Psychology (Conversion) MSc

The module introduces students to quantitative statistical skills and research methods. Students will demonstrate awareness of the importance of research and professional ethics in psychology. They will be able to critically evaluate the principles underlying quantitative research methodologies, and be able to choose a research design and method of analysis to answer a research question. They will demonstrate their ability to use a range of techniques and research methods, including inferential statistics and psychometric evaluation. They will be able to critique the data collection methods and analysis of psychology relevant papers.

There will 20 hours of lectures (10 x 2 hours), 20 hours of practical classes (10 x 2 hours) and 5 hours of unscheduled online classroom activity.

The module will be assessed through a (1) report (50% of the final mark) and (2) formal examination (50%).

The module covers cognitive, social, and emotional development, and discusses the key theories and debates in lifespan development. Successful students will demonstrate an understanding of theories of human development and of the range and relative merits of research conducted in lifespan psychology.

The module will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. There will be 20 hours of lectures. In order to explore the practicalities of conducting research in this area there will be small group research seminars (3 x 2-hour) where students will conduct practical work (such as practising critiquing research) under the supervision of a member of staff which is targeted towards the assessments. There will be 4 hours on online unscheduled activities which focus on module-specific research questions and skill development, with a focus on the application of knowledge. The module will be assessed via an individual presentation designed to be given to the public (30%) and a research critique (70%).

Material will be available to students via the online learning platform (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion forum, formative and summative feedback).

The module summarises the current understanding in all key research fields of cognitive psychology, including perception, memory, language, reasoning and decision making. Through the information processing approach, students will learn how our conscious experience of the world and thoughts are formed by a combination of biological mechanisms. In this process, students will learn how various behavioural and neuroimaging methods contribute to providing a unique picture of the workings of the human mind.

The module will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. There will be 20 hours of lectures, focussed on research and theory in the field and how this knowledge can be used in the real world. In order to explore the practicalities of conducting research in this area there will be small group research seminars (3 x 2 hours) where students will focus on practical work necessary for the development of skills (how to précise a paper and how to prepare a poster for an academic conference) necessary for assessment under supervision of a member of staff. There will be 4 hours of online unscheduled activities which focus on module-specific research questions and skill development, with a focus on the application of knowledge.

The module will be assessed via a précis of a research paper presented as a poster suitable for presentation at an academic conference (30%) and a position paper focusing on a key topic in cognitive psychology or neuroscience (70%).

Material will be available to students via online platform (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion forum, formative and summative feedback).

As the battlefield increases in complexity there is a need to understand the soldier as a ‘system of systems’ that interact in many different ways. The three main systems to be considered in this module are; survivability, mobility, and lethality. Using human factors theory as background the student will explore how cognitive load (e.g., tactical decision making), physiological load (e.g., adverse environmental conditions), and affective load (e.g., combat stress) impact the individual during combat. These theoretical concepts will then be applied in representative training scenarios. In addition to the practical aspects of soldier systems the relevant legal and ethical components will be delivered through lectures. The practical application of the theoretical components will be through representative training scenarios delivered by the teaching staff (i.e., fieldwork). The module will be assessed through a written coursework assignment and a practical assessment in a representative training scenario similar to an objective structured clinical examination.

Soldiers function as teams and the effectiveness of those teams are essential for success. As teams are a ‘system of systems’ that interact in multiple ways there is a need to understand how those interactions may occur. The three main systems to be considered in this module are; survivability, mobility, and lethality. Using Human Factors theory as background the student will explore how cognitive load (e.g., tactical decision making), physiological load (e.g., adverse environmental conditions), and affective load (e.g., combat stress) impact teamwork during combat. These theoretical concepts will then be applied in representative training scenarios. In addition to the practical aspects of soldier systems the relevant legal and ethical frameworks of teamwork will be covered. The core theoretical components will be delivered through lectures. The practical application of the theoretical components will be through representative training scenarios delivered by the teaching staff (i.e., fieldwork). The module will be assessed through a written coursework assignment and a practical assessment in a representative training scenario similar to an objective structured clinical examination. The teaching will be delivered by Defence HE training staff (who will be recognised university teachers). The ratio of staff to students will depend on the method of delivery with greater numbers of staff assigned to practical work than lectures.

Academic study is a specialised activity that serves as a foundation for higher education. This module is designed to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to study in higher education. The focus will be on two main areas, academic writing and research methods. Academic integrity and research ethics will be covered in depth. In addition, the students will be introduced to a wide range of software to support their studies, e.g., virtual learning environment. The different types of assessments will be introduced and revision/exam techniques discussed. The core theoretical components will be delivered through online lectures. The teaching staff will facilitate, moderate and guide the community of learners through discussion topics on online forums and provide formative feedback based on the learners’ input. The module is assessed online by a short answer and a multiple choice exam.

