1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the critical concepts, ideas and issues within the topic areas chosen from within the module content.

Knowledge & Understanding

2. Critically evaluate the contribution of the research including methodological strengths and weaknesses of key methodologies, theories and research in the understanding of the psychology of crime and criminality from topic areas chosen from within the module content.

Analysis¿
Application¿

Enquiry

Learning


3. Reflect on, and apply, acquired knowledge regarding BPS ethics and conduct principles to topic areas chosen from within the module content

Application¿
Problem Solving¿
Reflection¿

4. Express relevant ideas, knowledge, reading and evaluation in a succinct and coherent written medium

Communication¿

The exam is divided into two sections. For Section 1 students will choose 1 essay question to answer from the choice provided based on lecture topics covered in the module (learning outcomes 1, 2 and 4). For Section 2 students will answer 1 further set question based on the application of the British Psychological Society Code of Research and Conduct Ethics to a different lecture topic (learning outcomes 3 and 4).



Formative assessment

This will take place through class-based activities and the completion of independent learning tasks. Peer and tutor feedback will be offered for activities. Tutor feedback on essay plan answers will be available. There will also be regular drop-in sessions integrated into the taught sessions across the semesters where students can get assessment preparation focussed feedback. Independent learning and practice exam activities will also be included.

This module will explore some of the major psychological contributions towards understanding crime, criminality and criminal behaviour. Developmental, social and genetic contributions towards understanding the psychology of criminality and the individual experience of crime will be considered. Also included will be critical evaluations of the methodologies adopted by researchers in the field and the contributions of this psychological research towards understanding contemporary and key issues such as juvenile offending, domestic violence and violent offending.

Why do people commit crimes and what, as researchers, do we need to consider? Building on what you covered at Level 4, this module will move on to explore some of the major psychological contributions towards understanding crime, criminal behaviour, serious offending and the individual experience of crime. You will also evaluate methods used by researchers and how much the psychological research can explain to help us understand contemporary and key issues such as juvenile offending, domestic violence and violent offending.

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities (32 hours):¿
11 x 2-hour lecture sessions¿

3 x 2-hour workshop sessions
2 x 2-hour module/assessment support sessions
These will incorporate tutor-led lectures, and tutor and student led interactive activities and discussions. These will include video, debates, paper-based exercises and case study analyses. During the course of the module students will also be expected to complete a series of tutor-guided tasks and investigations which will form the basis of some class-based activities and discussions, which will assist in the revision of content for the submitted assessment.

Guided Independent Study (168 hours):¿
Independent learning hours will consist of a combination of guided further reading, completing tasks for session preparation, and for assessment preparation.

Bowling, B. & Phillips, C. (2002). Racism, Crime and Justice. Harlow: Longman.

Davies, G.N., Beech, A.R. & Colloff, M. (2024). Forensic Psychology: Crime, Justice, Law Interventions (4th Edition). Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

Fitz-Gibbon, K. & Walklate, S. (2018). Gender, Crime and Criminal Justice (3rd Edition). Cullompton: Taylor and Francis.

Gavin, H. (2018). Criminological and Forensic Psychology (2nd Edition). London: Sage.

Howitt, D. (2022). Forensic and Criminal Psychology (7th Edition). Harlow: Pearson Education.¿

VLE package e.g. Blackboard

Library access to relevant textbooks, journals, ebooks

Internet access to relevant websites online databases, videos and documentaries

Technology such as media players (DVD), Padlet, Microsoft Forms, Teams and Turnitin

To be registered on BSc(Hons) Psychology and with Criminology or BSc(Hons) Psychological Studies (including placement year and foundation year versions)