Hints for Assignment 7

 It's about quality of daycare.  Here is a picture of some ducks and quakity of daycare. (Excuse the typo)

2 possible ways to do Assignment 7: 

(i)   Shut your eyes.  Don’t think about it.  It might go away.  (Not recommended!)

(ii)  Read up the work on daycare and enrichment studies.  See what other resources might be available.  Do a bit every day so that it’s finished well before the deadline.  Drink tea, coffee, alcohol or whatever at the appropriate times.  Hand it in or email it on time.  (Recommended)

Here is a typical Combi Psychology class of 1925 working at assignment 7:

Here’s a bit of help for method (ii).  First, you need to read the articles in the assignment.  Get to know what the assignment is about.  There are two articles here, one is about the long term effects of the quality of daycare;  the other is about enrichment programmes.  Enrichment programmes are usually politically based with the intention of putting lots of money into enriching the early years learning of children before mainstream schooling, i.e. three to five year olds. The first of these was project Headstart, set up by President John F Kennedy in the 1960s to help under privileged children in American Southern States.  It is mentioned in your class booklet, along with some evaluation.

Quality of Daycare – Stimulus 1.  Apart from the info in the class book, there is also info in Gross page 554  (5th Edition)  or page 502 (6th Edition).  There is a daycare mindmap on the website (link here).  You should  be starting to notice that there are things said in the articles that might agree or disagree with the text books.  Your job, for the assignment, is to use these as a jump-off point to discuss the issues.  The first issue is about working mothers leaving their children.  What does Bowlby say about this?  And was he right?  So already, there is the start of a small discussion with some possible evaluation.

OK.  Time for a break

Enrichment studies – Stimulus 2.  Same places for information, but there is an extra section about increasing IQ in the class booklet.  Basically, you should describe and evaluate enrichment projects generally and Headstart in particular, then describe the English system (Surestart and Helpcentres) and say whether you think they are working (they weren’t originally) and whether you think they will be successful, basing your answer, of course, on existing research.  And haven’t  you just been reading up on existing research?

And now, you show just how happy you are that you've finished.

Still having problems?   Some of you wanted some hints for evaluation.  Basically, it's this:  Does the research or theory that you're looking at, do or say what it's supposed to?  If it doesn't, where is it wrong, and what empirical support is there for you? (In other words, is there research to support what you say?)  Then, if it isn't right, where is it weak?  Then, outline some research which agrees with the theory and some research that disagrees.  Finally, look at the strengths and weaknesses.  Remember, there might not be strengths, or weaknesses!  So, think of Bowlby.  His monotropic theory tries to explain attachment and bonding.  That certainly is what the theory is about, so it is valid.  What does it do well?  It suggests that attachment is a survival process and that it is most probably inherited. What does it do badly?  It says that only mothers can be attached, or at least that is most important, and that the attachment of mother is essential to development.  But Shaffer and Emerson say that there is more than one attachment and that may not be female or mother.  Can you see how evaluation works any more clearly now?  If you need more help, then ask me.

And finally, your reward for doing the assignment.

   

The BIG Unit: 6 Credits!

Here are some notes and hints which reinforce the stuff we’ve been doing in the run up to the Easter Hols.

Let me just go over, once again, how I would like you to do these assignments.  (Of course, you can try them any way you like really, as long as the criteria are met.)   Assignment 11 is about the contribution each piece has made in the study of psychology.  You can concentrate here on the autism study by Baron-Cohen.  You should describe and evaluate the study first, using information from the assignment package, Gross textbook and any other resource.  But I suggest that you try to avoid the web because there is the possibility of overkill.   Also, you will encounter referencing difficulties.  Then, explain how it supports the ‘theory of mind’ explanation of autistic behaviour.  Finally, mention the other two studies (Zimbardo and Bandura) and say how they have contributed to our knowledge and understanding of human behaviour.  Remember the focus of this assignment is on the Sally’s marbles research – the other two pieces are dealt with in the other two assignments!

Time for a little reward.  

OK.  Hope you enjoyed that nice cup of tea and feel a bit better!

