PSYCHOLOGY

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr P Benson

Pre-requisites

None.

Notes

Although this course has no co-requisites, it will be a co-requisite for Introductory Psychology I: Methods and Applications.

Overview

Topics will include: Biological psychology and developmental psychology.

Structure

The course will comprise 3 one-hour lectures/week and 4 one and a half-hour workshops per semester.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Multiple-choice examination (75%). Continuous assessment in workshops (25%). 

Resit: Multiple-choice examination (75%). Continuous assessments (25%).

Formative Assessment

Peer feedback will be provided for workshops. In-class quizzes will be provided.

Feedback

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Pearson

Pre-requisites

None.

Co-requisites

PS 1009

Overview

The course will cover core experimental methods and research design in psychology. These experimental methods will be linked to a range of data handling techniques and interpretation skills.

Structure

The course will consist of a weekly group practical (2 hour) and lecture (1 hour), and 6 hours of individual participation in psychological experiments.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment of practicals (100%); including practical write ups, multiple choice assessments, and presentations.

Resit: Students will be able to repeat individual components.

Feedback

Students will receive written feedback on continuous assessment.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr P Benson

Pre-requisites

None.

Notes

Introductory Psychology II: Concepts and Theory is a co-requisite for Introductory Psychology II: Methods and Applications.

Overview

Topics will include: Cognitive psychology, social psychology and perception.

Structure

The course will comprise 3 one-hour lectures/week and 4 one and a half-hour workshops per semester.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Multiple-choice examination (75%). Continous assessment in workshops (25%).

Resit: Multiple-choice examination (75%). Continuous assessments (25%).

Formative Assessment

Peer feedback will be provided for workshops. In-class quizzes will be provided.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Pearson

Pre-requisites

PS 1009 and PS 1010.

Co-requisites

PS 1509.

Notes

Overview

The course will cover core experimental methods and research design in psychology. These experimental methods will be linked to a range of data handling techniques and interpretation skills.

Structure

The course will consist of weekly group practical (2 hours) and lecture (1 hour), and individual participation in 6 hours of psychological experiments.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment of practicals (100%); including practical write ups, multiple choice assessments and presentations.

Resit: Students will be able to repeat individual components.

Feedback

Students will receive written feedback on continuous assessment.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr R Allen

Pre-requisites

PS 1009 Introductory Psychology I: Concepts and Theory.
PS 1509 Introductory Psychology II: Concepts and Theory.

Notes

Although this course, Advanced Psychology A: Concepts and Theory, has no co-requisites, it will be a co-requisite for Advanced Psychology A: Methods and Applications.

Overview

Topics will include: Cognition and language, organisational psychology and behavioural neuroscience.

Structure

The course will consist of 3 one-hour lectures/week and 2 one-hour workshops/semester.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (20%) - essay no more than 2,000 words, workshop (10%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (70%). Continuous assessment marks will remain unchanged.

Formative Assessment

There are formative assessments associated with the lecture programme.

Feedback

Students will receive written feedback during continuous assessment.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Sutherland

Pre-requisites

PS 1009 Introductory Psychology I: Concepts and Theory
PS 1010 Introductory Psychology I: Methods and Applications
PS 1509 Introductory Psychology II: Concepts and Theory
PS 1510 Introductory Psychology II: Methods and Applications

Co-requisites

PS 2015 Advanced Psychology A: Concepts and Theory.

Overview

This course will cover advanced experimental methods and basic statistical techniques in psychology. These methods will be linked to a range of data handling techniques and interpretation skills.

Structure

The course will consist of 1 one- hour lecture plus two-hours of small group practical work per week, and 2.5 hours of individual participation in psychology experiments per term.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%); including practical write-ups and MCQ quizzes.

Resit: Students will be able to repeat individual components.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment will be provided through a subset of practical sessions and tutorials.

