PY4CCP-Communicating Current Psychology

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites: PY2RMP Research methods in Psychology
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Amanda Branson
Email: A.Branson@reading.ac.uk

Module Co-convenor: Dr Marat Zagidullin
Email: m.zagidullin@reading.edu.my

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Applying and communicating psychological approaches to contemporary and historical issues.

Aims:

As a balance to the specialisations provided by the optional modules, this core module brings the year group together to consider issues of current theoretical, ethical and practical importance to psychology and to disseminate information about these issues to wider audiences.

As part of this module, students will carry out an investigation of the literature and wider context relating to a topic of current interest, and communicate information on this topic in a presentation that might be used to engage the public with the field of psychology.

Students will be provided with additional training in critical thinking, the synthesis of information, the construction of arguments, and how to present information in an accessible, clear and engaging style of written and/or oral communication.  Students will further develop their self-awareness through regular and critical self-reflection.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, students will be able to:

• Critically evaluate topics of contemporary interest, synthesising relevant information from across psychology as a discipline.


• Translate and apply a synthesis of literature from across psychology to a contemporary issue and produce a presentation suitable for dissemination to a chosen non-specialist audience.


• Critically consider and reflect on current debates in the disciplineof psychology and their implications to the discipline and beyond; on the self and on the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experiences gained, and applied on the module.

Additional outcomes:

This module will enable students to enhance and further develop skills learned across the degree to:

• Recognise some of the central concepts involved in ethical practice.


• Review and apply concepts taught in other modules to contemporary topics


• Gain confidence in persuasion, argumentation and debate


• Produce an oral presentation of disseminable quality, tailored to a non-specialist audience

Skills that will be developed include:

• Written and oral communication


• Critical thinking, argument construction and persuasion


• Self-awareness and reflection


• Self-management skills


• Preparing lay summaries of complex information  

Outline content:

Via interactive lectures and seminars, students will be introduced to critical approaches to a variety of topics of contemporary interest such as philosophical and ethical debates, psychological perspectives on contemporary issues and events and controversies in the media surrounding psychological issues. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their existing knowledge and skills, and to draw on their broad knowledge of topics across the fields of psychology to integrate and contrast different perspectives in addressing the issues and problems posed.

A number of academic skills will be revisited, including critical thinking skills, argumentation and reflective writing. 

Global context:

Exposure to a wide-variety of diverse and complex issues from across the discipline of psychology.  

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

A range of methods will be used to support achievement of the learning outcomes, including interactive lectures, seminars involving group work, and a tutorial and drop-in to support the oral presentation.  In addition, students will be expected to engage with independent literature review and reading to gain expertise in a chosen area for their oral presentation.

Contact Hours:



NB The contact hours in the table below are indic ative of the contact hours for students studying this module in the UK, and may vary for students taking this module at branch campuses.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	18
Seminars	16
Tutorials	3
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	40	10
Other	34
Preparation for presentations	28	2
Preparation for seminars	16
Reflection	25	8
Total hours by term	180	20	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	60
Oral assessment and presentation	40

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

• Students will prepare and deliver a presentation that could be used to disseminate information about a current psychological topic to a chosen target audience (40%).

• Students will also submit a reflective journal (60%) in which they will critically reflect on their knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experiences across the module. 

Formative assessment methods:

Students will be provided with an opportunity for formative peer and group-based feedback to prepare for their reflective journal, and verbal feedback on a sample of their work to prepare for their presentation.  

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 50% overall. 

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment is via  submission of a written and/or oral assessment during the august resit period. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023