PS105-4-SP-CO:
The Social World
2025/26
Psychology
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Monday 12 January 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
15
10 August 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
PS421
BA 63C2 Psychological Studies,
BA 63C3 Psychological Studies (Including Year Abroad),
BA 63C4 Psychological Studies (Including Placement Year),
BA C801 Psychology (Including Year Abroad),
BA C802 Psychology,
BA C807 Psychology (Including Foundation Year),
BA C810 Psychology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C800 Psychology,
BSC C803 Psychology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C811 Psychology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C812 Psychology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C806 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C808 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience,
BSC C809 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Placement Year),
BSC C813 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIC999 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience,
MSCICA98 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Placement Year),
MSCICA99 Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C814 Psychology with Economics,
BSC C815 Psychology with Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C816 Psychology with Economics (Including Placement Year),
MSCIC998 Psychology with Advanced Research Methods,
MSCICB98 Psychology with Advanced Research Methods (Including Placement Year),
MSCICB99 Psychology with Advanced Research Methods (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C680 Psychology of Sport and Exercise,
BSC C681 Psychology of Sport and Exercise (including Year Abroad),
BSC C682 Psychology of Sport and Exercise (including Placement Year)
Do you behave differently when you are alone than with others? How do people interact with individuals? How do they behave in groups? How do people explain the social world and how do they explain the behaviour of others? What makes people attribute human characteristics to animals and inanimate objects? This module will examine how humans live in and interact with the social world. These questions will be explored, using social psychology theories, survey methods and research skills.
The aims of this module are:
- To highlight how humans are social beings and how the social world affects behaviour, through an examination of social psychological theory and research.
- To examine interview and survey methods.
- To consolidate and extend understanding of correlational methods and statistical relationships.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of theory and empirical research from Social Psychology.
- Describe and apply appropriate methods and techniques for conducting interviews and surveys.
- Analyse and interpret the quantitative relationship between 2 variables, using graphs and statistical methods.
- Use appropriate computer software to analyse quantitative data.
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered via:
- Nine lectures and six practical lab classes.
- Weekly drop-in support sessions.
Lectures will be focused on answering fundamental questions in social psychology, such as those outlined in the module description. Students will be encouraged to participate in lectures though discussion groups, asking questions, and also through the use of digital interactive platforms. This will ensure that the learning environment is inclusive for all students.
Lab classes will be used to provide students the opportunity to implement the statistical methods that are discussed during the lectures, and also for further discussion.
Drop-in support sessions will provide an additional safety net for students to seek further assistance for anything that they are struggling with. Discussion forums on moodle will provide an additional platform for students to seek additional support and to identify areas that need further explanation.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Class Test |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
Lab Report |
16/04/2026 |
50% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Paul Hanel, email: p.hanel@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Paul Hanel
p.hanel@essex.ac.uk
No
No
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Psychology
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