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PSY-30140 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 01 May 2024

PSY-30140 - Grand Challenges in Psychology
Coordinator: Helen Williams Room: 1.78 Tel: +44 1782 7 33664
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25


Aims
This final year module serves as the culminating and integrative experience of our undergraduate Psychology degree programmes. In this capstone module students will extend their appreciation of the ways in which psychology and psychological science have developed culturally and historically to get us to where we are now. Building on this, the topics covered will invite students to think critically about current debates and grand challenges in Psychology - these will include topics like the replication crisis, how we understand consciousness, and how psychology can influence community action.

Intended Learning Outcomes

summarise and critically evaluate findings from psychological research: 1,2
distinguish critically between different methods of enquiry in Psychology: 1
make appropriate choices regarding the design and methodology of future research in Psychology: 1
critically reflect on the current status of key conceptual and theoretical issues within Psychology: 1,2
critically reflect on current and future challenges within the discipline: 1,2

Study hours

Teaching will consist of 12 x 2 hour synchronous in-situ taught sessions (24 hours).
Independent study hours will include:
- students engaging with asynchronous online materials and activities (approx. 12 hours)
- independently reading around each topic (approx. 36 hours)
- preparing for their assessments (78 hours).

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Research Proposal weighted 50%
Pre-registration Research Proposal
Students will write a 1,000-word research proposal in the format of a pre-registration (e.g., using a format similar to that required by the Open Science Framework). They will be provided with a selection of 'research challenges' to choose from and must select one to write their proposal on. In their proposal students must incorporate a literature review and provide details of their hypotheses, participants, sampling method, design, methodology, analysis plan, and ethical considerations for a proposed future research study. Full guidance will be provided on what should go in each section of their proposal.

2: Essay weighted 50%
Essay
Students will write a 2,000-word essay, based on a choice of questions, that will require them to critically evaluate research findings or other evidence related to a topical debate or grand challenge within the discipline of Psychology.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 01 May 2024