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PS5027: CORE PRINCIPLES: INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES, COGNITIVE AND BIOLOGICAL (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05


Course Overview

This course aims to provide you with a thorough understanding of psychological research in three core areas of psychology, biological, individual differences, and cognitive. In addition, students will attend tutorials to support skill development and a weekly seminar course on contemporary psychological research.

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term First Term Credit Points 45 credits (22.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Constanze Hesse

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Postgraduate Programme
  • Psychology (PS)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course provides a thorough foundation in three core research areas of psychology. Cognitive psychologists attempt to model and explain higher human abilities. In this course students will learn to critically evaluate the major findings from human memory research, language processing, and perception. Biological psychology lectures will explore historical developments and contemporary research on psychopharmacology and neuropsychology. Individual differences will explore key theories in personality and intelligence research and the real-life application of psychometric assessments. In addition, students will attend a seminar series delivered by the Schools’ international-recognised researchers.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Alternative Assessment

30% Multiple Choice Questions

25% Essay

15% Group Presentation

30% Online Open Book Exam in Week 12

Alternative Resit Assessment

70% Coursework

30% Exam

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualUnderstandTo be able to critically evaluate the relationship between biological processes affecting the brain and normal and abnormal behaviour and cognition.
FactualEvaluateStudents will be able to critically evaluate the issues associated with using and interpreting psychometric tests
ConceptualEvaluateStudents will learn to critically evaluate topics related to contemporary psychology and to communicate this in coursework and exam essays.
FactualUnderstandStudents will be able to describe and explain theoretical explanations of human cognition
ConceptualEvaluateStudents will be able to critically evaluate contemporary models of human cognition

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