MSc Health Psychology

Advanced Applied Social and Health Psychology

The module will explore cutting-edge developments and issues in applied psychology.  You will apply psychological research to real-world issues:  for example, group violence, health, education, persuasion, media and advertising, industry (as faculty availability allows).

During this module, you will critically appraise interventions for children and adults and also consider how psychology can be used in the conduct of everyday life (e.g. at home, in the workplace, in education and in health care settings).

Clinical Professional Skills for Practitioner Psychologists

This module will look to further develop understanding of underlying theory and enhance experience with practical skillsets across a wide range of professional psychology careers, including advanced research. Students will for example cover aspects of psychotherapy and clinical case formulation, life coaching/mentoring skills and will work with a wide range of technical equipment with psychological applications.

Students will critique approaches to psychotherapy and clinical diagnosis, gain a good foundation in functional analysis of psychological problems, evaluate coaching/mentoring, gain experience programming experimental paradigms, handling experimental data and incorporating lab-based equipment, while further developing critical assessment and report writing skills.

Applied Research Methods: Design and Analysis

The module will engage students with an in-depth and critical knowledge of advanced applied research design and associated analytical techniques, developing an advanced understanding of cutting-edge applied research skills in psychology and criminology.

The module is designed to equip students with a wide range of methodological skills to conduct research of high quality and impact in their chosen field, enabling students to become successful professional researchers their applied discipline.

Students will be equipped with transferable knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems using advanced applied research skills relevant in a diversified range of applied psychology and criminology environments which require advanced specialist knowledge regarding complex methodological approaches.

A sequence of mixed/multiple-methods, qualitative methods and quantitative methods will be covered, prioritising approaches central to the disciplines represented in the programmes of study. Approaches to data generation/collection and analysis may include:

• Advanced research philosophy and reflexive practice
• Mixed-method designs
• Reflexive thematic analysis
• Interpretative phenomenological analysis
• Primary and secondary data generation/collection techniques, including asynchronous and social media data sources
• Factorial ANOVA
• Regression, mediation and moderation analyses

The module will stimulate interactive discussion and critical evaluation of cutting-edge applied research designs and associated analytical techniques in the fields of psychology and criminology at an advanced level.

Advanced Research Designs and Evidence Synthesis

The module is designed to equip students with a wide range of methodological skills to conduct research of high quality and impact in their chosen field, enabling students to become successful professional researchers in psychology and criminology. 

The module will engage students with an in-depth and critical knowledge of advanced applied research design and associated analytical techniques, developing an advanced understanding of cutting-edge applied research skills in their discipline.

Students will be equipped with transferable knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems using advanced applied research skills relevant in a diversified range of applied psychology and criminology environments which require advanced specialist knowledge regarding complex methodological approaches including synthesis approaches such as systematic review or meta-analysis.

A sequence of mixed/multiple-methods, qualitative methods and quantitative methods will be covered, prioritising approaches central to the disciplines represented in the programmes of study. Approaches to data generation/collection and analysis may include:

• Mixed/combined method epistemologies
• Discourse analysis
• Advanced data generation/collection techniques, including creative or visual methods
• Structural equation modelling
• Meta-analysis

The module will stimulate interactive discussion and critical evaluation of cutting-edge applied research designs and associated analytical techniques as applied to an advanced level with real-world relevance.

The module will enhance students’ knowledge, effective problem-solving skills, self-directed learning, and effective collaboration skills through a diversified range of learning activities.

Health Psychology and Its Applications 

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the sub-division of Health Psychology and to discuss fundamental theoretical and empirical issues that require attention and consideration by researchers working in this field.  

Having successfully completed the module, students should possess a broad understanding of the scope of the discipline of Health Psychology.  

From Surviving to Thriving: Living Well with Long-term Conditions 

This module provides students with advanced knowledge and understanding of theory and practice relating to the management of long-term health conditions.  

Having completed the module, students should possess a broad understanding of the psychological, social and cognitive influences on chronic illness and people’s management of chronic health conditions. Specific conditions focused upon may change year on year to reflect current situation. For example:

• Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, & Cancer
• Obesity and Diabetes
• HIV/AIDS
• Sexual Health
• Dementia

Independent Research Project (Dissertation)

The dissertation will show evidence of ability to: identify problem areas, locate issues within a wider context, obtain relevant data, analyse findings, work within relevant theoretical/conceptual frameworks, synthesise complicated material, employ relevant and innovative research approaches, and present findings in an accessible manner with appropriate technical apparatus.