Undergraduate Course: Parapsychology (PSYL10026)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Psychology |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The course assumes that most students have had little or no previous exposure to research in parapsychology. Parapsychology is the scientific investigation of apparent new means of communication or influence between the organism and its environment. It includes the study of "psi" (extrasensory perception, precognition, and psychokinesis) and "pseudo-psi" (e.g. deception, self-deception, cognitive biases). The option introduces the history and terminology of experimental parapsychology; pros and cons of different research strategies; experimental procedures in extrasensory perception and psychokinesis research; methodological considerations for experimental design, for minimising error, leakage, artefact and fraud; questions of replication and meta-analysis; findings in extrasensory perception and psychokinesis research, focusing on ganzfeld, random number generator, and direct mental interaction with living systems research; the measurement and theories of belief in the paranormal; phenomenology of paranormal experiences; theories of psi; and methodological and metaphysical implications of parapsychology. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Degree major in Psychology and passes in Psychology courses at least to the equivalent of Junior Honours level in Edinburgh. Prior agreement with the 4th Year Honours Course Organiser |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2011/12 Block 2 (Sem 1), Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | WKS 8-12 | 11:10 - 13:00 | | | | |
| First Class |
Week 3, Monday, 11:10 - 13:00, Zone: Central. Room S1, 7 George Square |
| No Exam Information |
|
| Delivery period: 2011/12 Block 2 (Sem 1), Part-year visiting students only (VV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | WKS 8-12 | 11:10 - 13:00 | | | | |
| First Class |
Week 3, Monday, 11:10 - 13:00, Zone: Central. Room S1, 7 George Square |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
- Understanding the methodological challenges faced by parapsychologists and how these may also apply to psychology.
- Having a detailed knowledge of two or more topics from the course. |
Assessment Information
100% essay
Visiting Student Variant Assessment: Essay (3000 words) to be set by Course Organiser and due Friday 4pm, Week 13
|
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Caroline Watt
Tel: (0131 6)50 3382
Email: Caroline.Watt@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Elizabeth Wright
Tel: (0131 6)50 9870
Email: E.Wright@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:42 am
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