COURSE HANDBOOK 2014/15 Certificate of Higher Education in PSYCHOLOGY SEPTEMBER 2014
WELCOME TO NEW STUDENTS On behalf of all the staff of the Department of Psychological Sciences, may I welcome you to your studies with us this year. This booklet contains valuable information about: the content of courses included within the psychology programme; the assessment procedures; services offered by the department and University. Please keep this booklet somewhere you can easily find it during your study with us! You may have come to our department to take a single course that is of interest to you or to complete a Certificate of Higher Education or to begin your study towards a degree in psychology. Whichever is the case, I m confident you will find the experience both rewarding and enjoyable. All our modules are taught by psychologists who are committed to helping you learn about a wide range of topics and theories within psychology. It can be difficult to juggle the pressures of work and home with the demands of studying at degree level. Birkbeck offers a wide range of support services which we would strongly encourage you to use to your advantage. Do speak to your course tutors or another member of staff if you have any problems which could have an impact on your study. To say just a little more about your responsibilities while studying with us, you will already be aware that it is your responsibility to keep up with the course by attending classes, studying outside class and taking part in the assessments. It is also your responsibility to read this booklet to ensure that you are aware of key information, for example about deadlines; about what to do if you can t complete an assessment on time; about what to do if you have a disability that requires learning support; and how to progress from the Certificate onto the degree. And so forth. Please remember that we are keen to help all students to do as well as they possibly can - but we are dependent on you letting us know when you need additional advice or support. Most students find their studies intensive at times but we hope you find your course/s stimulating and - most importantly - that you enjoy your time in the Department of Psychological Sciences. Roz Dixon, PhD Director of Undergraduate Studies 2
*NOTE FOR STUDENTS WHO COMMENCED THEIR STUDIES PRIOR TO 2014/15* From this year, two 15 credit modules: Research Methods [Part 1] and Research Methods [Part 2] are replacing the three Research Methods modules which have been offered in previous years (Research Methods for Psychology, Advanced Research Methods for Psychology and Statistics and SPSS for Psychology). Completing your award Students who have already completed the old Research Methods for Psychology module will be able to use it to complete their award. Otherwise, they should take the new Research Methods for Psychology [Part 1] in 2014/15. Applying for Year 2 entry Students who intend to apply for entry into Year 2 of Birkbeck's part-time BSc Psychology and have completed Research Methods for Psychology but have not completed Advanced Research Methods for Psychology and/or Statistics or SPSS for Psychology modules will have one final opportunity to take these modules in 2014/15. Term dates will be as follows: Advanced Research Methods for Psychology: 16/04/15-28/05/15, 6-9pm Statistics and SPSS for Psychology 04/06/15-16/07/15, 6-9pm Students who intend to apply for entry into Year 2 of Birkbeck's part-time BSc Psychology but have not previously completed any Research Methods modules should take the new Research Methods [Part 1] and Research Methods [Part 2] in 2014/15. If you have any queries regarding this, please contact the course team. INFORMATION ON COURSEWORK Advanced Research Methods for Psychology Students are required to complete 2 pieces of coursework of 1500 words each (or the equivalent). One piece of coursework must be a laboratory report outlining an investigation carried out by the student including an interpretation of the findings using descriptive statistics and parametric analysis. The second piece of coursework can either be a second laboratory report of a different investigation or a critical analysis of a published paper. 3
The submission date for both pieces of coursework will be Friday 12 June 2015 (this is the only module for which coursework is due after the course ends). Statistics and SPSS for Psychology Students will be required to complete an in-class assessment under examination conditions (2 hours) consisting of two sections: Section one will be short answers to specific questions. Section two will be to apply the learning outcomes to example research applications. The in-class assessment will take place on Thursday 16 July 2015 from 6-8pm. 4
CONTENTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. PROGRAMME OF STUDY GENERAL INFORMATION TEACHING AND LEARNING ASSESSMENT COMPLETION OF AWARD FEEDBACK STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES LEARNING RESOURCES FURTHER STUDY DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES APPENDIX 1: MARKING CRITERIA 2014-15 6 10 11 14 28 30 31 37 38 39 40 5
1. PROGRAMME OF STUDY Who is the Certificate for? The aim of this Award is to provide a systematic introduction to most of the fields of modern psychology, while allowing you some choice of preferred topics. It is also intended to permit those who may wish, for professional or other reasons, to take just one Module without necessarily following through the whole scheme to do so. This Award will be of interest to you if you wish to proceed to a degree course in psychology; or have a professional interest in the subject, particularly if you are working in educational, counselling, medical and management settings; or if you simply wish to further your knowledge and understanding of human behaviour. If you decide that your interest has been fired by your studies with us, you will be guaranteed an interview for entrance into the first year of the undergraduate psychology programme at Birkbeck once you have successfully completed two of our core modules, Foundations of Modern Psychology and Research Methods [Part 1]. You may also choose to take additional modules and apply for entry into Year 2 of the BSc. You must take the specific modules outlined and meet certain criteria to be considered please see Section 9, Further Study, for more information. Other universities may also accept you onto undergraduate programmes at the beginning of the second year of study once you have a Certificate of Higher Education. Do I need any previous qualifications? There are no formal entrance requirements and the Award is open to anyone who feels they may benefit. However, you should note that modules are taught and assessed at first year undergraduate level and an appropriate level of spoken and written English is required. Although we do not require proof that you are operating at this level, we will not be able to compensate for inadequate English skills when marking assessments. If you feel that you may need additional support to reach this standard, Birkbeck offers a range of academic English and language development modules, and you may be advised to focus on developing your English written and/or oral skills before applying for psychology courses. However, support with academic writing and study skills is provided throughout the programme, both in-class and via our free Study Skills workshops. 6
What are the overall aims of the award? Our overall aim is that on successful completion of the Certificate of Higher Education you will: Be able to compare, contrast and organise some of the core theories and perspectives within psychology; Understand the potential relevance of psychology in various settings such as at home, in the community, at work etc; Be aware of the principles that can be used to interpret and evaluate research findings in psychology; Recognise the ethical issues involved when conducting research and the issues that arise when trying to generalise results (for example across cultures); Be able to propose simple research questions about the ways in which psychology might be applied and be able to suggest in broad terms appropriate ways of answering research questions; Be able to present a coherent argument on a range of important topics in psychology; Be able to use a range of strategies to support your personal learning; Be aware of possible routes of progression from this award onto further study. What modules are available? The following are the full range of Modules which make up the Certificate of Higher Education in Psychology: The 4 core modules that everybody takes are: 1. Foundations of Modern Psychology; 2. Biological Basis of Behaviour; 3. Research Methods [Part 1]; 4. Research Methods [Part 2]. The discipline of psychology is composed of different groups, each of whom have somewhat different interests and ways of studying behaviour. Foundations of Modern Psychology introduces you to these groups [known as schools ]. It explains how they differ and how their theories contribute to our understanding of human behaviour. This gives you an early insight into the many and sometimes contradictory - ways in which real life problems might be explained. It also helps you decide which courses to take as options. The Biological Basis of Behaviour is also a core topic because all behaviour has a biological basis and it is important to understand this even when considering other factors that may shape what we feel, think and do. Research Methods is the final core subject because psychology is a science of human behaviour. Whatever our particular interests, as psychologist we want to go beyond speculation, and to identify with 7
