MSci Social Psychology

Key details

MSCI SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Start Year

2020

Attendance

Full Time

Award

Degree of Master of Sciences

UCAS course code

C88B

Entry Requirements

AAB

The MSci programme provides a rigorous approach to the range of psychological sciences combined with the opportunity to specialise in a particular sphere of knowledge on human behaviour and experience.

The degree programmes have a central core of psychology, giving you exposure to a range of theoretical ideas and research evidence from a variety of fields, including:

developmental psychology
social psychology
cognitive psychology
biological psychology
the study of personality and individual differences.

Our approach reflects the growing consensus within the field that human behaviour is best understood as the interaction of nature and nurture, biology and culture, and genes and environment. In the first three years you will bridge disciplinary boundaries, enabling you to explore and analyse the complex psychological processes found in contemporary life. Throughout this course you will be able to develop your own psychological understanding, integrating ideas from the diverse range of behavioural and social theories you will encounter. You will learn to relate psychological theories to real world experience and activities, and explore how psychological scholarship and research can be used in practical situations.

Your specialist knowledge and skills will develop as you select specific options and engage in higher level research in years 3 and 4.

About

The MSci Psychology programmes are designed to meet the needs of students who want to plan postgraduate study well in advance to enhance their academic and professional profiles.

You'll study a programme comprised of one subdisciplinary route (Social Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Developmental Psychology) which offers progressively specialised knowledge and understanding which you can take into a wide range of career paths.

Taking an integrated Master's year means that your research enthusiasm and interests developed over three years of study can be extended in an interconnected and coherent way.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

A range of assessment methods are used to monitor your progress, including coursework, reports, essays, projects, presentations, and examinations. There are both compulsory and optional elements to promote a combination of breadth and depth, core knowledge and creativity. The MSci route is characterized by the opportunity to undertake two in-depth pieces of .research.

Structure

In your first year you will study a one year-long compulsory module which will make up your core learning, providing you with a platform upon which you can develop your psychological knowledge.

You will encounter a wide variety of topics, from child development to linking the study of the individual to society. The research component will introduce you to subject specific methods in the study of psychology, as you begin to develop research skills and a critical perspective.

Teaching and Learning

The design of the course creates a common knowledge base in Level 4, while offering flexibility for students to undertake specific pathway through the degree based on academic interest or career intentions. Modules are team taught, enabling staff to teach in specialist areas and utilise particular skills. Teaching in your 3rd year offers a range of options which either deepen subdisciplinary knowledge or offer opportunities to build integrative and applied understanding. The teaching ethos helps to create a spine of common experiences for students, allows progression through common standards of assessment and feedback and enables staff to teach to their areas of expertise.

Independent study

As you progress through the course you will be expected to work more independently. The opportunity to undertake research projects in both your 3rd and 4th years means that you can explore areas of psychology which you find exciting and engaging.

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Assessment for Year 3

Structure

In the third year you will complete a substantial research project, reflecting your intellectual interests and career aspirations. You will be supported by a supervisor with expertise in your area of research, helping you to use your research skills to plan and produce a research project drawing on a specific form of data gathering and analysis. This could be focused on interviewing, survey work and/or experimental design, both within the laboratory and in applied contexts (subject to government health advice at the time) depending upon your chosen route. You will also select a number of optional modules from a wide range of psychology subjects, designed to give you specialist knowledge which will bridge into your Master’s year.

Teaching and Learning

Independent study

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Structure

In your fourth year you will continue to build specialist knowledge in your chosen field together with opportunities for building of advanced research skills aligned with your academic focus.

The 4th year combines research methods training with in-depth study at the cutting edge of your subject area. You will develop specific skills in research methodology necessary to understand and undertake advanced research into social behaviour and social cognition. You will undertake research in one of psychology’s most applied areas through exploring behavioural change and social interventions. You will acquire transferable skills in communication and the management and analysis of complex data sets. A key strength of the programme is the opportunity to experience modern psychological research methods at first hand, and to undertake bespoke lab skills training to acquire skills specific to your interests and career aims (subject to government health and distancing advice).

Teaching and Learning

Independent study

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Assessment for Year 1

Compulsory Modules

Introduction to Psychology

Code PSY-4008Y

Credits 120

The overall aim of the module is to provide you with an introduction to psychological theory and research, with a focus on how this knowledge is used and applied within the ‘real world’. Lectures and seminars will be organised into six key themes - exploring learning, explaining behaviour, researching social interaction, questioning reality, understanding yourself and applications of psychology. Each theme will be team-taught across a 3-week block, with a selection of lectures from a range of perspectives in psychological science. Adopting this integrative approach, you will be able to see how each curriculum area within psychology contributes to our knowledge and understanding of human behaviour.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.

