module specification

This module is designed to assist students in their approach to, understanding of and skills in the scientific study of psychology at HE Level. 

The aims of this module are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. Specifically, this module aims to develop students’ ability to study and learn at HE level in the subject area. The module enables students to reflect upon and develop their use of oral and written communication skills, skills in identifying, analysing and evaluating information, and interpersonal skills. Students will begin to draw up a profile of personal and professional skills, attributes and achievements and make use of peer and personal support systems. Students will develop their understanding of the link between psychological research questions and psychological investigation methods, and will be introduced to simple data description and analysis techniques; to a range of research methods employed in psychological investigation; and to computer applications that contribute to the conduct and presentation of psychological research. As such, this module encourages students to develop practical, intellectual and interpersonal skills that are of use in many employment settings, and also provides students with a toolkit of intellectual and practical academic skills which will assist their progression to modules at levels 5 & 6.

This module orientates students to HE study and allows students the opportunity to practice and develop their skills in psychology using the scientific method. The syllabus examines critical thinking skills and various forms of effective communication including public speaking; improving memory; concentration and revision strategies; making use of resources including library, careers and online services; ethics and the BPS code of conduct; using software including IBM SPSS; conducting literature searches, issues in research design, including the match between research design and research questions; different methods for gathering research data; and the conduct and reporting of basic analyses of data.

The module is delivered through a variety of teaching and learning methods. A combination of group and individual tutorials and lectures will be used. Lectures will present academic skills in the context of the discipline of psychology as well as deliver core research methods material to students (e.g., key concepts, calculations, data presentation formats) and provide a framework for further reading and independent study. Tutorials will take the form of practical exercises in which study skills are applied and reflective learning takes place. Research methods workshops provide an opportunity for students to seek clarification of concepts and processes covered in the lectures and to check their understanding of these concepts and processes through a range of practical exercises. IT workshops deliver core IT material to students.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Recognise the variety of formal and informal ways in which learning takes place and apply this to their own practice through the formulation of a profile of personal and professional development.
2. Practice and develop their oral and written communication skills, and skills in identifying, selecting and analysing information in relation to psychology.
3. Describe different methods of doing psychological research and evaluate their strengths, weaknesses and appropriateness for different research questions.
4. Discuss key issues in research design and use this knowledge to make and defend design choices for specific research examples.
5. Appropriately analyse, interpret and report experimental data, using statistical software as appropriate, both when available resources and time are restricted, and when they are not.

The summative assessment for this module has been intentionally designed to fit the modules aims. It will be made up of two mini portfolios (10% and 15%), a full portfolio (25%), an oral presentation (25%), and a practical examination (25%). Students must pass the unseen examination in order to pass the module.

The two mini-portfolios and one full portfolio spaced across the year allow opportunities for formative feedback and reflection on performance. The portfolios will include reflective writing that details students’ strengths, weaknesses and plans for maximising their subsequent learning and achievement, as well as exercises relating to approaches to effective studying in HE (e.g., critical thinking, use of assessment criteria) and research methods skills and concepts. The portfolios contain a wide variety of embedded assessment types, and as such address learning outcomes 1-5. In addition, the oral presentation assesses learning outcome 2, and the unseen practical examination addresses learning outcome 5.

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