PY0FTP: Foundation Topics in Psychology

Module code: PY0FTP

Module provider: Psychology; School of Psych and Clin Lang Sci

Credits: 40

Level: Foundation Level

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Yue Yue, email: yue.yue@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE PY0FIR AND TAKE IF0RAS (Compulsory)

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module provides students with an understanding of key topics within psychology, which will support their learning during a subsequent psychology degree programme.  

The module involves an introduction to topics, including Social Psychology, Developmental psychology, Cognitive Psychology and Health Psychology. In the module, students will learn about research studies and theories, and will develop a fundamental understanding of the concepts and mechanisms of psychological phenomena.  

The module fosters a supportive learning environment, provides opportunities for group learning, and encourages students to think critically. Students should be able to evaluate taught research studies and theories and discuss the implications of these. It is expected that the module will prepare students for the transition of being independent learners throughout their course at the University.  

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the topics covered within the module to a standard equivalent to A-level
2. To describe and evaluate topic-specific psychological theories and evidence
3. To apply theoretical frameworks to discussion of real-life scenarios

Module content

This module covers a range of topics within psychology. The topics covered will each address discipline-specific theories and evidence from various areas in psychology.  

• Social Psychology: impression formation, attribution, social influence, interpersonal relationship  
• Developmental Psychology: perceptual development, cognitive development, social development, developmental disorder 
• Cognitive Psychology: perception, attention, memory 
• Health Psychology: bio-psycho-social model of health, stress and well-being, pain management, health promotion   

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is taught via in-person lectures (2-hour per week) and seminars (1-hr per week). Lecture and seminar slides will be made available on the Blackboard course prior to the timetabled sessions.  

The lecture series present the fundamental psychological knowledge in Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology and Health Psychology. The seminar series include student-led activities, in which students discuss topics related to the lecture content. The seminar series also provides assessment support, e.g., essay writing, exam preparation.  

A weekly reading list for self-study will be available on TALIS, with specified readings for each topic from a core textbook. 

Study hours

At least 68 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 40% 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.

• Essay plan (semester 1)
• Mock exam (semester 2)

Reassessment

Additional costs