Psychology BSc Honours

This module introduces the diversity and breadth of approaches in the discipline of psychology and the many ways psychologists study the human mind and behaviour. Topical introductions will be provided in selected areas of individual differences, developmental, cognitive, biological, and social psychology. The characteristic approaches adopted within these areas of psychology are explored and you are encouraged to adopt a reflective and critical perspective on the subject matter covered. Throughout the module you will be encouraged to consider both commonalities and diversities in human thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

This module explores the relevance and impact of psychology in context and practice. The first part of the module will be focused on psychology from a multidisciplinary perspective, covering topics which are outside the main syllabus of foundation psychology. This will include lectures (mostly delivered by expert guest lecturers) on wide variety of topics including psychology and politics, psychology and the internet, and many others (see syllabus below). In the Spring term, the module will provide a focus on psychology careers. This will provide you with a detailed understanding of what you can do with a BPS accredited degree and to facilitate the development of a career plan.

This module aims to equip you with skills and knowledge about psychology, and the University, that contribute to academic success. The module also aims to help you to develop plans for their future development within and beyond your programme of study. The process of being a student can be difficult and confusing. The educational institution and the academic discipline both have many assumptions and processes that can be hard to uncover and understand without some guidance. This module will explain how relevant aspects of Psychology and Middlesex University work, so that you can gain the maximum benefit from your studies. It will also show you how you can apply psychological knowledge to your own development as an individual and learner, and stimulate preparations for a future career.

Module aims: to introduce you to statistical analysis as they are employed in psychological research. You will gain experience in a range of quantitative analytic techniques and learn to use relevant software. You will also be required to engage in extensive hands-on computer use in order to develop skills in data collection, input and analysis, using statistical software.

The module aims to introduce you to the principles and practice of quantitative and qualitative psychological research. You will develop skills in searching literature and generating hypotheses with a sound rationale, understand the principles of research design and data collection, and will be able to interpret findings and critically assess research output in psychology. You will also be provided with opportunities to develop skills in the dissemination of research results with the conventions, styles and critical approach of academic work.

The module enables you to understand and evaluate psychological research and to understand how research design relates to research questions. It provides you with skills in a variety of statistical analyses and enables you to conduct ethical psychological research utilising quantitative and qualitative methods. It provides the foundation for interpretation and critical discussion of published psychological research.

The module explores cutting edge research and contemporary ideas in applied psychology. Evolutionary and biological concepts will be explained and defined in terms of their relevance to current theory and application. The module will also deliver a critical reflection of recent research in these areas. Alternative aspects of applied psychology will also be reviewed. These will include forensic and clinical aspects of applied psychological research and theory. You will be encouraged to evaluate and disseminate this information through the application of policy design and psychological reasoning.

This BPS core module aims to develop the depth and breadth of students’ understanding of primary and contemporary theory and research in three essential areas: social psychology, developmental psychology and individual differences. The subject matter is introduced and investigated through topic-focused lectures, research workshops and collaborative investigations. A focus on developmental psychology will see you study the biological, social, emotional and cognitive processes and changes of infancy and childhood as these are the periods during an individual's lifespan when the most change occurs. In social psychology, interpersonal and intergroup processes will be studied and applied to everyday life with the objective of developing students’ understanding of human sociality. Throughout the module, several aspects of psychological approaches to understanding individual differences will be considered such as humanistic theories of development and social learning theory.

This BPS core module aims to give you an overview of biological and cognitive psychology as well as an introduction to the biological basis of heritable traits. The anatomy and physiology of the nervous system is considered; attention is focused on aspects of behaviour that have a clear biological component with an emphasis on individual differences in biology. Through a series of psychophysiology lab sessions you will investigate specific central and peripheral nervous system variables and their relation to behaviour and individual differences. The cognitivist approach to psychology will be outlined and key theories relating to major cognitive faculties explored. Both cognitive and biological approaches will explore pathology and neuropsychological case studies. You will also be given an overview of individual variability with respect to biological processes and cognitive mechanisms, along with an introduction to personality psychology and how this relates to biopsychology and cognitive science.

