Psychology 2320B 001 FW24
Child Psychopathology
Western University
London Canada
Department of Psychology
Fall/Winter 2024
Psychology 2320B Section 001
Child Psychopathology
1 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 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, Psychology 2043A/B, Psychology 3320F/G.
Prerequisites: A mark of at least 60% in 1.0 credits of Psychology at the 1000 level.
Lecture Hour: 2 lecture hours and 1 tutorial hour.
Course Weight: 0.5 course.
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol 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 Course Information
Instructor: Bruno Bonfá Araujo
Office & Phone: via Zoom
Office Hours: By appointment (please email)
Email: bbonfaar@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: Lauren Mcbay
Email: lmcbay2@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: Taylor Pratt
Email: tpratt2@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: Katarina McKenzie
Email: kmcken45@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Classes: In-person lectures and tutorials each week, see Student Centre Timetable.
For courses that include an online component, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.
Time and Location of Tutorials: TBA.
3 Course Materials
Textbook (either print or electronic):
Cost information: https://www.cengage.ca/c/child-psychopathology-8e-mash-wolfe-nguyen-williams/9780357796580/?filterBy=Higher-Education#compare-buying-options
Mash, E.J. & Wolfe, D.A., Williams, K. N. (2023). Child Psychology (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
4 Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
The goal of this course is to familiarize you with current concepts and research on major psychological 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 in-depth discussion and exploration of specific topics.
|
Learning Outcome |
Learning Activity |
Assessment |
|
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.
Describe key concepts, principles, and overarching themes relevant to abnormal child psychology |
Lecture Content, Readings, Participation Activities |
Exams, Quizzes, Essay, Tutorial Assignments & Participation |
|
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.
Define the features and diagnostic criteria relevant to psychological problems amongst children and youth. |
Lecture Content, Readings, Participation Activities |
Exams, Quizzes, Essay, Tutorial Assignments & Participation |
|
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.
Explain the current conceptual frameworks for understanding developmental disturbances in childhood and youth. |
Lecture Content, Readings, Participation Activities |
Exams, Quizzes, Essay, Tutorial Assignments & Participation |
|
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.
Explain current approaches for the assessment, prevention and treatment of psychological problems amongst children and youth. |
Lecture Content, Readings, Participation Activities |
Exams, Quizzes, Essay, Tutorial Assignments & Participation |
|
Application of Knowledge. Knowledge of Methodologies. Communication Skills. Awareness of Limits of Knowledge. Autonomy and Professional Capacity.
Critically appraise information related to abnormal psychological problems of children and youth reported in the media in light of the relevant scientific evidence. |
Lecture Content, Readings, Participation Activities |
Assignments and Exams. |
5 Evaluation
The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives
Exam. Exams are multiple choice in format. Each exam, in total, will be scheduled for two hours and are closed book examinations. Dictionaries, calculators, cellular telephones, electronic devices, etc. are NOT allowed into the examinations. Exam 1 is worth 20%, and Exam 2 is worth 30%.
Essay. An APA-formatted essay of 2500 words (not counting references, tables, figures, and
appendices) must be completed by each student. More details on the content, structure, and
grading of the essay, will be provided early in the semester. The research proposal for the
essay topic will be worth 5% of the final course grade. The final essay will be worth 25% of the final course grade. Aside from accepted accommodations (see Section 9.0), submitting your essay after the deadline will result in a deduction of 5 percentage points per day. In other words, a paper that would have received a grade of 85% if handed in by the deadline will only receive a grade of 80% if handed in one day late.
Assignment. There will be one in-person assignments throughout the course that involve applications of the course content, worth 10% of the final course grade in total. Additional details about each assignment will be provided early in the semester.
Tutorials. Tutorials will be delivered in person. Tutorials consist of a short presentation by the TAs and a discussion. Tutorials provide opportunities for more in-depth coverage of specific topics, discussion of issues/controversies, and interactions within a small group format. Tutorials will be evaluated (a) participation 5% and (b) written reflection 5%. Your participation will be evaluated at every tutorial. You are required to submit a total of 4 written reflection papers: 2 based on the first 4 tutorials and 2 based on the last 4 tutorials.
Written reflection papers: You are to write a paper - maximum 2-pages (double spaced; 12-point font; Times New Roman) - based on the material covered in the tutorials. It can be less than 2 pages, so long as you cover both aspects listed below. Your paper should contain:
(1) A brief summary of the material covered in the tutorial. This may be based on the tutorial slides, readings from the textbook related to the tutorial topic &/or additional readings assigned for the week. In your summary you should reference the material you are
summarizing as: the textbook chapter section (referenced by page number), tutorial slide
number, or author, date, page number for an assigned article. This should be about 1 page
long.
(2) About 1 page of reflection on the material that may include questions that arose from your reading of the material; connections between the material read and other chapters topics covered in the course; any personal reflections or applications from the material.
