Course description
Course Description
The Graduate Diploma in Psychology is a conversion degree for graduates wishing to obtain professional accreditation from the British Psychological Society. Students take a number of modules related to the Honours degree course and carry out a research project.
Modules and Options
The lists of modules below represent the range of options available for each year of study. This may not be a complete list of the options you will study, and may be subject to change, so please contact the department for further details.
Stage 1
APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY IN SCHOOLS
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
COGNITIVE NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
COMPARATIVE COGNITION
Compulsory: BRAIN AND BEHAVIOUR
Compulsory: COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY I
Compulsory: COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY II
Compulsory: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Compulsory: RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Compulsory: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Compulsory: THINKING AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
Core: DISSERTATION (DIPL)
CULTURE AND PSYCHOLOGY
JUDGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING
READING DEVELOPMENT AND DYSLEXIA
SOCIAL COGNITION
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND HEALTH RELATED BEHAVIOUR
THE HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF DEPRESSION
THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF EXERCISE, HEALTH AND SPORT
Teaching and Assessment Methods
A: Knowledge and Understanding
Learning Outcomes
A1 : Basic psychological theory, research methods and statistics.
A2 : Psychological theory within the core domains as outlined by the BPS. These are Biological Psychology; Sensation and Perception; Cognitive Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Social Psychology; and Research Methods.
A3 : Statistical theory and experimental design appropriate for psychological science.
A4 : Principles and techniques in those areas in which the student has chosen to develop special expertise.
Teaching Methods
The scheme has been designed to incorporate a range of core and specialist topics within psychology. Understanding of specialist topics is encouraged by means of specialist option courses (A4), in addition to a compulsory research dissertation (A4). The compulsory core second-year courses and the dissertation provide the core syllabus required for professional accreditation by the British Psychological Society.
While lectures are the principle method of delivery for the concepts and principles outlined in A1-A4, the department encourages learning through the integration of other teaching activities, including tutorials or discussion groups (A1-A3) laboratory research classes (A1, A3), project research and supervision (A4), and directed reading (A1-A4).
Assessment Methods
A variety of methods of assessments are used, including coursework essays (A1), end-of-year closed book examinations (A1-A4), laboratory reports (A1-A3), statistical examinations (A1-A3), and the dissertation (A3, A4).
B: Intellectual/Cognitive Skills
Learning Outcomes
B1 : Evaluate the relative strengths of a range of theories and techniques used in psychology.
B2 : Employ evidence-based reasoning to produce coherent research plans and hypotheses.
B3 : Assemble and integrate evidence from a variety of sources, including primary sources.
B4 : Analyse and interpret quantitative information relevant to psychological research in graphs, figures, tables, and determine whether appropriate statistical tests have been used.
Teaching Methods
The basis for intellectual skills is provided in lectures and laboratory classes.
B1 is developed in both lecture-based and laboratory-based courses.
B2 is a key element of most laboratory assignments and is central to the dissertation.
B3 is developed through lectures, guided reading and tutor led discussion groups.
B4 is a key element of statistics and laboratory courses, as well as the dissertation.
Assessment Methods
Intellectual and cognitive skills are assessed through unseen closed book examinations, coursework essays and also through marked laboratory reports and project work.
C: Practical Skills
Learning Outcomes
C1 : Effectively test research hypotheses using standard statistical techniques (e.g., t-tests).
C2 : Graduates will be able to present quantitative data in tabular and graphical form.
C3 : Use a range of psychological tools, such as specialist software, and laboratory equipment.
C4 : Plan, undertake and report an empirical project.
Teaching Methods
Practical skills (C1 - C4) are developed in laboratory classes, assignments and project work.
C1 is developed through exercises and exposure to a range of statistical software.
C2 is acquired in laboratory-based project work and further developed in the research project.
C3 and C4 are developed in laboratory classes and during the supervision of the research project.
Assessment Methods
Practical skills are assessed through marked laboratory reports, end-of-year examinations, and the dissertation.
D: Key Skills
Learning Outcomes
D1 : Communicate ideas effectively Produce written reports/essays.
D2 : Be computer-literate i) Use appropriate IT facilities to prepare and present laboratory reports and essays. ii) Use statistical software to analyse quantitative data.
D3 : Handle data and be numerate i) Collect, analyse and present numerical data. ii) Use statistical techniques in the process of experimental analysis and design.
D4 : Problem solve and reason scientifically Analyse complex problems and design effective solutions.
D5 : Not applicable.
D6 : (i) Produce work that is properly presented against strict deadlines. (ii) Reflect on their own performance and make constructive use of feedback. (iii) Work independently, and plan work effectively.
Teaching Methods
Students are introduced to statistical software in their first term, and thereafter the development of key skills forms an integral part of their learning activity.
In particular, D1(i) is developed in laboratory classes, tutorials, and the dissertation.
D2(i) and D2(ii) are developed through the use of an extensive computer laboratory with access to the internet. These key skills are taught in laboratory courses and statistics courses throughout the year.
D3(i) and D3(ii) are developed primarily in laboratory courses and in the research dissertation.
D4 is developed in exercises and laboratory classes.
D6(i) and D6(ii) is emphasised throughout the programme and is developed by means of rigid deadlines, feedback on assignments and discussions with class tutors.
Assessment Methods
D1(i) is directly assessed throughout the course, All coursework must be word-processed, and laboratory classes require statistics that are performed with dedicated computer software packages, such that students must demonstrate basic competence in computer literacy (D2(i)).
Students are also assessed on their ability to use a standard statistical package SPSS (D2(ii)). Statistical analyses are assessed in class tests, laboratory reports and end-of-year examinations, such that students must demonstrate competence in numeracy (D3).
Problem solving is assessed in all courses in the programme (D4) in terms of the ability to generate cogent arguments and answers to novel questions in laboratory reports, coursework essays, and end-of-year examinations.
The ability to generate hypotheses and develop and appropriate experimental design to answer a question is also assessed in the dissertation (D3, D4).
Improvement of students' own learning and performance is assessed by awarding marks in coursework and examinations for evidence of additional reading (D6(ii)) and by imposing strict deadlines for coursework assignments (D6(i)).