Assignment 12 is about ethics and methodology.  For this assignment you should be concentrating on the Stanford Prison Experiment.  Describe what was done, and evaluate the method as well as the research.  Again, the information is available in the class booklet.  There are also bnumerous sites on the web, some of which I have linked to from my website.  But then you should evaluate the ethics of the experiment, not just a review of the ethical principles but thye wider implications.  Was the research necessary?  Did the results justify the means?  Here, you should reference some ethical criticism where you can, but you also entitled to say whether you think participants were harmed based on your viewing of the video evidence.  Don’t forget also to consider the ethics around Bandura, and Sally’s marbles. (Remember the participants were children, and in the autism research they were also psychologically disadvantaged.)

Time for a bit more motivation.  You need this by now!

Feeling better?  

Assignment 13 is about the application of psychological research.  It’s great knowing all this stuff about psychology, but what use does it have?  Well, Bandura’s BoBo-Doll research has been used as a support for many theories and issues.  The original research was to develop a theory of aggression via imitative, or vicarious learning.  But in recent years, it has been used as a platform to argue the effects of violent videos on children and young people.  “Everybody knows that children who play violent video games and watch violent TV will become violent through imitating the characters in the videos.”   But everybody doesn’t know, because they haven’t done the research to find out.  So, to do Assignment 13, you should concentrate on Bandura’s research (describe and evaluate it) and then discuss the video violence issue, producing evidence for your discussion.  The best answers here will have two or three examples of research supporting and challenging the  video aggression argument.

Time for another quick break. 

I’ve put a new page into the website, especially for this unit, because the materials and resources are so scattered!  You could do worse than visit it by clicking here!

And remember, it may seem like a lot of work, but this unit does carry SIX BIG FAT CREDITS.

So, you’ve finished the big unit.  (Sounds like IKEA doesn’t it!)  Go on.  Relax.  Party.  You know you deserve it!

The KISS Principle in Operation

Oh dear, it's decision time for me!  Will it be a separate blog for the Combi ladies with new pages and a complicated linking system with blogs all over the place?  


Or perhaps I can just make two posts on the same day and let you read what you find most useful.  Or enjoyable.  Or whatever. The KISS Principle says "Combi class Assignment 6 - one post.  Main Course - Key Studies Assignments - another post.


The KISS principle won!  Jeff listens to his own advice!  So here is:

Just step back and look at the requirements of this assignment. You only need to concentrate on TWO of the topics. It’s your choice as to which two. But here are some pointers as to what is needed as a minimum to PASS the assignment.

First, a note about evaluation. Most of the resources you will be using have an evaluation section. You should start there. Evaluation should include (a) Is the research ‘good’ research (Oh how I detest value judgements!) in other words, does it show or demonstrate or explain what it sets out to do? (b) What doesn’t it do or explain? (c) Find some (at least one) empirical study or studies that support the research and (d) find some that either don’t support it or at least offer an alternative explanation.

Here's a bit of motivation for you.         

Bowlby’s monotropic theory.

Start by describing the theory. Hint – see the website! This is really about maternal deprivation. You have to evaluate the theory, and this implies that you should pose the question “What if attachment to mother is broken for some reason?” How might mental health be affected? So deal with the 44 thieves research, and evaluate it. That’s the minimum for this section. You might be so interested that you can’t stop and want to discuss privation and deprivation generally, who am I to criticise?

Harlow and Zimmerman.

This is one of several pieces of research published by Harlow and one or more of his colleagues. Basically, it’s Harlow and his rhesus monkeys. Describe the research in terms of aim – method – results – conclusion. Include evidence of strength of attachment, however distasteful you may feel about it. In fact, a brief evaluation of the ethics in Harlow’s research would not go un-noticed! But don’t forget there were two parts to Harlow’s research. Not only was there the investigation of ‘cupboard love’ theory, but also the effect of returning the subject monkeys to the rest of the herd. And make sure you evaluate. See the book page 65.

Schaffer and Emerson

Phases of attachment based on the longitudinal study of 60 Glasgow families. Nuff said.

Ainsworth and Bell.

Sensitive responsiveness and the strange situation. Types of attachment. Loads of opportunity for evaluation here. The really ambitious ones among you will go on to discuss the cross-cultural element. Often a long answer to this part, but if you are interested you can easily get carried away. I don’t mind, and again, it won’t go un-noticed!

If you find a connection between the two you are writing about, then mention it. For example, the strange situation relies on a characteristic of attachment described by Schaffer and Emerson...

By this time you are probably feeling like this:

Well, cheer up!  If you are reading this at the start of the holidays, you've got ages to think about it.  On the other hand, if it's due in tomorrow...