The research module will involve constructing and executing a substantial research project, usually conducted in connection with a topic / theme relevant to the overall masters programme. Capitalising the on the links between the course and local services, there may be opportunities to conduct research within partner organisations (e.g. NHS trusts, mental health charities, forensic units) as well as undertaking research based on topics generated by academics based within the department of psychology. We also encourage students who come to the program with connections as a consequence of previous professional experience, to undertake projects that are linked to interests they have already established. For students on BPS accredited masters programmes, the dissertation will take the form of an empirical research project involving primary data collection and submission of an individual ethics proposal.
This module offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and applying experimental design principles in Psychology by drawing on examples from a range of key domains, such as language, perception, attention, psychobiology, and mental health. Through a combination of theoretical instruction, hands-on programming workshops, and practical research exercises, students will develop a comprehensive skill set that encompasses all phases of experimental design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
This module introduces the main topics and perspectives of social and biological psychology, and how they can help us understand human behaviour. It covers the basic concepts and methods of research in these fields, as well as some of their applications and implications. The module focuses on the biological bases of behaviour, such as the brain, hormones, genes, and neuroscience; and the social influences on behaviour, such as individual differences, attitudes, aggression, and prosocial behaviour. The module aims to provide a comprehensive and critical overview of the theories, findings, and controversies in social and biological psychology, and to foster students' skills in evaluating and applying psychological knowledge. Importantly, the module will support students in contrasting and synthesising between theories in social and biological psychology; fostering their ability to integrate different psychological perspectives.
Electroencephalography (EEG) makes it possible to record the brain¿s function in vivo. This module will give students an introduction to the preprocessing and analysis of EEG data with a focus on event-related potentials (ERPs). Students will learn about the preprocessing and analysis of EEG data, and learn how to use popular software, such as the toolbox EEGLab which relies on the software MATLAB.
Electroencephalography (EEG) makes it possible to record the brain¿s function in vivo. This module will give students an introduction to the preprocessing and analysis of EEG data with a focus on event-related potentials (ERPs). Students will learn about the preprocessing and analysis of EEG data, and learn how to use popular software, such as the toolbox EEGLab which relies on the software MATLAB.
This module provides a broad introduction to psychology for first-year undergraduates. It will focus on cognition and individual differences factors in behaviour while incorporating how other key perspectives in psychology compare and contrast in their accounts. Students will be introduced to key topics in cognitive psychology, as well as the cognitive neuropsychological/psychophysiological approaches that link mind/brain and environment. In addition, the module will examine how we define `atypical¿ behaviour, along with the explanations of such behaviour including learning theory, biology and genetics, and psychoanalytic explanations. This module lays the groundwork for more advanced study in psychology by providing a coherent framework for understanding how modern methodologies can be used to probe mental capabilities and discover facts about the way our brains receive, process and act upon information from different sensory modalities.
This module provides a broad introduction to cognitive psychology for first-year undergraduates. It explores how we perceive, attend to and use information in everyday life. Students will be introduced to key topics in cognitive psychology, as well as the cognitive neuropsychological/psychophysiological approaches that link mind/brain and environment. The module combines classic theories and landmark experiments with contemporary research and applications, highlighting how cognitive psychology informs areas such as applied psychological design and examples of the real-world consequences of cognitive `failures¿. Alongside core content, students will develop foundational skills in reading primary research, interpreting basic data, interpreting contemporary scientific debates and thinking critically about experimental evidence. This module lays the groundwork for more advanced study in psychology by providing a coherent framework for understanding how modern methodologies can be used to probe mental capabilities and discover facts about the way our brains receive, process and act upon information from different sensory modalities.
This module focuses on behavioural and neuroimaging correlates of inhibition/interference, a cognitive neuroscience topic central to clinical disorders (e.g. mood), as well as forensic disorders (e.g., sex offenders/paedophilia, antisocial personality disorder/psychopathy). These are disorders commonly encountered in clinical and forensic settings and together with their neural abnormalities are central to this course. The confounding influence of factors such as alcohol/substance abuse and gambling behaviours on neural abnormalities will also be discussed. Because the relationships between these disorders are discussed across lectures, several lectures feature for example some sexual offending against adults/children which could trigger emotional reactions.
Hydref 2017 - Mawrth 2020
