Forensic Investigative Psychology

In this module, you are introduced to the principles of research design, and to basic techniques of qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Key conceptual and historical issues relating to the philosophy of science are addressed, and ethical issues are covered. Students will carry out practical investigations in small groups to develop key skills in research design, data collection, analysis, and report writing. In these practical sessions, you will be required to collect, interpret and communicate quantitative and quantitative data across a variety of methods. Students are also encouraged to see how data analysis relates to research design, and hence to understand and value the insights that can be gained by a competent knowledge of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques. The practical investigations are selected to illustrate particular aspects of design or analysis, with a progression towards more complex designs and more emphasis on theoretical issues.

This module introduces students to the main sub-disciplines of psychology: biological psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, individual differences, and social psychology, as outlined in the British Psychological Society’s required curriculum. You will look at core topics within each of these sub-discipline areas, gaining an understanding of how psychology (and its sub-disciplines) developed over time and an understanding of key conceptual and historical issues that are relevant to the discipline as a whole. Seminars will further develop this understanding by fostering discussion and debate on key concepts and studies, helping you to better understand the relationship between theory and research.

This module will introduce you to the way psychology can be both used and misused in contemporary society. Sessions will be delivered through lectures and discussion in small groups. The content covers a range of current issues that draw upon psychological theory and research. The occasional misinterpretation of research findings by groups including the media, business and even law enforcement will be discussed.  By the end of the module you should understand the importance of scientific research and communication to the public.  Students will study one topic in further depth (e.g. by conducting independent research) and write an overview of the topic in the style of an article intended for a science publication aimed at the lay public. You will be assessed on your critical analysis of empirical evidence, your ability to present scientific research and complex ideas in an engaging yet accessible style, and your ability to write concisely.

This module aims to help students to develop and improve the key academic skills expected from psychology students during their studies, and to understand the transferability of these into the workplace, using the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Benchmark for Psychology as a foundation. You will have the opportunity to develop reflective skills, cognitive flexibility, communication skills and resilience. In addition, you will be provided with a greater awareness of your strengths, values and areas for personal development that will help inform a more holistic and self-based understanding of potential future career paths. You will engage with psychological literature related to identity, learning and careers, and will be helped to reflect on this literature in relation to your own personal development and career aspirations.

This module introduces students to theories and perspectives that underpin individual differences, clinical disorders and psychopathology. You will be introduced to the history of psychological disorders, from the origins of the asylum to the present-day diagnostic system of the DSM. The module will explore some of the theories and perspectives to psychopathology, such as the biopsychosocial model and the psychoanalytical perspective, as well as theories that explore the journey from unusual behaviour and individual differences, through to clinical disorders and approaches to treatment.

This module aims to introduce students to both developmental theory and developmental methods. Developmental psychology covers a considerable number of historical and conceptual issues and current theories, as well as applied issues. The focus is on the child's/adolescent from a wide perspective, including among others social, cognitive, biological and cultural perspectives. Typical and atypical development across the lifespan (childhood, adolescence) will be considered in areas such as attachment, social relations, cognition, language, moral and cultural development. Students will also gain critical understanding and practical experience of the observation research methods applied to an aspect of child development.

This module aims to help you to evolve your career goals and aspired professional identities, to encourage active career exploration, and to develop tangible career tools (e.g. employability audit, Personal Action Plan). You will also be prepared for conducting independent psychological research, through developing a proposal for an appropriate empirical research project that you can pursue at Level 6. You will gain an awareness of the Psychology related career pathways available to you upon graduation, and will be encouraged to reflect on how your final year project subject area can align to your career aims.

The aim of this module is to introduce students to qualitative research methods in psychology, building on knowledge and experience gained at Level 4. The module will cover the historical development of qualitative methods, key conceptual debates (e.g. the philosophy of science), theoretical approaches to qualitative research, qualitative research designs and procedures, qualitative data collection methods (e.g. interviews and focus groups, qualitative surveys, vignettes and story completion tasks) and qualitative analytic methods (e.g. thematic analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis and discourse analysis). Students will be given a chance to collect and analyse qualitative data, and write these up in a report. The module will emphasise the acquisition of practical research skills (in relation to key methods of data collection and analysis) as well as the development of critical analytic skills and a broad awareness of ethical issues relating to qualitative research methods in psychology.

