PSYCHOLOGY

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr M Mon-Williams and Mrs C Green

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

This course introduces Psychology as the science of behaviour and mental processes by looking at knowledge gained from experiments and surveys across selected areas (Biological psychology, Developmental psychology, Memory), examining theoretical models and discussing the methodology used. There is a concurrent practical course consisting of experiments and demonstrations in large groups, computer-based experiments and computer-aided learning modules, and sessions when students are participants in experiments conducted by senior students and researchers in the School. Assessment consists of demonstrating an ability to discuss and reproduce key terms and concepts, and completing multiple-choice answer questions from materials presented in lectures, practicals and the prescribed textbook.

Structure

3 one-hour lectures (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 2 pm) and one lab session (up to two-hours at times to be arranged) per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one-hour written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr M Mon-Williams and Mrs C Green

Pre-requisites

PS 1006

Overview

This course continues showing Psychology as the science of behaviour and mental processes by looking at knowledge gained from experiments and surveys across several more areas (Consciousness, Health psychology, Emotion, Social psychology, Perception), examining theoretical models and discussing the methodology used. There is a concurrent practical course consisting of experiments and demonstrations in large groups, computer-based experiments and computer-aided learning modules, and sessions when students are participants in experiments conducted by senior students and researchers in the School. Assessment consists of demonstrating an ability to discuss and reproduce key terms and concepts, and completing multiple-choice answer questions from material presented in lectures, practicals and the prescribed textbook.

Structure

12 week course - 3 one-hour lectures (Monday, Tuesday Thursday at 2 pm) and one lab session (up to two-hours at times to be arranged) per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one-hour written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr D Pearson and Dr K Allan

Pre-requisites

PS 1005 and PS 1505. This course may not be included in a minimum curriculum with PS 2010.

Overview

Perception; Aging and Individual Differences; Behavioural Neuroscience; Quantitative methods.

Structure

12 week course - 4 lectures per week and 1 lab session (practical and/or SPSS workshop) per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Pearson and Dr K Allan

Pre-requisites

PS 1005 and PS 1505. This course cannot be included in a minimum curriculum with PS 2009.

Notes

This course is available only to students registered for degrees in Neuroscience or Sports Studies.

Overview

Perception; Quantitive Methods.

Structure

12 week course - 2 lectures per week and 1 laboratory session (practical and/or SPSS Workshop) per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one-hour examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr D Pearson and Dr Kevin Allan

Pre-requisites

PS 1005, PS 1505 and PS 2008. This course may not be included in a minimum curriculum with PS 2510.

Overview

Developmental; Cognition; Organisational psychology; Social Psychology.

Structure

12 week course - 4 lectures per week and 1 lab session (practical and/or SPSS Workshop).

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Pearson and Dr K Allan

Pre-requisites

PS 1005, PS 1505 and PS 2007. This course may not be included in a minimum curriculum with PS 2509.

Notes

This course is available only to students registered for degrees in Neuroscience or Sports Studies.

Overview

Organizational psychology; Social psychology.

Structure

12 week course - 2 lectures per week and 1 laboratory session (practical and/or SPSS Workshop) per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one-hour examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr C Gray

Pre-requisites

PS 1005, PS 1505, PS 2008, PS 2508 and permission of Head of School.

Notes

This course can only be taken by students pursuing an Honours Degree programme in Psychology.

Overview

The purpose of this course is to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to carry out and evaluate psychological research. It consists of lectures on data analysis (especially various models of the analysis of variance) and examples of specific research methodologies, as well as statistical and data exploration exercises using the statistical package SPSS for Windows. Students also work together in small groups under staff supervision on a practical project for which a full report (counting as the continuous assessment component of the course) is required.

Structure

12 week course - 1 lecture, 1 SPSS practical and 4 laboratory sessions per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 ninety minute written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr L Phillips

Pre-requisites

PS 1005, PS 1505, PS 2008 and PS 2508.

Co-requisites

PS 3012 and PS 3013.

Notes

This course can only be taken by students pursuing an Honours or Designated Degree Programme in Psychology.

Overview

Outline and evaluation of various methods of psychological assessment including issues relating to their application.

Structure

12 week course - 1 one-hour lecture per week and one workshop every four weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 ninety minute examination, (75%) and continuous assessment (25%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr A Sahraie

Pre-requisites

PS 1005, PS 1505, PS 2008 or PS2007, PS 2508 or PS 2507.

Co-requisites

(Except Neuroscience students): PS 3013, PS 3011.

Notes

This course can only be taken by students pursuing an Honours or Designated Degree Programme in Psychology or an Honours or Designated Degree Programme in Neuroscience.

Overview

Theories and data relating to the normal and abnormal processing of visual attributes such as colour, motion, spatial structure and depth. Retinal and cortical structures for visual perception.

Structure

12 week course - 1 lecture per week and one workshop every four weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 ninety minute examination (75%) and continuous assessment (25%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Milders

Pre-requisites

PS1005, PS1505, PS2008 or PS2007, PS2508 or PS2507.

