PS942-7-SP-CO:
The Social Voice (Advanced)
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2023/24
Psychology
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Inactive
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
04 October 2018
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
Module Description:
This module provides an introduction to major contemporary research topics around how our voice communicates information about us as individuals (e.g. age, state of mind, sex, ethnicity, origin) but also our intentions, motivations, or emotions. Applying an interdisciplinary approach, students will learn more about the power of the "social voice" and research from social and cognitive psychology as well as social and cognitive neuroscience will help form an understanding of how the voice transmits information. Students will get an insight into the range of research and methodologies used to study how the "social voice" is perceived and produced. Relevant research of each topic will be critically analysed in the weekly seminar-style sessions.
Aims:
The overall aim is to provide students with an understanding of the processes underlying human vocal communication. To this end, students are introduced to a range of research findings within the field of voice studies, which will enable them to understand how these complex psychological processes take place and how they may be represented in the brain. Students will be expected to read both journal articles and book chapters that describe experimental studies and theoretical (re)views of topics in voice research. Attendance at seminars, effective note-taking, and well-prepared readings will be essential to successfully complete this module. Topics covered are subject to minor change each year.
Learning Outcomes:
A. To become familiar with processes involved in voice production, including basics about the anatomy and physiology of voice production
B. To become familiar with fundamental information on cerebral processes underlying voice production and perception
C. To develop a critical understanding of major areas of research within the field of The Social Voice
D. To acquire effective communication skills when presenting/discussing scientific results (about the social voice)
E. To acquire and practice scientific writing skills by means of "thought papers"
Topics by week:
16 - Course Overview & Introduction to The Social Voice
17 - Introduction to voice production and perception: anatomy, physiology, and cerebral processes involved
18 - The aging voice
19 - The sex(y) voice
20 - The familiar voice
20 - Advanced seminar: Neuropsychological evidence on the familiar voice
21 - The emotional voice
22 - Personality and the voice
22 - Advanced seminar: Neuropsychological evidence on personality and the voice
23 - The advertising voice
24 - Infographic presentations
25 - Voice research: Challenges and Future Directions
No information available.
No information available.
Learning & Teaching Methods:
10 two-hour long seminar-style sessions will be provided; for the first half of the session, students will be provided with an introductory lecture of the topic at hand. For the remaining time, students will be asked to engage in class and prepared questions will be discussed. Students will learn how to critically analyse the research presented in class/read about in the textbook. They will become more familiar in using adequate terminology and this style of engagement will help them to develop their critical thinking as well as communication skills.
In addition, students will carry out some practical work over the term. Introduction to this work will be provided in the first session and will be available on Moodle. Each student will be asked to collect their own data to answer a relevant social voice research question. Data collection can start in week 16 and needs to be finished by the end of week 21. Data collection is compulsory – if students fail to collect data, they will not be allowed to submit a lab report. Collated data from all students has to be analysed independently and written up as form of a lab report before the beginning of Term 3. Each student will produce one unique lab report. Instructions on how to analyse the data will be provided in a handout and on Moodle. In week 24, students will present an infographic on a topic discussed in class. Instructions on how to prepare this will be provided on Moodle. Finally, two thought papers (each 2-3 pages long) will have to be submitted. Thought papers are meant to help students understand a course topic by exploring and applying ideas from a personal perspective. They are particularly encouraged to read and think about the course content by integrating reactions across several readings. The first paper needs to be submitted by the end of week 21, the second one by the end of week 25. Overall, students will thus engage in a variety of learning and teaching methods and will gain critical skills in thinking about psychological concepts, specific data sets, and how to present important information in different forms (i.e., graphically, in short thought-pieces, and in form of a lab report).
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
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
Prof Silke Paulmann, email: paulmann@essex.ac.uk.
Silke Paulmann
paulmann@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 24 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
24 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Psychology
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.