Feedback

Students will receive written feedback on continuous assessment.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr R Allen

Pre-requisites

PS 1009 Introductory Psychology I: Concepts and Theory.
PS 1509 Introductory Psychology II: Concepts and Theory.

Notes

Although this course has no co-requisites, it will be a co-requisite for PS 2516

Overview

Topics will include: Perception, developmental psychology, social psychology and clinical psychology.

Structure

The course will consist of 3 one-hour lectures/week and 2 one-hour workshops/semester.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (70%); continuous assessment (20%) - essay (no more than 2,000 words), workshop (10%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (70%). Continuous assessment marks will remain unchanged.

Formative Assessment

There are formative assessments associated with the lecture programme.

Feedback

Students will receive written feedback during continuous assessment.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Sutherland

Pre-requisites

PS 2015, PS 2016, PS 1009, PS 1010, PS 1509, PS 1510

Co-requisites

PS 2515 Advanced Psychology B: Concepts and Theory.

Overview

The course will cover core experimental methods in Developmental Psychology, Language & Cognition, and Social & Organizational Psychology. This course will cover advanced experimental methods and basic statistical techniques in psychology. These methods will be linked to a range of data handling techniques and interpretation skills.

Structure

The course will consist of 1 one-hour lecture plus two-hours of small group practical work per week, and 2.5 hours of individual participation in psychology experiments per term.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%); including practical write-ups and MCQ quizzes.

Resit: Students will be able to repeat individual components.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment will be provided through a subset of practical sessions and tutorials.

Feedback

Students will receive written feedback on continuous assessment.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor J Crawford

Pre-requisites

PS 1009, PS 1010, PS 1509, PS 1510, PS 2015, PS 2016, PS 2515, PS 2516 and permission of Head of School.

Notes

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

Overview

This course will impart the skills and knowledge necessary to carry out and evaluate psychological research using quantitative and qualitative methods.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture per week = 12 hours.
3 hours of practicals and workshops per week = 36 hours.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour Multiple Choice examination (40%). Continuous assessment (60%), including a practical report (< 3000 words) and an oral presentation.

Resit: 1 two-hour Multiple Choice Examination (40%).
Continuous assessment (60%), including a practical report (< 3000 words) and an oral presentation.

Formative Assessment

Students will receive formative assessment of their progress during tutorials, by their practical supervisor during laboratory sessions, and via in-lecture review of specific learning outcomes.

Feedback

Feedback on the oral presentation will be given by the supervising tutor.
Feedback on the practical report will be given as a marking form and specific written comments by the practical supervisor.
Formative feedback on tutorial exercises will be both written and verbal.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor L Phillips

Pre-requisites

PS 1009, PS 1010, PS 1509, PS 1510, PS 2015, PS 2016, PS 2515 and PS 2516.

Co-requisites

PS 3012 and PS 3014 for Behavioural Studies.
PS 3012, PS 3014, PS 3009 for Psychology.
PS 3009 for Joint Honours.

Overview

The course will outline and evaluate various methods of psychological assessment and the application of psychological tests and will provide students with an understanding of psychometric theory. The course includes some historical background to developments in psychological assessment, considers applications of psychological assessment in a wide range of settings, and includes discussion of legal and ethical issues surrounding test administration and interpretation.

Structure

12 week course - 1 one-hour lecture per week and 1 x two-hour tutorial during the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 90 minute written examination (75%), in-course written assignment of no more than 2,000 words (20%), activities during tutorials (5%).

Resit: One 90 minute written examination (75%), in-course written assignment of no more than 2,000 words (20%), activities during tutorials (5%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback on tutorial activities and on written assignments. Example exam questions in lectures.

Feedback

Feedback on tutorial activities by the supervising tutor. Written feedback on written assignment within 3 weeks after assignment has been handed in.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor A Sahraie

Pre-requisites

PS1009, PS1509, PS1010, PS1510, PS 2015, PS2016, PS2515, PS2516.