This module will introduce students to research methods and statistics in psychology, including empirical design, hypothesis testing, and different types of data. The module (15 credits) includes 10 x 1.5 hours of lectures, 11 x 1.5 hours practical classes, and 5 x 1 hour small group practical sessions with Academic Advisors. By the end of the module successful students will be able to describe basic statistical tests, identify different types of data, and explain hypotheses. Learning outcomes will be assessed using individual presentations, a MCT examination, and ongoing assessments.​ Material will be available to students online (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion forum, formative and summative feedback).  

The module covers cognitive, social, and emotional development, and discusses the key theories and debates in child psychology. Successful students will demonstrate an understanding of theories of human development and of the range and relative merits of research conducted in developmental psychology. The course will be delivered via two hours of content lectures each week, paired with one hour research-focus lectures addressing a key topic or controversy in the area. Over the semester, students will participate in 3 x 2 hours smaller group seminars during which students research a specific topic in developmental psychology.  Learning will be assessed via a summary paper on a chosen body of research submitted mid semester and a multiple choice and short answer exam during the exam period. Material will be available to students online (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion forum, formative and summative feedback). ​

The module covers core areas of cognitive psychology including perception, memory, language and speech, decision making, and categorisation and semantics. Successful students will demonstrate an understanding of key theories and findings within these areas. The course will be delivered via two hours of content lectures each week, paired with one hour research-focused lecture addressing a key topic or controversy in the area. Over the semester, students will participate in 3 x 2 hours smaller group seminars during which students research a specific topic in cognitive psychology.  Learning will be assessed via a paper discussing methodological issues in an area of cognitive psychology submitted mid semester and a multiple choice and short answer exam during the exam period. Material will be available to students online (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion forum, formative and summative feedback).

This module aims to give students an overview of key issues relating to Clinical and Forensic Psychology both in the UK and across the world, to provide them with an opportunity to engage in research-led teaching, to encourage them to explore current empirical research in Clinical and Forensic Psychology and to demonstrate the applications of psychology in a the ‘real world’ setting. The module includes 12 x 2 hours of content lectures, 10 x 1 hour research focus lectures and 3 x 2 hours research seminars. Material will be available to students online (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion forum, formative and summative feedback). Successful students will be able to evaluate the key debates, demonstrate a critical understanding of central theoretical models and concepts, analyse the utility of a range of research methods and utilise findings from research to support a position. The module is assessed via coursework (a position paper) and end of semester written examination.

Building on existing knowledge, this module will further develop students’ understanding of the relationship between physiology and psychology. Module content focuses on more complex biological processes and explains how these might be applied to other topics covered in other modules, such as cognitive and developmental. This content evaluates in more detail theories of how and why the structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous systems impact stress, sex, aggression, appetite, drug use, and sleep. The module will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. The ‘content’ lectures (12 x 2 hours) will focus on the academic material and the ‘research focused’ lectures (10 x 1 hour) will present how this academic material is used in the real world. In order to explore the practicalities of conducting research in this area there will be small group research seminars (3 x 2 hours) where students will conduct an experiment under the supervision of a member of staff.  Material will be available to students online (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion forum, formative and summative feedback). The module is assessed via  coursework (a policy document) and end of term written examination.   

This module will introduce students to more advanced statistical analyses, including ANOVA and regression, and teach students how to perform these tests on appropriate data using statistical software. The module will be taught via 10 x 1.5 hour lectures, 11 x 1.5 hour practical classes, and 5 x 1 hour small group research practical sessions with academic advisors . By the end of the module successful students will be able to independently use statistical software to perform ANOVA and Regression, understand the underlying theory behind these tests and generate appropriate hypotheses and test them. ​Two practical classes in the session will focus on exam practice and give formative feedback. The module will be assessed by coursework (a literature review and ethics application) and end of term short answer written examination.  

This is the second of three modules which focus on research methods. This module is designed to develop students’ qualitative research methods skills and complements the quantitative research methods module. It introduces students to qualitative methods and develops their skills. It sets the foundations for the empirical project at the end of the programme. These skills are fundamental to psychologists.

Students develop an awareness of and are able to critically discuss conceptual issues in qualitative inquiry, qualitative designs and data collection as well as the analysis methods, interpretation and reporting of qualitative research. Students will be able to practically apply this knowledge and there is also a practical focus on the development of necessary skills to conduct qualitative studies.

There will be 20 hours of lectures, 20 hours of practical classes, and 5 hours of unscheduled online classroom.

The module will be assessed through (1) an interview topic guide (30% of the final mark), and (2) a qualitative research report (70% of the final mark).

Psychologists who are interested in individual differences focus on the dispositional factors that influence how people think and behave, whereas social psychologists seek to examine behaviour through the social interactions that take place. This module examines the history of both fields of psychology, the principal theories and methods used and how this knowledge can be applied to solve real-world problems. In addition, students will be introduced to clinical psychology.

