Programme of Study Catalogue

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

Understand the historical and cultural contexts underpinning the development of ideas in cognitve psychology and its application;
Discuss and critically evaluate relevant research and theory and how this relates to our everyday experience;
Discuss and critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various methodological and theoretical approaches;
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the complex interaction between cognitive and other psychological processes;
Debate current issues in the field.

Content:

This module is designed to encourage a broad and critical understanding of key issues in cognitive psychology as applied in real world contexts. The emphasis is on challenging assumptions, assessing implications and questioning conclusions drawn.
The following is indicative of the content and it is not envisaged that students will cover all of these topics, as the content covered will be for students to select.
The nature and evolution of cognition. Issues of representation and process and how these relate to our understanding of and interventions in everyday functioning. The rationality debate and its implications. Cognitive processes and functioning in disease, so called "deficit" and degeneration. Implications and interventions. The effect of and interaction between cognition and factors such as content, context, culture and emotion.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module delivery will be based on seminars, workshops, problem-based learning. Some sessions will be led by the tutor while others will be student-led. In student-led sessions, students will work in small groups facilitated by the module tutor.
Additional materials will be available on the VLE.

Seminars, Workshops and problem-based learning
Contact hours 33
Number of groups: Cohort

Guided independent study
Contact hours 167

Assessment:

001 Evidence Based Brief 1500 words end of semester 2 70%
002 Leading a seminar 15 minutes end of semester 2 30%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Julie Allen
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6S2