PS111-4-FY-CO:
Discovering Psychology: The Science Behind Human Behaviour
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2023/24
Psychology
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 4
Inactive
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
30
13 April 2021
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
PS212, PS414, PS416
This module is an introduction to the core topics that comprise psychology. It will include lectures on biological psychology and neuroscience, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology and the study of individual difference. It each lecture you will be introduced to some of the main theoretical ideas which underpin study in that area of psychology.
The principle aim of the module is to make students familiar with the way psychologists have and are tackling the investigation of human behaviour. This familiarity is also intended to offer the psychology student a basic command of areas of research that will be covered in more detail in future years of a psychology degree programme.
The module will therefore introduce students to a wide variety of topics. Students will learn about the most important empirical findings, theories, and the current state of research in a number of areas of psychological inquiry.
At the end of the module, studens should:
1. Have knowledge and understanding of:
a) Basic psychological theory, research methods and statistics.
b) Psychological theory within the core domains as outlined by the British Psychological Society.
This is assessed in the two Coursework MCQ tests.
2. Be able to:
a) Critically evaluate the relative strengths of a range of theories and techniques used in psychology
b) Communicate ideas effectively by producing written reports/essays.
This is assessed in the two Coursework Essay.
Each main lecture will cover a broad subject area in psychology and will be designed around one of the chapters in the module textbook. The lectures are intended to serve as a guide to student reading of the relevant chapter and further reading about that topic. The tutorials are designed to support subject understanding and help students to prepare for the coursework (one essay in each term).
The module runs over the autumn and spring terms. It consists of one 2-hr lecture per week, one 1-hr tutorial per term, and one office hour per week. A lecturer will be available during a weekly office hour to further discuss the content of lectures if students so wish.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Additional coursework information
Tests and the end-of-year exam will address material from the lectures, tutorials and textbook. Students are also required to submit a formative essay for feedback before any summative work is due to be submitted.
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Andrew Simpson, email: asimpson@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Andrew Simpson, Dr Philip Cozzolino, Dr Alex Sel, Dr Vanessa Loaiza, Prof Chris Barry
email: asimpson@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 257 hours, 206 (80.2%) hours available to students:
47 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
4 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Psychology
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.