Module Information

Module Identifier
PS20600
Module Title
Psychology in Practice
Academic Year
2017/2018
Co-ordinator
Mrs Saffron Passam
Semester
Semester 1 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Pre-Requisite
PS11720 or PS11320 or PS10320
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Tutorial 11 x 4 Hour Tutorials
Lecture 3 x 1 Hour Lectures
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Essay and log summary (2000 words plus 500 word summary)  100%
Supplementary Assessment Essay and log summary (2000 words plus 500 word summary)  If students fail the module overall, any failed component must be re-sat or determined as the Examination Board sees fit.  100%

Learning Outcomes

Aims:
1. To provide students with a knowledge of the main areas of psychology in application.
2. To facilitate a placement setting where students can participate.
3. To discuss the use of transferable and psychological skills in the applied setting.

Learning Outcomes: After completing the module the student should be able to:
1. Analyse, assess and evaluate the roles and skills of relevant professionals working in an applied setting.
2. Develop a work related research question based on work experience.
3. Investigate, analyse and assess the phenomena in an appropriate way.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of ethics in the workplace.
5. Keep a reflective diary of placement experience
6. Write an essay based on a research question generated during the work placement, and use the information in that essay to develop their resume.

Aims

Psychology as a discipline encompasses both theoretical and applied elements. The history of psychology provides a baseline for understanding how contemporary psychological theory and practice has developed. It is important for students to develop their understanding of the relationship between these elements for the following reasons:
- Increase understanding of the uses of psychology in a variety of real world contexts.
- Provide some idea of the diversity of psychology as a career option.
In addition, the module will act as a bridge between the core modules taught at level 2 and the option modules available to students at level 3.

Brief description

This module discusses psychology in application. It aims to raise students' awareness of various career paths and opportunities in psychology. Students complete a minimum of twenty hours in an applied setting. The work placement presents an opportunity for each student to obtain experience in either professional, work related or voluntary areas.

Content

Psychology in areas of application (clinical, occupational, community, educational);
Preparation for placement and transferable skills.
Psychology in the workplace
Teamwork in the workplace
Training in the workplace
Ethics in the workplace
The reflective practitioner
Placement: one twenty-hour placement chosen from areas of clinical, educational, industrial, organisational and community settings either as an employee or as a volunteer. Students who are all ready engaged in part-time employment will be permitted to write about this experience as part of this module provided they can develop a suitable research question.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Not directly applicable; however, students will be expected to comment on aspects of statistical analysis through the examination of research designs appropriate to their work based research question.
Communication Students will learn how to present their ideas in writing and how to assert themselves to advantage. They will understand the importance of information and clear communication and how to exploit these. They will know how to use the many sources of information available and will learn to be clear and direct in their aims and objectives. They will learn to consider only that which is relevant to the topic and to focus on the objectives of their argument or discussion. Students will be expected to submit their work in word-processed format and the presentation of work should reflect effective expression of ideas and good use of language skills in order to ensure clarity, coherence and effective communication.
Improving own Learning and Performance The module aims to promote self-management but within a context of assistance from both the facilitator and the fellow students alike. Students will be expected to improve their own learning and performance by undertaking their own research and to exercise their own initiative, including searching for sources, compiling reading lists, and deciding (under guidance) the direction of their workplace project. The need to meet the report deadline will focus students' attention on the need to manage their time and opportunity resources well. The learning log will support reflection on and integration of thinking about the applications of psychology.
Information Technology Students will be expected to submit their work in word-processed format. Also, students will be encouraged to search for sources of information on the web, as well as seeking sources through electronic information sources (such as Web of Science).
Personal Development and Career planning The final piece of coursework associated with this module requires the students to make an application for employment. The students will be permitted to select their ideal position from posts advertised in the press and internet recruitment sites. They will be asked to demonstrate (i) how their current skills and abilities meet the advertised criteria (ii) what skills, knowledge, experience and abilities they might wish to develop in the future to meet the advertised criteria.
Problem solving Independent project work and problem solving will be one of the central goals of the module; the submission of an essay and learning log will require that the student develops independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The ability of students to solve problems will be developed and assessed by asking them to: adopt differing points of view; organize data and estimate an answer to the problem; consider case studies; reason logically; apply theoretical models; consider similar cases; look for patterns; divide issues into smaller problems. The seen times essays will ensure that an assessment of the student's ability to work alone can be undertaken.
Research skills The submission of an essay together with the learning log will require students to demonstrate independent research skills. The need to locate appropriate research resources and write up the results will also facilitate research skills.
Subject Specific Skills Students will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of subject specific skills that will help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and research publications presented on the module. These subject specific skills include: - Assessment of scientific methods in psychology. - Differentiation between quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry. - Demonstration of a familiarity with the techniques required for literature searches. - Appreciation of the nature of ethical research in the social sciences. - Appreciation of the complex interactions and diverse influences on human behaviour.
Team work Students will be introduced to theory and research relating to team work through lecture content. They will be encouraged to record experiences of team-work in their reflective logs and to evaluate the effectiveness of any team work they experience in the workplace.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5