Psychology (Conversion) MSc

The focus of this module is to enable students to further strengthen their knowledge of a specific research area in psychology and further develop their research methodology skills through conducting a research study and writing a dissertation.  Individual student learning needs are addressed through supervision and there are Faculty support workshops available to all students to enhance research and study skills. 

• To provide the student with an opportunity to investigate systematically and in depth a topic of direct relevance to his or her career aspirations. 
• To further enhance and consolidate the student's skill and rigour in research, research methodology and evaluation in an applied environment. 
• To enable the student to draw on and contribute to the development of the growing body of knowledge in psychology. 
• To enable the student to develop skills in modern resource technologies to support his/her research project.

This module introduces students to the essentials of psychological research, and includes an introduction to qualitative methods and quantitative methods, including questionnaire / survey and experimental research methods.

Overviews of qualitative methodologies are given covering both data acquisition (e.g interview, focus group, photo elicitation) and major analysis techniques (e.g. discourse analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis,
etc.). Thematic or content analysis is covered in more detail.

The module also introduces quantitative designs (e.g. surveys and experimental studies) and key analytical techniques. Laboratory exercises provide students with hands-on activities and include training in the use of statistical software packages (e.g. SPSS).  The module introduces students to the nature and philosophy of the experimental method, the design and execution of psychological experiments, descriptive statistics, frequentist and Bayesian inferential parametric and non-parametric statistical procedures (e.g. chi-square, t-tests, (factorial) ANOVA, correlation, regression, and allied analyses). The module covers the replication crisis and potential remedies.

Students receive guidance on the production of qualitative and quantitative research reports.

To provide MSc level students, who may not have studied psychological methods and statistics in depth before, with advanced training in the methods of psychological research, including: 

• An understanding of the principal concepts of psychological methods and statistics
• A thorough grounding in the selection and use of appropriate methodologies
• Knowledge of the major quantitative and qualitative methods used in psychological enquiry
• Clear understanding of the use of computer packages for statistics

Biological psychology is a dynamic interdisciplinary subject in psychology. The module is designed to cover the key areas of biological psychology as laid out in the current BPS syllabus and benchmarking documents.  The core content covers: basic neurochemistry and neurophysiology of nerve transmission; the structure and organisation of the CNS; sensation and transduction of physical stimuli into electrochemical signals; biological basis of psychological abnormalities; psychopharmacology, the brain and reward, drug action and behaviour; emotional functioning; human neuropsychology; recovery / rehabilitation; memory, localisation of function; behavioural genetics; hormones and behaviour; evolutionary / comparative psychology.

The module content covers the historical and theoretical origins of cognitive psychology, attention, perception, learning, memory, thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, metacognition, language, consciousness, and cognitive neuropsychology. Theoretical, empirical and methodological content features in this module. 

1. To develop a critical understanding of the information processing approach to the study of mental activity.
2. To develop a critical understanding of current controversies in cognitive psychology.
3. To explain, and critically evaluate, the different methodologies used to investigate human mental activity.
4. To engage with empirical data in cognitive psychology.

1. Research methods and related ethical issues in developmental psychology across the lifespan

2. Observation, assessment and application of psychological theory

3. Major theories and models of lifespan development

4. Physical, cognitive, social and emotional development from conception to early adulthood, including the effects of teratogens, life-events and transitions

5. Developmental psychology in relation to mid-life stages and beyond

Content includes definition and evaluation of personality and intelligence, the two key areas in this module; description, history and comparison of various methods of measuring personality and intelligence; issues involved in accuracy of assessment; description and evaluation of different theoretical approaches (historical and contemporary) to the understanding and explanation of personality (e.g. psychodynamic, trait, phenomenological, behaviourist, cognitive social) and intelligence (e.g. traditional/hereditarian, behavioural, emotional intelligence, multiple intelligences); understanding aspects of development and variation in personality and intelligence (e.g. nature/nurture, age/sex differences, temporal stability and situational consistency, emotion/motivation, the ‘self’, normality/abnormality); applications and implications – e.g. for mental and physical health, relationships, achievement/education/occupation, culture and social policy.

1. To explore and critically evaluate the major theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of individual differences

2. To examine and critically review the historical development of the concepts of personality and intelligence

3. To examine methods of measuring and scientifically investigating individual differences

An exploration of social psychology including historical and contemporary perspectives.  Qualitative research methods in social psychology.  Social constructionism. Attribution. Attitudes and their formation.  Social cognition.  Self and social identity.  Close relationships. Group processes and intergroup relations, including topics such as: leadership, conformity and compliance; prosocial behaviour; antisocial behaviour and prejudice and aggression. Culture.

1. To critically discuss and evaluate key social psychological theories and research relating to the societal context, including the use of qualitative methodology. 

2. To provide practical experience in carrying out qualitative research. 

3. To develop a critical understanding of the interaction of personal and social influences on behaviour. 

4. To develop a critical awareness of the methods used by social psychologists.