This module introduces students to psychology and behavioural science, examining how these disciplines help increase understanding of human thought, emotion, and behaviour in diverse contexts. It will explore both foundational psychological theories and applied behavioural science approaches relevant to areas such as health, sport, criminology, and social behaviour. This module is designed to consolidate and broaden prior learning while providing practical insights for real-world application

The module content will cover the following areas:

• The evolution of psychology and behavioural science – from philosophy to empirical research.
• Core Perspectives in Psychology: Biological, Developmental, Cognitive, Social, and Individual Differences, along with historical perspectives such as Humanism, Behaviourism, and Psychodynamic approaches.
• Behavioural Science in Action: How behavioural science informs decision-making, behaviour change, and societal outcomes (e.g., policy, health, sports performance, forensic psychology).
• Interdisciplinary Connections: How psychological and behavioural science concepts apply across disciplines (e.g., sports performance, criminology, forensic biology, and social behaviour).
• Ethical considerations and professional guidelines in psychology and behavioural science (e.g., British Psychological Society, Behavioural Science in Policy and Practice).
• The role of data and experimental methods in psychological and behavioural science research.

The module will also introduce some of the core academic skills required for academic study. Including:

• Learning to use and navigate a range of digital spaces specific to your subject
• Understanding academic conduct and conventions for communicating information ·
• Finding and using a range of academic sources relating to your subject

The module introduces students to a range of social issues that are of concern across the social sciences, including for sociological, psychological, criminological and legal studies, as well as for people-focussed professional courses. It also encourages students to analyse the wider social and historical contexts for various public policy, legal and criminal justice scenarios, cases and debates. Additionally, the module provides students with support to advance their academic communication and to expand their research into subject-specific literatures.

Indicative content:

• Social scientific subjects and subject lenses, including sociological criminological, psychological, legal and professional perspectives on the social world
• Introductory ideas and concepts including society, socialisation and social structures  
• Introducing and applying social psychological ideas and theories to social issues
• Introducing ideas and debates surrounding youth studies, youth crime, and youth justice, including knife crime analysis
• Theory and debates surrounding generational categories (such as generations X, Y, Z and Alpha) 
• Digitalisation of society and digital ‘zeitgeist’ debates (such as selfie culture and ‘brain rot’)
• Consumerism, young people and identities
• Equality, inequality and intersectionality: class, age, gender, ‘race’, sexuality, disability
• Tackling inequalities, promoting equalities, power and social change
• Introducing and applying critical social science to issues of class, gender and 'race' , including Marxist, feminist, and critical race theory
• Riots, uprisings and collective violence
• Sex work, legal frameworks and sex trafficking
• Criminal justice debates including prison reform, the role and impact of Victim Offender Mediation (VOM) initiatives, ‘defunding the police’ campaigns, and the representation of crime in the media
• Public policy, legal, and criminal justice scenarios and cases  
• Advancing digital and academic skills introduced during Term 1
• Developing research and information literacy in relation to your subject
• Creating an academic poster on a chosen research paper
• Field visit
• Local case study

This module builds on the psychological theories and applications studied in 'Psychology and Behavioural Science', and seeks to equip students with the foundational knowledge and skills to understand, conduct, and evaluate psychological research. Students will explore how psychological theories are tested through research, using real-world examples and data. The module is designed for both those new to research and those seeking to deepen their understanding of research methodologies in psychology.

The module content will cover the following areas:

Introduction to research methods, including:

• The process of designing psychological studies in accordance with the scientific method.
• Key methodological considerations in qualitative and quantitative research.
• Ethical principles and practices in psychological research.
• Understanding reliability, validity, and limitations in research studies.

Introduction to data analysis for qualitative and quantitative research, including:

• The mathematical principles and concepts that underpin quantitative analysis in psychology including both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.
• Differing types of inferential statistical analysis.
• Qualitative data analysis methods including thematic analysis.

Advanced Psychological Writing Methods, including: 

• Evaluating and summarizing research literature.
• Presenting data in a variety of visual formats.
• Writing up research using structure and language familiar to psychology.