PSY2028 : Introduction to Health Psychology
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Kate Swainston
- Co-Module Leader: Dr Rachel Stocker
- Lecturer: Dr Tracy Donachie, Dr Chris Penlington, Dr Beth Bareham, Dr Benjamin Rigby
- Owning School: Psychology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To introduce students to the field of Health Psychology. The module will introduce a breadth of health-related topics, approaches, and interventions that health psychology practitioners typically encounter. It will provide an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of health behaviours and approaches to behaviour change. It will provide an introduction to theoretical frameworks, assessments, and treatment interventions used within Health Psychology. It will inform students of the different settings health psychology practitioners work in, and equip students with the basic knowledge of how to pursue career paths within the field.
Outline Of Syllabus
• Introduction to Health Psychology
• Health behaviours in context: biopsychosocial factors & determinants of health
• Theories of health behaviour change
• Developing behaviour change interventions
• Habits, cravings, and willpower
• Health behaviour in the context of long-term health conditions
• Healthcare and intervention delivery
• Health psychology career perspectives and routes
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:30 | 16:30 | Interactive present in person. Some weeks lectures will be 1 hour, others will be 2 hours to allow for practical activities. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 31:30 | 31:30 | Assessment preparation & completion |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | General reading and revision |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Preparation for assessment |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
This is an introductory module to a discipline the students have not encountered yet thus lecture materials are used as the most effective mode of imparting the core knowledge. In addition, the lectures will incorporate practical activities to develop relevant skills. In particular, there will be practical activities around what makes a good infographic to provide formative practice for the assessment. A drop in surgery will be provided to support students with the assessment.
Guided independent study will provide students with the opportunity to acquire more in-depth knowledge, improve understanding, and prepare them for the assessment. Private study is essential for in-depth review of knowledge imparted through lecture materials.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poster | 2 | M | 70 | Infographic: A poster or leaflet demonstrating effective communication of a health-related topic to the public |
| Report | 2 | M | 30 | To explain the rationale and effectiveness of the infographic, to include behaviour change theory. Word limit 300 |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The poster/leaflet (infographic) is an authentic type of assessment as it reflects the work done by a health practitioner. Students will pick a health-related topic from the module and align the topic to their chosen patient population. They will apply appropriate behaviour change techniques to communicate health information to their audience. Students will be provided with formative practice during the module to support the infographic element of the assessment. The related report will detail the rationale of the design and chosen information and outline why this choice is effective through evaluating appropriateness for the health topic and audience to initiate a behaviour change (intervention) to the public.
If the module is failed students will resit failed assessments in the same format during the August resit period.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PSY2028's Timetable