BSc (Hons) Psychology with Foundation Year

This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of the scientific process in psychology, including the collection, analysis and reporting of data. Heavy use will be made of examples of problematic practice, including the over-interpretation of results, poor reporting practices, etc. Students will learn to critically assess the evidence underlying scientific claims.

This module will provide support and guidance to assist you through some core debates in psychology whilst examining the historical context and how they contribute to the development of psychology as a discipline. The content of this module will encourage you to find and use credible evidence to support your arguments, read the most interesting and up-to-date sources of information and structure your arguments effectively. The skills developed in this module will allow you to identify key professional values for psychology, develop key writing skills in line with APA standards and provide a good foundation for study at Level 5.

Building upon the learning from Core Debates in Psychology, Current Issues in Psychology takes theories and concepts in the core areas of Psychology: Biological, Cognitive, Developmental and Social Psychology and applies them to current issues the subject is facing. You will consider how the differing areas across Psychology can interact and come together with a common purpose. This module starts your development in considering a connected and multidisciplinary curriculum

This module introduces students to research in psychology. We will begin by considering different approaches to research, including the distinction between quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The various types of research design will be explored, but there will be particular emphasis on the experimental method. Students will then be introduced to crucial ethical considerations that need to be made when conducting psychological research (especially concerning deception). Students will also be given chance to take part in a psychological experiment and will learn about ways of analysing and presenting data. As part of this, students will begin using the statistical software package SPSS. The module concludes with a discussion of some of the wider issues affecting psychological research, and also shows students how to report research findings.

Research Methods Intermediate This module continues from Research Methods in Psychology: Basic and will provide you with a grounding in the use of inferential statistics and qualitative methods in Psychology. We will consider a variety of research tools from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives. By the end of the module, you will be able to select the appropriate statistical test for your data, carry out statistical analyses using SPSS, interpret statistical output obtained from SPSS and report experimental findings in an appropriate fashion. You will also receive instruction in the use of a variety of qualitative techniques, including interview techniques, organising and running focus groups, collecting observational data and conducting a thematic analysis. You will be able to gather a broader understanding of the variety of qualitative techniques at your disposal as well as the appropriate contexts in which to apply these techniques.

Building upon material covered at Level 4 in Current Issues in Psychology, Psychology in Context takes real world issues at the individual, societal and organisational level and applies the different perspectives from the Psychology core domains of Biological, Cognitive, Developmental and Social Psychology to provide a coherent and multidisciplinary explanation. In addition the module considers individual and cultural differences particularly when considering how Psychology can be used to provide interventions and strategies that make a real difference.

Working in Psychology builds on the transferable skills and knowledge developed in Applied Psychology and Current Issues in Psychology. This module is designed to provide an insight into using psychology within a work context. You will have the opportunity to complete a short placement, reflect of improvement, design and propose an intervention for the organisation. 

Preparing for your research project builds on the work you have completed in research methods basic, intermediate and advanced and will advance your research skills, enabling you to work towards being an independent researcher.

Research Methods Advanced builds on the skills and knowledge developed in Research Methods Basic and Intermediate. This module is designed to equip students with skills in advanced research methods and analysis in psychology. Most of the skills developed in this module will have relevance to the workplace and will also enable the students to understand and evaluate how both research and data analysis relates to everyday life. We will examine a range of advanced research and analysis approaches. By the end of the module students will be able to report complex psychological findings with the help of statistical analysis software. This module forms an important step towards preparing students for their final year projects and towards becoming independent researchers.

This module is designed to provide students with a foundation in the theory and practice of psychology in clinical settings, introducing issues in philosophy, assessment, formulation and treatment. Much of the material presented will take a critical view of clinical psychology both now and historically, and a range of non-standard interventions will be evaluated.

Cognitive science aims to understand the innermost workings of the human mind. This is a highly challenging task, but since the 1950s cognitive psychologists have made great progress in understanding a variety of mental processes. This course addresses some of the latest advances within cognitive psychology, with a particular emphasis on individual differences. By referring to cutting edge research and the latest theories, this module explores how cognitive processes differ from person to person, and how they influence real world behaviour. 

Cognitive Neuroscience aims to investigate the structure and functions of the human brain to advance our understanding of human behaviour and cognition. This Level 6 module covers the current issues and future directions in Cognitive Neuroscience, and builds upon your existing knowledge of Biological and Cognitive Psychology with up to date and more complex material to enable a deeper appreciation of neuroscience and cognition.

There is an ever-increasing reliance on technology in the modern world. Technological developments present us with new and exciting opportunities for making our lives more comfortable, safe, easy and fun. However, emerging technologies can also hinder our interactions with others and the world around us. This module aims to better understand the psychological impact of engaging with the Internet and consider both the positive and negative aspects of being online. The module aims to promote an in-depth understanding of how humans interact with technology and in online environments. This module will cover diverse aspects of the interaction between the individual and the Internet; including the manner in which being online affects how we present ourselves to and communicate with others, how language has evolved in the online world and the manner in which relationships are formed in cyberspace. This module will build upon issues raised during level 5, especially in the applied social psychology module.

This module aims to provide you with an introduction to some of the contemporary psychological perspectives and societal issues for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this module you will describe, discuss and critically evaluate the perspectives and research work carried out into these issues. In sessions you will be taught about and discuss areas including definition of intellectual disabilities, service delivery, complex support needs, profound and multiple impairments, social and community inclusion, interpersonal relationships, communication, mental and physical health, ageing, and human rights.

This module builds upon the Level 5 Working in Psychology module. It will explore the theory and practice of applying psychology in the workplace. The module covers all aspects of the BPS’ five areas of Occupational Psychology, and will provide students with an understanding of issues around both the industrial side (e.g. recruitment and selection, training, performance management) and organisational side (organisational change, work design, human factors) of the discipline of Occupational Psychology. 

Positive and Coaching Psychology discusses theory and application of the relatively new generation of psychological practice. You will learn the history and key concepts within positive psychology, the underpinning of coaching models as well as applications of positive and coaching psychology within a variety of settings.

This module provides an opportunity to engage in a piece of research chosen, with a supervisors guidance, by the student as an independent piece of work that employs the skills that have been acquired during two years of psychology study. During the course of this individual piece of research the student will develop or refine the skills needed to design an ethically and methodologically sound piece of empirical research; execute a literature search for relevant published material; analyse the data collected and write a report on this that will include a critical appraisal of both the extant literature and ones own findings.