This module provides you with an opportunity to plan and develop your career and/or study goals and prospects for life after graduation. The module aims to encourage a deeper understanding of the relationship between theory, research evidence and professional practice, whilst allowing you to develop, review, reflect on and improve employment skills within the context of your own career goals. It will also further develop your independent learning and communication skills through reflection on experiential learning. Finally, the module aims to prepare you to apply for postgraduate study and/or graduate employment after graduation.

You'll pursue independent or group-based study with a designated supervisor on a topic not offered in-depth among the normal range of modules. You will be expected to carry out an investigation using a recognised psychology or cognitive science research method, and produce an independently written final dissertation based on that research. All projects will require Ethical Approval through the University’s MORE system, regardless of the type and nature of the project. The topic and methodology of this dissertation must be agreed with the supervisor in advance of applying for ethical approval. Undertaking this module will enable participants to demonstrate their methodological and statistical knowledge acquired through previous research methods training; it will develop their competence in the production of coherent written reports which are clearly presented; will have an analytic and critical orientation and  will provide the opportunity for final year students to become competent and self-sufficient researchers whilst meeting BPS guidelines.

The aim of this module is to produce a high quality, independently motivated individual dissertation on a topic chosen by you alongside a supervisor who is willing to engage with their niche subject. This option is only open to students who have achieved at least a 2.1 or above grade in Research Methods in Year 2. Students who wish to conduct an extended dissertation will be first required to submit an application outlining a brief research proposal using the form provided on the PSY3330 (Psychology Dissertation) module page or from the module leader. In conjunction with the module leader proposed supervisors will make a decision as to whether the research proposal is viable and you can take the extended dissertation. Once the project has been accepted and the form signed by a supervisor, you will be transferred to PSY3331 (Extended Psychology Dissertation) and an adjustment made to the module programme to accommodate the extra credits. Students pursue independent study with a designated supervisor on a topic not offered in-depth among the normal range of modules. You will be expected to independently contribute to the design of the research protocol, carry out the research and analyse data for then investigation. You will adhere to using a recognised psychological research method, and produce an independent dissertation based on that research. Undertaking this module will enable students to develop their methodological, analytical and statistical knowledge acquired through previous research methods training; it will develop their competence in the production of coherent written reports which are clearly presented and which have an analytic and critical orientation and it will provide the opportunity for final year students to become competent and self-sufficient researchers. Students who have a keen interest in academic research and/or considering post graduate study in psychology are advised to consider taking this extended dissertation module.

This module aims to develop the depth and breadth of your qualitative research methods knowledge and practice by equipping you with a combination of practical and theoretical skills. Strengthening existing knowledge of qualitative research methods, you will be familiarised with a range of qualitative methodologies and methods of generating and analysing data in-depth. The module allows the time and space necessary for sustained immersion. It enables proficiency in qualitative research knowledge and skills to be further enhanced through repetition and comparison when learning advanced concepts and their application, such as ontologies, epistemologies, social constructions, research questions, sampling, data generation, accounts, claims, reflexivity.

The module aims to explore the application of psychology to social problems in the areas of crime, conflict and violence, taking into account individual, group and social factors. It considers how individuals and groups become involved in, and perpetuate, these problematic behaviours, and also considers the consequences for victims, government and justice responses, and approaches to prevention.

The module will introduce you to health psychology and the work of Health Psychologists in practice. It covers the psychological, behavioural and social determinants of health and illness, before focusing on health behaviour change interventions and chronic illness and its management. It aims to help you apply knowledge and skills to real-world health problems.

This module aims to introduce you to the history, principles and methods of neuropsychology with a particular emphasis on case studies. It will introduce the causes and symptoms of major neuropsychological disorders of language, vision, memory, emotion, personality, olfaction and development, and the theories accounting for each. The extent to which case studies (in combination with data from brain imaging) inform us about the functioning of the healthy brain in these cognitive functions will be demonstrated. You will be encouraged to develop skills of critical thinking, writing and discussion.

This module will introduce you to a range of contemporary visual research methods and to develop your capacity in the application of different methods of collecting, analysing, and disseminating visual data in psychological research.

This module develops your knowledge of social approaches to mental health theory, research and practice, and their application to community mental health. You will develop a critical understanding of cultural, social, environmental and economic influences on mental health and the relationship between social adversity and mental health problems. Additionally, you will develop the ability to critically evaluate evidence bases and evidence-based mental health care practice in community settings. This module would be well suited if you are considering a career in clinical psychology, counselling psychology, psychotherapy, mental health promotion and campaigning, social work, human rights advocacy, health management and community mental health.

