PY1IPY: Introduction to Psychology

Module code: PY1IPY

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

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Katie Barfoot, email: katie.barfoot@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE PY1PAB OR TAKE PY1LAL OR TAKE PY1IPR OR TAKE PY1DMH (Compulsory)

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 is delivered at the University of Reading, for students who are interested in but not studying Psychology. This module aims to provide students with a broad introduction to the field of Psychology, methods used to enhance our understanding of human behaviour and how psychology can be applied in the world around us. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate understanding of key theories and experiments in psychology 
2. Critically evaluate selected research studies from the literature 
3. Use databases and library resources to source literature  
4. Develop a wide range of academic skills including self-management, problem solving, written and oral communication, critical thinking and APA-style referencing. 

Module content

Students will attend lectures introducing psychology as a discipline; topics may include: cognitive psychology and perception, social psychology, individual differences, developmental psychology, biological psychology and neuroscience.  

In addition, students will attend seminars, drawing upon and extending module content to enable them to write a report. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will involve a range of methods including: 

• Large group lectures 
• Small group seminars 
• Guided independent reading 

Study hours

At least 27 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.

This module includes a variety of formative assessment opportunities. For example, students will have the opportunity to examine their understanding either in-class or online by answering small quizzes. Students will also be prompted with questions related to their lecture content, using the discussion board. In seminars, students will have the opportunity to formulate key information for their coursework assessment alongside their peers and receive feedback from the lecturer. 

Reassessment

Additional costs