PLMPSY: Psychology for Speech and Language Therapy

Module code: PLMPSY

Module provider: Clinical Language Sciences; Sch of Psych and CLS

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Emma Pagnamenta, email: e.pagnamenta@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 7 October 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces students to aspects of psychology fundamental to speech and language therapy practice across the lifespan. Key theories and concepts from developmental psychology, cognitive and neuropsychology, clinical psychology, health psychology, social psychology and individual differences will be introduced. Special consideration will be given to the application of psychology to speech and language therapy practice.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. describe and critically evaluate theoretical frameworks, concepts and research from psychology that are relevant to speech and language therapy  
2. apply key concepts from psychology to lifespan development and change, typical and impaired communication, and psychological and social wellbeing in the context of clinical case-studies 
3. identify the contribution of psychological factors to service users’ communication difficulties and/or swallowing status  
4. apply the knowledge of psychology to the identification, assessment, differential diagnosis and management of a range of communication and swallowing conditions in a clinical case report 

Module content

Topics are likely to include perceptual, cognitive and social development; ageing and life transitions; memory and learning; clinical psychology and mental health; health psychology and behaviour change; interactions with speech and language therapy practice; social psychology and individual differences. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

• Lectures, including interactive sections, where appropriate  
• Seminars, including group discussions  
• Recommended reading from additional textbooks and research articles 

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Continuous formative assessment each week through discussion of module topics in seminars; example answers are presented following group discussion. 

Reassessment

Additional costs