PSY-10052 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module will allow you to explore a range of topics in developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, biological psychology, and individual differences. You will learn about how psychologists have carried out research to better understand human behaviour and thought from expert staff with experience of working in these areas.
Typical topics in developmental psychology could include how children's cognitive abilities develop including language and numerical development, as well as social and emotional development. Topics in social psychology may include social influence, self and identity, as well as the psychology of group processes. Topics in cognitive psychology may include how we make sense of sensory stimuli, memory, higher level cognitive processes such as problem solving. Topics in biological psychology may include the structure and function of the brain, neuronal impulses, and the ways in which genes and hormones influence our behaviour. Across the topics covered, individual differences will be discussed alongside connections to other subdisciplines in psychology.
The teaching on this module will include interactive classroom taught sessions, which will introduce you to the central theoretical concepts and research evidence and equip you with the study skills you need to succeed within the module and throughout the rest of your studies at Keele. You will also engage with weekly structured activities provided to support your learning independently (asynchronous learning activities).

Students will be introduced to the core psychology curriculum relating to biological, cognitive, social and, developmental psychology, and individual differences. The module will cover the breadth of the British Psychological Society curriculum expectations for accreditation. In addition to gaining foundational knowledge of these core topics, students will be encouraged to make links between different curricular areas and subdisciplines, and to reflect on how biological, cognitive, and the psychology of individual differences interact with social and, developmental psychology, among other perspectives. The historical development of the core topics will also be covered, with an emphasis on decolonisation. Alongside core theoretical and empirical knowledge, students will practice key study skills that are essential to success in an undergraduate degree.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Explain key aspects of human thought and behaviour using theories and perspectives from developmental psychology, social psychology, biological psychology, cognitive psychology, and individual differences.: 1,2
Discuss current and historical research within developmental psychology, social psychology, biological psychology, cognitive psychology, and individual differences, and explain how research methods and theoretical understanding have developed over time.: 1,2
Actively engage with key study skills, facilitating independent study, including carrying out searches of relevant literature relating to social, developmental, biological, and cognitive psychology, and individual differences.: 1,2
Reflect on the ways in which different perspectives in psychology can be integrated to give a holistic view of human thought and behaviour.
: 1,2
Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate key concepts in psychology.: 1,2

Study hours

23 x 2 hour seminars = 46 hours
weekly asynchronous preparatory work = 74 hours
preparation for SAQs = 60 hours
preparation for essay = 60 hours
recommended reading = 60 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment