Meet the admissions requirements of the Science Foundation Year

Computing facilities, including access to the Internet
Suitable teaching rooms

Subject Specific
The perspectives, theories and concepts are presented through lectures,. However, a number of interactive learning strategies are also employed, such as group discussion, practical demonstrations, oral presentations and videos.
The lectures will be for 36 hours spread over 12 weeks with contact time 3 hours a week.
Formative learning will be aided by class assignments. Summative learning will be assessed by class tests and one assignment

Study Skills
When the Science Foundation Year is viewed as a whole, there are 72 hours of class contact and 96 hours of independent study (guided reading, tutorial tasks etc.) that are dedicated to study skills. All modules will have an equal share of this time. The 72 hours of class contact will be spread evenly throughout the teaching year and will be split between tutorials (48 hours) and IT workshops (24 hours). The tutorial programme will be designed to emphasise and develop independent study, whilst delivering the study skills indicative content outlined above. The dedicated IT workshops are to familiarise the students with the use of the common computer packages, indicated above, within a scientific context. The overall ethos will be one of encouraging active learning and developing a sense of responsibility for learning.

Subject Specific
In the first semester, the first three weeks are spent on a overview of psychological perspectives, including an introduction to psychological research methods. The perspectives looked at will include the Behaviourist Approach, Psychodynamic approach, Cognitive Approach and Physiological Approach. The module then moves on to consider social cognition, the way in which we see others in a social context. This will look at the process of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination and strategies to reduce prejudice. Social influence will focus on conformity and obedience and its effect on society. The final three weeks will examine pro and anti-social behaviour and the influence of the media in this.

An EXAM length 1.5 HOURS weighted at 60%. An ESSAY length 1500 WORDS weighted at 24%. And a Study skills portfolio (16%)


Learning outcomes I to IV will be assessed by an end of module examination (60%) of 11/2 hours duration and coursework consisting of a 1500 word essay or equivalent (40%).
The study skills portfolio will assess learning outcome V, (16%) (please see additional assessment information)


Additional Assessment Information:
Students will be required to complete 2 pieces of summative assessment, namely coursework and an end of module examination. These will be used to assess both mastery of the subject of each module and the attainment of study skills. Both elements will be used to assess the former of these (these elements will, respectively, be given weightings of 40 % and 60%), whilst study skills will be wholly assessed via the coursework element. In each case, the nature of the coursework will be chosen to develop one or more facets of study skills, such as report writing, essay writing, oral presentation, problem solving, use of IT, teamwork and information retrieval. A tutor will be assigned to monitor and coordinate study skills provision across the modules, thereby ensuring that each student has the opportunity to attain and be assessed in each of the study skills learning outcomes. By the end of each teaching block, each student?s overall performance across all 7 of the study skills outcomes will have been assessed. For each student the mark attained will then form 40% of the coursework mark for each module. By this means, the study skills element of each module is given a weighting of 16% of the available marks (i.e. 0.4 x 40).

Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback via:
Continuous informal feedback in class and mid-module tests

Study Skills
An ability to:
1. Think critically and examine practical problems from the scientific perspective. SS1, SS2, K&U, L, An, PS, Ap.
2. Collect, interpret and report results in a variety of media. SS1, SS2, K&U, L, E, An, PS, C, Ap.
3. Work individually and as a team member in the solving of problems. SS1, L, E, An, PS, Ap.
4. Show a basic working ability with a range of PC and IT based software. SS1, C.
5. Display a basic understanding of the fundamental basis of scientific endeavour. SS1, SS2, K&U, L, An, PS, Ap.
6. Undertake self-appraisal of learning achievements and understand the need for and value of a reflective approach to intellectual and personal development and thereby have begun to develop a sense of awareness and a degree of responsibility for their own learning. SS1, L, R.
7. Display familiarity and competence in the use of basic 'study skills'. SS1, C.

Note that these study skills learning outcomes are common to all of the modules of the Science Foundation Year. Also, note that the letter codes following the individual learning outcomes refer to the learning outcomes for the Science Foundation Year as a whole. For details, see Table 1 of the Science Foundation Year Programme Specification.

Eysenck, M (2001) Psychology - A Student's Handbook, Psychology Press ISBN 0-86377-475-X
Gross, R. and McIlveen, R (2001) Psychology: A New Introduction, Hodder & Stoughton ISBN 9780340776896
Gross, R (2008) Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour (4th ed), Hodder & Stoughton ISBN 9780077118365