BSc (Hons) Psychology

Year 2 Core Modules

You must study and pass all five core modules​

Indicative content

1. Conceptual and historical perspectives in cognition
Origins of research in cognition, and cognitive neuropsychology. Understanding how cognitive processes operate in different brain areas.
2. Neural architectures
Neurones, receptive fields and vision. How does the brain connect the world outside with our thoughts and experiences?
3. Perception and recognition
The recognition of objects and faces.
4. Attention
Is cognition a limited resource to be allocated carefully or do we attend to everything?
5. Learning and memory
What circumstances determine how we learn new information? How is this information stored in our brains and how do we access this information while reasoning?
6. Decision making and problem solving
How do we choose responses; how do we solve problems?

Indicative Content

1. Methods of Research
Main quantitative and qualitative research methods available to psychologists; Use in applied settings; advantages and disadvantages
2. The Experimental Method
Variables and levels; hypotheses; design - basic and advanced; control techniques; validity and reliability in experimentation; ethics in experimentation
3. Data Analysis - Descriptive Statistics
Data types; measures of central tendency; measures of dispersion; normal distribution; graphing data; confidence intervals.
4. Data Analysis - Inferential Statistics
Test selection; parametric and nonparametric 2-sample test of difference; Within and Between one-way ANOVA and Non-parametric ANOVA, effect size; power; correlation; Tests of both internal and external reliability; inter rater reliability
5. Qualitative Methods
Types of qualitative research techniques; questionnaire design, interviewing - types, advantages, disadvantages; analysing interview material.
6. Quantitative Methods
Experimental method, two variable tests of difference (parametric and non-parametric), tests of relationships (parametric and non-parametric); multilevel testing (parametric and non-parametric), follow up testing (parametric and non-parametric). Reliability analysis using Cronbach's alpha, quantitative content analysis, item analysis
7. Ethics
Creating and conducting ethical research based on BPS Ethical Guidelines
8. Reporting Research
Sections and content of an APA formatted psychology lab report; APA referencing
9. Information Searching
Structured and unstructured search; Search using the Internet and locating electronic journals using the university library system and appropriate data bases
10. I.T.Skills
Designing a lab report template using Word for Windows; using SPSS and JAMOVI for data analysis;

Indicative Content

1. Psychological Therapies in the Real World
Understanding the applications and impact of psychology therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy.
2. Psychology in the Public Sector
Understanding the ways in which local and national governments use psychology research.
3. Human Factors
Understanding how psychology impacts performance in safety-critical workplaces such as medicine and aviation.
4. Environmental Psychology
To what extent are the environments we live and work in influenced by psychology?
5. Sports Psychology in the Real World
What is sports psychology and how is it applied to issues like duty of care?
6. Applied Forensic Psychology
Applying psychology theory to crime to help answer questions like ‘why do offenders offend?’
7. Applied Educational Psychology
How can psychology theories be applied in teaching, such as supporting children with learning difficulties?

Year 2 Option Modules 

You will choose TWO of the following Option modules in Term 1.

Brief description

Forensic psychology is a constantly growing discipline and covers an exciting and broad range of topics. This module will examine key issues in forensic psychology integrating information from clinical, biological, developmental, personality, social and cognitive psychology.

Indicative content

• 1. General Issues
  Introduction to offenders, offences, victims, and the role of psychology in the actions of the police, the courts and prisons.
  2. Explanatory Models of Crime and Offending
  Biological factors, gender differences, individual differences, childhood and developmental issues, social and economic factors, and cognitive-behavioural approaches.
  3. Developmental Basis for Criminal Behaviour
  Biological basis of social, aggressive, and sexual behaviour with regard to neuropsychological, neuropharmacological and evolutionary issues. Psychological and biological treatments for childhood and adult psychopathology.
  4. Mental Health and Offending
  Mental health issues in offending behaviour. The relationship between mental health symptoms and risk in relation to offending. Personality disorder and schizophrenia as critical issues in serious offending.
  5. Personality Abnormality
  Inherited and acquired conditions in lifelong risk of criminal behaviour such as ADHD, Conduct Disorder (CD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Examining the factors that increase the likelihood of serious sexual and violent behaviour, stalking, and criminal recidivism.
  6. Substance Use and Crime
  Addiction Models of criminal behaviour. Models of emotional dyscontrol in offending. The role of alcohol and drugs in serious assaultative behaviour, neuropharmcology and psychology.
  7. Specific Criminal Offences
  Consideration of information from specific offending populations and the psychological factors contributing to offences. Offences may include violent offending, fire raising, stalking, terrorism.
  8. Sexual Offending
  Detailed consideration of individual offenders and the psychological characteristics of their criminal offences and offence development in relation to sexual and violent offending.
  9. Risk Assessment
  Critical discussion of the role and nature of risk assessments with forensic populations including specific methods of risk assessment.
  10. Treatment and Interventions
  Consideration of the background to the development and application of treatments and interventions including `what works?' approaches and cognitive-behavioural treatments, as well as key issues relating to working with offenders.

Brief description

The overall purpose of this module is to develop your understanding of the core concepts of sport and exercise psychology and how these apply to real world environments. This will be achieved by explicitly addressing your knowledge of affect, behaviour and cognition within relevant contexts. 

Indicative content

1. Definition of the field of sport and exercise psychology
2. Fundamentals of sport and exercise psychology
3. The role of personality in sport; models of achievement motivation and competitiveness; motivational climates; stress, arousal, anxiety and other emotional processes.
4. Group processes
Group and team dynamics, group cohesion, communication, leadership.
5. An introduction to psychological skills.

Brief description

The module will encourage you to anticipate the future opportunities and challenges that will face children in the next twenty years. By looking at emerging social norms and technologie,s this module will explore how children of the near future may learn, socialise, and thrive, as well as looking at what practical and mental health challenges may be faced. The module will focus on gathering appropriate evidence that can inform developmental psychology and professional practice when working directly with the next generation of children.

