PSY-20048 - 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

We use the Internet every day to interact with others, buy goods, post about our activities, and even find a romantic partner. But how often do we consider the effect that the Internet has on us psychologically, or concern ourselves with just how reliant we are on technology?
Cyberpsychology is a relatively new sub-discipline, but one that is increasingly relevant in today's online world. In this module, the effects of the Internet and technology will be examined from a psychological perspective. We will examine many contemporary issues such as online dating, the use of social media, online advertising, and how we interact with others on the Internet.
The breadth of your understanding will be assessed through regular class tests, designed to motivate and engage you in learning. By applying peer-reviewed psychological research from a variety of social, cognitive, and biological perspectives, you will gain an understanding of how technology and the Internet impacts on your life. You will also learn how to critically evaluate existing research in order to identify gaps in knowledge, and design research to address those gaps, which is an invaluable skill in many areas of employment.
This module is taught by experts in a variety of fields and will make extensive use of contemporary research via journal articles. You will gain expertise in identifying relevant sources and articles, and in understanding methodological aspects as well as key findings. These skills will be transferable to other modules within your program of study, and will overall enhance your academic skills repertoire during your degree.

This module aims to:
- provide students with an insight into culturally and personally relevant areas of psychology, demonstrating the impact of the internet and technology on their daily lives
- provide students with research-led teaching from staff who work in this topic area
- show the diversity of a single topic across different sub-disciplines in psychology
- provide students with skills which will be applicable in their professional and personal lives beyond their university studies

Intended Learning Outcomes

Search for, critically evaluate, and utilise in arguments appropriate literature relating to cyberpsychology: 2
Synthesise a rationale for research from extant cyberpsychology literature, and plan an appropriate research project to address this rationale: 2
Plan to communicate ideas relating to cyberpsychology and germane research to a lay audience: 2
Recall information and answer questions relating to cyberpsychology topics covered in the module: 1

Study hours

20 hours synchronous teaching
6 hours continuous assessment
12 hours asynchronous guided learning activities
112 hours independent study - including time to work on the proposal.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment