Module PSYC3081: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Department: PSYCHOLOGY

PSYC3081: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Prerequisites

• Social and Developmental Psychology (PSYC2021) OR Modules to the value of 100 credits from Level 2 Applied Psychology (C810)

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To introduce students to recent theoretical and methodological developments in social psychology.
• The introduction to the module will focus on historical and theoretical issues in the development of social psychology as a core sub-discipline.
• The second part will examine critically changing conceptions of the social and the psychological in twentieth century social psychology.
• The third part will critically focus upon the topic of social cognition introducing a variety of approaches that emphasise the social and cultural aspects of cognition in everyday life.

Content

• The module is divided into an Introduction and two main parts.
• The Introduction to the module will focus on historical and theoretical issues in the development of social psychology as a core sub-discipline.
• The second part will examine critically changing conceptions of the social and the psychological in twentieth century social psychology.
• Topics in this part will include attitudes and attitude change.
• groups and intergroup relations.
• interpersonal relationships.
• and altruism.
• The third part will focus in more detail on the topic of social cognition, introducing a variety of approaches that emphasise the social and cultural aspects of cognition in everyday life.
• Topics in this part will include: cognitive social psychology.
• the ecological approach to social cognition.
• social representations and discourse.
• cultural psychology and situated cognition.
• the postmodern turn - beyond discourse and rhetoric.
• The module will end with an examination of recent attempts to bring about the unification of social psychology.

Learning Outcomes

• Detailed knowledge of the major theories in social psychology and evidence relating to these theories

• Ability to review critically and consolidate understanding of a coherent body of psychological knowledge and apply it appropriately

• Good written communication skills
• Good IT skills in word processing, data manipulation and data presentation
• Abilities to work independently in scholarship and research within broad guidelines

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Students' acquisition of detailed knowledge will be facilitated by lectures, group discussions, audio-visual materials and detailed reading lists.
• These modes of teaching provide students with detailed knowledge of the key theories and the skills needed to evaluate different theoretical positions in light of current evidence.
• The summative essay and examination will assess students' detailed subject knowledge.
• Student-led discussions and small group work develop students' abilities to work independently in locating ad evaluating research.
• Students' skills in independently undertaking a literature search and reviewing recent material will be assessed by the summative essay (no reading list set).
• An assessment of the range, recency and appropriateness of sources will be included in the overall assessment of the essay.
• The use of group discussions and small group work will ensure that students are exposed to a range of different theoretical positions, and encouraged to understand their inter-relations.
• Lectures, student-led discussion and small group work will also give students the opportunity to interpret and evaluate the significance of empirical work.
• The summative essay and written examination will effectively assess students' critical and analytical skills.
• The use of a summative essay and written examination will ensure that students' written communication skills are assessed.
• Feedback on the summative essays will be available form the beginning of the Epiphany term, allowing students plenty of time to benefit from feedback on this aspect of their work.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

None.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University