Psychology and Education (Conversion)

Core modules:

Introduction to Psychology and Development Across the Lifespan

This module explores major theories, key aspects and scientific underpinnings of psychology and human development from infancy to adulthood in a variety of contexts. The module introduces students to the multiple paradigms, theoretical perspectives and methods of analysis in psychology and explores the differences and/or complementarities between them as well as relevant ethical issues. It also considers case studies and key developmental standardised tests and the application of developmental psychological knowledge in contemporary multicultural and global educational, upbringing and institutional contexts. Further, students will explore topics including and not limited to emotional development and parenting cultures, cognitive development, learning and language, typical and atypical development in multicultural societies, language and development, and bilingualism.

30 credits

Research Methods in Psychology and Education

The module explores different paradigms of psychological and educational research, with a focus on both qualitative and quantitative methodologies and research designs. Qualitative methods and designs may include and not be limited to interviews, content, thematic and discourse analysis, case studies and observation methods. Quantitative methods and designs may include and not be limited to statistical analysis, and experimental and quasi-experimental designs. This module will also consider ethical considerations in education and psychological research.

Module content includes:

- Ontological and epistemological paradigms and general methodological principles that can be adopted to approach qualitative and/or quantitative research in educational and psychological contexts.

- Classic approaches, recent trends, case studies, longitudinal research, big data.

- Research proposals, research questions and research designs. 

- Ethical issues in education and psychological research.

- Data collection methods used in qualitative and or quantitative research such as interviews, focus groups, questionnaires and surveys, experimental and quasi-experimental research designs.

- Coding and analysing interview data. This will be in relation to qualitative data analysis methods such as thematic analysis, discourse analysis, grounded theory.

- SPSS, inferential and descriptive statistics; parametric and non-parametric tests. 

- Correlational design, ANOVA, Two-way ANOVA and factor analysis.

30 credits

Cognition and Neuroscience

Overall, this module aims to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of both the biological and cognitive aspects of psychology, fostering an integrated perspective.

The module explores both the fundamental biological mechanisms underlying human and animal behaviour and the major theories and debates surrounding the study of the human mind and cognition. It merges a focus on laboratory research methodologies, including the use of psychometric measures of cognitive performance, with a critical examination of the relevance of bio-psychological and neuroscientific knowledge in educational contexts. Additionally, the module emphasises the importance of contextual analysis and ethical understanding in the application of these biological and cognitive insights, ensuring a well-rounded approach to understanding the complexities of cognitive processes in the mind and brain.

Indicative module content includes a selection from the following:

- Introduction to cognition and neuroscience 

- Perception, attention, memory

- Thinking and language, problem solving and decision making

- Cognitive styles, intelligence and cognitive psychological testing

- Consciousness, social cognition and emotion

- Metacognition, current debates and implications for learning and education

- Behavioural genetics, heredity, comparative and evolutionary psychology

- Psychobiology, biological bases of human and non-human behaviour, hormones and behaviour, socio-biology

- Neuroimaging, cognitive and evolutionary neuroscience.

30 credits

Social and Health Psychology

This module provides a comprehensive coverage of historical and contemporary topics in social and health psychology. It explores multiple perspectives in psychology and education relating to the understanding of human social behaviour, thinking and emotion. It considers theoretical, practical and ethical issues associated with research and practice in the field.

The module content includes specific theoretical topics in social and health psychology, e.g. the self and social influence, pro and antisocial behaviour, as well as introducing students to ways that social and health psychology can be applied to real-world issues, e.g. behaviour change, mental health and neurodiversity.

Knowledge will be developed through a range of teaching methods including flipped learning, group work, debates and discussions.

30 credits

Dissertation

In this module, students are supported in planning and carrying out a piece of original empirical research about a topic of interest related to education and psychology. Students will be supported and will work closely with a supervisor  who has expertise in the research area and or methods of the dissertation topic. The dissertation offers a space for synthesising knowledge from the different modules, and pursuing in more detail an area of interest for the student.

In addition to working closely with a dissertation supervisor, students will receive taught sessions around dissertation writing support and ethical issues in psychological and educational research.

Students studying on this module will also have opportunities to reflect on their work during the module, which can help them think about what they have learned, including the transferable skills they acquire that could be valuable for future courses and/or job applications.

60 credits