as much precision as possible the underlying processes and structures that shape human behaviour. Research methods provide us with tools to support our investigations. We recommend that you take Foundations of Modern Psychology first, and do not take Research Methods [Part 1] as your first module. You must successfully complete Research Methods [Part 1] to be eligible to take Research Methods [Part 2]. In addition to the core modules, there are a number of optional modules available as part of the award. The options on offer each year will vary, but those available in 2014-15 are: Critical Approaches to Attachment Critical Approaches to Positive Psychology Freudian Foundations of Psychoanalysis* Problem Solving and Decision Making (Cognitive Psychology) Psychological and Developmental Issues in Early Childhood 1 Psychological and Developmental Issues in Adolescence Psychology of Mental Health* Psychology of Learning and Learning Styles Social Psychology* The Developing Child: A Psychological Perspective* Understanding Human Personality Further information, including indicative module syllabi, are available via our online prospectus: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/2014/certificates/subject/psychology/ How many modules do I take? To be eligible for the award you must complete 120 credits including the four core modules (worth a total of 90 credits) and a further 30 credits from the list of options above. All modules are worth either 30 credits or 15 credits. 30 credit modules usually two term modules - are marked above with an asterisk (*). The remainder are worth 15 credits and are usually one term courses. Each module you complete successfully will contribute towards the final grade of your Certificate of Higher Education: 1 Prerequisite: Successful completion of The Developing Child: A Psychological Perspective. 8
each 30 credit module contributes 25% of the final grade; each 15 credit module contributes 12.5% of the final grade. How long does it take to complete? It s very important that you don t take on more than you can realistically manage. Enrolling for too many courses is costly and dispiriting. Remember, you may take up to 4 years to complete the Certificate of Higher Education and the majority of students in full-time work tend to spread their studies over 2 or 3 years. A student taking 120 credit modules in one year would be studying for 37.5 hours / week in other words full-time. Clearly 60 credits / year is also a substantial undertaking in terms of the time required. So, if you wish to take more than 60 credits in one year please discuss this with the Administrator before enrolling. How long is each module? A 30 credit module usually lasts for two terms. Each term is usually 11 weeks long. You attend the module once a week, usually for two hours. The total amount of time you spend in class is 44 hours. A 15 credit module lasts for one term. Again, you attend the module once a week, usually for two hours. The total amount of time you spend in class is 22 hours. The only exceptions are Research Methods [Part 1] and Research Methods [Part 2] which have 33 hours of classroom time. 9
2. GENERAL INFORMATION How will the department contact me? The department will normally contact students by e-mail, using the e-mail address that the College holds for you. It is therefore important that you provide an e-mail address that you are able to check regularly, and that you ensure that the contact details on your My Birkbeck profile are correct and up to date. What if my class is cancelled? If for any reason one of your classes is cancelled, you will be informed by e-mail. If a class is cancelled at very short notice, we will endeavour to contact students by telephone, where possible. Again, we can only use the information that we hold for you on our system, so please do ensure that you provide us with a mobile telephone number. 10
3. TEACHING AND LEARNING Most modules are held in the evenings, but some are run during the day. Modules may start in September, January or April. Classes are held in central London. Who teaches the modules and what type of teaching is used? Modules are taught by lecturers with a wide range of psychological experience - both practical and theoretical. Different lecturers have different teaching styles but classes normally take the form of lectures and discussion, and sometimes a variety of exercises and group work. What are the attendance requirements? Sitting timed assessments Some courses include timed assessments: the syllabus for each course will tell you whether or not it includes a timed assessment. The assumption is that students will be available throughout the term and therefore students should be available to attend timed assessments on the dates set by the tutor. Timed essays will usually be scheduled as follows: Term 1: Research Methods [Part 1]: Week beginning 8 December 2014 Foundations of Modern Psychology: Week beginning 24 November 2014 All other modules: Week beginning 10 November 2014 Term 2: Research Methods [Part 2]: Week beginning 23 March 2015 Research Methods [Part 1]: Week beginning 16 March 2015 Foundations of Modern Psychology: Week beginning 9 March 2015 All other modules: Week beginning 23 February 2015 Term 3: Research Methods for Psychology [Parts 1 & 2]: Week beginning 29 June 2015 Foundations of Modern Psychology: Week beginning 22 June 2015 All other modules: Week beginning 8 June 2015 11
What if I can t attend a timed essay?! If a student is unavailable to sit a timed essay - for example due to ill-health - they will need to submit a mitigating circumstances form which will go to the Sub-Board of Examiners for consideration [see page 18]. General attendance requirements: In general, you are expected to attend as many of the sessions as possible. The exceptions to this are the research methods modules, for which you are required to attend at least 75% of all possible course contact hours to be eligible for assessment. How much work is involved? A module worth 15 credits normally requires up to 150 hours of study. This includes time in class, time studying at home, time preparing assignments, time spent thinking about what you ve studied in class and what is needed for your assignments in fact any time you spend engaged in learning related to that module. The time students will need to set aside each week will vary between students. Most allow 6-12 hrs per week outside the classroom for each 30 credit course they are taking. Although this is only offered as a guide, it highlights the amount of time you need to plan for your studies, given that these courses are taught and assessed at the same level as the first year of an undergraduate degree. What academic and study skills support is available? Students on our modules come from a range of backgrounds. Although some have recent experience of studying at college, some won t have studied since they were 16 years old. This range of experience and backgrounds is one of the things our students find particularly stimulating and supportive when studying with us. We fully recognise that returning to study and completing coursework can be anxiety provoking but it is possible to learn the skills required and we see it as a key part of our job to support students to develop these skills. All students are encouraged to discuss their study skills needs with the course lecturer. Whilst study skills are incorporated into most courses, students who need or want more support than the course lecturer can realistically provide, may want to consider enrolling on one of the following one day study skills courses run by the Psychology Team free of charge: Study Skills for Psychology Students Essay Writing for Psychology Students 12
Maths for the Terrified Taking Timed Tasks for Research Methods For further details, and to enrol, please visit our website: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/2014/certificates/programmes/uehpsych/ or contact the Administrator for Psychology. More general learning and study skills support is also available: please see Section 7 - Student Support Services for more information. 13
