This module will allow students to develop a systematic understanding of theories, debates and research findings and to develop research skills in cognitive and biological psychology.

Examples of aspects of cognition that will be covered are: attention, perception, memory, thinking and reasoning, and consciousness. Examples of aspects of the biological underpinnings of behaviour that will be covered are: learning and memory, motivation, emotion, and psychiatric disorders.

Laboratories with access to PCs running SuperLab software
Access to HSL
Access to specialist equipment such as eyeblink, biopacs, eye-tracker, driving simulator

Baddeley, A.D., Eysenck, M.W., & Anderson, M.C. (2009). Memory. Hove, UK: Psychology Press.
Carlson, N. (2010). Physiology of Behaviour (10th edition). Boston, Allyn and Bacon.
Eysenck, M., & Keane, M. (2010). Cognitive Psychology: A student's handbook (6th Edition). Hove, UK: Psychology Press.
Pinel, J.P.J. (2011). Biopsychology. (8th edition). Boston, Allyn and Bacon.

Be registered on the MSc Psychology Award

1. DEVELOP A SYSTEMATIC UNDERSTANDING AND CRITICAL EVALUATION OF CURRENT THEORIES, EMPIRICAL RESEARCH, ISSUES AND DEBATES RELATING TO THE CORE AREAS OF BOTH COGNITIVE AND BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY (ANALYSIS, KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING)

2. DEVELOP A COHERENT AND STRUCTURED ARGUMENT REPRESENTING ADVANCED SCHOLARSHIP AND CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS IN COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND EXPRESS IT IN WRITING (ANALYSIS, COMMUNICATION)

3. DEMONSTRATE ORIGINALITY IN APPLYING KNOWLEDGE OF THE METHODS USED WITHIN COGNITIVE AND BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY TO DESIGN RIGOROUS AND EMPIRICAL EXPERIMENTS WHICH EXPLORE BEHAVIOUR. (ANALYSIS, APPLICATION, ENQUIRY, PROBLEM SOLVING)

4. SYSTEMATICALLY AND CREATIVELY INTEGRATE AND REFLECT ON KNOWLEDGE ACROSS CORE AREAS IN COGNITIVE AND BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN ORDER TO SOLVE EVERYDAY PROBLEMS. (ANALYSIS, APPLICATION, PROBLEM SOLVING)

Students will develop their understanding through a mixture of methods. Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities include: weekly 2-hour lectures will provide a general overview of themes and topics covered in the module and provide module/assessment support. Weekly 2-hour workshops will allow students to gain and develop contemporary knowledge, issues and debates in cognitive and biological psychology. This will be done through group discussions, practical experience of a variety of experimental techniques and the development of transferable skills such as literature searching techniques and reading a journal article. In some instances, material may also be delivered through other media such as video clips, blackboard and technical demonstrations. Additional 2-hour seminar which will focus on Master’s level skills. Guided Independent Study: (244) 82 hours Workshop preparation 82 hours Assessment preparation 80 hours Reading

1) 2000 word written assignment assessing cognitive psychology knowledge (50%) ( LOs 1 & 2)

2) Three 40-minute MCQ exams assessed at three time points during the semester. MCQ I: Principles of Biological Psychology (weighted 10% of the overall module) and MCQ II: Biological Psychology (weighted 20% of the overall module) will be used to assess biological psychology knowledge (LOs 1 & 3) and MCQ III: Integrated Cognitive and Biological Psychology (weighted 20% of the overall module) will be used to assess integrated cognitive and biological knowledge (LOs 1, 3 & 4).

Formative Assessment/Feedback:
Workshop activities will require students to express, discuss and evaluate their emerging understanding of the course content with both peers and their tutors. These activities will include preparation for specific tasks such as literature searching and reading and reviewing journal articles, teamwork and development of learning towards other assessment. Formative learning within these workshops will also include demonstrations and hands-on experience with technical equipment. Formative Assessment/Feedback:
Workshop activities will require students to express, discuss and evaluate their emerging understanding of the course content with both peers and their tutors. These activities will include preparation for specific tasks such as literature searching and reading and reviewing journal articles, teamwork and development of learning towards other assessment. Formative learning within these workshops will also include demonstrations and hands-on experience with technical equipment.

This module will allow you to develop a systematic understanding of theories, debates and research findings and to develop research skills in cognitive and biological psychology.

Examples of aspects of cognition that will be covered are: attention, perception, memory, thinking and reasoning, and consciousness. Examples of aspects of the biological underpinnings of behaviour that will be covered are: learning and memory, motivation, emotion, and psychiatric disorders.