University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

Code: USPJL6-30-1 Title: Social and Theoretical Psychology: Conceptual and Historical Issues 1

Version: 2

Level: 1 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15

Module type: Standard

Owning Faculty: Health & Life Sciences Field: Psychology

Valid from: September 2008 Discontinued from: USPJGV-20-1 Conceptual & Historical Issues 1; USPJCM-20-1 Social & Developmental Psychology 1

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: Research Design and Analysis 1 (unless this module has already been passed)

Excluded combinations:

Learning outcomes:

      Upon completing this module, students will be able to:

      Place the development of psychology as a whole within its historical and cultural context.

      Identify the major theoretical strands within psychology and their associated models of the person.

      Comprehend the theory and practice of social psychology through detailed examination of selected classic studies.

      Understand the range and development of approaches in psychology including those used by social psychologists.

      Relate a range of theoretical and conceptual issues to the specific concerns of social psychology.

Syllabus outline:

    Conceptual and Historical Issues

      Basic introduction to the history and philosophy of science, and the epistemologies underpinning psychology; materialist and relational ontologies.

      Review of various histories of psychology such as: empirical, critical and revisionist as the discipline has developed in Europe and America.

      Influential perspectives such as: behaviourism, psychoanalysis, gestalt psychology, symbolic interactionism, cognitivism, constructivism, phenomenology, social constructionism and critical psychology.

      Specific studies and examples of the use of different scientific methods, made relevant to key conceptual debates such as free-will versus determinism, the mind-body problem, reductionism, sources of artefact, levels of explanation, teleological and causal explanations etc.

      Social Psychology

      The development of social psychology.

    Key theories studies and findings in social psychology and their use as the means through which the theoretical and historical concerns of psychology past and present can be analysed and critically discussed.

      Classic studies in social psychology, selected so as to cover key areas such as social perception, inter-group processes, small group processes, social influence, power and inequality, and close relationships.

Teaching and learning methods:

      A variety of pedagogical approaches will be used with the aim of maximising the active engagement of students.

    The course will be presented in fortnightly sessions of 2 hours. This format will facilitate an interactive and multi-media teaching and learning experience.

    As with other content modules, students will also enjoy small group sessions based on their home groups. These will enable further exploration of issues raised by lectures and guided study activities. These facilitated groups will simultaneously use the academic materials of conceptual and historical psychology and social psychology, as the medium through which students' personal development and the acquisition of study skills will be fostered.

    Assessments have been planned so as to incorporate and directly test academic and generic skills first presented to students in the related study skills seminar and further developed in the “Graduate Development Programme” /homegroup tutorials. For this particular module students will be assessed on their ability to identify arguments in a research paper,on the delivery and accompanying audiovisual support for a presentation, and by 1 hour examinations on Conceptual and Historical Issues, and on Social Psychology.

Reading Strategy

      The reading strategy will be based upon key texts which the student is expected to purchase. These will be backed up with guided study using the library resources, Blackboard, other web based resources, and study packs.

Indicative sources:

Current editions of:

Conceptual and Historical Psychology

      Harré, R. (2006) KeyTthinkers in Psychology. London: Sage.

      Leahey, T. H. (2004) A History of Psychology : Main currents in psychological thought. London:

      Pearson Prentice Hall.

      Richards, G. (2002) Putting Psychology In Its Place: A critical historical overview. London: Routledge.

      Valentine, E.R. (1992) Conceptual Issues in Psychology. London: Routledge.

Social Psychology

      Hewstone, M. and Stroebe, W. (2001) Introduction to Social Psychology: A European perspective. Oxford: Blackwell.

      Hogg, M. and Vaughan, G. (2002) Social Psychology. Hemel Hempstead: Prentice Hall.

      Stainton Rogers, W. (2003) Social Psychology: Experimental and critical approaches. Maidenhead: Open University / McGraw Hill.

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 50 % B: 50%

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A Element weighting

EX1

2 hr Examination

1

     

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

CW1

Coursework portfolio

1

     
     
     
     

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes) No

Component A Element weighting

EX1

2 hr Examination

1

     

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

CW1

Coursework portfolio

1

     

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes. Yes

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

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