4. ASSESSMENT COURSEWORK GENERAL NOTES The central aims of assessment are to: assess whether you have learnt all it was hoped you would learn on the course [the syllabus outlines under learning outcomes what you should know / understand / be able to do once you ve successfully completed the course]; give you personal feedback on your progress; give you a chance to: o study particular areas of interest in more detail; o spend time thinking about the real life applications of what you have learnt. The amount you learn will increase if you are interested in the topic, so we would strongly encourage you to discuss with your tutor if there are particular subjects that you would like to focus on in your assessments. Obviously the topic has to be entirely relevant to the module but it may be possible to negotiate something of particular interest to you. In your discussions with the tutor it may be useful to let them know what grade you are aiming for as some types of assessment increase the likelihood of a high mark. This may be relevant to students aiming to progress onto other courses. Please note, each piece of work you complete on a course and each piece you complete on the Certificate as a whole must be written on a different topic. For example you may only write one essay on intelligence or one essay on attachment theory. It is your responsibility not to write on the same topic more than once if in doubt, discuss it with your tutor. If you are later found to have written on the same subject more than once you will be asked to complete an additional piece of work on a different topic and will not be able to complete the course or the Certificate until the new work has been completed successfully. Coursework: All courses include coursework completed at home. Coursework may include essays, reports, reviews, oral presentations, case studies and exercises appropriate to the subject. You may be able to negotiate with your tutor the type of work you complete, the topics included and even the wording of the assignments. So, if there is some form of assessment that you would find particularly useful or interesting (such as a case study, for example), please discuss the possibilities with your tutor. We may not be able to accommodate 14
every request but we do try to be flexible. The course lecturer must agree the question/task. Tutors may give you feedback on essay plans but not on drafts of essays. Each piece of work completed at home should normally be 1,500 words in length each (or the equivalent). There will be no penalty for work that is 10% (150 words) too long or too short. However, for work that is between 150-500 words too long or too short, 5% will be deducted. For work that is more than 500 words too long or too short 10% will be deducted. Sometimes it may also be possible to complete a double piece of work so you submit one piece of work that is 3,000 words long rather than two shorter pieces. The course lecturer must agree that this is acceptable and they must agree the question/task. Again, students will be penalised for submitting work that is significantly over or under this word limit: there will be no penalty for work that is 10% (that is 300 words) too long or too short. However, for work that is between 300-1000 words too long or too short, 5 marks will be deducted. For work that is more than 1000 words too long or too short 10 marks will be deducted. Uploading coursework via Turnitin: You will be required to give a paper copy of your coursework to the tutor. You will also be required to upload an electronic copy of your work via Turnitin which you will find on Moodle. Your tutor will explain how to do this. You must upload the electronic copy by the deadline for submission. The reason we need you to upload your work is so we can see what percentage of your coursework is written in exactly the same words as material found in books, articles, other students coursework or on the web. If more than 5% is found to be exactly the same as other such material, we may not be able to accept the work. To avoid this problem you can upload your work into Turnitin before the submission deadline and check for yourself what percentage appears to be in the exactly the same words as material in books etc. You can then rewrite the problematic sections before the final submission date. The section below entitled Plagiarism gives further advice on how to avoid this problem. Work completed in class under timed conditions: Some courses also include essays or other assignments that you complete in class under timed conditions without access to your books or notes. Timed essays Each time you have to complete a timed essay you will be given an hour during class to write an essay without referring to your books or to anyone else. The 15
reason for including timed essays as part of the assessment is that they are a chance to see how well you can apply your knowledge to a problem that you haven t seen before within a limited amount of time. They also help you to assess how much of the material you really understand and you can actually remember. Furthermore, those students preparing to go on for further study, for example, undergraduate degrees in psychology, will find them useful preparation for taking formal exams in the future. Although writing under timed conditions may seem daunting, some students prefer timed essays as they find that they take less time to prepare than coursework completed at home. Students will not be penalised for the length of timed essays although pieces that are too short may not be of sufficient quality to receive the higher grades. As a rough guide students may aim to write approximately 700-1000 words. Students do not have to provide a reference list at the end of their essay but do need to include references in the body of their essay if they refer to the work or ideas or others. The number of assignments: For a 15 credit module there are usually two pieces of work to complete: On some of the modules both pieces of work are completed at home. On some half modules one piece of work is completed at home, whilst the other is written in the classroom under timed conditions (1 hour). For a 30 credit module there are usually four pieces of work to complete: On some modules all of the pieces of work are completed at home. On some of the modules two of the pieces of work will be completed at home and two will be undertaken under timed conditions in the classroom on separate occasions (1 hour each). COURSEWORK RESEARCH METHODS [PARTS 1 & 2] Coursework requirements for these modules are slightly different and are outlined below. For each Research Methods module, students are required to complete two pieces of coursework a report of 1500 words based upon a laboratory experiment carried out in class as a group and written up individually. There is also a 2 hour timed test that will be carried out at the end of the course, which has two sections, A and B. Section A has a specific focus on methodology and ethics, and Section B assesses the practical use of SPSS. 16
COURSEWORK SUBMISSION DEADLINES The regulations governing assessment conform to the Common Award Scheme, details of which are available on the College website: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/reg/regs Key points to note are: How you submit your coursework; the range of difficulties that are acceptable as mitigating circumstances; and the number of attempts that you can have at any one module; Submission of Coursework Deadlines for submission of coursework are set by your tutor in the first instance. It is important to adhere to these deadlines and undertake assessment at the appropriate point in the course. You will be able to have your work marked in good time and receive feedback that you can use to inform future submissions. The following guidance relates to the formal regulations regarding late submission and the capping of marks. The key dates to note for the Psychology programme are: 1. Where you find it impossible to meet the deadline set by your tutor you must negotiate with them a deadline that you can meet. The last date when it is possible to submit work without penalty is the last date of your course. Work submitted by this date will be accepted without penalty. Work submitted after the first submission date for your class (i.e. after the last session) will be capped at the 40% pass mark unless mitigating circumstances apply (please see overleaf). 2. The second submission date for the 2014/15 academic year will be as follows: Modules ending in term 1: Friday 9 January 2015 Modules ending in term 2: Friday 24 April 2015 Modules ending in term 3: Friday 17 July 2015 Work submitted after the second published deadline will not be accepted and will be returned. 17
