PSY1001 : Psychological Enquiry 1

  • Offered for Year: 2012
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Patrick Rosenkranz
  • Owning School: Psychology
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value: 10

Aims

•To introduce and develop research, study and IT skills essential for the psychology degree.
•To support the transition into the academic environment of the School of Psychology and the University.
•To facilitate the creation of study groups that will be maintained in the small group teaching sessions of the wider degree programme.

Original Summary:
Psychology, like other sciences, accumulates knowledge through academic research. Psychological Enquiry introduces and develops key skills essential for good academic scholarship in psychology. These include:

•       Researching psychological questions and finding appropriate sources
•       Evaluating evidence and the quality of sources
•       Writing about psychological questions and referencing sources appropriately
•       Presenting evidence in written and oral form (essay and presentation)

Lectures will introduce the key topics and skills. Tutorials will develop relevant IT and Library skills. Group work with experienced mentors will give you the opportunity to practice these skills.

Outline Of Syllabus

1.       Introduction to Psychological Enquiry
2.       Finding sources in Psychology 1
3.       Finding sources in Psychology 2
4.       Plagiarism
5.       Reading a Journal article
6.       Academic writing 1
7.       Academic writing 2
8.       Giving a Presentation 1
9.       Giving a Presentation 2
10.       Presentation session
11.       Exam revision
12.       Feedback

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Academic Staff Contact Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion140:0040:000:00Essay
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture81:008:008:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion15:005:000:00Presentation
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops41:004:004:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops32:006:0012:00IT & Library skills sessions
Guided Independent StudyStudent-led group activity61:006:000:00Mentor Sessions
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study131:0031:000:00General reading
Total100:0024:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The topics and skills are introduced in the lectures. The mentor sessions are led by Stage 3 students who have been briefed and trained by the module leader. In these sessions, students practice the skills in small groups.
Tutorials are led by Rebecca McCready and Linda Errington and are Library and IT training sessions relating to academic writing and presentations.

Assessment Methods

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Oral Examination51M10N/A
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay1M801000 words
Computer assessment1M5IT Skills, 2.1 and higher will result in certificate of achievement
Computer assessment1M5Literature search, 2.1 and higher will result in certificate of achievement
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The main assessment is the written essay (1000 words) which is the direct test of the academic writing component of the course. Moreover, library skills (information literacy) and correct use of IT skills (computer literacy) will be assessed through the submitted essay (marked separately by RM and LS). The presentation skills are assessed through PowerPoint slides and a 5 minute presentation.

Reading Lists

Timetable

Disclaimer: The University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver modules in accordance with the descriptions set out in this catalogue. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, however, the University reserves the right to introduce changes to the information given including the addition, withdrawal or restructuring of modules if it considers such action to be necessary.