Students in year 2 must take either Applied Psychology Route A or Applied Psychology Route B

Assessment for Year 2

Compulsory Modules

RESEARCH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS II

Code PSY-5003Y

Credits 40

You’ll develop your understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods. The module will enhance your understanding of statistical methods for drawing valid conclusions from numerical data through examination of: (i) techniques for data screening and exploration (ii) statistical significance, power and effect size (iii) parametric and nonparametric tests (iv) analysis of variance models (v) multiple regression. It aims to develop your skills and confidence in using SPSS for the analysis of data. You’ll also be offered the opportunity to develop your skills in relation to qualitative research design and analysis. You will become familiar with the theoretical, philosophical and methodological dimensions of qualitative psychology, building interviewing skills and exploring meaning through the analytical processes of grounded theory, narrative and discourse analysis.

COGNITIVE AND BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Code PSY-5017B

Credits 20

You will cover a wide range of core psychological topics on this module which are arranged into two distinct themes: Cognitive Psychology and Biological Psychology. Cognitive Psychology Theme: - Critically evaluate theories and discuss conflicting evidence within cognitive psychology. - Understand the practical implications of research in cognitive psychology. - Critically discuss recent progress in cognitive psychology. Biological Psychology Theme: - Describe and evaluate a range of methodological techniques which underpin the study of the human brain. - Demonstrate an understanding of the neurobiological basis of behaviour including vision, movement, language, learning, memory and emotion. - Critically discuss the neurobiological of some psychopathologies. By the end of this module you will have acquired advanced knowledge about how the mind is thought to be organised and how it operates (cognitive) and the neural systems that underpin the mind (biological).

CONCEPTUAL AND HISTORICAL ISSUES AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

Code PSY-5015Y

Credits 20

This module firstly considers individual differences and will explore and evaluate theories and findings, in the areas of differential psychology: scientific foundations of personality and intelligence, measurement and psychometrics. The module will build on the content from year 1 but will cover a diverse range of more advanced topics such as nature-nurture interplay, the biological basis of individual differences, emotional intelligence, personality and temperament and an insight into how Individual Differences is applied in real life settings. The spring semester we move onto an overview of the main ideas, people, approaches and methods that have shaped the discipline of psychology throughout its history. It will also help you to better understand contemporary psychology, its relationship to the sciences and humanities, as well as providing a context for the other modules that make up your psychology degree. The major schools of psychology and some of the key themes and debates that characterise the discipline will also be discussed (for example, the freewill-determinism debate, reductionism and the nature and limitations of scientific enquiry in psychology). We then move onto the consideration of individual differences and will explore and evaluate theories and findings, in the following area of differential psychology: scientific foundations of personality and intelligence, measurement and psychometrics.

SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Code PSY-5016A

Credits 20

The module runs across two core themes of psychology, Social Psychology and Developmental Psychology. The Social Psychology theme will consolidate and expand your knowledge of core areas of social psychological theory and research, namely; Social Perception (including person perception, attitudes, attribution), Inter-group Processes (including prejudice, inter-group conflict, social identification), Small Group Processes (including norms, leadership, decision-making, productivity), Social Influence (including conformity, obedience, majority and minority influence, the bystander effect), Close Relationships (including interpersonal attraction, relationships). The Developmental Theme will consider a range of concepts, issues and debates concerning social, emotional and cognitive development during infancy, childhood and adolescence. You will be encouraged to think critically about some key theoretical and methodological approaches. Recurrent themes include the influences of genes and environment; thought and language; typical and atypical development; social context and communication with children; and the relative roles of the individual and culture in development.

APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY ROUTE A

Code PSY-5007Y

Credits 20

This module explores a range of applied topics in psychology e.g. psychology of mental health and well-being; psychology of antisocial and criminal behaviour; psychology of substance use. Within each topic area the key antecedents, correlates and consequences of a variety of behaviours across a range of populations will be considered. The module concludes with a review and suggestions for future developments in these fields.

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Important Information

Students will study no more than 70 credits in any semester.

Assessment for Year 3

Compulsory Modules

RESEARCH PROJECT

Code PSY-6002Y

Credits 40

This module offers you the opportunity to demonstrate your independent research capabilities and competence through the development, design and performance of an empirical research project. Building from a foundation of the research methods modules in previous years, instruction on this module is mainly linked to supervision. Supervisors will offer guidance on the delineation of a researchable question, an awareness of ethics relating to your project; a comprehension of the appropriateness of the research design, managing the data collection process and the writing up of a report. The area of research, methodological approach and research context will be negotiated and agreed through supervision.

SOCIAL PERCEPTION AND BEHAVIOUR: From Individuals to Relationships to Groups

Code PSY-6014A

Credits 20

THIS MODULE IS RESERVED FOR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS. The module aims to enable students to comprehend, evaluate and compare the core topics and major perspectives in social psychological theory and research. The module will: - Introduce you to topic areas related to social perception in the context of individual, interpersonal, and intergroup processes, and highlight how these topics relate to everyday behaviour. - Assist you in formulating an appreciation of the strengths and limitations of key theoretical approaches discussed in this class. - Encourage you to adopt a constructively critical and creative approach. - Nurture intellectual enthusiasm for the subject matter within a supportive learning environment.

Optional A Modules

(60 credits)

FAMILY LIFE

Code PSY-6001A

Credits 20

In this module, you will consider the science of relationships and identify some of the critical factors that make and shape 'family' life. You will begin by deconstructing the concepts of 'relationships' and 'family' within their historical and cultural contexts. You will consider the different theoretical approaches utilised to understand and research relationships and family life. You will then explore specific topics such as relationships, parenting, marriage and divorce, before concluding with a consideration and evaluation of family and relationship research and policy.

DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE IN ACTION

Code PSY-6003A

Credits 20

How do infants learn to think? How do memory and language develop? How do we get data from young children, and how can we understand them? In this module you will learn how the human mind develops during infancy and childhood using examples from language development, memory and other areas of cognition. This will provide you with an understanding of how cognition is shaped by our early experience, and how we can study learning in children. You will gain both knowledge of the current theories of development, as well as hands-on experience with state-of-the-art tools in this area. You will approach these topics with a mix of lectures, seminars and practical classes that guide you towards being able to understand how babies learn to think, and design your own developmental research.

PSYCHOLOGY OF RISK

Code PSY-6004A

Credits 20

Assessing risk has always been of great importance as individuals attempt to avoid negative outcomes under conditions of uncertainty. More recently there has been an attempt to make this assessment objective as a foundation for government policies and public information. However, there is often a gap between expert objective opinion and individuals’ opinions, which can be problematic, for example when attempting to persuade people to reduce their carbon footprint or cut down on unhealthy behaviours. This module examines ongoing research which seeks to explain the phenomena and theories that underlie the individual’s ability to gather and assess information about potential risks and their subsequent decisions. This includes defining risk, considering individual differences in risk perception and the influence of sources of risk information.

BRAIN AND COGNITION

Code PSY-6009A

Credits 20

In this module, you will undertake an extensive examination of various experimental approaches used in Cognitive Neuroscience. Using the examples of commonly studied cognitive functions, we will examine how they develop in infancy, how they are modified as we age, to which brain networks they are associated with, and how they are impaired by focal brain lesions. The goal of the course is to develop your critical thinking, research and presentation skills, enabling you to synthesize, evaluate, and debate current theory and data in the field.

PSYCHOLOGY OF GOOD AND EVIL

Code PSY-6019B

Credits 20

You will consider the psychological aspects of destructive and benevolent behaviour. Classic and contemporary research will inform the understanding of the psychological processes that underpin extreme detrimental and beneficial behaviours. You will examine empathy, altruism, anti-social and criminal behaviour on both the individual and group level, integrating social psychological theory with historical examples. 'Evil' elements such as cults, killing, power and control will be balanced by the second strand of the module concerning virtuous behaviour, compassion, empathy, solidarity and social change. Situational and personal factors that drive these behaviours will be considered.

PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING THROUGH THE LIFESPAN

Code PSY-6020A

Credits 20

What is psychological health and wellbeing? How might it change as we get older? How might it affect and be affected by the other areas of our lives? Throughout this module you will explore psychological health and wellbeing across the lifespan. You will consider a number of psychological perspectives, including critical and positive psychology approaches, to take a broad look at what we mean by psychological health and wellbeing, paying attention to cultural and historical context. You’ll start by discussing different theories and components of psychological wellbeing, and then link this knowledge to examples of functioning and application at different life stages. Past examples of this have included psychological health programmes in schools, the workplace, therapeutic interventions, and positive approaches to ageing and later life.

NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS

Code PSY-6022B

Credits 20

This module will develop your understanding of both typical and atypical development through a detailed introduction to theory and empirical research related to neurodevelopmental disorders. It will highlight how genetic, environmental, biological and cognitive factors interact to shape development and behaviour over time. You will be encouraged to critically evaluate classical and contemporary perspectives on the subject and invited to consider practical issues related to the identification of, and provision for, children demonstrating an atypical developmental trajectory.

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY

Code PSY-6023B

Credits 20

In this module we will explore areas of current interest and debate in the psychology of criminality, and in the relationship between psychology and the criminal justice system. We will consider the roles that psychologists play in understanding, detecting and treating criminal behaviour, and we will discuss the issues, methods, findings and implications of research in areas such as crime statistics, psychopathy, sex offending, serial murder, terrorism, offender profiling, eyewitness testimony, and the assessment and rehabilitation of offenders.

PSYCHOLOGY OF MENTAL HEALTH

Code PSY-6024A

Credits 20

This module is about the study of mental health from a biopsychosocial perspective. By the end of the module you will learn about: - Historical approaches to defining abnormality; - The biological, psychological and social treatments for psychiatric disorders; - The methods to assess and diagnosis abnormality and psychiatric disorders; - The research strategies used to gain knowledge of abnormality and psychiatric disorders.

CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

Code PSY-6025B

Credits 20

THIS MODULE IS RESERVED FOR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS. This module is suitable for students who aspire to utilise their psychological knowledge within careers which may involve contact with patients, carers, clinicians and people who experience neuropsychological deficits in adulthood. The module will enable you to apply fundamental knowledge from the fields of Neuropsychology, Neuroscience and Neuro-rehabilitation about biological and cognitive brain processes (such as perception, action, attention and memory) to neurological conditions. You will also develop evidence-based knowledge of symptoms and interventions for neurological conditions (such as head injury, dementia or stroke). Building from your knowledge of the brain and cognition you will extend your understanding of how basic neuroscience research can inform diagnosis, assessment and effective rehabilitation of neurological patients and people with neurological conditions.

BEING HUMAN: Evolutionary and Comparative Approaches in Psychology

Code PSY-6026A

Credits 20

THIS MODULE IS RESERVED FOR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS. By considering the development of the human mind and behaviour from an evolutionary perspective and by comparing humans with other animals this module will explore how the biological underpinnings of ‘human nature’ relate to thinking, motivation and social relationships. Everyday aspects of being human such as attraction, mate choice, parenting, emotion, cooperation and conflict will be used to investigate how behaviours have developed in response to the problems of survival. Around 50% of the module will be directly concerned with animal behaviour. The comparison of human and animal cognition and behaviours will raise questions about the uniqueness of human characteristics, the connections between psychological functioning across species and the relationship between people and animals. Your understanding of evolutionary and comparative psychology developed through the module will be shown to be related to many ‘real-world’ concerns ranging from sex and gender, through emotion and motivation to mental health issues.

PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER

Code PSY-6029A

Credits 20

In this module you will critically explore gender in a range of everyday contexts. You will consider the role of psychology in understanding historical and contemporary issues involving gender and explore what alternative/inter-disciplinary approaches might offer.

PSYCHOLOGY OF SLEEP

Code PSY-6030B

Credits 20

In this module you will gain an understanding of how and why we sleep, and the importance of sleep for good health and daytime functioning. We will consider biological, psychological and social factors relating to sleep, including the mechanisms of healthy sleep, changes in sleep across the lifespan, and how sleep interacts with physical and mental health conditions to affect our wellbeing.

ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Code PSY-6031B

Credits 20

The environments in which we live not only shape and influence our lives, but human behaviours also have a profound impact on the natural environment. Drawing on psychological theories (e.g. from social and cognitive psychology), you will explore the interactions between humans and their environments in a range of specific contexts, such as navigating through cities, well-being in stressful environments, and everyday behaviours that relate to climate change. You will also consider how the application of psychology can help provide solutions to environmental problems, and how these solutions can be communicated with decision-makers in society.