Indicative content

1. Childhood over the last century
An overview of how "childhood" has changed over the last 100 years. changing patterns of developmental research.
2. Relationships
Exploring generational changes in who children spend time with. Parenting, childcare and social networks.
3. Teaching and learning
Changes in curriculums and approaches to learning. Future directions of schools.
4. The use and misuse of technology
Technology in learning, learning of technology (e.g., cybersecurity), technology beyond learning
5. Developmental disorders and mental health
Definitions and prevalence as well as treatment, interventions and educational support.
6. Applications
Examining how we can apply this knowledge to professional practice with children.

Brief description

This module will focus on the INTERPOL Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) process and introduce students to the use of biometric information, not just for personal security, but also in a forensic capacity for the purposes of human identification.

Indicative content

1. Biometric Human Identifiers
Application of biometric information for both personal security and human identification purposes. Biometric evidence recovery from a crime scene and/or victim. Specialised and emerging biometric data. Links to current biometric databases
2. INTERPOL DVI
Introduction to the INTERPOL Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) process, recognising the four stages, the classification of disasters and understanding the identification criteria required to enable reconciliation.
3. Body Recovery and Mortuary Procedures
Describe and acknowledge the roles and responsibilities of the post mortem (PM) examination team. Recognise the sequence of a PM examination, the purpose and evidential value of samples recovered and how these items of evidence are preserved through integrity and continuity.

Year 2 Microcredentials - Term 2

If you are a Direct Entrant (new student) to this year of study and have not previously taken module ABE101, then you MUST take ABE201 as part of your Microcredential selection. If you have previously taken ABE101 then you are NOT permitted to take ABE201.

Instructions: Please choose a total of TWENTY credits of microcredential (ABE) modules.

Brief description

Throughout the microcredential you will become familiar with university systems (including the virtual learning environment), consider what attributes make a successful student and develop key successful student habits.

Indicative content

• Navigating Abertay Systems: Be introduced to and understand how to engage with Abertay systems and tools such as MyLearningSpace, MS Teams, OASIS, MyAbertay etc.
• Expectations of University and You: Explore your own and the universities expectations of you and of the university; Consider the code of conduct; independent learning; blended learning; how university is structured; health and safety; and the Abertay attributes.
• Understanding and Searching Information: How scholarly information is generated and disseminated, key characteristics of different information types. Planning, using, and refining appropriate search strategies; online search tools; using a range of web and database search functionality. 
• Successful Student Behaviours: Develop strategies to key successful student behaviours including Defeating Procrastination, Time Management, Notetaking and preparing for classes, Growth Mindset, Accessing student support and opportunities.
• Referencing: Understand what is meant by academic integrity, plagiarism, and the need for appropriate referencing; creating reference lists and in-text citations; use of referencing tools to manage information.
• Sounding Academic: Explore what lecturers mean by “academic style” and “the right language”; Understand what is meant by and how to learn the rules of academic writing characteristics. Consider how this differs between college and university; Learn how to paraphrase. Explore how assessments, marking and feedback works at university.
• Evaluating Information: Using appropriate quality criteria to critically evaluate information from any source to determine authority and bias.

Brief description

This microcredential provides you with the space and time to develop your skills in designing, planning, delivering, and showcasing an artefact responding to the societal issue. The microcredential is flexible and you will have a choice of what and how you create your response.

Indicative content

• The Big Issue: You will be introduced to the big society issue that will be the focus of your artefact response. Learning materials available will help you consider your response to the challenge.
• Developing Ideas: You will think creatively as to how you will respond to the big issue. You will consider your intended artefact aims, outcomes and target audience. 
• Responding to the Challenge: Resources and guidance will be available as you respond to the challenge and create your artefact.
• Preparing for the Showcase: Guidance will be available on how best to showcase your artefact for the assessment. You will develop your presentation skills to support you in showcasing the artefact. 
• Showcase Event: You will attend a showcase event and present your artefact.

Brief description

You will discuss a range of anti-racist approaches and how they apply within the context of professional communications. You will examine case studies and scenarios to identify the nature of bias in society explore ways to be anti-racist especially in professional communications.

Indicative content

• Racial Bias in Society: Using case studies and scenarios to discuss various forms of racism in society, you will explore the need for anti-racist practice in professional communications. 
• Classification of Anti-Racist Practice: This section compares different anti-racists approaches applied across several contexts. You will discuss the challenges and benefits of each approach. You will identify barriers to implementation of anti-racist practice.
• Discuss Anti-Racist Approaches for Successful Professional Communications: You will be introduced to various communications frameworks (e.g. the humanity-centric framework) and will explore scenarios for the application of these frameworks in a range of professional contexts.
• Embedding Anti-Racism in Digital and Social Media Communications: How can you discuss matters of race and anti-racism on digital and social media while maintaining a professional persona. We will examine cases for best practices and explore ways to avoid bigoted language in digital communications. 

Brief description

In this module you will study two ways of analysing language: (i) a basic introduction to conversation analysis and discourse analysis as applied to ordinary talk/texting, and (ii) and introduction text mining, based on identifying patterns and developing insights from text-based data available on the Internet (e.g., social media data, online texts, online reviews etc).

Indicative content

• Conversation Analysis and Talk and Text as Action: A brief overview of the CA focus on language as action; an examination of how people talk in terms of questions, answers, invitations, excuses, justifications etc.; an examination of texting, emojis, misunderstandings.
• Text Mining: Introduction to text mining and its uses in a social sciences and business context; Online data sources; The text mining process: data collection, pre-processing and analysis; effectively communicating and visualising insights from textual data.

Brief description

By the end of this microcredential, you will be able to evaluate and select machine learning algorithms and AWS services to be appropriately applied to different business problems.

