Psychological Sciences (Conversion) MSC: Online

Psychological
Sciences
(Conversion) MSc
online
Course Content
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES (CONVERSION) MSc ONLINE • 2
Table of contents
Module 1: Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Module 2: Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Module 3: Cognitive Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Module 4: Biological Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Module 5: Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Module 6: Developmental Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Module 7: Social Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Module 8: Individual Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Module 9: Empirical Psychology Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Start my Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Historical and Conceptual Issues

in Psychology (15 credits)
You will be able to:
• Understand the scientific and the historical foundations of Psychology from the
Greek philosophers to current day
• Compare and contrast competing theories and (where applicable) competing
empirical perspectives within the historical foundations of psychology prior to the
twentieth century
• Critically evaluate conceptual debates within dominant psychological perspectives
from the twentieth century onward
• Evaluate ethical issues associated with different types of psychological research
Topics covered:
• What is science, and to what extent does psychology – the science of the
mind – exemplify scientific characteristics?
• To what extent is psychology socially and culturally constructed
• Can psychology be politically or morally neutral?
• Key theorists and schools of thought in psychology (e.g., reductionism,
structuralism, functionalism, behaviourism, cognitive psychology)
• The origins of ethical issues for psychology
• Moral underpinnings of the theory, research, and practice of psychology
• Psychologists and community members as partners in the construction of
ethically responsible practices
Research Methods and Statistics

• Understand a range of quantitative data collection and analysis techniques

and their underlying theoretical assumptions, strengths, and limitations
• Effectively search for and utilise a variety of research sources
• Critically evaluate the methodology and findings of published studies
• Understand the principles of conducting ethical research
• Present scientific findings and data in written form
• Perform a thorough literature review of a body of work
• Formulate a well-structured argument based upon empirical data
Topics covered:
• The scientific method: history, philosophy and application

• Scientific research design
• Reading scientific research effectively
• Research ethics
• Writing for academic audiences
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Data presentation (Descriptive stats, Charts etc.)
• Correlation and regression
• Crosstabs and Chi-squares
• Multiple regression
• T tests
• ANOVA: one-way, repeated measure, factorial
• MANOVA
• Power analysis
• Current research methods – behavioural and physiological.
Cognitive Psychology (15 credits)
• Critically understand current models of the psychological organisation and

development of different aspects of human cognition, and of the findings of
relevant empirical research
• Understand and apply underlying concepts, understand theory, and use
evidence in relation to theory
• Summarise and report psychological theories and findings
Topics covered:
• Different aspects of cognitive psychology - Perception, attention, memory,

and language.
• Conceptual and historical issues will also be discussed
Biological Psychology (15 credits)
• Understand the biological bases of normal behaviour

• Understand behavioural consequences of brain damage
• Understand the methods of studying brain function and dysfunction
• Critically evaluate the key issues in the study of biological psychology
• Critically compare and contrast the competing theories and empirical perspectives
in the study of biological psychology
• Independently research and critically evaluate primary source papers
• Present and defend complex arguments
• Access and critically analyse primary source material
Topics covered:
• Basic neurophysiology
• Basic neuroanatomy
• Hemispheric localisation and lateralisation of functions
• Neuropsychological assessment; modern brain imaging techniques
(EEG, MEG, MRI, fMRI, etc.)
• Cerebral functions and their impairments – visual system, auditory system,
somatosensory system, language, memory, emotion
Qualitative Research Methods

• Understand the principles and techniques for selecting and applying the
most research technique to address different research questions
• Critically evaluate the methodology and findings of published studies
• Understand the complementary applications of qualitative and
quantitative approaches
• Evaluate and critique the conclusions of academic studies based on strengths
and weaknesses of their designs
• Formulate a well-structured argument based upon qualitative data
• Present qualitative data in written and verbal form to different audiences
Topics covered:
• Research design II: qualitative and mixed methods research

• Asking questions I: Interviews and focus groups
• Asking questions II: Surveys and questionnaires
• Qualitative data analysis: Content and thematic analyses
• Qualitative data analysis: IPA
• Writing up qualitative research
Developmental Psychology (15 credits)
• Critically understand the key issues in the study of developmental psychology,

such as theories, methodologies, and selected topics in cognitive, social, and
biological development
• Critically evaluate empirical evidence in developmental psychology
• Compare and contrast competing theories and empirical perspectives in
developmental psychology
• Apply principles of developmental psychology to real-world issues or settings
Topics covered:
• Research methods appropriate to the study of development

