PE7026 - Biological and Social Psychology

The module is delivered entirely online via our electronic learning platform (elp). You will interact with a range of materials on the module site. The module home page provides you with quick access to detailed information about the module in an interactive, easily accessible format. This is designed to broach new, and challenging information, and to provide breadth and depth of conceptual knowledge across topics in biological and social psychology. The teaching materials support your learning. Each session delivers flexible, interactive learning materials. . Tasks to extend and test your learning are interspersed within the learning materials. A range of different tasks, with formative feedback, are aimed at supporting your learning. In addition to this you will be encouraged to utilise peer to peer support opportunities through the use of elp supported platforms for interaction. Each session is supported by directed reading from the core texts accessed through the electronic reading list.

You will be an autonomous, self-motivated learner within a supportive distance learning environment. You will be introduced to the module by the module tutor in an introductory video. The online module sessions and interactive tasks form the cornerstone for supporting you during your study. Academic support is available from the teaching team and during live sessions you are able to ask questions directly to the tutors. Outside of live sessions, there are discussion boards for each topic on the module, where you can ask questions and take part in discussions with tutors and peers. The module discussion boards, aremonitored 7 days a week. The academic team also hold a weekly ‘coffee morning’, a virtual session open to the whole cohort which you can drop in to and ask questions in a more informal environment. In advance of each assessment a video presentation is uploaded to support you in your preparation for this session. This is followed by an online live question and answer session prior to submission of your assessed work. Focused academic support coupled with timely formative and summative feedback should enable you to meet your full academic potential within this module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MKU1: You will be expected to understand complex human behaviours from a biological and social psychology perspective.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MIPSA1: You will develop your skills in analysing different theoretical frameworks.
• MIPSA2: You will complete assessments which are applicable to real-world examples of biological and social psychology practice.
Personal Values Attributes:
• MPVA1: You will be able to understand the importance and key considerations when conducting ethical research within social and biological psychology.

Formative assessment:
Sample assessment questions will be provided for the biological and social components.
Summative assessment:
Biological Psychology is assessed via a short answer question exam; multiple questions which require you to answer in a clear, concise manner, typically in 250 words or less (MKU1, MIPSA1). Social Psychology is assessed by a 3000 word assignment based on a real world problem. You will use relevant theories and approaches from social psychology to describe current knowledge in the area and plan an appropriate study to investigate the issue (MKU1, MIPSA1 & 2 and MPVA1)

Written individual feedback will be provided on the assignment.

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The aim of this module is to develop your understanding of the human mind from both a biological and social psychology perspective. Both approaches are research-rich; utilizing historic, seminal work and up to date studies utilizing modern techniques and methods. Within ‘biological psychology’ you will learn about how the brain functions and interacts with behaviour. In ‘social psychology’ you will consider how psychologists apply social psychological theory and methods to solve real world issues.