- Student Records
Programme & Unit Catalogues

Department of Psychology, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


PS20109: Social psychology: traditional and critical approaches

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 1
Click here for further information Assessment: CW 20%, EX 80%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take PS10086
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
To enable students to understand the relationship between individual, social and cultural psychological processes. To familiarise students with research on the individual in the social context. To provide understanding of the major theoretical debates and recent developments in social psychology.

Learning Outcomes:
Be aware of key studies in social psychology.
Be familiar with how psychologists approach the student of communication and the social construction of meaning.
Understand the main theoretical debates about the relationship between the individual and the social and cultural context.

Skills:
Understands the scientific underpinnings of psychology as a discipline, its historical origins, development and limitations. (T/F A)
Recognises the inherent variability and diversity of psychological functioning and its significance. (T/F A)
Can demonstrate systematic knowledge and critical understanding of a range of influences on psychological functioning, how they are conceptualised across the core areas, and how they interrelate.
The core knowledge domains within psychology include (i) research methods, (ii) biological psychology, (iii) cognitive psychology, (iv) individual differences, (v) developmental psychology and (vi) social psychology. In addition to these core areas it is expected that students will gain knowledge of conceptual and historical perspectives in psychology. (T/F A)
Has detailed knowledge of several specialised areas and/or applications, some of which are at the cutting edge of research in the discipline. (T/F)
Can reason scientifically, understand the role of evidence and make critical judgements about arguments in psychology. (T/F A)
Can adopt multiple perspectives and systematically analyse the relationships between them. (T/F A)
Can detect meaningful patterns in behaviour and experience and evaluate their significance. (T/F A)
Can communicate ideas and research findings both effectively and fluently by written, oral and visual means. (T/F A)
Can solve problems by clarifying questions, considering alternative solutions and evaluating outcomes. (T/F A)
Is sensitive to and can react appropriately to contextual and interpersonal factors in groups and teams. (T/F)
Can undertake self-directed study and project management in order to meet desired objectives. (T/F A)

Content:
Language as dialogue and social negotiation. Rhetoric and discourse: how we persuade, argue, negotiate and interpret. Construction of meaning. The role of metaphor and narrative. Communication processes. Effective and ineffective communication. The relationships between individual schemas, representations and lay theories, and social and cultural repertoires.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

PS20109 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Education
  • UHED-AFB04 : BA (hons) Childhood, Youth and Education Studies (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHED-AKB04 : BA (hons) Childhood, Youth and Education Studies (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
Department of Psychology
  • UHPS-AKB03 : BSc (hons) Psychology (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB14 : BSc (hons) Applied Social Studies (Full-time) - Year 2

PS20109 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AAB10 : BSc (hons) Politics with Economics (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • UHPL-AFB10 : BSc (hons) Politics with Economics (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHPL-AKB10 : BSc (hons) Politics with Economics (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • UHPL-AAB29 : BSc (hons) Politics with International Relations (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • UHPL-AFB29 : BSc (hons) Politics with International Relations (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHPL-AKB29 : BSc (hons) Politics with International Relations (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc (hons) Social Policy (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc (hons) Social Policy (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc (hons) Social Sciences (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc (hons) Social Sciences (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc (hons) Sociology (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc (hons) Sociology (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc (hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc (hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AFB11 : BSc (hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management (Full-time) - Year 2
  • UHSP-AKB11 : BSc (hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2

NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.