Co-requisites

(except Neuroscience students): PS3011, PS3012

Notes

This course can only be taken by students pursuing an Honours or Designated Degree Programme in Psychology or an Honours or Designated Degree Programme in Neuroscience.

Overview

The course examines how the nervous system represents its three-dimensional environment, how vision and kinaesthesis contribute to the control of goal-directed action, how behaviour becomes refined in normal and abnormal development, and how impairments in brain-damaged patients can help us to understand normal cognitive functioning. It also considers how models of normal cognition can explain cognitive deficits following brain damage.

Structure

1 lecture per week and 1 workshop every four weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 ninety-minute written examination (75%), continuous assessment (25%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr J Crawford

Pre-requisites

PS 3009

Notes

This course can only be taken by students pursuing an Honours Degree Programme in Psychology.

Overview

This course is a sequel to PS 3009 aiming to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to carry out and evaluate psychological research. It consists of lectures on data analysis (especially correlation, regression, and various multivariate forms of analysis) and examples of specific research methodologies, as well as statistical and data exploration exercises using the statistical package SPSS for Windows. Students also work together in small groups under staff supervision on a practical project for which a full report (counting as the continuous assessment component of the course) is required.

Structure

12 week course - 1 lecture, 1 SPSS practical and 4 laboratory sessions per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Examination (70%) and continuous assessment (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr N Reissland

Pre-requisites

PS 3011, PS 3012, PS3013

Co-requisites

PS 3514 and PS 3516.

Notes

This course can only be taken by students pursuing an Honours or Designated Degree Programme in Psychology.

Overview

Theories and approaches to language acquisition; Mother-infant communication; Imitation; Human face processing; Theory of Mind and developmental psychopathy.

Structure

1 lecture per week and one workshop every four weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 ninety minute written examination (75%) and continuous assessment (25%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Pearson

Pre-requisites

(except Neuroscience students) PS 3011, PS 3012 and
PS 3013. Neuroscience students: PS 3012 and PS 3013.

Co-requisites

(except Neuroscience students): PS 3514 and PS 3515.

Notes

This course can only be taken by students pursuing either an Honours or Designated Degree Programme in Psychology or an Honours or Designated Degree Programme in Neuroscience.

Overview

The cognitive study of human learning and memory; the modal and working memory models and the characteristics of their components; the application of memory models to everyday cognition.

Structure

12 week course - 1 lecture per week and one workshop every four weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 ninety minute examination (75%) and continuous assessment (25%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr A B Milne

Pre-requisites

PS 3011, PS 3012, PS 3013

Co-requisites

PS 3515 and PS 3516

Notes

This course can only be taken by students persuing an Honours or Designated Degree Programme in Psychology.

Overview

Attribution Theory, Social Perception and Memory, Stereotyping and Prejudice, Mental Control and Self-Regulation; Attitude Formation and Attitude Change, Social Identity Theory, Self-Categorisation Theory, Inter-group Relations, Aggression.

Structure

12 week course - 1 lecture per week and one workshop every four weeks

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 ninety-minute written examination (75%) and continuous assessment (25%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr K Mearns

Pre-requisites

120 credit points from level 3 Psychology courses.

Overview

A thesis based on an empirical investigation conducted under the guidance of a supervisor.

Structure

20 week course - 1 one-hour tutorial per week. Laboratory work as required. Continues in second half-session.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Assessment of the thesis counts for one ninth of the final Honours assessment.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Ms L Mahady

Pre-requisites

BSc: Completion of Programme Year 3; MA: SO3521 Sport and Leisure Studies 2 Course.

Notes

This course is only available for students registered for the BSc Sports Studies degree or the MA Sports and Leisure Management degree.

Overview

Sport and motivation; the role of personality; the role of attitudes in sport; changing attitudes; the effect on performance of heightened arousal, stress and anxiety; maximising psychological state; leadership and coaching; team dynamics; sport and drug taking.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture per week and 1 one-hour tutorial per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one and a half-hour written examination (80%) and continuous assessment (20%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Phillips and Dr D Carey

Pre-requisites

120 credit points from Level 3 Psychology courses.

Co-requisites

PS 4019

Notes

This course is only open to students taking Combined Honours in Psychology. Such students will take Psychology A for Combined degree plus Psychology B for Combined degree plus PS 4019 (thesis). These students cannot take other listed fourth year psychology courses.

Overview

Two options chosen from a list made available by the School of Psychology and which may change from year to year. Tutorials and essays will consider general issues and current developments in psychology.

Structure

12 week course - 2 one-hour lectures, 1 one-hour research seminar, 1 one-hour tutorial every three weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 ninety minute written examinations (66%) and continuous assessment (33%).

Credit Points

45

Course Coordinator

Dr L Phillips and Dr D Carey

Pre-requisites

120 credit points from Level 3 Psychology courses.