SOCIAL BRAINS AND STRATEGIC MINDS

Code PSY-6032B

Credits 20

You will explore key topics at the cutting edge of human neuroscience. In this module, you will learn how neuroscience techniques can be used to answer key questions about how people think, feel emotions, and manage social interactions. You will examine topics including Philosophy of Mind, Computational Neuroscience, Artificial Intelligence, Emotion Regulation, Group Identity, and Pro- and Anti-Social Behaviour. These topics converge on the interaction between social psychology, cognitive science, and affective neuroscience. In this way, the module affords a unique understanding of current human neuroscience, and a view into the future of how our field can understand mental processing and even build interactive intelligent systems.

VISION AND LANGUAGE IN ACTION

Code PSY-6033A

Credits 20

In this module, you will develop knowledge of theories and research about human cognition, with a particular focus on vision and language. The first four lectures focus vision, which develops students' understanding of how we make sense of our visual and auditory world, how we put information together, and what we often miss. It will focus on how various regions of the brain interact, the type of information passed along different neural pathways, as well as the methods we use for investigations (fMRI, eye tracking, etc.). The second set of four lectures focus on language, which develops students’ understanding of basic theoretical research covering language comprehension and production. The final two lectures are taught by Professor Coventry focus on the interaction of vision and language.

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Important Information

Compulsory Modules

PSYCHOLOGY LAB SKILLS

Code PSY-7015A

Credits 20

This module gives you an introduction to some important techniques and software programs used in psychology data collection and analysis. You will receive guided hands-on experience. These skills are useful for your dissertation research, and will enhance your CV for job applications. You will learn how to conduct both systematic reviews and meta-analysis, gaining an understanding of how each technique can help you in your research. You will use E-Prime software to construct experiments, and have the option to learn MATLAB. MATLAB is a widely used programming language for data analysis, modelling and writing experiments. You will also learn about the Qualtrics Survey platform, presenting data clearly and using references. Your assessment will be essay based.

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY THEORY AND METHODS

Code PSY-7011A

Credits 40

You’ll be provided with the opportunity to examine the scientific study of behaviour at an advanced level. This module will expand your awareness of research topics and methods at the cutting edge of social psychology. You’ll also learn a variety of commonly used methods and practical skills for conducting social psychological research. At the end of the course you should have a good understanding of the topics social psychologists are interested in, and their approach to their study.

Optional A Modules

(20 credits)

FURTHER QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Code PSY-7004B

Credits 20

The course builds on coverage of qualitative methods in the Introduction to Social Sciences Research Methods module, where the focus is on developing critical analysis skills that cover a range of ways of gathering and analysing qualitative data.

FURTHER QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH AND STATISTICS

Code PSY-7005B

Credits 20

This module will provide teaching on quantitative research methods, data analysis and the use of statistical software (SPSS). It will provide a grounding in applied statistics which will both develop critical appraisal skills for reading research and enable you to undertake SPSS data analysis.

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Important Information

Entry Requirements

A Levels

AAB or ABB with an A in the Extended Project.

BTEC

DDD. Excludes BTEC Public Services, BTEC Uniformed Services and BTEC Business Administration.

Scottish highers

AAAAA

Scottish highers advanced

BBC

Irish leaving certificate

4 subjects at H2, 2 subjects at H3.

Access course

Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 36 credits at Level 3 and Merit in credits at Level 3.

European Baccalaureate

80%

International Baccalaureate

33 points

GCSE offer

You are required to have Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of Grade C or Grade 4 or above at GCSE.

Additional entry requirements

If you do not meet the academic and/or English requirements for direct entry, our partner, INTO University of East Anglia, offers guaranteed progression onto an undergraduate degree within the School of Psychology upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests and qualifications you can take a variety of routes to the degree:

Any International Foundation Course (for first year entry)

Alternative Qualifications

UEA recognises that some students take a mixture of International Baccalaureate IB or International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme IBCP study rather than the full diploma, taking Higher Levels in addition to A Levels and/or BTEC qualifications. At UEA we do consider a combination of qualifications for entry, provided a minimum of three qualifications are taken at a higher level. In addition some degree programmes require specific subjects at a higher level.

Students for whom english is a foreign language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):

IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Please click here to see our full list.

If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:

Pre-sessional English at INTO UEA

English for University Study at INTO UEA

Interviews

Most applicants will not be called for an interview and a decision will be made via UCAS Track. However, for some applicants an interview will be requested. Where an interview is required the Admissions Service will contact you directly to arrange a time.

Gap year

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.

Intakes

This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.

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Course Reference Number: 665686

MSci SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY