Psychology (BSc)

The degree is based on a range of core (mandatory) and optional modules. Each module is supported by electronic teaching materials (such as lecture recordings) shared via Learning Central, part of the University’s virtual learning environment.

Modules are likely to include lectures, seminars and group discussions, tutorials, and group work, and you will be expected to apply the skills you learn through tutorial presentations, research practicals and a research project.

At levels four and five you will receive detailed guidance to ensure that you have a firm foundation in relevant experimental skills. Tutors will ensure that you have achieved an acceptable level of competence before you progress to level six. At level six, you have an element of independence and are required to design, conduct, analyse and report individual project work. You will meet regularly with a supervisor to discuss methodologies and practical work.

How will I be supported?

You will have access through the Learning Central website to relevant multimedia material, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises and discussion boards.

The University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres.

Feedback
You will gain feedback on your academic progress in many ways throughout your studies: for example, during your project supervision or practical classes, tutorials and seminars, and Q & A sessions with lecturers. You will also receive written comments on the coursework you submit and have ample opportunities to discuss issues with teaching staff. We encourage you to use every opportunity to interact with staff in this way. You will receive detailed generic feedback on examinations via written question-by-question analyses of students’ answers, together with a breakdown of your marks. You should also examine and understand the basis of our marking criteria and familiarise yourself with how the contribution of different cognitive skills are captured by the grading system. While formal written feedback is clearly an important feature in supporting your intellectual development, it is not the only source and indeed you may also find it useful to test your own knowledge and understanding with friends or make use of the blogs/discussion boards associated with each module.

The main purpose of written feedback on coursework is to provide evaluative information to help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your work – not to provide a definitive model answer. Feedback is therefore important in the context of improving and enhancing your cognitive skills. It is also intended to support your development as independent learners. In order for feedback to serve this function, it is not only important that markers provide useful comments in a timely fashion, but also that sufficient attention is paid to the feedback by the person receiving it. In order to support this process, you will be asked to reflect on the feedback you have received from previous (relevant) coursework and to comment on how this feedback has been incorporated into your current assignment.

How will I be assessed?

Knowledge and understanding are assessed both summatively and formatively via multiple choice and conventional written examinations, essay writing, practical and project reports.

Formative feedback is provided at seminars, tutorials, and practical classes.

What skills will I practise and develop?

You will acquire and develop a range of valuable skills, both those that are discipline specific and more generic ‘employability skills’.

As a result of engaging fully with this course, you should be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of psychological facts, theories, ideas, methods, concepts and principles and appreciate their significance;
• demonstrate an understanding of psychology as a coherent and developing scientific discipline;
• demonstrate the skills/abilities necessary for scientific research in psychology, including abilities to formulate research hypotheses, design and conduct empirical studies, analyse data, and interpret findings;
• demonstrate the skills in comprehending and evaluating psychological material, including the abilities to communicate clearly and concisely the concepts of literature and critically appraise the literature, in both written and oral presentation;
• conduct safely, ethically and competently psychological research studies involving human and non-human animals;
• record, analyse statistically, present (written and orally) and interpret data from psychological experiments;
• communicate ideas, principles and theories effectively by both oral and written means;
• use information technology e.g. the Internet, reference database, spreadsheets, word processing, graphics and statistics packages;
• perform and interpret statistical analyses of data;
• work and communicate effectively both as an individual and in a team;
• demonstrate effective time-management skills and the ability to meet deadlines;
• be aware of ethical guidelines.