Psychology (Conversion) MSc

Psychology requires you to develop a critical understanding of the principles of quantitative data collection and analysis, whilst considering the theory behind various methods. You will cover theoretical, conceptual, and ethical issues during lectures, with emphasis on the logic behind the techniques you are learning, enabling you to see when it’s appropriate to use a particular approach. The ideas covered in your lectures are brought to life by the use of associated practical and computer examples, helping you to understand how the research choices you make affect your data analysis options and the power of your statistical tests. You will get hands-on experience with data analysis, gaining skills in using and interpreting output from SPSS.

This module is designed to include the main British Psychological Society taught content in terms of social psychology, developmental psychology and individual differences. The module will invite students to understand how certain behaviours are shaped through our individual development and through different social contexts. This will challenge the students to think across these different subject areas and will present a coherent view of a person in which our social and developmental changes are related to the actual, imagined or implied presence of others. This module will be topic based and will be focusing on an issue (e.g. attraction, relationships) and consider each topic issue from an individual, social and developmental view. Key areas within the main subject areas will be covered. The module will also develop transferrable skills by engaging students with group work and problem based learning in the practical classes.

The aim of this module is to explore the unique solutions and approaches that psychologists and psychological research can bring to analysing contemporary real-world problems. For example, issues such as welfare, climate change, political conflict, behaviour in a health pandemic, and the effects of social media, are all public policy issues that psychologists can contribute to. Many current concerns of environmental and social welfare are strongly influenced by psychological factors, and could benefit from psychological analysis. The module will provide you with a grounding in key skills and research that address considering people, and their psychology, in relation to issues of contemporary concern and policy making. There are two strands to these skills: (a) critical understanding of psychological research methods and ethics, and (b) specific psychological knowledge and approaches relevant to policy making. Regarding the latter, some examples would be knowledge about the roles of self-regulation, motivation, identity, emotion, and culture, amongst other factors. The specific topics of the module vary depending on issues of contemporary concern but some examples would be: identity politics, wellbeing economics, political populism, disaster preparedness, social media, nationalism, conspiracy theories, and pandemic behaviour. In summary, the module looks at several topics of contemporary relevance and examines how psychologists can contribute to our understanding of them and what practical advice psychologists could give to policy makers.

Research is key to psychology. Here you will learn the qualitative methods in psychology, looking at the design, collection, and analysis of qualitative data and key aspects of a qualitative approach, such as reflexivity and epistemology. You will analyse qualitative data and use this to formulate research questions. As part of this, you will develop an awareness of the ethical and practical implications of conducting professional research.

Brain, Body and Mind draws heavily on psychology, neuroscience, individual differences and evolutionary approaches to provide a critical understanding of mind and behaviour. The module provides a comprehensive and critical synthesis of how biology and evolutionary theory underpin all human and animal behaviour before examining cognitive and individual difference models of the mind and behaviour. Students are challenged to analyse areas of human psychology from the multiple perspectives examined and to show an integrated understanding of the area. The module is largely topic based and students will address a key areas of psychology from a variety of perspectives: Current cognitive theory, the biological underpinnings, evolutionary and genetic perspectives, individual differences and clinical issues. Topics will include areas such as: perception, learning, memory, language, problem solving & decision making and consciousness and meta-cognition, intelligence and social cognition.

Here you’ll be introduced to diagnosis and formulation in mental health as well as a variety of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorders. You’ll focus on developing your knowledge of the diagnostic criteria for mental health problems, looking at the diagnostic classification systems, and also establishing an understanding of current the view of mental health problems through formulation. You will also be introduced to key theories believed to underpin and maintain mental health problems, including biological, psychological and social factors. You’ll be taught the importance of understanding the individual beyond diagnosis, enabling them to understand formulation through applying theories to case studies.

This module requires you to undertake a significant research project in the chosen field of study and to present the results of that research in a thesis prepared to the highest scientific professional standards. The research will normally be based on preparatory work undertaken in modules: Issues in Psychological Research and either Quantitative Research Methods or Qualitative Research Methods. The topic may be drawn mainly from a selection of suggested topics related to School research groups (professional subject of interest will be considered provided that a strong case is made and suitable supervision is available). The project topics will be assessed for suitability to ensure that it has the potential for sufficient academic challenge. You will be assigned a supervisor, or, if appropriate, a supervisory team. You'll be expected to make regular reports on the state and progress of your work. These reports will normally be in a written format suitable for incorporation into the final thesis.