Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
This module aims to give you knowledge and skills in an area of psychology that can affect so many aspects of our lives. Whether we're talking about physical or mental health, the role that psychology plays is key to looking at health trends and behaviours and it informs policy makers and clinicians in applied settings. This module will give you an appreciation of some of the main theories and models in health psychology and how these are represented within and beyond academic environments. Assessment is a piece of coursework requiring you to design a health psychology intervention and to critically reflect on the theories and research used to develop this.
Aims
To develop students' knowledge and understanding of psychological aspects of health issues. To acquire and review the theoretical underpinnings of health psychology and how these relate to practice within specific health areas To enable students to apply their knowledge by designing a theoretically motivated health interventionAppreciate the relevance of health psychology issues for different populations
Talis Aspire Reading ListAny reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/psy-30077/lists
Intended Learning Outcomes
describe key theories and behavioural models applicable to health psychology: 1critically appraise and assess the quality of relevant literature within specific areas of health research in psychology: 1critically discuss the contexts in which these theories/models are applied: 1design a health intervention which demonstrates an integrated understanding of health psychology theory and contexts: 1demonstrate an understanding of health outcomes for under-represented groups, different populations and within a global context: 1
20 hours lectures/seminars20 hours guided study hours10 hours group work on activities to support the assessment100 hours background reading and coursework preparation
Description of Module Assessment
1: Coursework weighted 100%Intervention design and evaluationStudents will be asked to design a health intervention relevant to a particular health campaign. This can relate to either an individual behaviour change campaign or a wider public health concern.
Examples of intervention foci:
- Increasing cervical screening uptake in older women
- Communicating effectively with young LGBT adults about safe sex
- Improving compliance with social distancing during COVID-19 outbreak
Students will be asked to briefly outline the proposed intervention and then to write a critical reflection on the rationale for the intervention drawing upon relevant theories, concepts and research discussed in class. The answer should explicitly identify:
- the behaviour or issue being targeted
- the rationale for the intervention
- who the intervention is aimed at (and who it excludes) and its context (eg urban, rural, country etc)
- the health psychology theory/model/approach underpinning the intervention
- details about intervention¿s components and delivery format
Total word count - 3000 words maximum