Overview

Spatial Vision, Temporal Vision, Depth Perception, Biopsychology of Vision, Role of Attention in Perception.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture per week, for 10 weeks.
2 two-hour workshops

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one and a half-hour written examination (75%), peer assessed debate workshop (5%) and submission of a 600 word summary of debate material summarising the main points for a graduate audience (20%)

Resit: 1 one and a half-hour written examination (100%)

Formative Assessment

Students will be given the opportunity to expand on the issues discussed in the lecture material. Groups of students will identify and collect material relevant to a discussion topic and will be provided with guidance from the tutor. They will discuss the material in a group in the following workshop and their contribution will assessed using a peer assessment overseen by the tutor. Each student will be required to submit a 600 word summary of the main points discussed in the debate as a report aimed at a group of fellow undergraduate community. These reports will be assessed by the tutor.

Feedback

Groups will get feedback from the other group members in the discussions following their presentation.
The tutor will also provide the group with feedback on the content and ways to improve their work.
The tutor will provide feedback on the submitted short report.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Sutherland

Pre-requisites

PS 1009, PS 1010, PS 1509, PS 1510, PS 2015, PS 2016, PS 2515 and PS 2516.

Co-requisites

PS 3012 and PS 3011 for Behaviorial Studies.
PS 3012, PS 3011, PS 3009 for Psychology.
PS 3012 for Joint Honours and Neuroscience with Psychology.

Overview

The lectures on psychopharmacology will provide accounts of the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of common psychotropic medicines (including drugs used to treat schizophrenia, depression and anxiety) and recreational drugs (including alcohol, cocaine and ecstasy). The lectures on neuropsychology and biological psychology will provide accounts of how brain damage, genes and hormones can affect behaviour and cognition.

Structure

12 week course - 1 one-hour lecture per week and 1 two-hour tutorials during the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 90 minute written examination (75%), in-course written assignment of no more than 2,000 words (20%), activities during tutorials (5%).

Resit: One 90 minute written examination (75%), in-course written assignment of no more than 2,000 words (20%), activities during tutorials (5%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback on tutorial activities and on written assigments. Example exam questions in lectures.

Feedback

Oral feedback on tutorial activities by the supervising tutor. Written feedback on written assignment within 3 weeks after assignment has been handed in.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor J Crawford

Pre-requisites

PS 1009, PS 1010, PS 1509, PS 1510, PS 2015, PS 2016, PS 2515, PS 2516, PS 3009 and permission of Head of School.

Notes

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

Overview

This course will impart the skills and knowledge necessary to carry out and evaluate psychological research using quantitative methods.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture per week = 12 hours.
3 hours of practicals and workshops per week = 36 hours.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour Multiple Choice examination (40%). Continuous assessment (60%), evaluating statistical and research skills.

Resit: 1 two-hour Multiple Choice examination (40%). Continuous assessment (60%), evaluating statistical and research skills.

Formative Assessment

Students will receive formative assessment of their progress during workshops, by their practical supervisor during laboratory sessions, and via in-lecture review of specific learning outcomes.

Feedback

Feedback on the oral presentation will be given orally by the supervising tutor.
Feedback on the practical report will be given as a marking form and specific written comments by the practical supervisor.
Formative feedback on tutorial exercises will be both written and verbal.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr J Hosie

Pre-requisites

PS 1009, PS 1509, PS 1010, PS 1510, PS 2015, PS 2016, PS 2515, PS 2516.

Co-requisites

PS 3517 and PS 3519.
(Joint Honours, PS 3517 only)

Overview

This course will examine both historical and contemporary issues and findings in perceptual development, language development, social and emotional development, and developmental psychopathology. The course will also cover a number of key conceptual issues including the role of nature versus nurture in human development, modularity and modularization, and the contribution of research on atypical development to our understanding of normal functioning.