Students should note the importance of these deadlines and the implications of missing either one or both of them. Please note: That posting of work does not constitute submission. It is your responsibility to ensure work has been received and to keep proof of postage and copies of your work. Work submitted after the first deadline should be submitted to your tutor as an electronic attachment by email. You should ensure that you request and have confirmation of receipt from your tutor as proof. That it is your responsibility to be clear about the internal submission dates for your course, including the dates that the timed essay(s)/task(s) are scheduled, so that you can ensure that you make necessary arrangements to meet the deadlines and attend the timed essays/tasks. MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES If you feel that you have mitigating circumstances that affected your work and that you would like considered by the Sub-Board of Examiners, you should complete the appropriate form and submit it as soon as possible and before the second submission deadline. To download the form, and for further information on the kinds of mitigating circumstances that will be considered and those that won t, please visit our website: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/administration/assessment/coursew ork/mitigating-circumstances Please note: Not all circumstances will be considered valid. All valid mitigating circumstances will need to be supported with appropriate documentary evidence. If you are unable to submit one or more pieces of your coursework (or unable to attend one or more timed essay/task) due to mitigating circumstances you may apply for a deferral of the outstanding elements of your assessment. The completed mitigating circumstances form and documentary evidence should be submitted before the second submission deadline. You should note that mitigating circumstances will only be considered where there is clear evidence that the circumstances occurred in the short period 18
leading to or at the time of the assessment. Please note that marks awarded are normally never changed. In exceptional circumstances marks may be raised by up to 2% to secure a pass where a student has marginally failed a piece of work if there is evidence that their performance was adversely affected by the mitigating circumstances where normally their performance is of a higher standard. Where a Sub-Board of Examiners judges that a student s performance was affected by mitigating circumstances the student will be offered the option of repeating that element of the assessment. This reassessment if taken up does not count as an attempt. The dates for reassessment are as outlined below. If you are unable to meet the first deadline and the second deadlines due to mitigating circumstances relating to those periods you will have until 17 July 2015 to submit your mitigating circumstances form to apply for a deferral. MARKING CRITERIA Your work will be marked according to the published criteria for Psychology Certificate of Higher Education courses (please see Appendix 1). The grades awarded by course lecturers for all modules are provisional and subject to moderation. FEEDBACK Aside from marking your work, your tutor will also give you feedback that will both explain the mark awarded and offer you advice on how to develop and improve your work next time. If you are not clear about the feedback please ask your lecturer to explain it and they will be happy to do so. Try to make sure you understand what the main thing is for you to work on to improve your next mark. It s also worth noting that there is no point comparing your grade with that given to other students in your class as our classes include students from such a wide range of backgrounds that each person s strengths and needs will be specific to them. MODERATION All coursework is subject to the moderation procedures of the College to ensure the equity and accuracy of marking of student assessments across all modules. You should be aware that all marks awarded by tutors are provisional until 19
confirmed by the Sub-Board of Examiners and may change during the moderation process. If your class is selected for moderation you must submit all of your marked assessments at the end of your module to your tutor. The work should be submitted in a flat folder (either an A4 plastic folder or envelope folder) and should include green coversheets. All coversheets must be appropriately completed and signed to confirm the work is your own. If your class is NOT selected for moderation you must ensure you retain your coursework carefully in case of query until online notification of results in mid-august. NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS AND RETURN OF COURSEWORK The Sub-Board of Examiners normally meets in the last week of July to ratify results. However, a nominated committee of the Sub-Board of Examiners will meet during the year to consider mitigating circumstances and identify students eligible for reassessment in late Spring for courses ending in term 1, late summer for courses ending in term 2 and early September for courses ending in term 3. Online notification of results for all modules will take place in mid August. You will be able to check your results via your My Birkbeck profile (see Student Support Services for more information). Coursework is normally returned to students four-six weeks after the notification of results have been sent. FAILURE AND RE-ASSESSMENT OF A MODULE To satisfactorily complete a module, students must achieve an overall mark of 40% or more. For modules including assessment with one or more timed essays/task, students have to pass at least one timed essay/task to pass the module. The overall mark for a student failing to pass at least one timed essay/task, with an average overall mark for the module of 40% or more, will not be changed but will be recorded as a fail. For Research Methods [Part 1] and Research Methods [Part 2], the lab report and both sections of the timed task (A and B) must all be passed with a mark of 40% or more in order to satisfactorily complete the module. If you fail to pass a module at your first attempt then you may be reassessed or you may be required to re-take. 20
Re-assessment and re-takes Re-assessment is where a student will re-attempt a failed element of a failed module without attending any further classes. A re-take requires a student to re-enrol for the module, re-attend the course and re-take the full coursework requirements. A decision on whether you will be permitted to be re-assessed in one or more elements of a module that has not been passed is at the discretion of the sub-board of examiners. As a general guide, it is expected that students who fail a module with an overall mark of between 30-39% are likely to be offered re-assessment. Those with an overall mark of 29% or less are likely to be required to re-take the module. For Research Methods [Part 1] and Research Methods [Part 2], a student who fails the module with a mark for the timed task of 29% or less is likely to be required to re-take the module. A nominated committee will meet at the end of each term and decisions will be communicated to students shortly afterwards. Re-assessment will take place on the following dates: Courses ending in term 1: Monday 2 March 2015 Courses ending in term 2: Monday 8 June 2015 Courses ending in term 3: Monday 7 September 2015 If you do not wish to take up the offer of re-assessment you must let us know in writing by responding to the offer by the specified deadline. Failure to do so will mean that you have to re-take the module. *NOTICE OF CHANGE TO COLLEGE REGULATIONS REGARDING REASSESSMENT* From 2015/16 the College Common Awards Scheme regulations will be changing to include an amendment to the regulation of reassessments. From 2015/16 any reassessment awarded will be subject to a cap at the pass mark (40%). This change does not come into effect until 2015/16. Marks for students who undertake reassessment in 2014/15 will not be subject to capping. This change will apply to reassessment only, and not students who are required to re-take a module. 21