Due date: The paper should be uploaded to the course website before the following week’s
tutorial. For example, if your tutorial is on Thursday, Jan 16 your written reflection paper is due Tuesday Jan 21 before 11:59 PM. For tutorials held during the week of Feb 11 (the week before reading week), reflection papers will still be due the day before the next tutorial.
Evaluation: Your papers must be typed with your name and student number at the top of the page. Assignments must be uploaded to the course website (In OWL Assignments tab), or in the case of significant technical difficulties with the website it may be emailed to the TA, 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 2 elements in the
assignment listed above, and the demonstration of critical thinking skills.
|
Course component |
% of Final Grade |
|
Exam 1 |
20% |
|
Research Essay |
30% |
|
… Proposal |
5% |
|
… Final Essay |
25% |
|
Exam 2 |
30% |
|
Assignment |
10% |
|
Tutorials |
10% |
|
… Tutorial participation |
5% |
|
… Tutorial written reflection |
5% |
Policy on Missing Coursework
Test. Unless accommodation is granted (as per Section 9.0), students who do not complete
the test will receive a grade of zero on this component of the course. If accommodation is
granted, the student will be expected to complete the makeup test. There will be one, and only one, makeup test, and it will be scheduled 7-12 days after the original test. Students who have received accommodation to complete the makeup test but fail to complete the makeup test, will receive a grade of zero on this component of the course, unless further accommodation is granted.
Essay. Unless accommodation is granted (as per Section 9.0), students who do not submit an essay will receive a grade of zero on this component of the course. If accommodation is
granted, the deadline for submitting the essay will be extended.
Assignments. Unless accommodation is granted (as per Section 9.0), students who do not submit an assignment will receive a grade of zero on that assignment. If accommodation is granted, the deadline for submission of the assignment will be extended for a maximum of 1 week.
PLEASE NOTE: Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%.
This course is exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least three full days before the date of the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty.
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf
The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses
72% 2100-2999-level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
In the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.
Policy on Grade Rounding
Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered.
6 Assessment/Evaluation Schedule
Exam 1 – In class (February 11)
Research Proposal/Essay – At the latest, on 11:59 pm on March 12
Exam 2 – See exam schedule for the exact day, time, and location (April Exam period 7-30)
7 Class Schedule
The list and order of topics follow. Readings for each topic are indicated but may be
modified as necessary on an ongoing basis. Some of the listed readings may be designated as optional by the Instructor in advance of the respective class. Any modifications to the lecture schedule will be announced.
- January 7: Course Overview and Introduction to Abnormal Child Psychology
Chapter 1: Introduction to Normal and Abnormal Behavior in Children and Adolescents.
Tutorial 1: January 8 and 9
- January 14: Theories and Causes
Chapters 2 and 3: Theories and Causes and Research.
Tutorial 2: January 15 and 16
- January 21: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Chapter 4: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
Tutorial 3: January 22 and 23
- January 28: Intellectual Disability
Chapter 5: Intellectual Disability (Intellectual Developmental Disorder).
Tutorial 4: January 29 and 30
- February 4: Autism Spectrum Disorder and Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia
Chapter 6: Autism Spectrum Disorder and Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia.
- February 11: Exam 1 in class (Chapters 1-6)
Grades for the first 4 tutorials
- February 18: Reading Week – No class.
- February 25: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Chapter 8: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
- March 4: Conduct Problems
Chapter 9: Conduct Problems.
Tutorial 5: March 5 and 6
- March 11: Depressive and Bipolar Disorders
Chapter 10: Depressive and Bipolar Disorders.
Tutorial 6: March 12 and 13
- March 18: Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive–Compulsive Disorders
Chapter 11: Anxiety and Obsessive–Compulsive Disorders.
Tutorial 7: March 19 and 20
- March 25: Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
Chapter 12: Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders.
Tutorial 8: March 26 and 27
- April 1: Assignment
Assignment: A case study will be performed in class.
Grades for the final 4 tutorials
- April 7-30: Final Exam Period
Note: Adjustments may be made to our class schedule and readings as required.
8 Academic Integrity
Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
Statement on Use of Electronic Devices
All electronic devices, including phones and laptops, will need to be put away during midterms, final exams, and presentations.
Plagiarism Detection Software
All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. 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.
Use of AI
The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content.
Multiple Choice Exams
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
Exam Proctoring Software
Tests and examinations for online courses may be conducted using a remote proctoring service. More information about this remote proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote
Proctoring website at: https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca.
Personal Response Systems (“Clickers”)
In classes that involve the use of a personal response system, data collected will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed.
9 Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education
View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.
Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western.
If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information. Email: aew@uwo.ca Phone: 519 661-2147
10 Absence & Academic Consideration
View Western’s policy on academic consideration for medical illnesses this link
Find your academic counsellor here: https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain academic considerations. Students must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence.
Medical Absences
Submit a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for Academic Consideration.
Nonmedical Absences
Submit appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Religious Consideration
Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.
11 Other Information
- Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
- Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca
- Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
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.
If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).
Copyright Statement
Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
12 Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton. Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society.