Indicative content

• Introduction to Machine Learning: What is ML? ML process, business problem solved with ML, ML tools, Amazon SageMaker, ML challenges, supervised learning (regression, classification), unsupervised learning (clustering, dimensionality reduction), reinforcement learning, etc.
• Implementing a ML pipeline using Amazon Sage Maker: Formulating ML problems, collecting and securing data, extracting, transferring and loading data, evaluating your data, finding corelation, feature engineering, data cleaning, dealing with outliers, training, deployment, performance evaluation, hyperparameters and model tuning.
• Forecasting: Time series analysis, Amazon Forecast, Implementing a forecast model, Stock Predictions.
• Computer Vision: Facial Recognition, Image and Video Analysis, Dataset Preparation.
• Natural Language Processing: Amazon Comprehend, Polly, Translate, and Lex, Creating a chatbot, Alexa, etc.

Brief description

This online module will support you to get familiar with sustainability and introduce you to tools that can help you to understand and reduce your climate impact. By increasing your sustainability self-awareness, you will be able to make a positive difference in your own life, and in the organisations and communities around you.

Indicative content

• What is sustainability and how is it linked to Climate Change?: We define sustainability, enhancing understanding of the links between society, economy, and environment. Climate change is explained and linked to sustainability. We provide clear accessible information about the reliable science of climate change. We describe the need efforts towards limiting human-induced global warming (limiting cumulative CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions). 
• Global Sustainability: We introduce the United Nations Sustainability Goals (SDGs). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. 
• Personal Sustainability: The WWF environmental footprint tool is a great way to start your personal sustainability journey. The planet is in crisis - from climate change to the pollution in our oceans and devastation of our forests. It's up to all of us to fix it. Take your first step with our environmental footprint calculator. 
• Community Sustainability and Climate Resilience: Community climate resilience comes in many forms. In this topic we introduce ideas which can provide multiple benefits of people, planet, and prosperity. We showcase inspiring examples whereby working with natural processes (Biophilic design, blue and green infrastructure) we can connect people with nature to improve their well-being and quality of life, whilst simultaneously tackling climate change and storing carbon.
• Global Solutions: What is the world doing about it? What impact do Global Climate and Biodiversity agreements (COP26 etc) really have? What’s happening here? Where are the challenges and the good news stories? We showcase positive initiatives focussed on progress.

Brief description

By the end of the module, you will know more about key aspects of nutrition and health and be better equipped to identify and tackle the barriers that prevent you from eating well.

Indicative content

• Healthy eating on a budget: This topic will show you that healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive! You will be given basic nutritional knowledge, as well as skills and practical tips to be able to eat a healthy diet on a budget. You will then be able to develop your own menu and share it with your peers, so you learn from us as well as from each other.
• Prebiotics, probiotics and health: You will learn about the importance of our microbiota on health, and how what we eat can modulate it. You will be provided with cooking tips and will be able to develop your own fermented foods for better gut health.
• Fat or sugar, which is worse?: You may have heard that fats are bad for our health, or perhaps you have heard it is all about the sugars? You will learn about the role of both sugars and fats in our diet; what makes them good or bad for health and the science behind it. You will be given the tools to assess your own sugar and fat intake as well as tips to implement the changes you need to eat better. 
• The British diet vs Mediterranean diet: What is a Mediterranean diet and what are its real benefits? Is it just a diet or a pattern? Can we get the same benefits as those living in Mediterranean countries? In this topic, you will explore how feasible it is for us to adopt the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle, considering the seasonality of ingredients as well as sustainability. 
• What drives our food choices?: How healthy do you think your diet is? Do you find it easy to eat well? With this topic you will become more aware of our obesogenic environment, of how the food industry talks to us, and how the media report nutritional claims. You will learn to look more closely and more critically at your environment, so you can make healthier decisions.

Brief description

This microcredential will help you to refine your current writing skills through the analysis and discussion of a range of texts and exercises, enabling you to then apply these techniques to assignments for your other modules.

Indicative content

• Speaking the language: How to develop your academic and professional vocabulary: understanding the genre; understanding your reader’s expectations.
• Meeting expectations: Why different assignments have different requirements: decoding instructions; selecting appropriate writing techniques.
• Tightening up the nuts and bolts: How to improve your writing accuracy: reviewing key grammar and punctuation issues; improving your editing and proofreading.
• Standing on the shoulders of giants: How to borrow from the greats: reviewing the principles of citing sources; using writing techniques to incorporate research into writing.

Brief description

This module will help you develop a better understanding of the difference between media reporting and scientific evaluation. It will equip you with the skills to look beyond sensational stories related to human behaviour and dig deeper into a topic area to validate the evidence.

Indicative content

• Paranormal Beliefs and Experiences: Is Extrasensory Perception Real? Is there really evidence that we can predict the future?
• Myths about the Brain: Can repressed memories be recovered in therapy? How easily are false memories created? What are the implications for the justice system? 
• Myths about our Mind and Body: Is the key to success in everyday life simply a case of posing like a powerful superhero? 
• Myths about Language: Does being bilingual make you smarter and keep your brain younger? Are bilingual people less likely to get dementia as a result of this lifelong brain training?

Brief description

Through this microcredential you will gain an insight into what the world of work may look like in the (near) future. This includes developing a knowledge of how the economy and labour market evolves and why individual skills-sets and employability are so important and intrinsically linked to this process.