Number of attempts Students are permitted three attempts at passing a module (the original attempt plus two further attempts, of which only one may be a reassessment). An attempt constitutes: A student who completes and submits all the coursework even if they fail the module overall (such cases will be resulted with the actual mark obtained). A student who fails a module with an overall mark of 30-39% and takes up the opportunity given by the Sub-Board of Examiners to be reassessed in the failed element(s) of a module. (Students may only be reassessed once. If they subsequently fail they must retake the module). A student who chooses not to submit all pieces of coursework required (including a timed essay/task) but has not formally withdrawn (in such cases the item(s) in question will be awarded a zero to arrive at the overall mark). Implications for completion of a module are: A student who does not complete the coursework requirements for a folder and has not formally withdrawn from assessment in writing before the first submission date will be deemed to have attempted the module. Unless mitigating circumstances are submitted and a deferral requested for the outstanding item(s) the student will be resulted by averaging the marks based on a mark of zero for the non-submitted items. Students cannot retake a module to gain a higher mark. A student failing to complete a module satisfactorily after three attempts will not be permitted to re-enrol for the module. Where the module is a core module such a student will be unable to meet the requirements for that award. APPEAL PROCEDURE There is no provision for appeals against the academic judgement of Sub-Boards of Examiners in assessing the merits of assessment. The grounds on which appeals may be made are outlined here: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/rules/appeals_against_exam_board_ decisions.pdf 22
STUDENT COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE (ACADEMIC ISSUES) The aim of the College s Student Dispute Resolution Policy and Procedure is to ensure that complaints from students relating to courses of study, the availability or quality of facilities and any issues relating to College staff are dealt with fairly and promptly. Further details of the full procedure can be found at: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/registry/policies/policies-1 APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION FROM INDIVIDUAL MODULES If by virtue of your previous education experience, you feel that you have fully covered the content of an individual module in this award at another institution, you may apply for exemption from that module. Applications must be made in writing (along with relevant documentation) to the Award Coordinator for the Certificate of Higher Education in Psychology who, after assessing whether all of the learning outcomes for the module have been met, will notify you of their decision. If successful, you will accrue the appropriate number of credits for the module which can be used as part of the 120 credits required for the award. You may apply for a maximum exemption of 60 credits. REFERENCING AND PLAGIARISM It is essential that coursework is properly referenced. Referencing your written work means clearly identifying the source of your information. Referencing involves giving the name and date of the people whose work you are drawing upon within the body of your work and then including an organised list of those references at the end. What is plagiarism? You must use other people s work as the basis of your coursework in order to demonstrate that you know about and understand theories within psychology. The problem arises if you seem to be suggesting that someone else s ideas are your own. Using other people s words or ideas in your work without naming the person and indicating where you read about their work is called plagiarism. It is regarded as a form of cheating or dishonesty. According to College policy, plagiarism can take a variety of forms and can be categorised as follows: copying a whole or substantial parts of a paper from a source text (e.g. a web site, journal article, book or encyclopaedia), without proper acknowledgement; 23
paraphrasing someone else s work closely, with minor changes but with the essential meaning, form and/or progression of ideas maintained; piecing together sections of the work of others into a new whole; procuring a paper from a company or essay bank (including Internet sites); submitting another student s work, with or without that student s knowledge submitting a paper written by someone else (e.g. a peer or relative), and passing it off as one s own representing a piece of joint or group work as one s own Both committing plagiarism and helping someone else to are both potentially very serious. Academic declaration form When submitting coursework (e.g. essay or other coursework or dissertation), you will need to sign an academic declaration form, stating that you have read the sections of plagiarism in your Handbook and confirming that the work is your own, with the work of others fully acknowledged. Consequences of Plagiarising According to the College Policy on Assessment Offences (2008) there are two types of offences: Minor Offences - inappropriate paraphrasing, a relatively small amount of unattributed quotations, and up to several sentences of direct copying (without acknowledging sources), where these are first offences. Major Offences copying of paragraphs (without acknowledging sources), downloading essays from cheat sites on the Internet, copying much/all of the work of a fellow student, allegations of plagiarism in multiple pieces of coursework submitted by a student and examination, collusion and other offences. You need to be aware that both types of offences could lead to serious penalties. Details of this policy can be found on My Birkbeck at: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/rules/assessment%20offences.pdf but it is simply much better to avoid plagiarism! Avoiding Plagiarism In essence, the most obvious way to avoid plagiarism is to close books and exit the web etc. before starting to write. This is also the best way to learn as it requires the student to internalise and then verbalise the concepts they are 24
studying. Obviously they can then rework what they have written and add references etc. A similar strategy would be to imagine that their work is a letter to a friend: if they were to explain what they have learnt to a friend they would inevitably use their own words. Again, when they have finished they can add an appropriate introduction and conclusion, and references. More specific strategies include: always including a reference to show whose work you are quoting or where you got your information (in the body of the work and in the reference list) always using inverted commas ( ) when using a direct quote from a book, the web etc. Keeping direct quotes to a minimum always rewriting what is taken from books etc in their own words always giving the name/s and dates linked to the theories or studies under discussion Referencing your work The general rule is that if the information came from a book, an article, a paper, a web site and it is neither general knowledge nor your own original idea, then you should provide a reference. This may mean that almost every paragraph in your written work may carry one or more references - this is perfectly normal. Some sentences may even have more than one reference. In fact you should be wary of paragraphs you write that do not contain a reference. It is always safer to err on the side of caution and include a reference rather than not. Please remember that although fully referencing your work is an important aim in academic writing, it is also a skill that needs to be developed, don t worry if it takes several attempts before you feel confident in its use. How to reference: In the body of your essay [or other written assignments] include the name of the person who wrote the book, article or paper you are drawing upon for the ideas in that particular sentence or paragraph. You only need to give their surname. You also need to include the year the book or article etc. was published. E.g. o Smith [2011] demonstrated that referencing in the body of the essay significantly increased students marks. or 25
o It has been demonstrated that referencing in the body of the essay significantly increases students marks [Smith, 2011]. At the end of your essay give a Reference List. List in alphabetical order all the names you have included in your essay. Then add the full details of the books or articles etc. so that anyone who would like to read them can find them: o Smith, J. [2011]. How to Reference Your Essay. Milton Keynes: Open University Press. o In other words: Surname, Initial. (Year). Title of book. Where it was Published: Name of Publisher. Notice the punctuation where to use full stops, where to use commas, where to use italics etc. Copy this format exactly if possible. If you are new to writing essays, just concentrate on getting these basics correct. If you are comfortable with the basics practice using the APA [American Psychological Association] or Harvard system of referencing. o You can find further details about how to give references using APA at: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/subguides/science/psychology/apa Referencing information you found on the web For web pages you should aim to include (where available) the author of the information (a person, group or organisation), date (most web pages have a date at the bottom of the page), title, URL [the web address at the top of the page] and the date you used the web page. It is important to include the date when you last saw the information on the web as the information may change or disappear altogether. For example, the reference for a web page would appear in your Reference List as follows: Germov, J. and Williams, L. (1998) Social Appetite Web [web page] http://www.newcastle.edu.au/department/so/socialappetite.htm, [date accessed: 1 January 2013]. If no author information is listed on the web page, you would simply write the reference as follows: Get Great Information Fast, [web page] (1998), http://www.newcastle.edu.au/department/so/socialappetite.htm, accessed: 1 January 2013]. [date 26