Structure

12 week course - 1 one-hour lecture per week and 1 two-hour tutorial during the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 90 minute written examination (75%), in-course written assigment of no more than 2,000 words (20%), activities during tutorials (5%).

Resit: One 90 minute written examination (75%), in-course written assigment of no more than 2,000 words (20%), activities during tutorials (5%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback on tutorial activities and on written assigments. Example exam questions in lectures.

Feedback

Oral feedback on tutorial activities by the supervising tutor. Written feedback on written assignment within 3 weeks after assignment has been handed in.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Pearson

Pre-requisites

PS 1009, PS 1509, PS 1010, PS 1510, PS 2015, PS 2016, PS 2515, PS 2516.

Co-requisites

PS 3517 and PS 3518 (not for Joint Honours and Neuroscience with Psychology students).

Overview

The memory component of the course examines the cognitive study of human learning and memory; the modal and working memory models; the application of memory models to everyday cognition. The language component of the course examines cognitive mechanisms underlying sentence processing and production, and higher level processes of language comprehension.

Structure

12 week course - 1 one-hour lecture per week and 1 two-hour tutorials during the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 90 minute written examination (75%), in-course written assignment of no more than 2,000 words (20%), activities during tutorials (5%).

Resit: One 90 minute written examination (75%), in-course written assignment of no more than 2,000 words (20%), activities during tutorials (5%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback on tutorial activities and on written assignments. Example exam questions in lectures.

Feedback

Oral feedback on tutorial activities by the supervising tutor. Written feedback on written assignment within 2 weeks after assignment has been handed in.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor N Macrae

Pre-requisites

PS 1009, PS 1509, PS 1010, PS 1510, PS 2015, PS2515, PS 2016, PS 2516.

Co-requisites

PS 3518 and PS 3519.
(Joint Honours, PS 3518 only).

Overview

The course will commence with a brief conceptual overview of experimental social psychology. Consideration will then be given to a range of core topics in social cognition. The historical context of each topic will be covered prior to an analysis of contemporary theoretical and empirical research.

Structure

12 week course - 1 one-hour lecture per week and two one-hour tutorials during the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 90 minute written examination (75%), 750 word popular science article (20%), tutorial activities (5%).

Resit: One 90 minute written examination (75%), 750 word popular science article (20%), tutorial activities (5%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback on tutorial activities and on written assignments. Example exam questions in lectures.

Feedback

Oral feedback on tutorial activities by the supervising tutor. Written feedback on written assignment within 3 weeks after assignment has been handed in.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr D Martin

Pre-requisites

120 credit points from level 3 Psychology courses. This is a course for Single Honours Psychology students only.

Overview

A thesis based on an empirical investigation conducted under the guidance of a supervisor. This course will impart and develop the skills and knowledge required to conduct psychological research.

Structure

22 week course across both half-sessions - 1 one-hour supervision meeting per week. Laboratory work as required. Continues in second half-session. 3 one-hour lectures.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Poster presentation (5%). Written thesis (95%). Assessment of the thesis counts for one ninth of the final Honours assessment.

Resit: Normally resubmission of an honours thesis.

Formative Assessment

Students receive formative feedback from their supervisor for the duration of the project.

Feedback

Feedback is provided to students from the supervisor and also from other members of staff at a poster session arranged at the start of the second half-session.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr S Cleland

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 in-course assessment (33%).

Credit Points

45

Course Coordinator

Dr S Cleland

Pre-requisites

PS 1009, PS 1509, PS 1010, PS 1510, PS 2015, PS 2016, PS 2515, PS 2516, PS 3011, PS 3014, PS 3520, PS 3519.

Notes

This course is only open to students taking the following degree programme: Single Honours Psychology, Single Honours Behavioural Studies, Honours Psychology/Behavioural Studies with minor subject.

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 - 2 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour research seminar per week, 1 one-hour tutorial every fortnight.