Indicative content

• The future of work: What will the future of work look like? What is used to predict how the world or work will change? Can the future of the economy and of work be accurately predicted? 
• Key factors that influence change: Identifying some of the key factors that influence how the world of work and our economy evolves and changes.
• The key role of skills and personal employability: The emergence and decline of skills: skills are fundamental to the economy (and graduate employers). What skills will be most in demand and/or be most valuable to our economy in future and why? Understand the importance of skills to the economy (and to graduate employers) at both the macro and micro level. Know what specific new skills are emerging and becoming more valuable and sought after, (as others are in decline) for our modern economy and graduate labour market. 
• Labour market information - what is it for?: Labour market Information is hugely important to our understanding of our economy at any given time: and also, in looking at the present and past to help predict future growth, opportunities, shortages and skills gaps. Recognise the importance of key Labour Market Information (LMI). Have the ability to source and use key Labour Market Information (LMI). Understand how to use accurate Labour Market Information as a tool to help their own personal development and future career planning. 
• What now?: Some help and steer – suggestions to you may wish to use your new knowledge and insight to help with your own career aspirations, planning and personal/professional development while at university.

Brief description

Some businesses have the sole focus of making money whereas others exist to also make a difference. Social enterprises are becoming more popular, and recognisable, and are making an impact across the world. From supporting the homeless, to giving waste products a second life, social enterprises are fighting for various causes. 

Indicative content

• What is a social enterprise and how does it function?: What the definition of a social enterprise is with examples from different sectors.
• How do social enterprises identify problems to tackle?: How social enterprises decide on what they will tackle and how they will do it. 
• How do you gather evidence that there is a problem requiring a solution?: Way in which you can gather evidence and data to validate the idea for a social enterprise. Determining needs and wants within a category. 
• How to identify skills and knowledge gaps: Understanding the skillsets within a founding team to fulfil the tasks required to start a social enterprise. 
• How to understand the problem you are trying to solve: Knowing the problem, you are trying to solve and how this effects the target customers the social enterprise is aimed at. Looking at the issues in a customer-focussed way. 
• How to develop a social impact plan: What is involved in a social impact plan and how to put one together. 

Brief description

This module will introduce you to the study of AI and Society. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a set of technologies and concepts and can be understood as using computers and software to denote problem-solving capacities and knowledge acquisition (intelligence) which otherwise we believe only belongs to natural beings such as humans.

Indicative content

• Introduction to the core concepts: A brief introduction to the concepts of “artificial”, “intelligence” and “society”. 
• Introduction to the problem of AI and Society: A discussion of where the problem of the impact of AI on Society comes from, presentation of some of the original debates and examples.
• Contemporary debates: A discussion of the contemporary debates about the impact of AI on Society, with examples.

Brief description

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how has it shaped our past and present? These are questions we will explore on a guided tour of AI from the past to the present and the future. You will develop a better understanding of what AI is and isn’t.

Indicative content

• Historical AI: Tracing the historical development of “traditional” AI systems including aircraft autopilots, expert systems, and accounting/financial software.
• Current AI: Covering the contemporary generation of AI technologies in areas such as speech recognition (e.g., Alexa, Siri) and recommendation systems (e.g., Amazon, YouTube). Examples will be drawn from Health, Sport, Games, Engineering, Business, Law and Computing. 
• Future AI: Exploring the limitations of today’s AI when it comes to general intelligence and contextual adaptation. Examples will be drawn from Health, Sport, Games, Engineering, Business, Law and Computing.
• My AI: How AI will impact your future, and how you can use AI to help you achieve your career goals.  Reflection on how AI may inform your subject area going forward.

Brief description

This microcredential is aimed at you, if you have an interest in technology but are not experts. The microcredential will develop your digital safety and how to stay safe online.

Indicative content

• Threat Landscape: Cyberattacks and online threats. System vulnerabilities. Social Engineering. Rights and computer laws.
• Authentication: Password security. Biometrics. MFA and Password managers. Good practices for authentication.
• Secure Communication: Web browser security. Certificates and trust. Effective encryption. Secure communication methods.
• Personal Information Privacy: Information leakage. Personal information privacy and open-source intelligence. Device encryption and security. Security mindfulness.
• Malware: Types of malware. Identifying malicious software. Malware propagation techniques. Malware removal and preventative measures.

Brief description

This microcredential will help you to develop and build your own confidence in applying numeracy skills in real world situations.

Indicative content

• What is my GPA and how likely am I to get a First? (BASIC NUMERACY): Calculation and manipulation of data using Percentages, Indices (Powers), Roots, Probability, and simple equations. 
• The power of prediction (GRAPHS): Straight line graphs, Gradients, Equations of a straight line, Intercepts. Drawing graphs - Linear equations, Distances between points. Simultaneous linear equations.  
• Love a good puzzle (ALGEBRA): Changing subject of formulae. Factorisation - common factors, Difference of two squares, Trinomials. Solving simultaneous equations by Substitution and Elimination.
• Advanced power of prediction (FUNCTIONS): Introduction to functions – Linear and Quadratic and solving quadratic equations. Factorising Quadratic equations.
• Love a good triangle (TRIGONOMETRY): Trignometric functions - Sine, cosine and tangent. Trignometric formulae.

Brief description

In this microcredential, you will learn more about how digital media production professionals in the UK and China are working together to reduce barriers and identify new opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Indicative content

• History and future of videogames in China: Focussing on the videogame sector as a case study of Chinese digital creative industries, how has the videogames market and industry developed in China, how is the Chinese videogames economy currently constituted, and what does the future hold?
• Consumer trends and audience preferences: What is popular with audiences in China? What can we note about preferences in terms of narrative content, aesthetics, play styles etc. when compared with other markets?
• Policy and regulation: What unique regulations or limitations are imposed on digital media within China, and what similarities are there with other national and transnational regulations? How is creative content development and publishing shaped by policy in China? What social and ethical challenges are presented by regulation, in China as well as in the UK?
• Transnational working and co-production: How is digital creative content conceived, developed, and released by professionals working across borders? What are the challenges for small and independent creative studios, compared with multi-nationals with studios based in and outside China?
• Publishing in China: How do digital media content like videogames make it to market in China? What processes and requirements must creative businesses be aware of, and how do developers find, connect to, and work with Chinese publishers? How to consumers in China access content, including on grey markets?
• Challenges and success: Hear from UK and Chinese professionals on the China market, co-operation, the hurdles they cleared, and how they found success.

