A key focus of this module will be the applications of BPS (British Psychological Society) core areas to tackle real-life issues.

Social Psychology
Psychobiology
Individual Differences
Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Psychology

Topics may change annually to reflect the debates at the forefront of the discipline, but illustrations of topics include Mind, Behaviour and Environment, Neurodivergence, and Interpersonal and Intergroup Relationships. Online interfaces will be used to offer students hands-on experience using experiments and surveys. Conceptual and historical influences across all core areas of Psychology and their interplay will be considered.

At the end of the module a 1500-word coursework assignment will assess learning outcomes 1-4. This will require students to construct a professional response, using psychological theory and research, to a real-world problem. Students will select from a list of case studies provided by the tutor. Then, as part of the same submission, they will include a short reflective commentary explaining how they selected and applied psychological theory; how their understanding developed through the process, and what they would improve in future professional practice.

Formative assessment opportunities will be available during workshop sessions. You will have the opportunity to receive tutor and peer feedback on practice case studies and upon mini group presentations. These will take place during seminar sessions throughout the module. You will also receive personalised feedback on individual coursework plans.

Scheduled learning and teaching activities will be made up of lectures, seminars and drop-in sessions.

Students will have regular interactive lectures covering key issues, theories and research in core areas in psychology. Lecture content will be expanded upon and applied during regular seminars. The seminars will cover case study practice, skill development, presentation skills and assessment preparation.

Module support sessions: Drop-in sessions will be held across the semester, for module/assessment related support.

Guided independent study:
- Preparing for lectures and seminar
- Guided independent reading, including research using library and web facilities, to develop understanding of topics introduced in lectures
- Assessment preparation

1. Devise appropriate, evidence-based solutions to problems within psychology and related professions.

Application & Problem Solving

2. Collaborate constructively with peers and experienced professionals to apply your collective knowledge and skills.

Critical Reasoning & Collaboration

3. Communicate effectively to professional and non-specialist audiences about knowledge and skills within psychology.

Communication

4. Reflect critically on gaps and conduct independent learning to acquire some transferable skills valued in employment or future learning.

Reflection Personal Development & Entrepreneurship

Access to online experiment and survey design platforms and associated technical support.

Groome, D., & Eysenck, M. (2025). An introduction to applied cognitive psychology (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032500638 This book provides an introduction to the core area of Cognitive Psychology.

Higgs, S., Cooper, A., & Lee, J. (2023). Biological psychology (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd. https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/biological-psychology/book280847 This book provides an introduction to the core area of Biological Psychology.

Maltby, J., Day, L., & Macaskill, A. (2022). Personality, Individual Differences & Intelligence (5th ed.). Pearson. This book provides an introduction to the core area of Individual Differences.

Martin, G. N. (2019). Psychology (N. R. Carlson, Ed.; 6th ed.). Pearson. This book provides a general overview of Psychology

Kuther, T. L. (2019). Child and adolescent development in context. (International student edition). SAGE. This book provides an introduction to the core area of Developmental Psychology.

Sutton, R. (2019). Social Psychology (K. Douglas, Ed.; Second edition.). Macmillan International Higher Education ; Red Globe Press. This book provides an introduction to the core area of Social Psychology.

Brysbaert, M. (2021). Conceptual and historical issues in psychology (K. Rastle, Ed.; 3rd ed.). Pearson. This book provides an introduction to Conceptual and Historical issues in Psychology.

How can psychology help you understand and solve real life challenges? In this module, you will explore the applications of core areas in psychology – including social psychology, psychobiology, individual differences, developmental and cognitive psychology. You will engage with contemporary debates with topics refreshed regularly to reflect the forefront of the discipline. You will learn about their contextual and historical influences, and gain experience using psychological experiment and survey design tools. This module equips you with the knowledge and skills essential for understanding and evaluating real-life issues and questions from a psychological perspective.