Elective Course - Caregiver-child interactions and social-cognitive processing in typical and atypical development
Course content
The main topic of this course is state of the art research within the EU on caregiver-child interactions and their impact on social-cognitive processing in neurotypical and clinical samples (e.g., premature born and deaf children). The seminar unites leading experts from four different countries (Poland, Italy, Denmark, Germany) and is run jointly, online, with 3 other institutions.
First, after a general introduction of the participating partner labs and their research programs, students will take part in four modules, each consisting of two occasions. In Module 1 they will be introduced to Self- and Co-Regulation in caregiver-child interactions: concepts, and methods (Heidelberg University). This is followed by Module 2 which includes a lecture on the role of others in infants' learning and one on oxytocin and social interactions/social cognition in infancy (University of Copenhagen). Next, in Module 3 students will learn about application of fNIRS technique in the studies of social cognition in children with typical and atypical development and Theory of mind development in deaf children with cochlear implants (University of Warsaw). Finally, in Module 4 discusses enriched environment and early parenting intervention to promote neurodevelopment in preterm infants, and breastfeeding as an opportunity to promote parent- infant interaction in infants with typical and atypical development (University of Milan). The course ends with an integrative session with the entre 4EU+ network.
The course runs Weekly between
mid-April and mid-June. The first and last
occasion are double sessions. Expected days and time:
Wednesday 16:15-17:30, exact dates and times will be confirmed each
year.
Please note that the dates, format, and platforms of this course will differ from most other KU-courses as it is a joint course and has to fit with requirements across 4 institutions.
The course is open to:
- Master Programme in Psychology
The course is open to:
- Exchange and Guest students from abroad
Knowledge:
- Describe social-cognitive processing in different populations of young children and the impact of caregiver-child interactions on development
- account for key research approaches and methods for, and aspects of, studying early caregiver-child relations
- understand the specific challenges regarding social-interaction competencies that parents and children face when the child has special needs
Skills:
- contextualize concepts and discussions introduced in the course on the study of early social cognition and caregiver-child interactions in typical and atypical development.
- use concepts and methods about early social cognition and caregiver-child interactions in adequate ways.
- interpret the relevance of empirical studies in developing theories, models, and interventions of early social cognition and caregiver-child interactions.
- discuss the relationship between developmental contexts and the social cognitive skills of the developing child
Competences:
- Evaluate how empirical research is related to positions in theoretical investigations and applied challenges in early social cognition and caregiver-child interactions both in typical and atypical development.
- Assess the adequacy of different empirical methods to address research problems in the field of social-cognitive development.
Pre-recorded lectures plus seminar classes (online/zoom).
Syllabus cf. curriculum: Compulsory: 600; self-selected: 200
An up-to-date syllabus list will be available in the course room on Absalon just before the start of the semester.
If the course has previously been offered, syllabus lists can be found here: Absalon
When registered you will be signed up for exam.
- Full-degree students – sign up at Selfservice on KUnet
- Exchange and guest students from abroad – sign up through Mobility Online and Selfservice- read more through this website.
- Credit students from Danish universities - sign up through this website.
The dates for the exams are found here Exams – Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Please note that it is your own responsibility to check for overlapping exam dates.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Home assignment
- Type of assessment details
- For students taking the course at KU, grades will be based on a
6-page (normal pages) essay that has to be submitted by the end of
the semester. The essay questions will be related to the module
topics. Students can choose their own question out of the ones
offered and must find at least 200 normal pages length of relevant
self-selected literature to include.
As a requirement for course fulfillment, during the semester students will be asked to participate in activities e.g., oral group presentation of 1 or 2 research papers together with students from the other institutions, writing an outline/summary handout of the paper they presented, or in preparation for the interactive sessions submit reflection question about the lecture. These will not be graded but are requirements to fulfil the course.
All assignments must be completed in English.
Regulation for group tests:
For exam essays: individual only.
For course activity requirement:
The presentations will be done in groups of 2-5 depending on class size. - Examination prerequisites
-
Evaluations will be based on written contributions to the four topic blocks (one assignment per every two weeks) throughout the semester (80%) as well as oral performance (20%) in the interactive sessions.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
Unless otherwise specified, the Department of Psychology prohibits the use of generative AI software and large language models (AI/LLMs), such as ChatGPT, for generating novel and creative content in written exams. However, students may use AI/LLMs to enhance the presentation of their own original work, such as text editing, argument validation, or improving statistical programming code. Students must disclose in an appendix if and how AI/LLMs were used; this appendix will not count toward the page limit of the exam. This policy is in place to ensure that students’ written exams accurately reflect their own knowledge and understanding of the material.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Exam period
-
Exam information:
The examination date can be found in the exam schedule here
The exact time and place will be available in Digital Exam from the middle of the semester.
- Re-exam
-
A 6-page (normal pages) paper on a topic given by the instructor (individually). Topic cannot be the same as the exam was.
Reexam information:
The reexamination date/period can be found in the reexam schedule here
Criteria for exam assessment
Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.
To obtain the top grade “12”, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.
To obtain the passing grade “02”, the student must in a satisfactory way be able to demonstrate a minimal acceptable level of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 28
- English
- 28
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- APSK15753U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 semester
28 hours (ca. 3 standard teaching hours per week consisting of approx. 60 min lecture + 75 min interactive session; for the 8 modules, plus 90 min introduction and a 90 integrative summary session in the end) - Placement
- Spring
- Schedulegroup
-
The course runs Weekly between mid-April and mid-June. The first and last occasion are double sessions. Expected days and time: Wednesday 16:15-17:30, exact dates and times will be confirmed each year.
- Capacity
- 8 students from KU
- Studyboard
- Department of Psychology, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Psychology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Dora Kampis (2-666d4272757b306d7730666d)
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