Instructions for this assignment

The interview is one of the research methods used by developmental psychologists.  For this assignment, you will interview 4 individuals, ask each of them the same set of questions, then report and discuss your observations.

Interview one individual from each of these 4 categories according to this schedule:

  • A child between 3 and 8 years old – post your results at the start of Module 1 (within the first 3 days) and discuss during Modules 1 and 2.
  • A teenager – post your results at the start of Module 2 and discuss during Modules 2 and 3.
  • A middle-aged person age 35 – 50 – post your results at the start of Module 3 and discuss during Modules 3 and 4.
  • An old person age 70 or older – post your results at the start of Module 4 and discuss during Modules 4 and 5.

Talk with these 4 individuals about the following three issues:

  1. What is the most important thing in your life?  Why is it important?
  2. What are your biggest problems? What can you do about it?
  3. What are some things you think are fun?

Report your findings to the appropriate discussion forum, read a few other students’ reports, and discuss what seems relevant.  Look for patterns.  What are you learning?

Each of these 4 forums will be graded using the discussion post rubric and grading scale below.  You will get your forum grades as each forum ends.

This assignment is worth 10% of your final grade.

“Experience Development” Discussion Forum Grading Scale:

There are several factors that determine your grade on each of the 4 discussion forums:

  1. How many quality points did you earn? (Note: You will be receive a score on each of your first 10 discussion forum posts.  If you submit more than 10 posts, they will not be scored.  Post submitted after the forum has ended will not be scored.
  2. Did you do a good job facilitating the discussion on your initial post?
  3. Did you participate in 3 or more additional discussion threads?
  4. Did you submit your initial post early in the appropriate module?
  5. Did you login and participate several times in each forum?  If you submit most of your posts on just one or two days, or wait until the end of the module to submit most of your posts, they will not receive full credit.

  Discussion Post Grading Rubric:

Quality Points* Interpretation Grading criteria
4 Excellent (A) The comment is accurate, original, relevant, teaches us something new, and is well written. Four point comments add substantial teaching presence to the course, and stimulate additional thought about the issue under discussion. Documentation for factual information is provided.
3 Above Average (B) The comment lacks at least one of the above qualities, but is above average in quality. A three point comment makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the issue being discussed.
2 Average (C) The comment lacks two or three of the required qualities.Comments which are based upon personal opinion or personal experience often fall within this category.
1 Minimal (D) The comment presents little or no new information. However, one point comments may provide important social presence and contribute to a collegial atmosphere .
0 Unacceptable (F) The comment adds no value to the discussion. Note: Un-cited text that is copy/pasted from another source into a discussion post is considered plagiarized and is not permitted! The penalty for plagiarism is very severe.
No penalty Full Credit Post Title The post title is a complete sentence, and conveys the main point of the comment. The reader clearly understands the main point of your discussion comment from the post title.
1 point penalty Fragment Post Title The post title provides key word(s) only. The reader knows the general area that the comment deals with.
2 point penalty Post Title is not acceptable The post title provides little or no information about the comment

*There may be times you feel you deserve more or fewer quality points on a particular post. Over the length of the course, these discrepancies will probably balance out.

Chapter Forum Grade Quality points received Gradebook %
A+ 37+ 100%
A 31 – 36 95%
B 25 – 30 85%
C 12 – 24 75%
D 6 – 11 65%
F 1 – 5 30%
0 0 0%