Postgraduate Course: Conceptual and Theoretical Psychology (CLPS11053)
Course Outline
| School | School of Health in Social Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course will consider key approaches and concepts in psychology and focus on the relevance of psychology for everyday issues and mental health. It is a required course for the MSc Psychology of Mental Health (Conversion) but will be available to others at the discretion of the course organiser. |
| Course description |
The course will be split into two parts. The 5 tutorials running in semester 1 will each focus on an important historical movement within psychology and make connections with the other course options in the programme. These will include: Defining Psychology, Early psychology and psychoanalytic theories; Behaviourism; Cognitive Revolution, Biology and the Brain. Semester 2 will focus on psychological literacy and will examine how psychological concepts and methods have application to everyday settings, with a focus on understanding mental health. These tutorials will include: Uses and abuses of Psychology, Psychology from Theory in Practice, Psychology and Media, Careers in Psychology, Psychology and Social Issues.
Throughout the tutorials discussion will demonstrate that mental health is influenced by many psychological factors, including: biological factors, cognitive and developmental processes, social contexts and individual differences. A parallel theme is that knowledge of psychology has relevance to many aspects of professional and everyday life.
The course will be taught face-to-face 10 x 1 hour tutorials involving class discussions and group work. The tutorials will be split between semester 1 and semester 2 and will act as a cohering strand that runs through the taught elements of the programme. Each tutorial will involve students engaging with readings and resources before the class and working in groups within the class. There will be a strong focus on collaborative learning and peer support and the tutors will facilitate and co-ordinate the learning activities rather than direct them. It is expected that this will encourage self-directed and self-regulated learning among students in addition to good group work skills. This course is an opportunity for students to reflect upon: psychology as a discipline, different professions within psychology, applications of psychology to understanding mental health, and the relevance of psychology for every day lives.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
| Course Start Date |
18/09/2017 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
88 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Summative assessment will comprise two 2,000 word essays:
1) A critical overview of key psychological theories and concepts (submitted at the end of semester 1)
2) A reflective essay considering the role of psychology in an area of mental health (submitted at the end of semester 2) |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback will be given on a session where students enter data into SPSS and complete simple analyses under exam conditions. The paper will be marked and discussed in class.
Summative feedback will be given on the essays via Learn. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of psychology as a science.
- Demonstrate psychological literacy in all aspects of students' lives.
- Demonstrate critical reflection on how psychological perspectives can aid our understanding of mental health and illness.
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Reading List
Fancher, R.E. & Rutherford, A. (2011). Pioneers of Psychology: A History (Fourth Edition). W.W. Norton & Co.
Gross, R. (2012). Key Studies in Psychology (Sixth Edition). Arnold Publication.
Hunt, M. (2007). The Story of Psychology. Anchor.
Benjamin, L. T. Jr (2006). A Brief History of Modern Psychology. Wiley-Blackwell.
The Psychologist (various articles)
Brysbaert, M. & Rastle, M. (2009). Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.
Meltzoff, J. (1998). Critical Thinking about Research: Psychology and Related Fields. Washington: American Psychological Association.
Cromby, J. Harper, D., & Reavey, P. (2013). Psychology, Mental Health and Distress. Palgrave Macmillan.
The Psychologist (selected articles) |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Develop your research knowledge that will enable you to discuss, share, present and analyse data and information in various formats and from a range of sources
Develop your research methods and data analysis skills
Develop your critical reflection and writing skills |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Joanne Williams
Tel: (0131 6)51 6339
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Timothy Abbot
Tel: (0131 6)50 8498
Email: |
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