PS1012: INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY: CONCEPTS AND THEORY (DISTANCE) (2014-2015)

Course Aims: The aim of the course is to introduce some of the major concepts and theories in psychology. There will be lectures on three key areas of psychology: cognitive psychology, social psychology and biological psychology The aim of the small groupwork within the course is to introduce students to controversies within psychology and to enhance students discursive skills. Main Learning Outcomes: To be able to recognise and understand key concepts in psychological theory and knowledge in cognitive psychology, social psychology, and biological psychology. Content: The Lecture course will cover 3 core areas of psychology out-lined below. * Cognitive Psychology will cover 2 main areas - Consciousness (Lectures 1 - 6) and Learning and Memory (Lectures 7 - 12). * Social Psychology is the scientific study of how the behaviour, cognition and emotions of individual humans are influenced by other humans. The course will provide a beginners guide to understanding how we think about ourselves and other people, how other people influence us and how we can influence them. This will be achieved by exploring classic experiments and leading theoretical interpretations within the historical context that has influenced them. * Biological Psychology will introduce you to the relationship between your brain and your behaviour - from the workings of neurochemicals in single cells to the complex psychological disturbances which can result from brain injury. The small group teaching will be focused on topics from the core areas outlined above.

At the moment this course is purely for students who are external to the University (not currently registered on a degree programme). It is specifically aimed at secondary school pupils who will be recruited through the College of Life Science and Medicine distance learning programme.

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

View PS1012 Timetable

More Information about Week Numbers

1st Attempt: Multiple-choice examination (75%). Continuous assessment in workshops (25%). For the workshops the students will be organised into online discussion groups for each debate and will work as part of a team to research the topic and create the wiki that they can they use for their written work. There are three debates within the course. The first debate will be replaced by an essay where the student will have to argue either for and against the topic. The second debate will be replaced by an article written in the style of a major British newspaper, The Daily Mail, The Guardian, or The Sun presenting the debate topic as a news story. The third debate will be a face-to-face debate and the students will come to the university to take part in this. Resit: Multiple-choice examination (75%). Continuous assessments (mark carried forward) (25%).

Feedback will be given on online discussions and wikis.

Feedback on wiki discussions and detailed feedback on continuous assessment.

None.