Clinical Psychology

General aims Through the course the students will reach a good knowledge of the most recent theories of typical and atypical devel-opment in the field of cognition, learning and social development. They will be able to analyze and critically discuss the contribution of different theoretical positions and recent empirical results. They will master the main research methods in this area and will be able to plan and carry out study and field intervention projects. Specific aims Knowledge and understanding). Upon completion of the course the student will be able to describe and critically discuss the main approaches and the-oretical models that explain development. He will be able to describe constructs, processes and mechanisms of typical and atypical individual development. He will be aware of the main methodologies and research designs for the study of development and the detection of changes in skills and functions over the course of life. Applying knowledge and understanding Upon completion of the course the student will be able to critically read a research article in the field of developmental psychology by identifying the theoretical reference model, analyzing the methodology used in order to interpret the re-sults in terms of knowledge advancement in the discipline, limits and potentialities of practical application in educa-tional and clinical intervention. He will also be able to set up and carry out a bibliographic search in the field of devel-opmental psychology. Making judgements The student will be able to identify areas of application of the models, approaches and methodologies typical of devel-opmental psychology in the clinical field, both to address educational practices promoting development, and to promptly identify deviant development trajectories and to design clinical interventions. Communication skills The student will learn to read and produce appropriate forms of communication to describe and discuss development processes including: scientific articles, reports, oral presentations, argumentative texts. He will be able to present a coherent discourse on the discipline and to coordinate a discussion on the matter. Learning skills). The work of individual study, analysis of research articles and systematic review, small group work and inverted les-sons will allow the acquisition of flexible and effective strategies and learning methods. Prerequisites The prerequisites consist in the indispensable knowledge of the scientific method and in particular of the methods used in psychology. Knowledge of English in reading is important.