Psychology at Kent Final Year Options for 2015/16
Looking forward to 2015/16 Response to student feedback To ensure you get your first choice A wider range of cutting edge approaches to topics Closer links with more academic staff Based on our dynamic School s research interests and expertise Focus on transferable skills for employment and/or postgraduate study
Core Modules SP633 Applying Psychology Final Year Project : SP581 Psychology Project (Psychology and Law Joint Honours) SP582 Psychology Project SP583 Clinical Psychology Project ( With Clinical Psychology degrees) SP600 Psychology Project (all other Joint Honours)
SP633 Applying Psychology Convenor: Dr Rachel Calogero Plus seminar leaders for a one-hr weekly workshop Assessment : Portfolio 50% Exam 50%
SP633 Applying Psychology The meaning of applied psychology The domains in which psychology can be applied (e.g. in business, education, health, and the law) Rules governing applied psychology such as the balance between the cost and risks inherent in an intervention with its benefits Ethical, logistical, and methodological challenges in applied psychology
Final Year Project (SP581, SP582, SP583 and SP600) Convenor: Dr David Williams Week 18 FYP talk Tuesday February 24, 1pm, KLT1
SP597 Clinical Psychology I (for those on with Clinical programmes) Convenor: Dr Paraskevi Triantafyllopoulou (Vivi) Assessment: Essay (20%) Exam (80%)
SP597 Clinical Psychology I (for those on with Clinical programmes) Introduces students to the theory and practice of clinical psychology Topics will include classification of psychological disorders theoretical models research methods in clinical psychology professional issues, including the ethics of clinical practice
SP598 Clinical Psychology II (for those on with Clinical programmes) Convenor: Dr Paraskevi Triantafyllopoulou (Vivi) Assessment: Essay (20%) Exam (80%)
SP598 Clinical Psychology II (for those on with Clinical programmes) Introduces students to current issues in the theory and practice of clinical psychology, addressing recent approaches to assessment and treatment Teaching will be delivered predominantly by clinicians currently working in the field of clinical psychology with experience of providing services in a wide range of specialties. These include the core areas of adult, child, older adults and learning disabilities, as well as more specialist areas
Your choices Each degree programme has different requirements Please see middle of your booklet for ease of reference Two Groups, with modules in Autumn and Spring Terms Share modules evenly between terms
Group 1 - Autumn
SP612 Attitudes and Social Cognition Convenor: Dr Mario Weick Assessment: Exam 50% Research proposal in poster-format (1,500 words) 30% A new or revised annotated Wikipedia entry (offline; 400 words) 20%
SP612 Attitudes and Social Cognition Concerned with contemporary concepts, theories and findings in this broad area of social psychology and how they may be applied with benefits for individuals, groups and society How do individuals form and maintain an understanding of themselves, other people and the world they live in Study the processes that underlie human judgments, behaviour and decision making in real-life contexts Students will have an opportunity to propose new research to address an unanswered research question and apply knowledge to represent psychology to the wider public
SP608 Motivation Convenor: Dr Arnaud Wisman Assessment: Assignment (2,000 words) 40% Extended essay (3,000 words) 60%
SP608 Motivation An opportunity to study the literature on motivation, focussing on socialcognitive perspectives on human motivation We will consider: what is experimental existential psychology? does the unconscious exist? the body, sex, and death drive, needs and motives plus much more Address terror management theory, attribution theory, control theory etc. Applications to applied settings will be discussed
SP580 Advanced Developmental Psychology Convenor: Dr Lindsey Cameron Assessment: Exam 60% Essay (2,000 words) 40%
SP580 Advanced Developmental Psychology Critically review recent research into key topics within advanced developmental psychology Example topics: Development of the social self in childhood and adolescence Social and peer exclusion in childhood Language and children Family life and conversation Childhood pragmatics Prejudice development and reduction in childhood and adolescence
SP566 Cognition in Action Convenor: Dr Erika Nurmsoo Assessment: Seminar report (2,000 words) 20% Extended essay (3,000 words) 80%
SP566 Cognition in Action Hot and/or critical topics in cognitive psychology building upon theories and research assimilates in Stages 1 and 2 Focus on emotion, memory and language. In particular the role of emotion in attention, language and memory, and the impact of labels on thought and actions Practical applications and relevance to a general understanding of behaviour will be emphasised throughout
Group 1 - Spring
SP642 Culture and Psychology Convenor: Dr Ayse Uskul Assessment: Exam 80% Thought piece (1,000 words) 20%
SP642 Culture and Psychology Explore how culture influences human experience including behaviour, thoughts, and emotions through general theories related to culture and diversity Topical areas will include: Motivation Human development Cognition from cultural perspective Explore methodology use by cultural psychologists
SP603 Groups in Action Convenor: Dr Tim Hopthrow Assessment: Exam 80% Four exercises 20%
SP603 Groups in Action Exciting opportunity to learn about cutting edge research into groups Understand and apply group research to social policy, business, politics, marketing, etc. Small group discussions and team work focus Example topics: Alcohol and group processes Team leadership Organizational identity Improving co-operation in groups
SP611 The Neuroscience of Cognitive Disorders Convenor: Dr David Wilkinson Assessment: Short answer written exercise 20% Seen exam (3,000 words) 80%
SP611 The Neuroscience of Cognitive Disorders Focuses on neuropsychological deficits acquired through stroke, such as hemi-spatial neglect, prosopagnosia, aphasia and amnesia Examines how different strands of neuroscientific research (behavioural, cognitive, structural, physiological) have advanced understanding of neuropsychological disorders and informed intervention
