Unit information: Current Topics in Psychological Science in 2021/22

Unit name	Current Topics in Psychological Science
Unit code	PSYC30023
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18)
Unit director	Professor. Jarrold
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Psychological Science
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This unit is designed to highlight selected topics in Psychological Science. Students select one seminar from a range of topics which are under active research within the School. The aim of this unit is to develop students’ critical evaluation skills via the synthesis, oral presentation, and discussion of research findings and debate related to important topics in psychology that are under active research within the School of Psychological Science.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, a student will be able to:

1. Review the methodological approaches to the study of the respective research topic.
2. Appraise the application of these approaches in a specific study.
3. Relate the methodology to broader aspects of psychological enquiry.
4. Demonstrate the skills necessary for an assessed oral presentation with a critical appreciation of the research topic.
5. Engage with an oral discussion of the research topic (as the presenter and as an audience member).

Teaching Information

Each seminar unit lead will provide an introduction to the overall topic of the course and background needed to understand the scientific papers. Each student will be allocated one paper to deliver as an oral presentation. Small group seminars will take place where students will deliver their oral presentations followed by discussion of research findings. The seminar unit lead will guide student's learning by providing the papers they will read, brief introductions before each set of presentations and wrap-up summaries at the end of the set of presentations. They will also be available for regular drop-in sessions so that students can ask questions and discuss the topic in greater detail.

Assessment Information

One oral presentation (50%) and one 1000-word research proposal (50%). Attendance and participation in group discussions is mandatory. For each non-attendance at a seminar, students will be expected to submit a 250-word summary of each paper discussed during that seminar (i.e., if four papers were discussed, four 250-word summaries would need to be submitted). These ‘summary documents’ will be marked on a pass/fail basis. Credit will be withheld from students who miss seminars without good reason and who fail the summary documents for non-attendance.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PSYC30023).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.