Brief description

Increasingly, the role of creativity in supporting and maintaining wellbeing is being researched and celebrated. This module will introduce you to the current theory in this area, as well as a range of creative resources shown to be helpful for both self-care and the support of others.

Indicative content

• Why does creativity matter?: An introduction to why creativity matters when it comes to mental health.
• Your brain on words: The place of stories in their various forms as a resource for wellbeing.
• Engaging the senses: The potential of tools such as music and art for self-care.

Year 3 Core Modules

You must study and pass three core modules

Brief description

The links between biology and psychology. Introduction to the physiology that underpins observable behaviour (genetics, CNS and the endocrine system), looking at processes that exert direct control over behavioural responses and those that play a modulatory role in human psychology. How biology, experience and personality produce individuality in humans.

Indicative content:

• Biological control of behaviour: How the central nervous and endocrine systems interact to produce observable behaviours such as movement, ingestion, and reproduction.
• Psychopharmacology: Looking at the physiological consequences of taking recreational and therapeutic drugs, and biological and psychological underpinnings of drug addiction.
• Hormones, reproduction and emotion: Examining how hormones influence mate choice, mating behaviour and sexual orientation; the biological underpinnings of emotion, emotional valence and components of the emotional response.
• Behavioural genetics, evolutionary and sociobiology: Influences of genetics and environment on human behaviour; an introduction to the evolutionary processes that impact human and non-human animal cognition and social interactions.
• Methodologies: Neuropsychology and neuroimaging: Looking at the physiological and behavioural effects of brain degeneration and implications for everyday life; introducing methods used in investigation of neural correlates of cognition. Psychological testing and application: Psychometric testing, specific aspects in personality tests, reliability, validity, BPS guidance.
• Introduction to personality and individual differences: Introduction into main theories in personality and individual differences; Trait vs. State; Personality vs. Situation.
• Intelligence: Definitions of intelligence; psychometric approaches to intelligence and their implications for educational and social policy; cognitive basis of intelligence. Debates about generational, racial, and gender differences in IQ.
• Biological influences: Heritability in intelligence and personality, neurobiological theories of personality, evolutionary influences & comparative personality, mental illness and personality disorders.
• Personality and culture: Further ideas and debates in personality and culture including national character, social attitudes, evolutionary approaches, cognitive and learning styles, individual differences in health and illness, social anxiety and shyness.
• Individual differences in cognitive styles: Individual differences in how we think, perceive and remember information. Exploration of different learning style and theories of learning.

Brief description

The theories, methods and empirical data relevant to psychological development throughout the lifespan.

Indicative content:

• Biological basis of development; theories and milestones: Pre-and post-natal brain development, brain maturation, biological basis of ageing.
• How to study development?: Designs and approaches.
• Infancy: Methods for studying infant development, physical development in infancy, cognitive development in infancy: Memory and pre- cursors to language, social and emotional development in infancy.
• Early childhood: Methods for studying early childhood, physical and cognitive development in early childhood, language development in early childhood, social and emotional development in early childhood, moral development in early childhood.
• Middle childhood: Physical and cognitive development in middle childhood, social development and peer relations in middle childhood. Emotional and Moral Development in middle childhood.
• Adolescence: Physical and cognitive development in adolescence, social and emotional development in adolescence.
• Adulthood: Biological, cognitive and social changes in middle adulthood. Theories and data on midlife crisis.
• Ageing: Biological, cognitive and social changes in late adulthood; models of cognitive decline; emotional and personality changes, dementia, death, longevity.

Brief description

Build upon the psychological research methods techniques and analyses covered in earlier years such as aspects of experimental design, quantitative and qualitative analyses and project preparation. 

Indicative content:

• Analysis of variance: Revise variance and one-way ANOVA. Examine factorial ANOVA designs; within, between and mixed designs; main effects and interactions; explore interactions and multiple comparisons (a priori and post-hoc).
• ANOVA practical: Participate in the design, implementation and data gathering of a study suitable for analysis with ANOVA and write this up as an assessed piece of coursework.
• Experimental design: Examine methodological issues in design, identifying limitations of designs, defining a research question, hypothesis testing and operationalising variables. Look at Type I and II errors; effect sizes and statistical power.
• Qualitative methods of data collection and analysis: The theoretical underpinning of qualitative methods. The design of research questions; how to code data from visual and textual formats, the application of techniques such as content and thematic analysis. Use textual data (such as interview schedules) to carry out a qualitative analysis. This work will contribute towards the assessed qualitative report.
• Correlation and multiple regression: Simple linear regression models and multiple predictors of a criterion variable (multiple linear regression). Explanation of statistical tests for multiple regression models.
• Laboratory skills: Extensive training in the advanced use of SPSS for analyses. Regular laboratory attendance is recommended in order to develop strong research skills. This will allow you to become a confident researcher.
• Project proposal for supervisor feedback and subsequent ethics submission: Write an ethics proposal for your fourth year project with support and guidance from your allocated supervisor. Employ research design and analysis skills to design a suitable experiment/study. Identify and address possible ethical issues which is central to this process. Supervisors will give feedback to a draft of the proposal.
• Research skills: Writing and work management: Communicating effectively in oral and written form, using research literature effectively. Reporting and interpreting. Writing using American Psychological Association editorial style. Developing a meeting agenda, goal setting and evaluating progress, communicating effectively in supervision meetings, identifying responsibilities. Sustaining research work in laboratory classes.

Year 3 Option Modules

You must study and pass three option modules of your choosing – two from Group [A] and one from Group [B]

Brief description

This module covers core BPS curriculum and examines the links between biology and psychology.

