THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Psychology

Undergraduate Course: Social Psychology of Groups (PSYL10140)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course will examine fundamental and advanced topics in social psychology. Specifically, we will look at the topics of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination and how these manifest in the world today. We will also cover how these can be challenged and reduced. After covering these topics, we will examine in depth a range of specialist areas of social psychological research such as dehumanization, objectification, and the ways in which people think about animals.
Course description This course will focus on the role of social groups in the way people think, feel, and act. It will start by focusing on major theories (social cognitive theory, social identity theory) and how they relate to stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. It will then look at how we can challenge and reduce these social burdens. Following this broad introduction in the first half of the course, we will focus on a range of specific topics within social psychology. This is intended to introduce you to the cutting edge of research being conducted in these fields today. For example, we would cover dehumanization, objectification, and the ways in which people think about and interact with animals. The class will consist of a series of lectures and group discussions. Students will develop skills I understanding and critically evaluating social psychological research, they will also refine their ability to generate novel approaches to answering social psychological questions.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Psychology 2A (PSYL08011) AND Psychology 2B (PSYL08012)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should be studying Psychology as their degree major, and have completed at least 3 Psychology courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. Applicants should note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. **Please note that upper level Psychology courses are high-demand, meaning that they have a very high number of students wishing to enrol in a very limited number of spaces.** These enrolments are managed strictly by the Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department, and all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  137
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 176 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 100% coursework;

a mid-term paper (1000 words) worth 30%, and an end of term paper (2000 words) worth 70%.
Feedback Provided weekly in the form of brief discussion questions covered in class, and feedback for the midterm assignment.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Acquire a deep understanding of how the social world affects psychology.
  2. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the how the social world influences human interactions.
  3. Be able to critically evaluate existing research from a social psychological perspective.
  4. Explain how the groups we belong to can alter psychological functioning.
  5. Be able to develop quantitative research designs to explore the social world.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Keywordspsychology,social
Contacts
Course organiserDr Stephen Loughnan
Tel: (0131 6)50 9861
Email: steve.loughnan@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Susan Scobie
Tel: (0131 6)51 5505
Email: sscobie@ed.ac.uk
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