The module will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. There will be 20 hours of lectures, combining core theoretical content with research-focussed content which will demonstrate how psychology is used in the real world. In order to explore the practicalities of conducting research in this area there will be small group research seminars (3 x 2 hours) where students will undertake practical work (such as search skills, quality assessment) under the supervision of a member of staff which is targeted towards the assessments. There will be 4 hours of online unscheduled activities which focus on module-specific research questions and skill development, with a focus on the application of knowledge.

The module will be assessed via a systematic review protocol (30%) and a systematic review (70%).

Material will be available to students via online platform (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion boards, formative and summative feedback).

This module introduces students to the relationship between physiology and psychology. The module content will focus on basic and more complex processes and how these can be applied to a number of areas of psychology (e.g., social psychology; cognitive psychology) that will be covered in other modules. The module will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars.

There will be 20 hours of lectures, which will teach core theory and research evidence and demonstrate how psychology is used in the real world. In order to explore the practicalities of conducting research in this area there will be small group research seminars (3 x 2 hours) where students will conduct practical work under the supervision of a member of staff which is targeted towards the assessments. There will be 4 hours of online unscheduled activities which focus on module-specific research questions and skill development, with a focus on the application of knowledge.

The module will be assessed via a presentation designed for policy makers (30%) and a policy paper (70%).

Material will be available to students via online platform (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion forum, formative and summative feedback).

Pre-hospital trauma care in austere environments is essential to preserve life until the injured can be transported to definitive care. This module will provide the student with sufficient knowledge to provide such pre-hospital trauma care by moving from first principles (e.g., human anatomy and physiology) through to practical classes on how to perform clinical procedures (e.g., the safe insertion of a chest tube). The core theoretical components will be delivered through lectures. The practical application of the theoretical components will be through representative training scenarios delivered by the teaching staff (i.e., practicals) using simulation. The module will be assessed through a coursework essay and one objective structured practical examination. The teaching will be delivered by Defence HE training staff (who will be recognised university teachers). The ratio of staff to students will depend on the method of delivery with greater numbers of staff assigned to practical work than lectures.

The littoral environment (both amphibious and maritime) present a range of environmental challenges that will affect human performance. In addition, unstable operating platforms will create extra challenges for otherwise routine tasks. Psychological theory will be applied to the littoral environment to provide the student with an understanding of how their performance will be affected. These theoretical concepts will then be applied in representative training scenarios. In addition to the practical aspects of littoral operations the relevant legal and ethical frameworks will be covered. The core theoretical components will be delivered through lectures. The practical application of the theoretical components will be through representative training scenarios delivered by the teaching staff (i.e., fieldwork). The module will be assessed through a written coursework assignment and a practical assessment in a representative training scenario similar to an objective structured clinical examination. The teaching will be delivered by Defence HE training staff (who will be recognised university teachers). The ratio of staff to students will depend on the method of delivery with greater numbers of staff assigned to practical work than lectures.

The recording of human behaviour is not simple as there are a host of technical, legal, and ethical considerations to take into account. In the era of ‘global surveillance’ the recording of behaviour is routine but rarely discussed. Whilst many people reject the idea of state surveillance, they are willing to provide sensitive personal data to third parties through social media, mobile phones, and the ‘internet of things’. The students will develop an understanding of techniques, procedures, and equipment to enable them to safely work in hostile environments of a politically sensitive nature within legal and ethical frameworks. Students will learn basic electronics (both theory and application), teamwork skills, and risk management/mitigation. The core theoretical components will be delivered through lectures. The practical application of the theoretical components will be through representative training scenarios delivered by the teaching staff (i.e., practicals). The module will be assessed through a piece of written coursework and a presentation. The teaching will be delivered by Defence HE training staff (who will be recognised university teachers). The ratio of staff to students will depend on the method of delivery with greater numbers of staff assigned to practical work than lectures.

The field of explosive ordnance engineering is technically demanding with human error having catastrophic results. This module will establish the basic understanding of explosive ordnance engineering, its capabilities and its safe use in both commercial and military environments. The module will explain the safe and practical application of explosives in a multitude of environments against different materials. It will provide the students with the ability to contribute to technically demanding projects in the field of Explosives Engineering. The core theoretical components will be delivered through seminars. The practical application of the theoretical components will be through representative training scenarios delivered by the teaching staff (i.e., fieldwork). The module will be assessed through two exams and a practical assessment. The teaching will be delivered by Defence HE training staff (who will be recognised university teachers). The ratio of staff to students will depend on the method of delivery with greater numbers of staff assigned to practical work than seminars.