Indicative content:

• Biological control of behaviour: How the central nervous and endocrine systems interact to produce observable behaviours such as movement, ingestion, and reproduction.
• Psychopharmacology: Looking at the physiological consequences of taking recreational and therapeutic drugs, and biological and psychological underpinnings of drug addiction.
• Hormones, reproduction and emotion: Examining how hormones influence mate choice, mating behaviour and sexual orientation; the biological underpinnings of emotion, emotional valence and components of the emotional response.
• Behavioural genetics, evolutionary and sociobiology: Influences of genetics and environment on human behaviour; an introduction to the evolutionary processes that impact human and non-human animal cognition and social interactions.
• Methodologies: Neuropsychology and neuroimaging: Looking at the physiological and behavioural effects of brain degeneration and implications for everyday life; introducing methods used in investigation of neural correlates of cognition. Psychological testing and application: Psychometric testing, specific aspects in personality tests, reliability, validity, BPS guidance.
• Introduction to personality and individual differences: Introduction into main theories in personality and individual differences; Trait vs. State; Personality vs. Situation.
• Intelligence: Definitions of intelligence; psychometric approaches to intelligence and their implications for educational and social policy; cognitive basis of intelligence. Debates about generational, racial, and gender differences in IQ.
• Biological Influences: Heritability in intelligence and personality, neurobiological theories of personality, evolutionary influences & comparative personality, mental illness and personality disorders.
• Personality and culture: Further ideas and debates in personality and culture including national character, social attitudes, evolutionary approaches, cognitive and learning styles, individual differences in health and illness, social anxiety and shyness.
• Individual differences in cognitive styles: Individual differences in how we think, perceive and remember information. Exploration of different learning style and theories of learning.

Brief description

This is a BPS core psychology module that examines theories, methods and empirical data relevant to psychological development throughout the lifespan.

Module content:

• Biological basis of development; theories and milestones
  Pre-and postnatal brain development, brain maturation, biological basis of ageing.
• How to study development?: Designs and approaches.
• Infancy: Methods for studying infant development, physical development in infancy, cognitive development in infancy: Memory and pre- cursors to language, social and emotional development in infancy.
• Early Childhood: Methods for studying early childhood, physical and cognitive development in early childhood, language development in early childhood, social and emotional development in early childhood, moral development in early childhood.
• Middle Childhood: Physical and cognitive development in middle childhood, social development and peer relations in middle childhood. Emotional and Moral Development in Middle Childhood
• Adolescence: Physical and cognitive development in adolescence, social and emotional development in adolescence.
• Adulthood: Biological, cognitive and social changes in middle adulthood. Theories and data on midlife crisis.
• Ageing: Biological, cognitive and social changes in late adulthood; models of cognitive decline; emotional and personality changes, dementia, death, longevity.

Brief description

This module will build upon the psychological research methods techniques and analyses covered in years 1 and 2. Aspects of experimental design, quantitative and qualitative analyses and project preparation will be covered.

Indicative content:

• Analysis of Variance: As part of the ANOVA section we will briefly revise variance and one-way ANOVA. We will then move on to examine factorial ANOVA designs; within, between and mixed designs; main effects and interactions; exploring interactions and multiple comparisons (a priori and post-hoc). ANOVA practical Throughout the ANOVA labs and lectures, students will participate in the design, implementation and data gathering of a study suitable for analysis with ANOVA and will write this up as an assessed piece of coursework.
• Correlation and Multiple Regression: Here we will cover simple linear regression models and multiple predictors of a criterion variable (multiple linear regression). Here we explain statistical tests for multiple regression models.
• Qualitative methods of data collection and analysis: We will cover the theoretical underpinning of qualitative methods. This will include the design of research questions; how to code data from visual and textual formats, the application of techniques such as content and thematic analysis. We will use textual data (such as interview schedules) to carry out a qualitative analysis. This work will contribute towards the assessed qualitative report.
• Experimental Design: Here we will examine methodological issues in design, identifying limitations of designs, defining a research question, hypothesis testing and operationalising variables. We will also look at Type I and II errors; effect sizes and statistical power.
• Laboratory Skills: Students are given extensive training in the advanced use of statistical software for analyses. Regular laboratory attendance is recommended in order to develop strong research skills. This will allow the individual to become a confident researcher.
• Project proposal for supervisor feedback and subsequent ethics submission: Students are required to write an ethics proposal for their fourth year project with support and guidance from their allocated supervisor. Research design and analysis skills are employed to design a suitable experiment/study. Identifying, and addressing, possible ethical issues are central to this process. Supervisors will give feedback to a draft of the proposal.
• Research Skills: Writing and work management: Communicating effectively in oral and written form, using research literature effectively. Reporting and interpreting. Writing using American Psychological Association editorial style. Developing a meeting agenda, goal setting and evaluating progress, communicating effectively in supervision meetings, identifying responsibilities. Sustaining research work in laboratory classes. We will also cover principles of Open Science.

Year 4 Core Modules

You must study and pass two core modules

Brief description

Design, conduct and analyse your own independent piece of research and present your research findings. Receive guidance and support for the honours project process.

Indicative content:

• Working with a supervisor: Making the most of supervision, preparing for supervision meetings, becoming a confident independent learner, setting goals, evaluating progress.
• Application of Methods and Statistics (Workshop-based): Choosing appropriate methodologies. Using appropriate computer packages: e.g. SPSS and Excel. Use of specialised software: e.g. Superlab and E-Prime.
• Becoming an effective researcher: Critically evaluating your own ideas, identifying the right question to ask, relating your ideas to the literature, ethical issues and how to address them.
• Participating in the research community: Immersion in the literature. Organising research materials and keeping good records. Conducting meetings with outside agencies and communicating findings to participants and peers.
• Design and procedure: Methodological issues, techniques of analysis, limitations of statistical techniques, pilot work, creating experimental materials, making sure ideas are ‘testable’, problems with implementation.
• Data: Collecting data efficiently, keeping good records, ensuring data can be analysed, analysing data appropriately, interpreting the results. Ensuring confidentiality of data. Presenting data and research findings clearly.
• Communicating results: Writing in APA (American Psychological Association) format, being your own editor, critiquing and reviewing your own work effectively, relating your findings to the literature. Presenting the main findings of the project orally.
• Presentation skills: Organising material, presentations using multi-media. Personal confidence, audibility, modulation and diction in public speaking.
• Personal Development Planning (PDP): Reflect on your own learning development and current skills (e.g. CV’s, experience and transferable skills) in order to develop employability awareness and as preparation for post graduate study and the workplace. Consideration of psychological literacy.
• Writing skills: Developing a mature and confident writing style; correct editorial style for research projects. Trouble-shooting in writing skills; proof-reading.

