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SYLLABUS
PSY273 YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
This course is for foreign students only who are visiting Masaryk University (foreigners
pursuing the degree at MU, Erasmus, ISEP, and other exchange programs). The course is not
intended for the standard students pursuing a degree in the Czech language. The course requires
basic knowledge in the field of psychology and social sciences, an interest in developmental and
social psychology of youth, and knowledge of English on at least B1 level.
Supervisor: prof. PhDr. Petr Macek, CSc.
Office: 2.45, FSS MU, Joštova 10
Office Hours: by appointment
E-mail: macek@fss.muni.cz
Teaching Assistants: Mgr. Lucia Kvasková
lucia.kvitkovicova@gmail.com
Lecturers:
Mgr. Lukas Blinka, PhD. blinka@fss.muni.cz
Mgr. Ondřej Bouša bousa@fss.muni.cz
Mgr. Lucia Kvasková lucia.kvitkovicova@gmail.com
doc. Mgr. Lenka Lacinová, PhD. lacinova@fss.muni.cz
Mgr. Lucie Lomičová lucie.lomicova@gmail.com
prof. PhDr. Petr Macek, CSc. macek@fss.muni.cz
Mgr. et Mgr. Hana Macháčková, PhD. hmachack@fss.muni.cz
Mgr. Anna Ševčíková, PhD. asevciko@fss.muni.cz
Mgr. et Mgr. Jan Šerek, PhD. serek@fss.muni.cz
prof. PhDr. David Šmahel, PhD. smahel@fss.muni.cz
Course Format: Course will be conducted in the combined form of lectures and seminars.
Participation of students on lectures and discussions is required; thus, class participation is
important. Students are expected to come to class prepared and following updates in IS (e-learning
system).
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Class web: be familiar with use of on-line Information System (IS). Check PSY273 and look for
the course study materials and organization updates regularly, check your student e-mail account.
You will be required to submit your papers online
Time & Location: Wednesday: 4 pm - 5.40 pm FSS MU, Joštova 10. Room: U35
Date Session Teachers
20.2.
What is special about adolescence and transition
to adulthood.
Information regarding students' assignments
Petr Macek
Lucia Kvasková
27.2.
Self and identity during adolescence and
transition to adulthood I
Ondřej Bouša
6. 3.
Self, identity, and family relationships during
adolescence and transition to adulthood II
Petr Macek
13.3.
Romantic relationships and sexual behavior
during adolescence and transition to adulthood
Lenka Lacinová
Anna Ševčíková
20.3.
Study and career development during
adolescence and transition to adulthood
Lucia Kvasková
27. 3. Youth and social media David Šmahel
3. 4. Youth and Risk I: Online addictions Lukas Blinka
10. 4. Youth and Risk II: Online agression Hana Macháčková
17. 4. Civic and political participation of youth
Jan Šerek
24. 4. Students presentations I
Lucia Kvasková
Petr Macek
1.5.
National holiday in Czech Republic/ Time for
reading
8.5.
National holiday in Czech Republic/Time for
reading
15.5.
Students presentations II, round table,
information regarding exam
Lucia Kvasková
Petr Macek
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Evaluation:
(1) Exam
 There will be one exam (multichoice answer quiz) at the end of the semester covering the lectures
and assigned readings (class presentations and reading materials, which will be available online as
well).
 The exam accounts for 50% of the final grade
 Preparing for exam should be a process that is spaced out over time.
(2) Assignments
 The remaining 50% of your grade is collected through assignments and class presentations.
Review Paper Assignment
 The major assignment in this course is a brief research (review paper) on a specific topic about youth
development.
 First, students will choose a relevant topic about youth development. The topic selected will be
proposed to the teaching assistant (Lucia Kvaskova, lucia.kvitkovicova@gmail.com ), before March
31st.
 Second, if the selected topic is accepted, students will prepare the review paper (no more than 10
pages long, and at least 5 pages), and a Microsoft Power Point presentation. This brief research has
to include relevant and, but not necessarily exclusively, new literature about the topic. For better
results, we encourage students to give a cultural perspective, to propose new ideas, and to use the
knowledge acquired during the lectures and seminars.
Paper presentation
 Students will present their papers in a 5-10 minutes presentation using Microsoft Power Point. Each
presentation should include the general information about the selected study (studies), which include
title, names of authors, year and journal published. Also, in your presentation, state the main goal of
the study (studies, how they overlap), theoretical background and rationale of the study (studies), and
hypotheses. Introduce the sample and method to your audience. Present the results in clear way, so
people in the audience understand them and state why are the results important, what do they
actually mean. The overall impression, formal aspect, and content (how well was the research
understood and presented) will be graded.
 The evaluation of the present assignment will consider creativity, novelty, extent of the research,
critical analysis of the data, and general quality of the paper and presentation.
 Consider the following journals covering studies on adolescence: International Journal of
Behavioral Development, Journal of Adolescence, Journal of Adolescent Health, Journal of
Adolescent Research, Journal of Early Adolescence, Journal of Research on Adolescence, Journal of
Youth and Adolescence, additionally also Child Development, Journal of Abnormal Child
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Psychology, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Developmental Psychology, Applied
Developmental Science.
Grading Scale:
Your performance will be evaluated using the following criteria (subject to change):
Review Paper: 35%
Oral presentation: 15%
Exam: 50%
Grades will be assigned based on the following final average score:
A 100-93%
B 92-85%
C 84-77%
D 76-69%
E 68-61%
F below 60%