This module will provide training in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, building on previously gained knowledge. The module (15 credits) includes 10 x 1.5 hours of lectures, 11 x 1.5 hours practical classes, and 5 x 1 hour small group practical sessions with Academic Advisors. By the end of the module successful students will be able to describe qualitative analysis techniques and recognise appropriate statistical tests to be used for different types of data. Learning outcomes will be assessed using coursework (practical report and ethics presentation) and a MCT / short answer examination.​ Material (e.g., lecture slides, stream capture, discussion forum, feedback) will be available online.

This module introduces students to the relationship between physiology and psychology. The module content will focus on basic processes and how these can be applied to a number of areas that will also be covered in other modules, such as social and clinical. This content introduces the structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous systems and how this influences stress, sex, aggression, appetite, drug use, and sleep. The module will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. The content lectures (12 x 2 hours) will focus on the academic material and the ‘applied’ or ‘research focused’ lectures (10 x 1 hour) will present how this academic material is used in the real world. In order to explore the practicalities of conducting research in this area there will be small group research seminars (3 x 2 hours) where students will conduct an experiment under the supervision of a member of staff. Online activities will further support student learning. The module will be assessed with a combination of written coursework and an exam containing a combination of multiple choice and short answer exam questions.​

Psychologists who are interested in individual differences focus on the dispositional factors that influence how people think and behave, whereas social psychologists seek to examine behaviour through the social interactions that take place. This module examines the history of both fields of psychology, the principal theories and methods used and how this knowledge can be applied to solve real-world problems. The content lectures (12 x 2 hours) will focus on the academic material and the ‘applied’ or ‘research focused’ lectures (10 x 1 hour) will present how this academic material is used in the real world. In order to explore the practicalities of conducting research in this area, there will be small group research seminars (3 x 2 hours) where students will conduct an experiment under the supervision of a member of staff. The module will be assessed by a combination of written coursework and an exam containing a  combination of multiple choice and short answer exam questions.  Material will be available to students online (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion forum, formative and summative feedback).

This module aims to give students an overview of key issues relating to Clinical and Forensic Psychology both in the UK and across the world, to provide them with an opportunity to engage in research-led teaching, to encourage them to explore current empirical research in Clinical and Forensic Psychology and to demonstrate the applications of psychology in a the ‘real world’ setting. The module includes 12 x 2 hours of content lectures, 10 x 1 hour research focus lectures and 3 x 2 hours research seminars. Material will be available to students online (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion forum, formative and summative feedback). Successful students will be able to evaluate the key debates, demonstrate a critical understanding of central theoretical models and concepts, analyse the utility of a range of research methods and utilise findings from research to support a position. The module is assessed via coursework (a position paper) and end of semester written examination.

This module will cover data analysis, building on knowledge gained from previous modules, specifically it will include Qualitative approaches (Grounded theory and Interpretative phenomenological analysis) and Quantative approaches (psychometric testing, advanced ANOVA). The module is taught via 10 x 1.5 hour lectures, 11 x 1.5 hour practical classes, and 5 x 1 hour small group research practical sessions with academic advisors. By the end of the module successful students will be able to demonstrate broad understanding of qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques, psychometric testing and be able to correctly report these analyses. Two practical classes will focus on exam practice and give formative feedback. Learning outcomes will be assessed using coursework (project report) and a short answer examination.​  

This module focuses on the impact of key lifespan transitions on health and wellbeing across the adult life course, and applies theory relating to lifespan, health and wellbeing to real-world issues, problems and contexts. Successful students will demonstrate an understanding of theories of lifespan development and be able to discuss the personal and socio-cultural relevance of theory. The course will be delivered via two hours of content lectures each week, paired with a one hour research focused lecture, addressing a key topic or controversy in the area. Over the semester, students will participate in 3 x 2 hour smaller group research seminars. Learning will be assessed via a full qualitative report on a chosen body of research and an essay exam during the exam period.  Material will be available to students via the VLE (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion forum, formative and summative feedback).

This module investigates a number of important topics in four thematic areas: Perception, Attention, Memory, and Language. The module examines both behavioural and neurophysiological evidence in healthy participants and neurologically impaired populations. Topics include: Perception, Attention, Memory, and Language. There are 12 x 2-hour core content lectures. In addition, there are 10 x 1 hour research focus lectures and 3 x 2 hour research seminars. The module includes two assessments: An end of term  poster based on the research carried out in the research seminars which contributes 50% to the final module mark. Final assessment is an essay based exam which contributes 50% to the final module mark and is based on the content of the core content lectures and content from selected research focus lectures. Material will be available to students online (e.g., lecture slides, stream captured sessions, online activities, group discussion forum, formative and summative feedback).

The module provides students with the opportunity to participate in a research project and work in partnership directly with a member of academic staff in the School/Institute.   Students will be supervised by an experienced member of academic staff. Each student will be part of an active research environment, where they will connect with prominent researchers, contribute to a live research project and have a well-defined area of responsibility in relation to the project.