Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2023-2024 (archived)

Module PSYC2121: CONTEMPORARY AND CONCEPTUAL ISSUES IN PSYCHOLOGY

Department: Psychology

PSYC2121: CONTEMPORARY AND CONCEPTUAL ISSUES IN PSYCHOLOGY

Type Tied Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2023/24 Module Cap None. Location Durham
Tied to C800 Psychology

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • The aim of this module is to develop skills in researching and communicating a range of contemporary and conceptual issues in psychology
  • It will provide students an opportunity to discuss psychological research in a tutorial context

Content

  • Students will undertake weekly tutorials to discover, share, and discuss contemporary research in areas of psychology under investigation within the Department of Psychology
  • The focus of the module will be on research-led teaching and the development of skills for understanding and communicating empirical findings and theoretical concepts

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • In depth knowledge relating to a sub-set of topics researched within the Department of Psychology
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Understand the relationship between theory and data, including the ability to evaluate theories and concepts
  • Ability to formulate research questions and hypotheses
Key Skills:
  • Competent in written communication skills
  • Competent in presentation skills
  • Competent IT skills in word processing and data presentation
  • Location, reading, and review of a body of research evidence
  • Critical evaluation of the quality of evidence and arguments
  • Ability to adopt different theoretical positions and see relationships between them

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

  • Acquisition of knowledge and understanding in the areas studied is facilitated by activities undertaken in tutorials, as determined by individual tutors, and by individual study outside the tutorial setting
  • The tutorials will guide understanding of the relationship between theory and data
  • Knowledge and understanding will be assessed via an essay assignment and a recorded presentation
  • The essay assignment will assess the ability to organise, review and evaluate evidence and theory, to provide critical appraisal, and to contrast theoretical positions
  • The presentation assignment will assess the ability to verbally review and evaluate evidence and theory, to provide critical appraisal, and to contrast theoretical positions
  • A key component in the preparation of the essay is the acquisition of adequate word processing skills
  • A key component in the preparation of the presentation is the acquisition of adequate computer visual display skills
  • Feedback on progress in the module will be provided via in-class activities
  • Subject-specific and Key skills are fostered through discussion and will be assessed via the coursework assignments

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Tutorials 10 Bi-weekly in two blocks of 5. One block occuring each term 1 hour 10
Lectures 5 1 hour 5
Asynchronous activites 8 Bi-weekly 30 mins 4
Preperation and Reading 181
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Summative Essay Component Weighting: 50%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Summative Essay 2000 words 100%
Component: Recorded presentation Component Weighting: 50%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Recorded presentation 10 minutes 100%

Formative Assessment:

Formative assignments and presentation opportunities within tutorials


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