Thesis

There are limited places available and enrolment cannot be guaranteed. Students must contact the International Office as well as the Departmental Co-ordinator well in advance and before leaving their home country. Students must pass an enrolment test (concerning English and basic data analysis) before they can be admitted. Enrolment will also depend on the availability of the supervisor for the specific topic of interest, as well as the above prerequisites. The main topics of bachelor research in the field of pedagogical science include Adolescent development: Characteristics and determinants; Development and education of children with (mild) cognitive and motor disabilities; Interactivity in learning education; Development and treatment of psychosocial problems. Students may participate in existing research projects, but small new research projects may also be offered. A sample from topics from previous years:
 

• Bullying and social dominance

• Sibling relationships, parent-child relationships and psychosocial development

• Observations of interactions between parents and their adolescents children

• Bullying: perception, vision and action of elementary school teachers and sport coaches

• Parental divorce and conflicts and their consequences for children

• Exploration: A search for discovery

• Identity and fear of adolescents

• Relational aggression, social status and perceived competence of children in regular and special education

• A little less conversation? Parent-child communication in adolescence

• Personality and identity in adolescence

• Under the influence: Adolescent reports concerning alcohol use

• Early Numeracy Test - Revised (ENT-R)

• Intensive pedagogical home-care for multi-problem families

• Dalton education and special education

• Special children: Education and child-rearing

• Multisystemic Therapy for juvenile delinquents

• Dyslexia and verbal working memory: The role of phonotactical, syntactical and semantic knowledge

Students will work individually or in small groups and prepare, execute and report an empirical, psychological study. On a regular basis students will meet with the supervisor to discuss progress and possible problems that were encountered. In addition to these tailored meetings, one plenary session will be held at the end of the semester. In the final plenary meeting students will present their research to fellow students. Students are responsible for preparing all meetings by producing written or oral reports of their progress. Each individual student is required to attend all meetings, participate actively, and contribute in a meaningful way to the final paper and presentation.