The module explores psychological aspects of creativity and imagination. You will develop a critical understanding of psychological theory and research relating to creative productivity across a range of contexts. Additionally, you will apply theory and research to plans for developing, enhancing and/or utilising creativity and imagination in real-world contexts.

This module is designed to give you an advanced level of understanding of the way that psychological theories and research have influenced our understanding of child and adult learning and teaching in educational settings. The aim is to direct you to develop an appreciation of traditional and contemporary research, knowledge and applications in the domain. You will study cognitive, social, developmental, and biological theoretical perspectives, providing an integrated understanding of how psychological theory and research intersects with education in a wide range of settings. Psychology in Education provides a rich learning opportunity for students wanting to study educational psychology at Masters level and for those planning a career in teaching.

Cognitive neuroscience is at the forefront of advances in psychology. It is the study of brain states and how such brain states are related to behaviour and cognition. Many of the recent advances in the field are due to the rapid development and use of technology that allows us to infer what the brain is doing during different psychological states. This module aims to provide an introduction to the theory that underpins cognitive neuroscience techniques such as EEG, TMS, fMRI, TES. Moreover, and importantly the module will aim to provide a hands-on approach to learning how to use them. In this module you will have the chance to learn how to use advanced equipment by practicing with it. The aim is to teach how the equipment works, how to analyse the data, and what questions different methods can answer and what are its limitations by using them.

This module aims to introduce you to music psychology, a new field studying human psychological responses to music, which include emotion regulation, cognitive benefits, inter-personal coordination and empathy. The study of music as part of human communication and cognition has long eluded the psychological disciplines. Yet music is universal, very present in everyday life and most people are music users in different forms and to varying degrees. In the last twenty years, the amount of published studies and applications has blossomed, making of music psychology a very topical area with significant ramifications in educational (e.g., reading) and rehabilitative contexts (e.g., Parkinson’s), as well as health, well-being and developmental disorders. The module aims to introduce aspects of music as they have been studied within different psychological fields, including behavioural neuroscience. The module would ideally combine with language modules, general cognitive neuroscience, education, atypical, health, psychology of art.

This module will aim to introduce you to the ways in which psychological theories and methods contribute to our understanding of elite sport performance, to understand the psychological, behavioural and social determinants of elite sport performance and the applications of sport psychology, from a practitioners’ perspective, to working with skilled performers.

This module aims to introduce you to an advanced level of the study of language, which will ideally combine with general cognitive neuroscience modules, and the Psychology of Music. Aspects of the module would be relevant also for the study of aging, language and communication in multicultural environments and atypical groups. The module includes a skill component introducing students to a selection of main tests used in the assessment of language and literacy, which will be associated with a practical report.

Humans are only one species of primate. We share the world with chimpanzees, orang-utans, bonobos, and gorillas – in addition to more than five hundred other species of primate, everything from lemurs to marmosets to mandrills. To understand ourselves is to understand the primate background to our biology, behaviour, and cognition. This module will provide a comprehensive survey of the living primates with a focus of research in the wild (ethology) and in the psychology lab (comparative psychology). This module will provide you with up-to-date knowledge of the major areas of study. The primatology module will provide a rich learning opportunity for students who want to understand the foundations of human nature that we share with our primate cousins.

This module offers advanced level study of topics in coaching psychology and offers you a blend of academic study, practical knowledge, and personal development. The module is designed to measure a variety of learning outcomes and to facilitate your development of critical thinking, independent learning, reflective learning, and listening and communication skills. It provides an introduction to basic skills of Coaching and Coaching Psychology. The module may encourage you to explore further training in Coaching and Coaching Psychology as part of your professional and career development.

Why do we have a fundamental need to connect with others? This module considers the ‘big’ questions about intimate relationships, and takes a scientific approach to investigating topics such as closeness, trust, love, partner selection, issues in relationships (conflict, betrayal, infidelity, jealousy and power) and relationship maintenance and dissolution (including separation and loss). The aim is to develop knowledge and understanding of theories and models of intimate relationships and the research that has contributed to this. With its emphasis on ‘science’, the module will go beyond the classic psychological approach of intimate relationships (e.g. theories of attachment, interpersonal attraction and love), to consider relevant theory and research from the broader behavioural sciences (e.g. evolutionary biology, physiology, cybernetics and artificial intelligence). The module takes a research and practice lead perspective, to examine how theory, research tools and data have been translated into practice, including sessions from practicing clinicians, bringing examples of their clinical practice to illustrate theory. The module will be of interest to those wanting to further understand how and why intimate relationships are a defining feature of human experience.

