module specification

This module focuses on aspects of psychology which are essential to successful employment, taking the perspective of the employee, rather than the organisation or employer. This module combines lectures and practical classroom activities with active learning through both independent study and collaborative group work. Students taking this module will be asked to consider a series of employment-related skills and attributes by using and applying psychological knowledge and tools. Active engagement of learners in this module is essential, and students taking this module will be asked to evidence and develop a range of employment-related skills (such as effective written, oral, and online communication, team-work, creativity, reflection, self-assessment, goal-setting and time-management) in order to successfully complete the module activities and assessments.

PC5002 Individual Differences and Social Psychology 2

This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding of the psychological theories and empirical evidence encountered within the curriculum to a series of real-world issues that relate to employment and employability. This module aims to develop students’ understanding of the concepts and tools that psychologists might make use of to identify a person’s strengths, weaknesses and preferences in the context of employment. Finally, this module also aims to facilitate students in developing their abilities in a range of employment-related skills and attributes (e.g., team-working, time-management, communication, presentation, self-motivation, creativity, reflection, coaching, and professional use of social media) through a combination of classroom and independent study tasks, formative feedback opportunities, and both practical and written assessment.

This module is taught in three blocks spread across the 30-week teaching period.

Students will be introduced to experiential learning and reflective practice as a learning and development tools, both of which are central to this module’s learning and teaching strategy.

In addition, the syllabus will comprise the following interlinked areas:

• Self-assessment (e.g., identifying personal preferences and attributes; employability; self-motivation; responses to stress)
• Team-working and Relationship Skills (e.g., preferred team roles, effective communication; leadership, coaching)
• Professional Development (e.g., managing digital footprint, impression management, well-being at work)

This module uses a combination of tutor-led lectures and workshops together with a collaborative and experiential learning strategy in which students form action-learning sets to complete a range of tasks and to present the product of and their learning from their activities to the rest of the class. Classroom-based learning will be supplemented by both offline and online resources for independent study, encouraging a blended-learning approach to the material which is reflected in the assessment strategy for this module.

Tutor-led lectures and workshops will be used to deliver content related to the application of psychological theory and research to employment issues. Collaborative and experiential learning activities completed by students within action-learning sets will be used to support students in developing their knowledge and understanding of the academic content of the module, in applying this knowledge to a practical problem, and in developing and reflecting upon their learning and personal development. Independent study will be used to extend learning of both academic content and its practical application.

The range of learning and teaching opportunities offered on this module will be used to support students in achieving the module learning outcomes, and in completing the assessments for this module (e.g., guidance on how to complete a short research interview or a coaching session; assistance in interpreting psychological self-assessment inventories; facilitated group discussions reflecting on the learning from activities).

Personal development and employability attributes will be a central theme across the module. Students will be given opportunities to develop and practice their team-working, time-management, written and oral communication skills throughout the module, both within collaborative experiential learning tasks and through in-class activities, discussions, and presentations. Reflective learning will be developed through tutor-facilitated in-class discussions and independent learning tasks.

To make the most of the teaching and learning opportunities provided, students are responsible for maintaining good attendance at sessions, for engaging in group work activities, for completing independent study tasks,  and for actively contributing to in-class activities and discussions.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of psychological theory and research relevant to the context of employment and issues around employability;
2. Evidence skills of critical reflection in relation to their academic learning and personal development in the context of employability;
3. Understand and articulate their employment-relevant attributes, skills and preferences in a manner appropriate for graduate-level candidates.

This module is assessed by three portfolios.

Each portfolio will be linked to one of the three teaching blocks. Portfolio learning activities will be based around the curriculum topics, and could include written tasks based around key areas of psychological literature (e.g., team-working, active listening, leadership); group task summaries (e.g., the transcript from a short interview, a summary of the process of a group task-allocation negotiation, an action-learning set group-working contract); and other written activities designed to assess achievement of the learning outcomes (e.g., a curriculum vitae, a self-coaching report, critical evaluation of and critical reflection on the outcome from self-assessment personality inventories). Each portfolio will include at least one critical reflections task relating to material from the preceding teaching block.

This coursework is designed to encourage students to explore the relationship between psychological theory and its practice in the context of employment and employability. The portfolios aim to address learning outcomes 1, 2, & 3.

Applied Psychology
Arnold, J., & Randall, R., with Silvester, J., Patterson, F., Robertson, I., Cooper, C., Burnes, B., Harris, D., Axtell, C., & Den Hartog, D. (2010). Work psychology: understanding human behaviour in the workplace (5th ed.). Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited
Boniwell, I. (2012). Positive psychology in a nutshell: The science of happiness. Maidenhead, Berkshire: Open University Press.
Bryon, M. (2013). How to pass graduate psychometric tests: Essential preparation for numerical and verbal ability tests plus personality questionnaires (4th ed.). London: Kogan Page.
Clough, P., & Strycharczyk, D. (2012). Developing mental toughness: Improving performance, wellbeing and positive behaviour in others. London: Kogan Page.
Cooper, C. L., Quick, J. C., & Schabracq, M. J. (Eds.) (2009). International handbook of work and health psychology (3rd ed.). Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cottrell, S. (2010). Skills for success (2nd ed.). Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Hargie, O. (2011). Skilled interpersonal communication: research, theory and practice (5th ed.). Hove, East Sussex: Routledge.
Kirton, B. (2011). Brilliant workplace skills for students & graduates. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited.
Lane, D. A., & Corrie, S. (2006). The modern scientist-practitioner: a guide to practice in psychology. Hove, East Sussex: Routledge.
Rogers, J. (2012). Coaching skills: A handbook (3rd ed.). Maidenhead, Berkshire: Open University Press.
The British Psychological Society. (2009). Code of ethics and conduct. Guidance published by the Ethics Committee of The British Psychological Society. Retrieved from http://www.bps.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/code_of_ethics_and_conduct.pdf