the News” assignments are to be submitted during the course. You are encouraged to hand in the assignments earlier than the due dates. NB: No extensions will be given; late assignments will be given a grade of zero.
Each assignment will be a maximum of 2 pages in length (double spaced; 12 point font; Times New Roman; 1 inch margins). For each of these assignments, you are to find a recent news article from a newspaper or newsmagazine that directly relates to some aspect of abnormal psychology amongst children and youth that is covered in this course; the article can be from a newspaper’s website, but not a blog or other type of website; not a scholarly journal; not a health or science magazine such as Scientific American. For example, it could be a report of recently published research on the causes or treatment of a particular mental disorder that we are covering in the course, a change in policy or legislation in Canada or one of the provinces in relation to children or youth with mental health problems, new programs/services being offered for children or youth with mental health problems in Canada or one of the provinces, etc. The article: (a) should have been published in 2018 or 2019, (b) the original source must be in English and (c) should be a news source from Canada, United States, the UK, New Zealand, or Australia.
Your assignment is to critically discuss the significance of the news article you have chosen with reference to a related section within a chapter of the textbook, which you should identify by page number.
Your assignment should contain: (1) brief summary of the article; (2) brief summary linking the article to the relevant textbook chapter section (referenced by page number); (3) critical discussion; (4) your personal reaction to the article. Your critical discussion should include such issues as: how the article confirms, complements, or contradicts something presented in the identified section of the text; how the article contributes to our understanding of some aspect of mental disorders; potential implications for mental health care; issues that should be investigated further; weaknesses of the article, such as scientific inaccuracy or bias, etc. Your reaction to the article could include something that was surprising to you, something you learned, how it made you think differently about an issue, etc.
You may not choose the same topic for the first and second assignments. The first assignment must be on a topic from chapters 1 to 6; the second assignment must be on a topic in chapters 8 through 14.
Evaluation: The assignment must be typed with your name and student number at the top of the page. A copy (scanned or PDF) of the newspaper article must be attached to your assignment, containing the date and name of the newspaper; for on-line articles the URL should also be included.
Assignments must be uploaded to the course website, or emailed to the TA in the case of technical difficulties with the website, before the deadline. The file type for submissions should be PDF or something that can be read in Microsoft Word (e.g., *.docx, *.doc, *.rtf, *.odt).
Grades for these assignments will be based on the clarity and organization of your writing, the accuracy and depth of your understanding of the topic as reflected in your coverage of each of the 4 elements in the assignment listed above, and the demonstration of critical thinking skills. The “In the News” assignments will constitute 15% of your final grade (5% for the first assignment; 10% for the second).
Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level and 2000-level courses
72% 2190-2990 level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows Western's grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf):
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
6.0 TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
Exam Date Time Location
Mid Term Exam Fri, March 1 6:30-8:30 pm EC 2168A & EC 2168B (Elborne College)
Final Exam Exam Period (April 11-30) TBD
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
7.1) Weekly Schedule
Instructor Date Time Location LECTURES G. Reid Tuesdays 2:30- 4:30 PM Nat Sci 7 TUTORIALS Section 2 Kimberly Dossett Thursdays 09:30-10:30 AM SSC-3018 Section 3 Kimberly Dossett Thursdays 10:30-11:30 AM SSC-3018 Section 4 Aviva Blacher Thursdays 09:30-10:30 AM SSC-3024 Section 5 Aviva Blacher Thursdays 10:30-11:30 AM SSC-3024 Section 7 Adam Newton Thursdays 10:30-11:30 AM SSC-3026
PSYC 2320B Page 6 of 8
7.2) Lecture & Tutorial Schedule
Wk Lecture Tutorial Topic Readings 1 Jan 8 Course overview Introduction to Abnormal Child Psychology Ch 1 Jan 10 Introduction to Tutorials 2 Jan 15 Theories and Causes Ch 2, 3 Jan 17 Temperament See class website for readings 3 Jan 22 Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Ch 4 Jan 24 Diagnosis: For or Against No readings 4 Jan 29 Intellectual Disability Ch 5 Jan 31 Building inclusive communities See class website for readings 5 Feb 5 Autism Spectrum Disorder Ch 6 “In the News” – First assignment DUE Feb 7 Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia Ch 6 6 Feb 12 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Ch 8 Feb 14 To medicate or not to medicate No readings Feb 18 Reading Week break – no lecture Feb 21 Reading Week break – no tutorials 7 Feb 26 Conduct Problems Ch 9 Feb 28 Pathways to anti-social behavior and adult outcomes See class website for readings Fri Mar 1 Mid Term Exam 8 Mar 5 Depressive and Bipolar Disorders Ch 10 Mar 7 Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder See class website for readings 9 Mar 12 Anxiety Disorders Ch 11 Mar 14 Prevention of Anxiety Disorders See class website for readings 10 Mar 19 Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders Ch 12 Mar 21 PTSD Ch 12 11 Mar 26 Health-Related Disorders Ch 13 Mar 28 Substance Use Ch 13 12 Apr 2 Feeding & Eating Disorders Ch 14 “In the News” – Second assignment DUE Apr 4 Tutorial Material Exam Review- Session No readings 13 Apr 9 Exam Review- Session Apr 12 No Tutorial FINAL EXAM AS SCHEDULED
Note: Adjustments may be made to our class schedule and readings, as required.
Access to articles to be discussed in tutorials is available through Western’s Library system. The full citation for each article, with a link to the library system, is provided on the course website.
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com http://www.turnitin.com
Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?Command=showCategory&PolicyCategoryID=1&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
10.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2018 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, will be allowed during exams.
PSYC 2320B Page 7 of 8
8.0) STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).
Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0) POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at: http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&S electedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation: http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
10.0) OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services web site: www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct - Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations - Policy on Attendance - Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines - Policy for Assignments - Short Absences - Extended Absences - Documentation - Academic Concerns - 2018 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, will be allowed during exams.
Learning Skills Services, Rm 4100 WSS, www.sdc.uwo.ca/learning
Learning Skills Services offers confidential individual counselling appointments to all students at Western. Counsellors help students cope with the demands of post-secondary learning, helping to identify strengths and develop new skills and strategies for success. Counsellors also work with students to alleviate academic stress and anxiety, and to develop positive motivation and confidence toward learning. This service is available for successful students wanting to maintain their already strong skills and those having academic difficulties
11.0) UNDERSTANDING AND APPEALING MARKS
Students are welcome to meet with the instructor to discuss any aspects of their evaluation that are not clear. Students may appeal any mark given in the course. To ensure that concerns are fairly reviewed, students wishing to have a grade reviewed must submit a brief note outlining the specific concerns regarding the grade and justification for grade revision. An appeal must include: (a) the original material submitted (if material was returned) and (b) a written statement by the student of the issue(s) with the grading. The statement should include the specific aspect of the grading in question and his/her rationale for why a grade should be altered. The original material will be re-graded and reviewed along with the rationale for the appeal. The mark as re-graded by the instructor will be the final mark. This mark may be higher or lower than the original grade.