Assessment

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

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor A Sahraie

Pre-requisites

Level 4 Psychology Joint Honours degree students.

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%; in-course assessment 25%.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Sutherland

Pre-requisites

Level 4 Joint Honours Psychology or Behavioural Studies degree students only.

Overview

The lectures on psychopharmacology will provide accounts of the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of common psychotropic medicines (including drugs used to treat schizophrenia, depression and anxiety) and recreational drugs (including alcohol, cocaine and ecstasy). The lectures on neuropsychology and biological psychology will provide accounts of how brain damage, genes and hormones can affect behaviour and cognition.

Structure

12 week course - 1 one-hour lecture per week and 1 two-hour tutorials during the course.

Assessment

1st attempt: One 90-minute written examination (75%), in-course written assignment of no more than 2,000 words (20%), activities during tutorials (5%).

Resit: One 90-minute written examination (75%), in-course written assignment of no more than 2,000 words (20%), activities during tutorials (5%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback on tutorial activities and on written assignments. Example exam questions in lectures.

Feedback

Oral feedback on tutorial activities by the supervising tutor. Written feedback on written assignment within 3 weeks after assignment has been handed in.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr D Martin

Pre-requisites

PS 3011, PS 3012, PS 3014, PS 3517, PS 3518, PS 3519

Notes

Restricted to students in Single Honours Behavioural studies degree.

Overview

A library based thesis conducted under the guidance of a supervisor. This course will impart and develop the skills and knowledge required to understand psychological research.

Structure

22 week course across both half-sessions - 1 one-hour supervision meeting per week. Library work as required. Continues in second half-session. 1 one-hour lectures.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Annotated bibliography (10%). Written thesis (90%). The Behavioural Studies Single Honours Thesis course counts for one eighth of the final Honours assessment.

Resit: Normally resubmission of a Behavioural Studies Project Report.

Formative Assessment

Students receive formative feedback from their supervisor for the duration of the project.

Feedback

Feedback is provided to students from the supervisor.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Martin

Pre-requisites

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

Overview

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

Structure

1 one-hour supervision meeting per week. Laboratory work as required. 3 one-hour lectures.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (100%). The Psychology Joint Honours Thesis course counts for 1/16th of the final Honours assessment.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Martin

Pre-requisites

Credit points from level 3 courses. This course is for Joint Honours Behavioural Studies only.

Overview

A library based thesis conducted under the guidance of a supervisor.

Structure

1 one-hour supervision meeting per week. Library work as required. 1 one-hour lecture.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Assessment of the library research project accounts for one eighth of the final Behavioural studies - joint assessment. Written thesis (100%). The Behavioural Studies Joint Honours thesis course counts for 1/18th of the final Honours assessment.

Resit: Normally resubmission of a thesis.

Formative Assessment

Students receive formative feedback from their supervisor for the duration of the project.

Feedback

Feedback is provided to students from the supervisor.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr S Cleland

Pre-requisites

PS 4029

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 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 in-course assessment (33%).

Credit Points

45

Course Coordinator

Dr S Cleland

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 in-course assessment (25%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Pearson

Pre-requisites

Level 4 Psychology Joint Honours degree students.

Overview

The memory component of the course examines the cognitive study of human learning and memory; the modal and working memory models; the application of memory models to everyday cognition. The language component of the course examines cognitive mechanisms underlying sentence processing and production, and higher level processes of language comprehension.

Structure

12 week course - 1 one-hour lecture per week and 1 two-hour tutorial during the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 90-minute written examination (75%); in-course written assignment of no more than 2,000 words (20%), activities during tutorials (5%).

Resit: One 90-minute written examination (75%); in-course written assignment of no more than 2,000 words (20%), activities during tutorials (5%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback on tutorial activities and on written assignments. Example exam questions in lectures.

Feedback

Oral feedback on tutorial activities by the supervising tutor. Written feedback on written assignment within 2 weeks after assignment has been handed in.