Assignment 2: Lifespan Development and Personality (18%)

Completion requirements

To do: Make a submission To do: Receive a grade

Assignment 2 has three parts. Students are instructed to submit all parts of this assignment together as one file at the end of Unit 2. 

Part A: Toy Analysis (9 marks total)

Introduction

For this part of the assignment, you are going to get the chance to play with some toys or at least look at, describe, and evaluate them. The task for this part of the assignment is to find a toy or a game, describe it, and evaluate its appropriateness for a child in Piaget’s concrete operation stage.

You are not expected to purchase anything for this part of the assignment. However, you should view an actual toy or game. There are several ways you might do this. You may have a child yourself or have a friend or family member with a child who will allow you to look at their toys; thrift stores are common sources of very inexpensive toys that may be purchased for a dollar or two; you can see what is available in the toy aisle of a department or toy store; or you may even have one of your childhood toys still in your possession. It would be best if you can actually handle the toy, rather than simply look at it. Note that the toy used in this part of the assignment cannot be a stuffie (e.g., teddy bear or similar). 

Provide a full description of your chosen toy or game, and attach a photograph with your description. Then, respond to the following questionsin full sentences in your own words, with sources cited and referenced using APA style (7^th ed.) if used (use the original numbering for each question):

1. Describe the cognitive abilities and limitations of children in Piaget’s concrete operations stage.
2. Evaluate the appropriateness of the toy for concrete operational children with specific reference to the limitations and abilities described above.
3. Contrast the appeal of the toy or game to children in the preoperational and formal operational stages.
4. Describe the appeal and appropriateness of the toy to boys and girls. Should the toy maker have done something differently to appeal to both boys and girls? Does the toy or game reinforce or break down gender stereotypes, and how do you know?
5. Suggest how to make the toy better. These should include design, availability, cost, size, colour, and so on.

Grading Rubric

Below is a set of guidelines to help you set goals in this assignment and interpret the grades you receive.

 Below is a set of guidelines to help you set goals in this assignment and interpret the grades you receive.

	Exceeds Expectations (3 marks)	Meets Expectations (2 marks)	Does Not Meet Expectations (1 mark)
Comprehensiveness	Provides accurate descriptions of toy/game and concrete operational stage	Provides accurate descriptions of toy/game and concrete operational stage but missing one or two details	Provides descriptions of toy/game and concrete operational stage but incomplete
Understanding	Reflects accurate understanding of theory and its application	Reflects accurate understanding of theory and its application with one or two missing details	Reflects incomplete understanding of theory and its application
Clarity	No spelling or grammatical errors	Minor or few spelling and/or grammatical errors	Several spelling and grammatical errors
TOTAL /9

Part B: Critically Thinking About Age (9 marks total)

Introduction

Part B of Assignment 2 will allow you to think further about a somewhat controversial topic related to age and aging. In this part of the assignment, you will apply critical thinking to an analysis of two sides of the topic. This activity will require you to apply the critical thinking processes discussed in section “1.1 Psychology as a Science” from Chapter 1 of the textbook.

Choose one of the following issues: Canadian questions

• Young people should be 21 years old before they can obtain a full driving licence.
• There should be mandatory retirement when people reach age 65.
• The legal age for the purchase and consumption of alcohol should be lowered to 16 years old.

Write eight brief paragraphs in which you apply the critical thinking processes to analyze the pros and cons of the debate. Use complete sentences and paragraphs. Include a heading for each paragraph that corresponds to the eight critical thinking processes. Your analysis should refer to development as described in the textbook as it applies to the specific age-range described in the topic. For each critical thinking guideline include at least one pro and one con.

Grading Rubric

Below is a set of guidelines to help you set goals in this assignment and interpret the grades you receive.

	Exceeds Expectations (3 marks)	Meets Expectations (2 marks)	Does Not Meet Expectations (1 mark)
Comprehensiveness	Provides accurate descriptions of many points from both sides of the debate	Provides accurate descriptions of several points from both sides of the debate but missing a few details	Provides descriptions of points from both sides of the debate but incomplete
Understanding	Reflects accurate application of all eight critical thinking processes	Reflects accurate application of all eight critical thinking processes with some missing details	Reflects incomplete or inaccurate application of all eight critical thinking processes
Clarity	No spelling or grammatical errors	Minor or few spelling and/or grammatical errors	Several spelling and grammatical errors
TOTAL /9

Part C: Personality Analysis (9 marks total)

Introduction

Complete the test found at Big Five Personality Test by clicking “take the free test now”. Please note there are no right or wrong answers to the questions. You should try to answer each question as honestly as possible. 

The Big Five Inventory is a scientifically reliable, valid, and popular tool used by personality psychologists to study the five traits many believe to be the most important factors of personality—extraversion, conscientiousness, openness, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Note that the “Big 5” are also called the five-factor model.

Once you have read the relevant sections of the website and completed the personality questionnaire, answer the questions that follow in complete sentences and paragraphs (use the original numbering for each question):

1. Provide a description of your own personality according to all five factors, and give evidence (i.e., reasoning) for your analysis. You may include your test results and your own ideas about how your personality fits the five-factor model.
2. What are the factors that might affect accuracy of your answers to the questions? How is our accuracy in seeing our own personality, especially what we might see as failings, affected by uncritical thinking? How might someone else see your personality differently?
3. Discuss how the five factors relate to your chosen career (i.e., what combination of factor scores should relate to job success and satisfaction). Explain why.
4. Describe Freud’s theory of personality and the Big 5 model of personality. Compare and contrast your personality according to all five factors with how Freud would have described your id, ego, and superego and their intrapsychic conflicts (for example, the tension between id and ego or between id and superego).

Note

If you are uncomfortable discussing your own personality, then choose one of the following public figures, for whom there is a lot of information online, instead for your assignment: Donald Trump or Greta Thunberg.

Grading Rubric

Here is a set of guidelines to help you set goals in this assignment and interpret the grades you receive:

	Exceeds Expectations (3 marks)	Meets Expectations (2 marks)	Does Not Meet Expectations (1 mark)
Comprehensiveness	Provides complete answers for all questions	Provides complete answers for all questions but missing a few details	Provides answers for all questions but incomplete
Understanding	Reflects accurate application of theory and critical thinking	Reflects accurate application of theory and critical thinking with some missing details	Reflects incomplete or inaccurate application of theory and critical thinking
Clarity	No spelling or grammatical errors	Minor or few spelling and/or grammatical errors	Several spelling and grammatical errors
TOTAL /9