• Key issues and theoretical approaches in developmental psychology
• Perceptual, motor, and cognitive development during infancy
• Cognitive development (e.g., development of language, number, theory of mind)
• Social development (e.g. development of self; gender socialisation; and
emotional development)
Social Psychology (15 credits)
• Critically understand of the key issues in the study of social psychology

• Understand the established theories in social psychology
• Critically evaluate the historical and conceptual issues underlying the field of social
psychology.
• Compare and contrast the competing theories and competing empirical
perspectives in the study of social psychology.
• Critically evaluate debates in social psychology
• Effective and critical written communication.
• Present and defend complex arguments.
• Access and critically analyse primary source material
Topics covered:
• Social perception (e.g., person perception, attitudes, attribution)

• Intergroup processes (e.g., prejudice, intergroup conflict, social identification)
• Social group processes (e.g., norms, leadership, decision-making, productivity)
• Social influence (e.g., conformity and obedience, majority and minority influence,
bystander effect)
• Close relationships (e.g., interpersonal attraction, relationships)
Individual Differences (15 credits)
• Display critical understanding of the key issues in the study of personality

psychology
• Display in-depth knowledge of the established theories in historical and
contemporary perspectives on intelligence testing
• Reflect on historical and conceptual issues underlying the field of the fields of
personality psychology and intelligence testing
• Compare and contrast the competing theories and empirical perspectives in the
study of personality psychology
• Critically evaluate debates in historical and contemporary perspectives on
intelligence testing
• Display effective and critical written communication
• Clearly present and defend complex arguments
• Retrieve and organise information effectively
• Research and critically analyse primary source material
Topics covered:
• Key assumptions of, and sources of evidence for, the main approaches to
personality psychology (e.g., psychoanalytic, behavioural, social cognitive,
humanistic-existential-phenomenological, lexical-trait, biological and genetic,
as well as cultural)
• Influence of genetic, environmental, and cultural factors on individual differences
• Influence of personality on other behaviours (e.g., health, education, occupational
choice, competency)
• History of mental and psychological testing
• The nature of intelligence
• Contemporary approaches to intelligence
• Implications for educational and social policy
Empirical Psychology Project

(60 credits)
• Formulate testable hypotheses/research questions, and choose appropriate

methodologies
• Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues and current codes of ethics and conduct
and obtain the appropriate ethical approval for their research
• Demonstrate the ability to interpret the data and present the findings effectively
and discuss findings in terms of previous research
• write an empirical research report to a high standard and in accordance with
specified style guides (e.g. BPS or APA)
• To provide transferable skills regarding data collection, entry, and analysis
Topics covered:
The specific topics and/or research problems to be addressed in the empirical

research project are based on the supervisors and student’s particular research
focus and interest in the psychological sciences, and the appropriate modes of
data collection and analysis.
Psychological Sciences
(Conversion) MSc online
A degree for enquiring minds. A career

path with diverse opportunities.
START MY APPLICATION
(+44) 203 535 1404

study@online.brunel.ac.uk

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Psychological

Module 1: Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Module 2: Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Module 3: Cognitive Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Module 4: Biological Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Module 5: Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Module 6: Developmental Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Module 7: Social Psychology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Module 8: Individual Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Module 9: Empirical Psychology Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Historical and Conceptual Issues

You will be able to:

Research Methods and Statistics

You will be able to:

• Understand a range of quantitative data collection and analysis techniques

• The scientific method: history, philosophy and application

Cognitive Psychology (15 credits)

You will be able to:

• Critically understand current models of the psychological organisation and

• Different aspects of cognitive psychology - Perception, attention, memory,

Biological Psychology (15 credits)

You will be able to:

• Understand the biological bases of normal behaviour

Qualitative Research Methods

You will be able to:

• Research design II: qualitative and mixed methods research

Developmental Psychology (15 credits)

You will be able to:

• Critically understand the key issues in the study of developmental psychology,

• Research methods appropriate to the study of development

Social Psychology (15 credits)

You will be able to:

• Critically understand of the key issues in the study of social psychology

• Social perception (e.g., person perception, attitudes, attribution)

Individual Differences (15 credits)

You will be able to:

• Display critical understanding of the key issues in the study of personality

Empirical Psychology Project

You will be able to:

• Formulate testable hypotheses/research questions, and choose appropriate

The specific topics and/or research problems to be addressed in the empirical

A degree for enquiring minds. A career

(+44) 203 535 1404

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