The role of psychology in forensic applications will be considered. The relevance, utility and validity of key psychological research and theory within these applications will be examined. Topics may change to reflect the debates at the forefront of the discipline and to ensure contemporary issues around the application of forensic and investigative psychology within the Criminal Justice System are discussed. Example topics that may be covered include psychological profiling, providing expertise and information for legal purposes, and the role of psychology in managing those who commit violent or sexual offences.

Assessment 1: BPS ethics and conduct task on a chosen lecture topic demonstrating a psychologist’s conduct.
This task requires students to apply the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct to a Psychologist’s conduct using a chosen case of their choice from a list provided in order to develop and assess their understanding of the role of Psychologists within the Criminal Justice System and you will reflect on your own personal and skills development in light of this. The task will be completed within a workshop session following a taught session where these principles are outlined and discussed. For this assessment, you have the choice of either submitting a 500-word written document OR a 5-minute recorded narrated PowerPoint Presentation. For both, there will be opportunities for peer and tutor review prior to submission.

Assessment 2: Case study analysis (learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3)
A case study whereby students will find their own contemporary case (with the conviction of the offender occurring on or after a specified year) involved in the Criminal Justice System in the UK. They will be expected to apply 2 areas of forensic applications of psychology covered in the course material to the case details and draw on wider sources and research in order to complete the assessment. Depending on the case and the 2 areas chosen, this will require the student to assess and evaluate the applicability and coverage of the research in being able to potentially explain whether a specific investigative process might have helped the investigation or not and suggest whether a specific form of offender management may or may not be effective in this case.

Formative assessment
This will take place through class-based activities, independent learning and practice case study activities. Peer and tutor feedback will be offered for activities. Tutor feedback on practice case studies will be available.

Scheduled learning and teaching activities including lectures, workshops and assessment preparation sessions. The lectures will be comprised of a combination of tutor and student-led sessions and will be comprised of a series of interactive lectures, discussions, debates, practical exercises. 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 of the discussions and debates in class and which will assist in the submitted assessment. Within the scheduled teaching sessions students will also have the opportunity to attend module/assessment drop-in support sessions.

Guided independent study will consist of a combination of guided further reading material, and completing tasks for session preparation, and for assessment preparation.

1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge and a systematic understanding of the major theories at the forefront of applied forensic and investigative psychology.

Knowledge and understanding

2. Select and apply appropriate research and theories in applied forensic psychology to a range of contemporary issues in the context of investigative procedures and offender management.

Application and problem solving

3. Effectively communicate the analyses of a case study in applied forensic psychology to professional audiences.

Communication

4. Reflect on, and apply, acquired knowledge regarding ethics and conduct and evaluate your own personal and skills development in light of this to continue enhancing your professional skills and competencies.

Reflection

Access to specialist equipment such as eye-tracking and eyeblink systems, Biopac, driving simulator, virtual reality, and cold pressor equipment.

Access to simulation facilities and associated platforms (e.g., Virti).

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

Gavin, H. (2024). Criminological and Forensic Psychology (3rd Edition). London: Sage.

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

Following on from previous modules that have looked at the role of psychology in explaining issues within the Criminal Justice System and criminal behaviours, this module focuses on areas of expertise that a psychologist working within the Criminal Justice System may be asked to provide reports and assessments about. The role and relevance of key psychological research and theory within these applications will be applied to scenarios, examined and evaluated as will consideration Psychologists need to have around ethics and conduct.