This module aims to provide your with a foundation in the operations of human memory and is ideally suited if you enjoyed learning about key principles of how memory works at Level 5. The focus will be on long-term memory, and you will build upon their existing knowledge through consideration of classic and contemporary research that has shaped current theory. With both a theoretical and applied focus, content will surround perspectives on the operations of different kinds of long-term memory (e.g., explicit and implicit, semantic and episodic), the basic memory processes and factors that affect them, memory enhancement and impairment, memory and ageing, the reconstructive nature of memory, and practical and contemporary issues in the study of human memory. This module provides a rich learning opportunity if you have an interest in further study or a research career in cognitive psychology / cognitive neuroscience.

The module aims to explore the psychology of lifespan development using theoretical and research orientated approaches. It considers how psychological knowledge of ways in which development can be investigated and observed using research can be undertaken from a variety of perspectives, as well as how it can be understood using models of cognitive, biological, socio-ecological, psychodynamic and developmental psychology. The module aims to develop your understanding of how theoretical, empirical and personal examples arising in the fields of academia, research and clinical practice contribute to understanding of lifespan development and can be practically applied to Lifespan investigation.

How does talking therapy overlap with the science of psychology? This mental health module will explore therapeutic approaches to psychology. It will focus on key aspects of psychological therapeutic theory and practice through examining cognitive behavioural, psychoanalytic and systemic approaches to therapy. This module will be suitable for those considering a career in clinical or counselling psychology or those interested in training in other talking therapies. The aim is also to advance your capacity for reflection and critical analysis in relation to working psychotherapeutically with mental health issues. The role of culture, diversity and external circumstances with regard to psychotherapy will also be considered. Through engaging with complex case studies you will be able to apply psychological theory to case conceptualisation, intervention and the process of clinical practice. Although this will not qualify you to practice as clinicians, you will be introduced to the inner workings of everyday therapeutic practice through learning about the lived experiences of practising clinicians.

This module aims to introduce you to the area of occupational psychology particularly in relation to stress, motivation and work-life balance. The module will introduce theories which underlie stress with a strong focus on the role of stress in the workplace. You will also gain an understanding of work-life balance and the real-world applications of promoting good work-life balance. The topics will be covered in a variety of ways which will allow you to engage with some of the critical debates around the area. This will range from the complexities surrounding the conceptualisation of work-life balance, to the impact it can have on the health of employees, whilst also incorporating the role of the employer. Although, motivation and stress in the workplace are areas which have been traditionally researched in relation to workplace psychology, both areas, along with work-life balance are currently yielding a lot of innovative research. The module will allow you to critically engage with an emerging and increasingly popular area of occupational psychology and it will appeal to students who have an interest in occupational psychology, but specifically the links between work and home life, and how psychology has helped to shape this discipline. Since work-based stress, motivation and work-life balance are all employment-based topics, the content will be relevant to students beyond their degree and can be carried into their chosen areas of employment. Particularly those who are planning to go into Human Resources, Occupational Psychology or wish to pursue a postgraduate course in this area.

This module aims to introduce you to core aspects of evolutionary theory and to demonstrate the application of evolutionary theory to behaviour. The principal aim is to demonstrate how behaviour can be regarded as the product of biological evolution. A secondary aim is to discuss how evolutionary approaches complement other frameworks and add another level of explanation to scientific understanding. You will cover various different evolutionary approaches including ethology, behavioural ecology and evolutionary psychology; discussing key findings and methodological differences.

The module aims to (a) to develop your understanding of how theoretical, empirical and personal examples arising in the fields of academia, research and clinical practice contribute to understanding life experience and psychology and (b) to encourage you to think reflectively about the psychological relevance of social norms, expectations, stereotypes and issues of personal identity and nurture on life experience and development. This module requires engagement with comparative psychological theory, literature research skills and an in-depth engagement with a detailed area of psychological functioning.