Brief description

Develop your understanding of social psychology and cognition, building on second-year Cognition and Social Psychology modules. Deepen your understanding of cognitive processes such as attention, perception and memory and how these processes underpin social processing.

Indicative content:

• Historical and conceptual issues: Introduction to cognitive models in psychology and their influence on our understanding of social processing.
• Visual perception: Models of visual perception – reminder of processes in the recognition of objects and categories.
• Attention: Understanding models of visuo-spatial and executive attention. Divided attention and dual processing accounts of cognition. Working memory.
• Memory: Exploring types of long-term memory including semantic and episodic, declarative and non-declarative. Understanding associative networks in memory and priming.
• Social memory: The storage and organisation of complex social information in memory. Exploring social categorisation and the formation and structure of stereotypes.
• Activation and application of social categories: Understanding conditions of stereotype activation and application. Dual processing models of social cognition and automaticity.
• Stereotype formation: Models of the cultural development of stereotypes, as well as developmental trajectories of stereotype use across childhood.
• Attitudes and prejudice: Exploring the cognitive bases of attitudes such as prejudice. Models of attitude-behaviour links and prejudice control.
• Self-processing systems: The influence of the self on attention, perception and memory for incoming information.
• Neuropsychological perspectives: Understanding the neural bases of the cognitive and socio-cognitive processes covered in the module. What can neuroimaging and patient studies tell us about social and non-social cognition?

Year 4 Option Modules

You must study and pass three option modules of your choosing – two from Group [A] and one from Group [B]

Brief description

The criminal justice system involves a variety of organisations and professionals such as the police, the courts and offender services. Learn how psychological theories and investigation can inform procedures followed in these organisations.

Module content:

• Introduction and context: An introduction to investigative psychology and the importance of recognising how other people can influence our behaviour and cognitive processes, including an overview of both theory and application of social influence research in this exciting and developing area of applied psychology.
• Investigative processes: An overview of the key stages and issues in relation to police and wider criminal justice system investigative processes including some of the key legal powers associated with these.
• Offender profiling: What is offender profiling and how is it undertaken? There will be evaluation of difference approaches to offender profiling and consideration of the future for this topical approach to investigation. What is serial homicide and how can offender profiling be applied to this major crime?
• Investigating Missing Persons: What do missing people do and where do they go? What role is there for psychological theories in explaining missing person behaviour and helping the police investigate cases?
• Eyewitness testimony: The effects of social influence on memory: stress, suggestibility, alcohol, conformity. Applications of this research to real life (e.g., accuracy of memory in a forensic investigation).
• Identification: The role of human memory, face processing, and communicative styles on the construction of facial composites and identification of suspects. Discussion of the appropriateness of the use of CCTV footage as evidence in courts of law.
• False and recovered memories: How and why do people recall events which did not occur or recall events at a later date which they were previously unable to recall? What can the study of human memory tell us about this interesting debate? What implications does this have for the criminal justice system?
• Interviewing: How should we best interview witnesses to ensure reliable and complete statements are made? What differences might there be in interviewing suspects rather than witnesses? Critical evaluation of the tools and techniques psychologists developed to aid interviewing (e.g., the Cognitive Interview)?
• Child Witnesses: What can the study of child development tell us about the appropriateness of having children as witnesses in court? Critical evaluation of appropriate questioning techniques.
• Expert Witnesses: What is/should be the role of the psychologist as an Expert Witness?

Brief description

Theory and practice in mental health disorders and cognitive decline in ageing.

Module content:

• Introduction: Introduction to the training and practice of mental health and abnormal psychology. Historical and conceptual background to mental health and abnormal psychology.
• Abnormal Psychological Disorders: The main abnormal psychological disorders, for example, anxiety disorders; affective disorders; Schizophrenia and the somatoform disorders.
• Mental Health Specialisms: Mental health specialisms, for example, the use of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness-Based-Stress- Reduction (MBSR), suicidal behaviour and psychiatric rehabilitation.
• Mental Health and Typical Ageing: What constitutes “mental health” as we age? The problem of pathologising behaviour. Status, stigma, identity and power in old age.
• Mental Health Phenomena in Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease: Symptoms, diagnosis, intervention and quality of life. The problem of managing psychiatric symptoms such as psychosis in these conditions.
• Mental Health Phenomena and Abnormal Ageing: pathology in older age - symptoms, diagnosis and the problems of managing psychiatric conditions.
• Mental Health and Rehabilitation in Ageing: The problem of managing psychosis in conditions and the interventions available.
• Mental Health Phenomena of Bereavement: The process of death, normal and complex grief, end of life decisions, euthanasia.

Brief description

Pursue a topic of interest, different from any other work either submitted or proposed, relevant to your work or voluntary experience. Reflect on your work or voluntary experience, identify an issue that can be informed with reference to published psychological literature, negotiate and agree a chosen area for review, complete and report on this agreed review.

Module content:

• General: Content will be individually agreed dependent on the work or volunteer placement, topic and study plan.

