PS516-6-SP-CO:
Psychology in the Real World
2026/27
Psychology
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 18 January 2027
Thursday 25 March 2027
15
14 May 2026
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module closely links to the Department's mission to foster an "Understanding of our place in the world".
The module will outline how theories and methods of psychological science are relevant to questions in everyday life beyond academia. These will be addressed by identifying problems and critically examining the evidence and methodology that can be used to address them.
The module includes a work-based learning coursework component, in which students write a report addressing a real-world problem posed by a real company/organisation.
The aims of this module are:
- To enable students to understand and explain the role psychological research plays in the “real world", i.e. beyond academia.
- To enable students to address a real-world problem posed by a real company/organisation.
By the end of this module, students are expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge from different disciplines in psychology to provide solutions to real-world problems.
- Critically evaluate the methods used in psychological research in applied settings.
- Write a report advising a real company/organisation how to address a real-world problem, based on knowledge gained from psychological research.
The module will cover a wide range of different topics from psychology.
The work-based learning coursework component involves feedback from the company/organisation involved in this component. Assessment is by a coursework report that each student writes.
The module will be delivered via lectures and/or seminars, plus an interactive feedback session where the company/organisation involved in the work-based learning coursework component will give feedback on the coursework.
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 |
Applied Essay |
|
100% |
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
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 Max Roberts, email: mjr@essex.ac.uk.
Max Roberts
Email: mjr@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
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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