This module aims to build on the coverage of social psychology at Level 4 by exploring some of the key approaches and topics in Social Psychology in greater depth. Students will be introduced to key conceptual and historical issues and debates in social psychology, as well as some of the traditional areas of the discipline such as social identity, the self, social cognition and prejudice. The module will  examine both ‘classic’ studies and theories, as well as contemporary treatments of these topics. The module will also cover critical approaches to social psychology and traditions emerging from these, such as social constructionism and discursive psychology.

This module provides you with an insight into the biological basis of human and non-human behaviour, including comparative and evolutionary psychology, typical and atypical neuropsychology, neuroscience, behavioural genetics, and the effect of hormones on behaviour. You will learn how our conceptual models of biological psychology have developed through history as new methods of investigation were developed.

You will also gain critical understanding and practical experience of research methods used by biological psychologists.

This module introduces you to quantitative approaches to psychological research methods. It will comprise weekly statistics lectures and workshops, in which you will go through a number of set work questions using a statistical software package (SPSS). The module will emphasise the acquisition of practical research skills (in relation to key methods of data collection, management, and analysis), critical skills (e.g. through evaluating research papers and methods), and a broad awareness of issues concerning ethics in quantitative methods in psychology and conceptual and historical development of research methods (e.g., philosophy of science).

This module aims to extend your understanding of the spectrum of individual differences and draws on content from a range of areas of psychology. This module covers key issues of contemporary significance using core areas of individual difference psychology such as personality, motivation, emotion & well-being. Topics are focused on in-depth within the module by examining different theoretical approaches to these concepts which allows you to understand how conceptual and historical issues inform our understanding and application of individual differences. The application of individual difference theory and research will be considered within the module in a number of contexts, for example clinical, educational or organisational contexts.

This module provides you with a broad overview of fundamental topics in Cognitive Psychology, such as sensation and perception, attention, language, learning, memory, thinking, problem solving, decision making, metacognition, consciousness and cognitive neuropsychology. Conceptual and historical issues relevant to cognitive psychology are also covered. You will gain critical understanding and practical experience of research methods used by cognitive psychologists.

The project takes the form of an original independent empirical investigation in a psychological topic area.

You are required to select your topic/research question and produce a research proposal before the end of Semester 2 of Level 5. Supervisors are allocated according to research topic. Data collection may only commence once ethical approval has been granted by the ethics committee.  The indicative length of the project is 5,000 words for quantitative and 7,000 for qualitative projects. Additionally, this module will facilitate future employability through one-to-one tutorials between students and their FYP supervisor; providing individualised support concerning post graduate aims and specific job searches.

This module will provide you with the opportunity to study topics related to psychology, crime and the criminal justice system. You will be introduced to a small number of key topics in the area such as theories of criminal behaviour, mental illness and crime, detection of deception, domestic abuse, and jury decision making. A number of issues relating to each key topic will be covered and relevant research critically examined. The module will draw on knowledge you gained from first and second year modules regarding cognitive, social and developmental psychology and demonstrate how these areas relate to real world issues relating to crime and the Criminal Justice System. The aim is to give you a flavour of a potential area of subsequent professional practice in Forensic Psychology. 

This module will provide you with the opportunity to study topics related to the psychology of eyewitness performance. You will be introduced to a small number of key topics such as eyewitness testimony and suggestibility, interviewing witnesses and the Cognitive Interview, eyewitness identification evidence, and vulnerable witnesses, for example child and older witnesses. A number of issues relating to each key topic will be covered and relevant research critically examined. The module will draw on knowledge you gained in first and second year modules regarding cognitive, social and developmental psychology, and demonstrates how these areas relate to the real world issue of accuracy of eyewitness evidence within the Criminal Justice System.

• Advanced Issues in Developmental Psychology (15 credits)
• Advanced Statistics and Applied Statistics (15 credits)
• Topics in Educational Psychology (15 credits)
• Cognitive Neuroscience (15 credits)
• Conceptual Debates in Psychology (15 credits)
• Media Psychology (15 credits)
• The Psychology of Creativity (15 credits)
• Psychology in the Workplace (15 credits)
• Health Psychology (15 credits)
• Advanced Critical Thinking for Psychologists (15 credits)
• Computational Skills in Psychology (15 credits)
• Embodied Cognition and Contemplative Practice Studies (15 credits)
• Psychology of Consumer Behaviour (Optional)
• Advanced Psychopathology and Clinical Psychology (Optional)
• Behaviour Change  (15 credits)
• The Psychology of Music  (15 credits)
• Statistical Programming with R  (15 credits)
• Traffic and Transportation Psychology  (15 credits)
• Volunteering for Psychology (15 credits)
• Psychology Placement - (15 credits)