Reference list or bibliography - what's the difference? A Reference List is a list of the references you have used in your essay or other written work. A Bibliography is a wider list of information sources related to the topic, but not specifically quoted in your work. Further Information Further information on referencing and plagiarism can be obtained from the Birkbeck Library website (including a number of tutorials and more detailed guides) at http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/about/learn/citing. Your tutor will also be able to provide you with additional advice and guidance. 27
5. COMPLETION OF AWARD Requirements and Award Scheme To complete the award of the Certificate of Higher Education in Psychology, you need to successfully complete eligible modules worth a total of 120 credits, including the four core modules Foundations of Modern Psychology, Biological Basis of Behaviour, Research Methods [Part 1] and Research Methods [Part 2]. Overall marks for the award are calculated as outlined in Section 1 Programme of Study, under the heading How many modules should I take? Students who achieve an overall mark of above 70% will receive a Distinction classification. All other marks between 40% and 70% are classified as a Pass. Further information is available at: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/reg/regs/cas/conferment/certhe Discretion Although awards and classifications are determined by the weighted average outlined above, the Sub-Board of Examiners has discretion to raise a classification where a student falls within 2 percentage points of a grade boundary. A recommendation to raise a classification can be made on the following grounds: Preponderance: where a student has achieved a preponderance (greater quantity) of credit in the higher classification. Unrepresentative performance in one module, which has affected the overall classification. Decisions of the Sub-Board with regard to discretion will be fair and consistent and made in accordance with the criteria specified above. However, there should be no expectation that the Sub-Board will use discretion to raise any student who falls within a boundary to a higher classification than that suggested by their classification formula. The Sub-Board can only use discretion to raise a classification, not to change marks awarded. Where discretion has been applied, individual module marks, and the overall award mark, remain the same. Award Ceremony and Issuing of Certificate Students who have successfully completed the Certificate of Higher Education 28
will be invited to attend the Certificate and Diploma Holders Ceremony which normally takes place in February. The Certificates themselves are normally issued in April. 29
6. FEEDBACK Providing feedback about your course Students are invited to give informal, verbal feedback to the tutor at any point during the course. Such feedback can be incredibly useful in helping the tutor to tailor their methods and the contents of the course to the particular group. Tutors may also ask for feedback at various points during the course. Students complete course evaluation forms at the end of the course. These are read by the tutor who will include a summary of the feedback in their end of course report. The forms and the tutors report are read by the Award Coordinator. Should you wish to give feedback on a course directly to the Team Leader for the Psychology Certificate programmes, this can be done by phone, by email or by downloading a copy of the course evaluation form and returning to the team directly. Staff-Student Exchange Staff-Student exchange meetings are held each year to enable students to provide feedback about their experience of studying on our Certificate programmes and at Birkbeck in general. Students enrolled on a specific module each term are invited to come to a meeting before or after their normal class time. 30
7. STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES MY BIRKBECK HELPDESK The My Birkbeck website (http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/) is your gateway to accessing all student support services at Birkbeck. It is also where you can access your student record, via your My Birkbeck profile (http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeckprofile), including your timetable, contact details, your financial records and your course results. You may also find the following links particularly useful:- Obtaining your library/id card: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/you/cards Accessing IT Services: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/computing/username Contacting our disability office: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/disability/disabilityoffice Financial support: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/studentfinance/ Study skills support: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support/study-skills You can also visit the helpdesk on the ground floor of the main Birkbeck building on Malet Street. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday from 12.00pm-7.00pm and 12.00pm-5.00pm on Friday and Saturday. You can also call the helpdesk on 020 7631 6316. Helpdesk opening hours may vary outside of term time. ADDITIONAL LEARNING SUPPORT To benefit fully from your studies, you should be able to read, write and speak English fluently. If you feel that you need to improve your written or oral skills in English, or if English is not your first language, we recommend that you enrol on an English language or academic writing course. If you would like the opportunity to reflect on your English language skills either because you have been educated in a language other than English or because you have not studied at HE level before, you may wish to consider this FREE online course from the Open University: Am I ready to study in English available on http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=4503 31
At Birkbeck, our Study Skills Support team provides advice, one to one tuition and support with grammar, maths and study techniques. A diagnostic English Language test is available for those students who need guidance or advice on their English Language skills. For further information visit their website: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/support or contact them by email: studyskills@bbk.ac.uk or phone: 0203 073 8042. Additional Resources Study Guides The following guides and websites may also be useful: Cottrell, S. (2008), The Study Skills Handbook, Palgrave Macmillan Heffernan, T.H. (2005), A Student's Guide to Studying Psychology, Psychology Press Northedge, A. (2005), The Good Study Guide, Open University Worldwide Additional Resources Websites There are hundreds, if not thousands, of websites on study skills. Not all are particularly good but the following are useful: http://www.studyskills.soton.ac.uk/ The University of Southampton s comprehensive website on a range of study skills and study issues; some parts restricted to Southampton students but a lot of useful tips and suggestions. http://www3.open.ac.uk/learners-guide/learning-skills/index.htm The Open University s website with a range of detailed guidance on study skills issues; some parts restricted to OU students but a lot of useful tips and suggestions. http://www.classzone.com/books/research_guide/page_build.cfm?content=web _research&state=none A very useful guide to doing research on the web. http://www.vts.rdn.ac.uk/tutorial/psychologist For specific guidance for psychologists and psychology students on getting the best out the internet. https://connect.le.ac.uk/p50066682/ and press the play button. For specific guidance on how to avoid plagiarism in your course work. DISABILITY SUPPORT Birkbeck is committed to do everything it can to support you in your studies but 32
to do so most effectively we need to know your needs. Specific recommendations can only be made once your needs have been assessed by our disability office and communicated to the department. Disability Statement for the Department of Psychological Sciences At Birkbeck there are students with a wide range of disabilities including dyslexia, visual or hearing impairments, mobility difficulties, mental health needs, medical conditions, respiratory conditions. Many of them have benefited from the advice and support provided by the College s Disability Office. The Disability Office The College has a Disability Office located in room G12 on the ground floor of the Malet Street building. We have a Disability Service Manager, Mark Pimm, a Disability Administrator, John Muya, a Mental Health Advisor, Elizabeth Hughes and an SpLD Advisor, Rob Martin. All enquiries should come to the Disability office, who will determine the appropriate referral to specialist staff. They can provide advice and support on travel and parking, physical access, the Disabled Students Allowance, special equipment, personal support, examination arrangements etc. The Disability Office can also complete a Support Agreement with you, confirming your support requirements and send this to your School and relevant Departments at the College so they are informed of your needs. Access at Birkbeck Birkbeck's main buildings have wheelchair access, accessible lifts and toilets, our reception desks have induction loops for people with hearing impairments and we have large print and tactile signage. Disabled parking, lockers, specialist seating in lectures and seminars and portable induction loops can all be arranged by the Disability Office. The Disabled Students Allowance UK and most EU students with disabilities on undergraduate and postgraduate courses are eligible to apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). The DSA usually provides thousands of pounds worth of support and all the evidence shows that students who receive it are more likely to complete their courses successfully. The Disability Office can provide further information on the DSA and can assist you in applying to Student Finance England for this support. The Personal Assistance Scheme Some students need a personal assistant to provide support on their course, for example a note-taker, sign language interpreter, reader, personal assistant, disability mentor or dyslexia support tutor. Birkbeck uses a specialist agency to 33
recruit Personal Assistants and they can assist you with recruiting, training and paying your personal assistant. Please contact the Disability Office for information on this scheme. Support in your Department The provision which can be made for students with disabilities by Schools and Departments is set out in the Procedures for Students with Disabilities. This is available from the Disability Office and on the disability website (see below). As mentioned above your Department will receive a copy of your Support Agreement from the Disability Office. This will make specific recommendations about the support you should receive from the Department. Whilst we anticipate that this support will be provided by the Programme Director, tutors and Administrator the Department of Psychological Sciences also has a Student Disability Liaison Officer. If you experience any difficulties or require additional support from the Department then they may also be able to assist you. They may be contacted through the Departmental Office or the Disability Office. Support in IT Services and Library Services There is a comprehensive range of specialist equipment for students with disabilities in IT Services. This includes software packages for dyslexic students (e.g. Claroread and Inspiration), screen reading and character enhancing software for students with visual impairments, specialist scanning software, large monitors, ergonomic mice and keyboards, specialist orthopaedic chairs etc. For advice and assistance please contact Disability IT Support. There is also a range of specialist equipment in the Library including a CCTV reading machine for visually impaired students as well as specialist orthopaedic chairs and writing slopes. The Disability Office refers all students with disabilities to the Library Access Support service who provides a comprehensive range of services for students with disabilities. Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia) Mature students who experienced problems at school are often unaware that these problems may result from their being dyslexic. Whilst dyslexia cannot be cured, you can learn strategies, which make studying significantly easier. If you think you may be dyslexic you should contact the Disability Office who can screen you and where appropriate refer you to an Educational Psychologist for a dyslexia assessment. These assessments cost 225. Some students can receive assistance in meeting this cost from their employer. In exceptional cases students may receive assistance from the Access to Learning Fund. At Birkbeck there are students with a wide range of disabilities including dyslexia, visual or hearing impairments, mobility difficulties, mental health 34
needs, HIV, M.E., respiratory conditions etc. Many of them have benefited from the advice and support provided by the College s disability service. Timed Assessments Students with disabilities and dyslexia may be eligible for special arrangements for timed assessments e.g. extra time, use of a word processor, amanuensis, enlarged question papers etc. In order to receive special arrangements a student must provide Medical Evidence of their disability (or an Educational Psychologist s Report if you are dyslexic) to the Disability Office. Students should also attend an appointment with the Disability Office to discuss and formalise the appropriate arrangements. Special arrangements for timed assessments cannot normally be accommodated within the class. Timed assessments for students with special arrangements will be scheduled as follows: Term 1 Research Methods [Part 1]: Monday 8 December 2014, 6-8.30pm Foundations of Modern Psychology: Monday 24 November 2014, 6-7.15pm All other modules: Wednesday 12 November 2014, 6-7.15pm Term 2: Research Methods [Part 2]: Friday 27 March 2015, 6-8.30pm Research Methods [Part 1]: Friday 20 March 2015, 6-8.30pm Foundations of Modern Psychology: Friday 13 March 2015, 6-7.15pm All other modules: Friday 27 February 2015, 6-7.15pm Term 3: Research Methods [Part 1] and [Part 2]: Friday 3 July 2015, 6-8.30pm Foundations of Modern Psychology: Friday 26 June 2015, 6-7.15pm All other modules: Friday 12 June 2015, 6-7.15pm You should contact the department to confirm your intention to attend at least 2 weeks before the date of the test. The Disability Handbook The Disability Handbook provides detailed information on the support available from the College. Copies are available from all main reception areas, the Disability Office and from the College disability web site at: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/disability For further information or to make an appointment to see the Disability office, please call the Student Centre on 020 7631 6316 or email disability@bbk.ac.uk. 35
8. LEARNING RESOURCES Birkbeck Library All students enrolled on an award bearing module may join Birkbeck library free of charge. To join the library you will need to obtain a Birkbeck ID card which also acts as your student card. Joining the library will also give you access to electronic resources such as journals which can be accessed remotely. You may also be able to borrow books from other libraries in the SCONUL scheme. If you wish to buy books your tutor will be able to advise you on which books to buy. Syllabi for individual modules can be downloaded from our web site, which will include introductory reading lists if you would like to prepare for the module. Some modules identify preparatory reading which we recommend you undertake prior to the start of the module. Birkbeck IT Services Upon enrolment you will receive your IT Services (ITS) username and password, which you will need to access College PCs, electronic resources in the library, your My Birkbeck profile and Moodle (see below). More information about computing services provided by ITS is available at: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck/services/facilities/computing Moodle Moodle is the name of Birkbeck s Virtual Learning Environment and an essential resource for your course. Every module will have a module shell with links to course materials and other information posted by your tutor. You will also be required to upload and submit an electronic copy of your home essays to Moodle so that it can be scanned for plagiarism. Moodle is accessed via: http://moodle.bbk.ac.uk. You will need your ITS username and password. 36
9. FURTHER STUDY One of the aims of this award is to prepare students for further study should they wish to continue. There are various ways in which students can continue with their studies following the completion of some or all of the Certificate of Higher Education: Entrance onto the part-time undergraduate degree in Psychology at Birkbeck Entry into year one: Students who have taken Foundations in Modern Psychology and Research Methods [Part 1] are guaranteed at least an interview with the Psychology Department with a view to possible acceptance for entry into the first year of the part-time undergraduate Psychology degree programme. Entry into year two: To be considered for entry into the second year of the part-time undergraduate Psychology degree programme run by the Psychology Department students need to take the following modules: Foundations of Modern Psychology Biological Basis of Behaviour Research Methods [Part 1] Research Methods [Part 2]. Students must achieve at least (50%) in all modules to be considered. Please note that meeting the criteria does not guarantee a place on the second year of the BSc Psychology Degree programme at Birkbeck. Places are limited and there is a selection process. For further details please contact us. If you wish to apply for entry into the 2 nd Year of the BSc at Birkbeck you need to plan your studies so you complete Research Methods [Part 1] before Research Methods [Part 2]. Transferring Credit towards Degree Courses in the University of London and elsewhere Students who have completed Modules for this award may find that they are able to claim exemptions from individual Modules and examinations for first degrees at other Colleges of the University of London and other institutions of higher education, including the Open University. There may be other tests for entry. Cases are assessed on a case by case basis and students should consult admissions officers of the institutions concerned. 37
10. DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES Location The departmental office is located in Room 501 of the main Birkbeck building on Malet Street. Opening hours are 10am 6pm, however please note that there may be occasions when no staff are in the office. If you need to see a particular member of staff then you are advised to call and make an appointment. Key contacts If you have a query regarding your courses, please do contact a member of the team: Rebecca Morris, Administrator, Psychology (Cert HE) and Study Skills courses 0207 631 6669 rebecca.morris@bbk.ac.uk Jennifer Mackay, Administrator, Applied Psychology, Psychoanalytic Psychology and Interpersonal Communication Skills (Cert HE) courses 0203 073 8044 j.mackay@bbk.ac.uk Richard Throup, Team Leader 0207 631 6206 r.throup@bbk.ac.uk 38
APPENDIX 1 Birkbeck College, University of London Department of Psychological Sciences MARKING CRITERIA FOR PSYCHOLOGY COURSEWORK - Guidance for students SEPTEMBER 2014 Please ensure that you: have signed the green coursework coversheet (verifying that the work is your own and not plagiarised); have written the title of the work in full; have indicated whether the work is a home or timed piece of work; indicated the number of words you have used (not required for timed essays/tasks). Please note that: All marks given are provisional until verified by the appropriate Board of Assessors. In marking coursework, lecturers will be looking for particular evidence of: STRUCTURE How far does the essay have a coherent argument running through it? Is there some form of introduction, main body and a concluding paragraph? How far do the points follow logically from each other both between and within paragraphs? CLARITY How easy is the writing to read? is it concise and economical but not dense? is it straightforward but not simpleminded? is there enough information but not lot of unnecessary detail? is the reader left scratching their head wondering what is meant? RELEVANCE How far does the essay address its title throughout? Each paragraph should make some point which helps build the case the writer is making, or the point of view they wish to present. USE OF THE LITERATURE To what extent are books, theories, authors used in the essay? Is the theory and evidence used primarily from psychology? How wide has been the reading? Is it used well and appropriately? Are references quote in the body of the essay? 39
Is a reference list given and is it in an appropriate format? CRITICAL / EVALUATIVE PERSPECTIVE For higher marks, the writer will show a clear awareness of a critical standpoint. For example: How far does the essay comment on weaknesses in theories, gaps in the evidence, or methodological problems? Does the student offer a relevant discussion of the development of ideas? Can they compare and contrast different theories or viewpoints? How far do they have a grasp of the pros and cons of different kinds of method and evidence: (e.g., case history, survey; experiment) and can they use that awareness to evaluate the claims they make? ORIGINALITY Some form of originality will increase the likelihood of very high marks. At this level, this may be some original observations but it may also be sufficient for the student to offer their own synthesis of the material. --------------------------- MARKING CRITERIA AND MARK BANDS 0-29% Fail: Inadequate work which: Does not address the question or fundamentally fails to complete the task. Is very poorly presented or illegible. Is very poorly organised. Presents no argument or presents an argument that is confused or contradictory. Shows no relevant reading in the subject area. Demonstrates no understanding of the relevant concepts, theories or research findings (or demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of these). Sources not cited. 30-39% Fail: A partial or superficial response to the task which: Barely addresses the question or completes the task. Is poorly presented. May be overly repetitious or descriptive and may consist of a string of weak assertions that may not relate to one another or may not be supported by theory / evidence. Demonstrates very little relevant reading in the subject area. Shows very limited understanding of the key concepts and theoretical perspectives (or demonstrates significant misunderstanding). 40
Sources inadequately cited or not cited 40-49% - An adequate piece of work that: Shows a basic understanding of the question or task but major areas may not have been addressed. The planning, structuring and presentation are relatively weak and may include a significant amount of irrelevant material. Shows evidence of some reading and attempts to address the question but is generally descriptive and/or not well supported by evidence or examples. There is limited understanding of concepts or ideas and these may be poorly or awkwardly expressed. There is a barely adequate use of sources, often over-dependent on material covered in class. Sources may be inadequately cited. 50-59% - A satisfactory to good answer that: Shows a clear understanding of the question or task. Most of the essay is relevant to the question. Has a clear if simple structure but may have some gaps in argument, planning or use of evidence. The approach and content gives some evidence of reading. Demonstrates an awareness of relevant debates but may be too descriptive or generalised or may need a clearer focus. There is some evidence of engagement with and analysis of material presented in the module. Appropriate sources adequately cited and referenced. 60-69% - A very good piece of work and complete examination of the task that: Has a coherent and logical structure to the answer and is well written, organised and presented. Shows wide reading/learning of relevant facts/theories and research. Has no irrelevant passages; the whole answer is fully focussed on the title. Gives clear evidence of understanding of concepts or ideas. Offers critical analysis and a clear argument backed by appropriate examples/evidence. Makes good use of sources with evidence correctly cited and referenced. 70-79% - An excellent or outstanding piece of work that includes all the elements of the previous plus also: 41
Makes well structured arguments that are theoretically informed, with very good use of relevant evidence. Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of concepts and debates and an ability to think critically. Gives clear evidence of awareness of current/relevant debates and study well beyond the scope of class material. Offers clear evidence of an understanding of any relevant ethical considerations. Offers a wide range of references, and is fully and correctly referenced throughout. 80% and above - An exceptional piece of work that includes all the elements of the previous plus also: An excellent knowledge and understanding of concepts and debates and an exceptional ability to think critically. Makes well structured arguments that demonstrate exceptional mastery of relevant theory and research evidence. Includes some significant novel or original aspect, angle or perspective. Demonstrates particularly insightful understanding. 42