To comprehend applied theory, social work students need clear explanations and illustrative real-world examples. Beckett and Taylor successfully achieve this throughout their book and online content. Indeed, the addition of the online material Tangled Webs is a stroke of brilliance. Real lives are complex and interconnected; and this is expounded in the narrative of a fictional community, presented from diverse perspectives.
This book is an excellent resource for students and tutors interested in how human beings learn and develop, and it is further enhanced through access to the Tangled Webs case studies. They are rich and diverse requiring the reader to challenge their assumptions and reflect on practice; thus supporting multi-professional development.
This is a well written book which is easily digestible. Students have fed back that they have found this book very helpful in helping them to understand issues of human growth and development.
This was a really informative and useful book which I adopted on the reading list for our theoretical perspectives module (L5 social work degree apprenticeship). We were looking at different aspects of the lifespan and lifespan development and this was accessible and easy to read and understand. The exercises were very useful to apply the theoretical perspectives to practice.
Really simply to access and many of my students found the snippets of information really useful
Adopted because of the diversity in discussion, relevance in application of developmental theory of human growth and lifespan, and for ease of student understanding.
Having used previous editions, I am equally pleased with this edition. The chapter arrangement is logical and my students are finding the material engaging and relevant. It's an enjoyable read, which can't be said of many text books, while still thoroughly embedded in and supported by relevant research. The Tangled Web cases studies are a useful addition to the main exercises within the chapters.
An update to an always helpful text, particularly relevant to modules exploring psychology and social work.
A clear text which gives a good introduction to theories and ideas behind development. I particularly appreciate the activities which allow for reflective learning.
This book is very appropriate for the Human Function module, highlighting in very straight-forward terms the issues and theories that can be applied to the human condition. It is particularly useful as it covers the whole life-span.
Well Written and and comprehensive book. Detailed and well structured
Despite being from another discipline, the text is rich with applicable theories that can be applied to students' research areas.
Very informative and a good basis to start researching growth and development
The 4th edition keeps the accessibility and captivation of the previous editions while broadening and updating the examples and application of both traditional and newer developmental research theory. I recommend this for people re-engaging with human development as well as those new to the topic area.