| Unit name | Social Psychology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EDUCM0080 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Law |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Education |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Social Psychology is a discipline which considers the ways in which human behaviour is shaped by our interactions with, and expectations of, other people. This unit covers a range of topics at the individual, interpersonal and large-scale inter-group level, and specifically links these to educational contexts and practice .It provides opportunities to critically evaluate social psychological theories and methods to understand how social interactions affect an individual across the lifespan and in multiple contexts.
Why is this unit important?
Social Psychology is one of the core compulsory areas for all BPS accredited Psychology degrees. It is also important in developing key knowledge and skills for future work as a professional psychologist or in school settings, as many of the topics have a direct impact on children and young people’s experiences in education. Many contemporary social matters, such as intergroup relations, discrimination, and prosociality are addressed through insights gained from social psychology research. Understanding these issues and their underlying psychological processes is crucial for developing evidence-based policies and interventions. The opportunities for reflecting on research and professional ethics are also important in providing students with skills for engaging with psychology more broadly.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit builds on skills and knowledge gained in the first term of the programme in terms of moving deeper into thinking about the links between psychological theory, research findings, and lived experiences in education. It supports students in building critical engagement skills which are central to other areas of the programme, particularly the dissertation, where it is expected that students can demonstrate precisely the kind of linked thinking which is practiced in this unit.
Overview of content
Social Psychology is a core area of the BPS content for accredited programmes, including conversion Master's programmes. This unit introduces students to ideas around topics in social psychology moving from the individual (the development of the self, emotions) to the intergroup level (bias, social norms, intergroup contact). Alongside these, it considers questions of ethics in psychology research and practice.
How students, personally, will be different as a result of the unit:
· Students will have developed advanced skills in critically evaluating social psychological research and the relationship it has to educational practice
· Students will gain confidence in presenting information in multiple formats and for different audiences, a key skill for future employability
· By gaining insights into the psychological processes behind topics such as stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination, students will have developed an awareness of their own and others’ prejudices, and learn to foster a more inclusive and open-minded perspective
· Students will develop a sense of social responsibility, recognising their role in shaping the social world and addressing societal issues. This can lead to a commitment to social change and advocacy.
· Through the consideration of ethics in psychology research and practice, students will be more conscious of ethical dilemmas and responsible conduct in their own research.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the unit students will be able to:
1. Describe and evaluate the importance of individual, interpersonal and social processes in explaining human behaviour, particularly in educational contexts.
2. Identify the way in which individual, interpersonal and intergroup processes relate to and complement each other.
3. Judge the ethical issues and practices of the field
4. Summarise key materials and present in both oral and written form
5. Compare different research methods used in psychology and how they offer understanding of social psychological phenomena.
6. Critically evaluate the relevance of social psychological research for educational policy and innovation.
This unit will be taught by a mix of lectures and interactive group work. The unit will engage students with collaborative learning via group work, small tasks, inquiry-based teaching and allow time for questions, game-based learning and the blending of traditional methods with technology.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will have a chance to discuss an outline plan for their presentation and essay topic with peers and staff in a live session.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A 5-minute individual recorded presentation on a social psychology topic linked to education, for a school-based audience (e.g., children, parents, teachers, headteachers etc) 25% (ILOs 1-6)
A 2500-word essay critically examining a social psychology topic in educational contexts 75% (ILOs 1-6)
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, failed components will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis. Students will resubmit a revised version of the original work.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EDUCM0080).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