Co-requisites

PS 4019

Notes

This course is only open to single honours psychology students. Students registered for single honours psychology will take Senior Honours Psychology A plus Senior Honours Psychology B plus PS 4019 (thesis). These students cannot take other listed fourth year psychology courses.

Overview

Three options chosen from a list made available by the School of Psychology and which may change from year to year. Tutorials and essays will consider general issues and current developments in psychology.

Structure

12 week course - 3 one-hour lectures, 1 one-hour research seminar, 1 one-hour tutorial every fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 3 ninety minute written examinations (75%) and continuous assessment (25%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Milders

Pre-requisites

Level 4 Psychology Joint Honours degree student.

Overview

Cognitive neuroscience:
The importance of movement, the modular approach, the mysteries of the mind, distance perception, cue combination, attention, gauging time-to-contact and kinaesthesis.

Cognitive neuropsychology:
The aim of cognitive neuropsychology is to improve understanding of the organisation of the human cognitive system by studying the behaviour of brain damaged patients. After briefly reviewing the history, objectives and main assumptions of cognitive neuropsychology, theories and research findings from several cognitive areas will be examined, including object and face recognition, language production and comprehension. This should illustrate how cognitive neuropsychology works and how it can enhance insight into the cognitive system.

Assessment

1st attempt: 1 90-minute written examination 75%; continuous assessment 25%.

Resit: 1 90-minute written examination 75%; continuous assessment 25%.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr A Sahraie

Pre-requisites

Level 4 Psychology Joint Honours degree student.

Overview

Introduction to some of the problems with the interpretation of retinal images.
Perception of wavelength and colour vision anomalies and deficits.
Stereopsis and theories of depth perception. Monocular and binocular cues to depth information.
Use of sinusoidal gratings in visual sensitivity experiments and the determination of the contrast sensitivity function (CSF).
Visual processing at the cortex. In particular cortical processing of orientation, colour and motion. Abnormalities of cortical processing. Similarities and differences in cortical architechture of human and monkey brain.
Pre-attentive and attentive processing of orientation, motion and colour. Investigation of visual attention using psychophysical and physiological techniques.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 90-minute written examination 75%; continuous assessment 25%.

Resit: 1 90-minute written examination 75%; continuous assessment 25%.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr K Mearns

Pre-requisites

60 credit points from level 3 courses. This course is for Joint Honours Psychology students only.

Overview

The course requires the student to carry out, under supervision, an empirical piece of research on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with the supervisor.

Structure

2 one-hour tutorials per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Phillips and Dr D Carey

Pre-requisites

PS 4029

Co-requisites

PS 4013

Notes

This course is only open to students taking Combined Honours in Psychology. Such students will take Psychology A for combined degrees plus Psychology B for combined degrees plus PS 4019 (thesis). These students cannot take other listed fourth year psychology courses.

Overview

Two options chosen from a list made available by the School of Psychology and which may change from year to year. Tutorials and essays will consider general issues and current developments in psychology.

Structure

12 week course - 2 one-hour lectures, 1 one-hour research seminar, 1 one-hour tutorial every three weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 ninety minute written examinations (66%) and continuous assessment (33%).

Credit Points

45

Course Coordinator

Dr L Phillips and Dr D Carey

Pre-requisites

PS 4030

Co-requisites

PS 4013

Notes

This course is only open to single honours psychology students. Students registered for single honours psychology will take Senior Honours Psychology A plus Senior Honours Psychology B plus PS 4019 (thesis). These students cannot take other listed fourth year psychology courses.

Overview

Three options chosen from a list made available by the School of Psychology and which may change from year to year. Tutorials and essays will consider general issues and current developments in psychology.

Structure

12 week course - 3 one-hour lectures, 1 one-hour research seminar, 1 one-hour tutorial every fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 3 ninety minute written examinations (75%) and continuous assessment (25%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Pearson

Pre-requisites

Level 4 Psychology Joint Honours degree student.

Overview

Multi-store models of memory, and the characteristics of short and long term memory will be examined including a description of the phonological loop and the visuo-spatial sketchpad components of working memory, and a discussion of how general attentional or central executive resources may be involved in the short-term retention and processing of information. The dual-coding theory of human learning and the debate over whether mental imagery relies on analogue of propositional representations. How information is organised within long-term memory, and whether it is valid to distinguish between episodic and semantic stores of knowledge. The applicability of cognitive models of learning and memory to aspects to everyday cognition will be assessed. Revision of the relevant points about episodic memory and a description of the components of episodic memory that may function in real-time as memories are retrieved. Neuroimaging evidence for whether the brain actually behaves in the way that the models predict. The role of inhibitory processes in memory responsible for controlling access to consciousness. Unconscious and conscious inhibitory processes. Forgetting as a side effect of inhibiting a memory, and how inhibition may play a role in the poor memories often found in eyewitnesses to crimes.

Assessment

1st attempt: 1 90-minute written examination 75%; continuous assessment 25%.

Resit: 1 90-minute written examination 75%; continuous assessment 25%.