SP616 Language and Communication Convenor: Dr Kirsten Abbot-Smith Assessment: Exam 60% Essay (3,000 words) 40%
SP616 Language and Communication An opportunity to learn about the methods, techniques and issues involved in the study of language and communication Will highlight the interplay between theory, research and application, focusing on core theories and research Each class will review the historical development of a subject before introducing current theories and methods
Group 2 - Autumn
SP637 Forensic Psychology: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives Convenor: Dr Emma Alleyne Assessment: Multiple choice exam 30% Extended essay (3,000 words) 70%
SP637 Forensic Psychology: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives This module provides an in-depth examination of theory and application of forensic psychology to the criminal justice system It examines: Law development Types of offending Police and forensic profilers responses to offending Eyewitness credibility and police interview process Aims of punishment and prisoners responses to imprisonment Theories of rehabilitation and the implementation of the sex offender treatment programme plus much more
SP639 Freud and Post Freud Convenor: Professor Janet Sayers Assessment: Mid-term essay (1,500 words) 20% Exam 80% NB: There is a maximum quota of 40 students for this module
SP639 Freud and Post Freud Critical introduction to Freudian and post-freudian psychoanalytic psychology Evaluation of theory, method and data in relation to fundamental concepts in psychoanalytic psychology e.g. the unconscious, infantile sexuality Application of concepts to specific clinical conditions (e.g. neurosis, depression, autism, schizophrenia); to adult and child psychotherapy; and more generally to society (including social and cultural issues such as sexism and art)
SP601 Understanding People with Learning Disabilities Convenor: Dr Rachel Forrester-Jones Assessment: Extended essay (3,000 words) 100%
SP601 Understanding People with Learning Disabilities Provides intro to important issues in learning disability and can be taken either as a stand-alone module or as a pre-requisite to SP602 Examines definitions and attitudes to people with, for example, Autism and Down s Syndrome Explores difficulties that people with learning disabilities experience (including communicating and establishing social and sexual relationships) and resultant problems (such as sexual abuse and challenging behaviour) Considers social policy initiatives and how services might implement policy objectives (such as social inclusion and adult protection)
SP636 Evaluating Evidence: Becoming a Smart Research Consumer Convenor: tbc Assessment: Essay (1,500-2,000 words) 20% In-class examination (half multiple choice, half short answer) 60% Quality and quantity of in-class participation 20%
SP636 Evaluating Evidence: Becoming a Smart Research Consumer The module will systematically explore common logical and psychological barriers to understanding and critically analysing empirical research. Major topics to be considered include: common fallacies of deductive and inductive reasoning, judgmental heuristics relevant to evaluating empirical research claims, essentials of a scientific method, misleading statistical and graphical techniques, establishing genuine associations, the role of inferential statistics for identifying illusory associations, essentials of causal inference, and threats to the validity of experimental and non experimental research.
Group 2 - Spring
SP641 Mental Health: Diagnosis, Interventions and Treatments Convenor: Dr Heather Ferguson Assessment: Poster 20% Critical review (3,000 words) 80%
SP641 Mental Health: Diagnosis, Interventions and Treatments Provides theoretical instruction and opportunities for critical evaluation in abnormal psychology Examines origins and identification of different forms of atypical cognitions and behaviours and investigate the psychological and social impact for patients Covers some of the major mental health disorders, focussing primarily on what research has to say about their social/cognitive/biological bases and the implications they have for treatment Describes several methodological approaches and ask fundamental questions about the meaning of normality Historical developments will be examined and current interventions and treatments feature highly
SP602 Researching People with Learning Disabilities Convenor: Dr Michelle McCarthy Assessment: One project report (5,000-6,000 words) 100% Prerequisite : SP601
SP602 Researching People with Learning Disabilities For people considering a possible career working with people with learning disabilities, this module offers a good opportunity to have some direct and personal contact in a supportive context Involves students in a project based on interviews with people with learning disabilities There will be teaching sessions on research, interview construction, recording and analysis Practical work involves visiting a person with learning disabilities at their place of work and conducting a recorded interview with due regard to ethical and consent issues A series of clinics designed to assist students in analysis, interpretation and presentation of the project work will follow
SP643 Psychology of Music Convenor: Dr Michael Forrester Assessment: Essay (4,000 words) 50% Exam 50%
SP643 Psychology of Music This course will introduce students to a wide range of areas in the field of the psychology of music, including psychoacoustics and auditory perception, the development of musicality, the cognitive neuroscience of music and the relationship between music and emotion. Involves students in a project based on interviews with people with learning disabilities The primary aim of the module will be to describe and explain the different theoretical approaches and research methodologies employed in the psychology of music in order to understand this most interesting aspect of human experience. Mixture of internal & external speakers
What do I do now? Talk to us now and use the booklet to guide you. Read the booklet to see how many modules you can choose from which groups, for your Programme of Study. Enter your choice on the Qualtrics site (link on the School Website) here: www.kent.ac.uk/psychology/programmesmodules.html.
Best wishes for the rest of Stage 2 and please get in touch if you have any questions about your Stage 3 choices psydolt@kent.ac.uk