Peer Relations and Interactions in Childhood and Adolescence

This interactive course focuses on the role of peer relationships in child and adolescent development. You will gain extensive knowledge of past and current peer relations research, and can discuss your own work.

Children and adolescents spend a significant amount of time each day in the company of peers. Together with their peers, children acquire a wide range of skills, attitudes and experiences that influence their cognitive, emotional, and social development. Peers are also powerful socialization agents, contributing well beyond the collective influences of family, school, and neighbourhood.

The following topics will be addressed:
- Main theories and basic methods used in research on peer relations and interactions.
- Friendship and social status.
- Social behaviours (e.g. prosocial and antisocial behaviour, bullying and defending)
- Influence from inside and outside the peer group.
- State of the art research measures and paradigms (e.g., implicit measures, observations, computerized sociometry, gaming)

The program will include lectures as well as a variety of individual and small group assignments, including:
- working with state of the art research methods and paradigms
- (first steps in) data analyses
- observations of peer interactions
- critically reviewing literature
- ethical considerations
- brainstorming about new research designs

Course leader

Toon Cillessen
Full Professor
Social Development (BSI)
Radboud University

Target group

Master
PhD
Post-doc

The course is designed for Research master students or PhD-students in the social or behavioural sciences (e.g., psychology, pedagogics, sociology, and educational sciences), marketing and communication sciences, medicine, or related fields. Regular master students or advanced bachelor students who have strong interest in or experience with peer relations research are also welcome.

Course aim

After this course you will be able to:

Understand the main theories and basic methods in peer relations research.
Understand the importance of friendship, social status, and social behaviours for child and adolescent development.
Use state of the art research measures and paradigms to assess peer relations and interactions.
Apply recently acquired knowledge into the design of new peer relations research

Fee info

EUR 500: Normal fee

Scholarships

€ 450 early bird discount – deadline 1 March 2019 (10%)
€ 425 partner + RU discount (15%)
€ 375 early bird + partner + RU discount (25%)