PL1D001 - Critical Perspectives in Psychology 01 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 3

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PL1D001
Module Title: Critical Perspectives in Psychology
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology
Faculty Sub Group: Youth and Community
Module Leader: Sarah-Anne Evans
Module Team: Shakiela Davies, Daniel Bowers, alexis jones, Kirsty Richards, Leigh Attwood, James Greville
First Intended Intake: SEP 2021 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 40 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 3
Valid From 01 Sep 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

1. To introduce students to key research covering social, developmental, biological, and cognitive perspectives, within contemporary and historical contexts.
2. To debate shifting paradigms in Psychology.

Content Summary

This module will enable students to develop a deep appreciation of key research that has shaped our current understanding of Psychology as a science. The module will introduce students to the core BPS areas of cognitive, biological, social, and developmental Psychology. In order provide students with a broad range of Psychological approaches, core areas will be contextualised with reference to individual differences, and /or Evolutionary and / or Comparative Psychology. Content covering core areas will also draw on historical contexts and perspectives as well as key theoretical approaches from behaviourism, humanism, and psychodynamic. Students will also be introduced to current research which reflects the directions that Psychology is taking.
Throughout the module students will engage in thinking and discussions around key debates in psychology.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Practical classes and workshops 72
Independent Study 160
Directed Study 168
Total Hours Selected 400

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate a thorough understanding of key research and theory covering social, developmental, biological, and cognitive perspectives within the context of historical and contemporary psychology.
LO2 Apply key research and theory from the core areas of psychology to different contexts

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Online Assessment (Exam) Online Closed Book Examination 2 Multiple choice and applied / scenario- based test on material taught in the first 5 weeks of term 2 45 N/A 25 No 40
Synchronous Online Assessment (Exam) Online Closed Book Examination 1 Multiple choice and applied / scenario- based test on material taught in the first 5 weeks of Term 1 45 N/A 25 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Literature/book/paper review 1 Review of literature from a specified topic related to material taught in the second part of term 1 0 1500 25 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Critique 1 Guided critical response to a specified vignetted based on material from the second part of term 2 0 1500 25 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Online Closed Book Examination 2
Online Closed Book Examination 1
Literature/book/paper review 1
Critique 1

Reading List

Hogg, M. and Vaugh, G. (2017) Social Psychology (8th Edition). Pearson
Eysenck, M.W and Keane, M.T. (2020) cognitive Psychology A students Handbook. Routledge
Slater, A. and Bremner, J.G. (2017) An introduction to developmental psychology: BPS Textbooks in Psychology (3rd Edition). WileyToates, F. (2011) Biological Psychology (3rd Edition). Pearson Education Hood, B.M. and Schacter, D. (2015). Psychology: Second European Edition. Palgrave
Tyson, P.J. Jones, D., and Elcock, J. (2011). Psychology in Social Context: Issues & Debates. Wiley-Blackwell
Gross, R. (2014). Themes, Issues & Debates in Psychology (4th Edition). Hodder Education
Fairholm, I. (2012). Issues, Debates & Approaches in Psychology. Palgrave The Brain Facts book. Free e-book from the Society for Neuroscience