Postgraduate Taught

The MSc in Child Social Development provides research training and taught content in child social development, building on areas of staff research expertise at Keele. It prepares students for a PhD in child social development and other psychology-related child social development careers.

Our training is based closely on our staff research interests. These currently reflect strengths in bullying in schools, loneliness, trust and written emotional expression in adolescents, how an understanding of the nature of knowledge and beliefs develops in children and young adults, and young people in education.

This course aims to build on our research expertise by providing structured psychological training in child social development so that those successfully completing the course can proceed along a career path related to the psychology of child social development. This may be in the form of a PhD, or may form a first stage of graduate training for those wishing to proceed to a professional career in psychology.


Funding

At the time of writing funding for 2011-2012 entry has not been finalised. However, in previous years all applicants have been eligible to apply for one of three School of Psychology bursaries. In addition University bursaries have been available for Keele graduates. Applicants are welcome to discuss sources of funding with the School of Psychology.

Career Destination Information

As well as providing research training in the psychology of child social development preparatory to undertaking research at PhD level, this course offers the opportunity for students to seek employment as a researcher in a variety of professions involving working with children and young people.

This course provides an opportunity to obtain advanced training in the psychology of child social development along with the opportunity to conduct research in a variety of settings. The course aims are:

• To develop students’ understanding of different theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches within the psychology of child social development
• To develop advanced research expertise in the psychology of child social development
• To provide students with the opportunities of working with community agencies and partners pertinent to child social development

This course is open to graduates with a first or upper second-class degree in psychology or overseas equivalent. Individuals without such qualifications but with other relevant experience should contact the course director to discuss whether they would benefit from the course.

In order to obtain a Masters degree, students are required to obtain 180 credits, including a 60-credit dissertation. The course modules are set out below. Credit value for each module is given in brackets.

Course Modules

Core Modules (70 credits)

• Theory and Methodology in Psychology (30 credits): Focuses on philosophical issues in social science and psychology and specific research techniques in psychology
• Qualitative Data Analysis (20 credits): Covers practical application of interpretative methodologies through the exploration of content, discourse and narrative analysis of interview and textual data
• Quantitative Data Analysis II (advanced) (20 credits): Covers a variety of analytic methods including extensions of the regression model, analysis of variance and multivariate data reduction techniques such as factor analysis

Specialist Modules (50 credits)

• Special topics in Psychology 1 (15 credits): Students choose from currently available Level 3 modules in Social Development in Children, Disclosure Processes in Children and Adolescents, The Social Self, and Peer Relationships in Childhood & Adolescence
• Special topics in Psychology 2 (15 credits): The second special topic is based on independent study, leading to the preparation of an essay under one-to-one supervision of a Special Topic supervisor
• Research Apprenticeship (20 credits): Students work on a staff-led research project as an apprentice, gaining experience of designing and conducting psychological research

Dissertation (60 credits)

Students may select any appropriate topic in the area of Child Social Development, providing that specialist supervision is available. It is normally expected that Psychology students will undertake an empirical dissertation, designing, conducting, and reporting on an original piece of psychological research using appropriate design, methods, and data analysis strategies.

The course is assessed through coursework, verbal presentation of research, unseen examination and independent research written up as a final dissertation (15,000-20,000 words). The pass mark in each module is 50%, and all modules must be passed to obtain the MSc.

A distinction will be awarded for exceptional performance (broadly an overall average of 70% or more including 70% in the dissertation). A merit will be awarded where overall performance is in the range 60-69% (including 60% in the dissertation).

• Home/EU = £3,900 (full-time), £2,150 (part-time).
• International: £11,300

There are a number of bursaries on offer to both home and overseas postgraduate students. Please see this page for details and eligibility.