Brief description

An evolutionary approach to the study of human behaviour that focusses more on questions relating to why we behave in certain ways rather than investigations about how we behave. Explore the extent to which characteristics such as faces, voices, behaviour and odour can influence human attraction, cooperation and social interaction as well as cognition and mental health, drawing on evolutionary explanations of behaviour and recent research within the field of evolutionary psychology.

Module content:

• Evolutionary approaches to human behaviour: Introduction to the evolutionary mechanisms that underpin human behaviour such as individual and kin selection, reciprocal altruism and inter- and intra-sexual selection.
• Why do humans cooperate?: Helping related individuals to survive and reproduce; helping un-related individuals and the benefits of altruism and reciprocity; evolutionary explanations for non-cooperative acts such as homicide and suicide.
• Cultural evolution: Evolution of religion, music, literature and art; role of sexual selection in evolution of art and language; gene-culture co-evolution.
• Applied Evolutionary Psychology: Looking at applications for evolutionary analyses of behaviour in health and mental wellbeing, trade, commercialism and consumerism.
• Human mate choice and sexual signalling: Signalling of dimensions of individual ‘quality’ through traits such as facial appearance, body size and shape, voice and odour in human and non-human animals; evaluation of research methods in assessing and interpreting these.
• The physiology of attraction: Hormones and behaviour; the chemicals that underpin attraction; the brain and reward: effects on our brains of experiencing attraction.
• Development of sexual preferences: Hormones and behaviour; the chemicals that underpin attraction; the brain and reward: effects on our brains of experiencing attraction.
• Individual differences in mate preferences: Identification of individual differences (e.g. in mate quality, hormonal status, environment) that predict variation in sexual behaviour.
• Reading personality in the face: Is there a kernel of truth in the folk belief that you can tell something about someone’s personality from the way they look? Historical context and current findings.

Brief description

The use of mindfulness and associated concepts in the maintenance of emotional and psychological well-being. Examine the history, theories and application of mindfulness-based practices in mental health care and take the opportunity to engage in mindfulness practice.

Module content:

• Origins of mindfulness: Buddhism, eastern philosophies and meditation practices. The western adoption of meditation from 1960s-present. Key figures in the development of mindfulness practices.
• Mindfulness practices: Introductory training and support in developing students own mindfulness practice, ongoing peer- group facilitation and on-line reflective writing on the process. Introduction to the variety of mindfulness activities and methods of engagement in mindfulness practices.
• Contemporary research and theory in mindfulness: Evaluation of the applications and effectiveness of mindfulness-based practices in mental health and well- being. Introduction to the cognitive and spiritual models of mindfulness.
• Socio-political context: The cultural and research movements which have allowed the incorporation of mindfulness practices into western medicine and healthcare.

Brief description

Introduction to the field of cognitive neuroscience and specialist insights into current research topics. Review the theoretical and methodological foundations of cognitive neuroscience and develop key skills to understand and report cognitive neuroscience research via individual and group work.

Module content:

• Introductory concepts: Cognitive Neuroscience: history, definitions, themes, approaches and issues.
• Methodological and design principles: Methodological and design principles: differences and common issues in psychology and cognitive neuroscience.
• Available techniques: The techniques that are currently available in cognitive neuroscience, broadly divided in measurement and manipulation techniques.
• Specialist areas: The specialist areas -  these may vary from year to year and may be selected from the following (non-exhaustive) list: perception; action; attention; attentional control; memory; emotion; social cognition; language; numerical cognition; executive functions; decision making.
• Identifying, reading and reporting primary sources: Be guided in searching for suitable primary sources and understanding cognitive neuroscience research reports. Engage in supervised presentations of research papers followed by discussions with the class.

Brief description

Child development in the first 8 years. Learn about language development, number and counting knowledge, and reading from a cognitive and educational perspective. The influence of play and the media during these early years.

Module content:

• Child cognition and brain growth: The development of the brain in early childhood and its links to language and numerical skills.
• Conceptual issues in learning: Domains (modules), critical periods, learning mechanisms (e.g. statistical learning, bootstrapping, innate constraints), nature-nurture.
• Speech and sounds: Auditory perception, acquisition of phonemes, and the effects of prosody on acquisition of other parts of the language system.
• Acquisition of words: Words, concepts and categories. Child-directed speech, literacy acquisition, language impairments.
• Rules of language: Acquisition of morphology and syntax.
• Learning to read: Theories of normal reading; dyslexia and hyperlexia.
• Early numerical skills: Theories of mathematical development; early number and counting skills.
• The role of play: Play inside and outside the classroom. How play influences cognitive and social development.
• Media: The role of television viewing and computer games on children’s development.

Brief description

Develop your understanding of social psychology and cognition, building on second-year Cognition and Social Psychology modules. Deepen your understanding of cognitive processes such as attention, perception and memory and how these processes underpin social processing.

Module content:

• Historical and conceptual issues: Introduction to cognitive models in psychology and their influence on our understanding of social processing.
• Visual perception: Models of visual perception – reminder of processes in the recognition of objects and categories.
• Attention: Understanding models of visuo-spatial and executive attention. Divided attention and dual processing accounts of cognition. Working memory.
• Memory: Exploring types of long-term memory including semantic and episodic, declarative and non-declarative. Understanding associative networks in memory and priming.
• Social memory: The storage and organisation of complex social information in memory. Exploring social categorisation and the formation and structure of stereotypes.
• Activation and application of social categories: Understanding conditions of stereotype activation and application. Dual processing models of social cognition and automaticity.
• Stereotype formation: Models of the cultural development of stereotypes, as well as developmental trajectories of stereotype use across childhood.
• Attitudes and prejudice: Exploring the cognitive bases of attitudes such as prejudice. Models of attitude-behaviour links and prejudice control.
• Self-processing systems: The influence of the self on attention, perception and memory for incoming information.
• Neuropsychological perspectives: Understanding the neural bases of the cognitive and socio-cognitive processes covered in the module. What can neuroimaging and patient studies tell us about social and non-social cognition?