MSci Advanced Applied Psychology 

Analysing Attitudes to Work & Performance

This module helps define a range of everyday experiences using psychological models of attitudes, as you learn how to analyse attitudes and explore psychological constructs, methodology and theories associated with experiences. Fundamental data analysis skills will be developed through lectures and the use of statistical software, with a focus on understanding patterns of data via visualisation.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a coursework assignment and a practical report.

Everyday Experience & Psychological Methods: Exploring Positive Psychology

The module explores the experience of positive psychology relating the need to understand one’s own motivation, aspirations and goals to:

• Self-development
• Personality
• Need for achievement
• Self efficacy
• Self esteem.

You will explore psychological theories and empirical findings from investigations into needs, motivation and self-concept.

Experimental Design in Context: Usability and Cognition

This module explores functions and experiences relevant to using technology, focusing on the criteria used to assess technology’s usability and how human limitations relate to this usability and usage. You will be introduced to certain psychological theories and empirical findings from investigations into information processing by the mind, and discuss a range of methodologies and analyses such as laboratory experimentation and inferential statistics.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a practical report and research participation.

Interpersonal Skills

The module will begin by considering the nature of interpersonal skills and the elements that constitute effective communication. This will provide an opportunity to explore models of communication and effective verbal and non-verbal communication. You will also consider how interpersonal skills may be evaluated and improved.

Perspectives On Psychology

This module seeks to enable you to understand the contribution of key thinkers to the development of modern psychology and to appreciate their biographical backgrounds. The lives and work of key thinkers will be introduced and contextualised with reference to contemporary ideas and more.

Principles of Psychology

This module examines the origins and development of modern psychology. You will focus on the main approaches to studying and describing human behaviour, for example, behaviourism, the psychodynamic approach, the humanistic approach, the cognitive approach, and the biological basis of behaviour.

Study & Research Skills for Social Scientists

This module is an opportunity to advance your personal, research and study skills and will support other content-led teaching. You will be assessed through a report and research participation.

The Study of Human Interaction

This module explores the functions of understanding relationships. You will study the processes related to forming an impression of someone and forming a relationship with them through a variety of behaviours.

Certain psychological theories and empirical findings will form investigations into attraction, prejudice and stereotyping, and a range of methodologies and analyses, such as interviewing, content analysis and observational approaches will be explored.

Biological Psychology

This module explores the ways biological processes have been studied, for example through brain lesions and cell stimulation methodologies.

The areas of behavioural genetics, neuro-imaging, neuropsychology, socio-biology and evolutionary psychology will be investigated in terms of underlying theory and empirical research.

Cognitive Psychology

This module will introduce you to the ways cognitive processes have been studied in the past. This includes studying experimental and cognitive neuropsychological methodologies. You will investigate the areas of attention, perception, learning, thinking and language and relate your findings to underlying theory and empirical research.

Developmental Psychology

This module explores the study of development and maturation in cognitive, personality and social processes, as well as introduces you to basic theory, research findings and methods of investigation in childhood, adolescence and lifespan development.

You will consider the ways in which behaviour is influenced by developmental factors, the nature of developmental processes and the ways in which empirical research can help us to understand how developmental processes influence what we do.

Individual Differences Psychology

In this module, you will be introduced to how individual differences have been studied in the past, for example through psychometrics and case study methodologies.

You will investigate areas of personality, intelligence, cognitive style, motivation, gender and ethnicity, in terms of underlying theory and empirical research.

Assessment

You will be assessed through an essay and a lab report.

Mental Health and Forensic Psychology

This module is an opportunity to explore a comprehensive range of key constructs, theories and research in mental health and forensic psychology.

You will examine the numerous ways that psychological research, methods and expertise are applied to the study of criminal behaviour and the issues that psychopathology creates within the context of the criminal justice system.

Research Methods: Experimental Designs & Analysis

This module will develop your understanding of experimental designs and associated methods of analysis, and introduce you to research ethics.

Research Methods: Survey and Qualitative Designs and Analysis

The module aims to develop your understanding of survey and qualitative designs and associated methods of analysis related to Psychology.

Social Psychology

This module acts as an introduction to Social Psychology and social cognition.

The module will cover topics such as person perception, social influence, stereotyping and prejudice, attitudes, attributions, group processes, and attraction and close relationships.

Applied Sports Psychology: Professional Practice

The soft skills required by a sport and exercise psychologist are imperative to effectiveness as a practitioner. The aim of the module is to examine the nature of applied sport psychology practice and discuss and critique how sport psychologists work with clients in relation to initial assessment, case formulation, intervention planning and delivery, monitoring and evaluation.

Exercise and Physical Activity Interventions

This module applies health-behaviour-change theory and research to the promotion of physical activity in specialised populations, such as those with chronic health conditions or physical disabilities. It looks at different types of interventions, such as those targeting individuals, groups and national campaigns.

Independent Project

In this module, you are encouraged to adopt a problem-oriented approach. The first stage is to identify a problem in psychology of interest and relevance to your studies.

You will determine an appropriate approach to addressing the problem through discussion with tutors who have relevant theoretical and practical expertise.

Your investigation may be based within a single discipline, or it may involve more than one discipline, but it must be based within your chosen degree programme.

Project Management and Presentation Skills

This project will support you to develop a wide range of skills, from project management, to the ability to present your research results in an accessible form. You will develop your scientific reasoning and reporting skills and produce a poster to present your research work.

Psychology and Social Issues

This module will introduce psychological and interdisciplinary focus on ten issues of current social concern. You could explore: discrimination (gender, age, race, disability and sexual orientation ), perceptions of rape and rape victims, child abuse and family violence, the psychology of material possessions, shopping and shopping addiction, childhood (non-verbal communication and interventions), health and health inequalities , sexual health, contraception and abortion, chronic illness, dying, death and bereavement, health promotion, disease prevention or the health care system.

Psychology in Context: Cultural Psychology

This module takes an interdisciplinary approach to the major topics of psychology, including Biological, Cognition, Development, Health, Individual Differences, Social, and the Self, and will relate them to life in a multicultural world.

You will be introduced to

• Cultural psychology
• Culture and human nature
• Cultural evolution
• Methods for studying culture and psychology
• Development and socialisation
• Cultural differences in: the self and personality, motivation, cognition and perception, interpersonal attraction, close relationships, group processes, living in multicultural worlds, physical health, mental health, morality, justice, and emotions.

Assessment:

You will be assessed through a research proposal and a two hour unseen exam.

Psychology in Context: Work and Organisations

You will consider a range of relationships between working conditions, jobs and organisational processes, psychological outcomes, and their impact on job and organisational performance. Psychological reactions including job satisfaction, job stress, motivation, work engagement, and organisational commitment are investigated, and organisational functions such as job design, health and safety at work, and organisational team-working, are considered.

Advanced Applied Research Skills in Psychology 1 and 2 

These modules will help you develop a wide range of methodological skills to conduct high-quality research and impact in your chosen field, enabling you to become a successful professional researcher in psychology.

Applied Advanced Psychology

You will enhance your knowledge and understanding of contemporary psychological issues that are central to everyday life such as persuasive health communications, health behaviour change and interventions in childhood.

Research Dissertation

In this module, you will complete an in-depth research project relating to an area of psychology. Your will determine your research project to meet your interests with support from your supervising tutor.