PS933-7-SP-CO:
Special Topics in Psychology
2024/25
Psychology
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
06 November 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module is an advanced survey of major topics in contemporary experimental psychology. Topics that can be covered can include field developments in themes such as motivation, emotion, perception, educational psychology, cognition, self and identity, intergroup bias, social justice, evolutionary psychology or health.
For each topic, critical analysis of relevant theory and research will form the basis of written and oral work in the module. It is important to note that the exact topics covered from year to year will rotate depending on the expertise of the available teaching staff.
The aims of this module are:
- To become familiar and conversant with the psychological perspective on human behaviour.
- Develop, at an advanced level, critical knowledge and understanding of major areas of research in contemporary experimental psychology.
- Develop critical knowledge and understanding of critical issues in contemporary psychology.
- Achieve familiarity with advanced methodological issues in experimental psychology.
- Develop oral and written skills in the communication of psychological concepts.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate familiarity, and be conversant with, the psychological perspective on human behaviour.
- Demonstrate, at an advanced level, critical knowledge and understanding of major areas of research in contemporary experimental psychology.
- Demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of core theoretical and methodological issues in contemporary psychology.
- Demonstrate advanced oral and written skills in the communication of psychological concepts.
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered via:
Each week 1-2 students will lead the seminar. They will make a presentation to the class based upon their reading of the relevant chapter in the course text as well as a relevant empirical article. All students will prepare a thought piece based upon the text and are expected to participate in class discussion.
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 |
Thought Pieces |
|
70% |
| Practical |
Presentation |
|
25% |
| Practical |
Seminar participation |
|
5% |
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 Ayten Bilgin, email: a.bilgin@essex.ac.uk.
Ayten Bilgin, Marie Juanchich, Sheina Orbell
a.bilgin@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dr Alexander Jones
Middlesex University
Senior lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Psychology
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.