Unit information: Current Topics in Psychological Science in 2020/21

Unit name	Current Topics in Psychological Science
Unit code	PSYC30023
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18)
Unit director	Dr. Kazanina
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Psychological Science
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This unit is designed to highlight selected topics in Psychological Science. Students select one seminar from a range of topics which are under active research within the School. The aim of this unit is to develop students’ critical evaluation skills via the synthesis, oral presentation, and discussion of research findings and debate related to important topics in psychology that are under active research within the School of Psychological Science.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, a student will be able to:

1. Review the methodological approaches to the study of the respective research topic.
2. Appraise the application of these approaches in a specific study.
3. Relate the methodology to broader aspects of psychological enquiry.
4. Demonstrate the skills necessary for an assessed oral presentation with a critical appreciation of the research topic.
5. Engage with an oral discussion of the research topic (as the presenter and as an audience member).

Teaching Information

Each seminar unit lead will provide an introductory lecture about the overall topic of the course and background needed to understand the scientific papers. Each student will be allocated one paper to deliver as an oral presentation. In Weeks 13-18, weekly small group seminars will take place where students will deliver their oral presentations followed by discussion of research findings. The seminar unit lead will guide student's learning by providing the papers they will read, brief introductions before each set of presentations, summaries after each presentation, and wrap-up summaries at the end of the set of presentations. They will also be available for a drop-in hour each week so that students can ask questions and discuss the topic in greater detail.

Assessment Information

One oral presentation (50%) and one 1000-word research proposal (50%). Attendance and participation in group discussions is mandatory. For each non-attendance at a seminar, students will be expected to submit a 250-word summary of each paper discussed during that seminar (i.e., if four papers were discussed, four 250-word summaries would need to be submitted). These ‘summary documents’ will be marked on a pass/fail basis. Credit will be withheld from students who miss seminars without good reason and who fail the summary documents for non-attendance.

Reading and References

Recommended and further reading will be made available through Blackboard