THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2022/2023

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : Centre for Open Learning : Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

Undergraduate Course: Introduction to Psychology (LLLI07031)

Course Outline
SchoolCentre for Open Learning CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis course is for students on the CAHSS International Foundation Programme.

Introduction to Psychology introduces a range of topics in psychology, including social psychology, individual differences, child development, memory, perception, and psychological disorders. Combining short lectures, class discussions and practical exercises, it will build new students' skills in academic study in the UK.
Course description This course is designed to introduce students to the study of Psychology and to develop academic skills in readiness for further study. Topics and individual classes are outlined in the indicative syllabus below.

Unit 1. Introduction: What is psychology?
1.1. Historical approaches to psychology
1.2. Psychology in everyday life

Unit 2. Cognitive psychology (first part): Attention and perception
2.1. What are cognition, attention and perception?
2.2. Researching cognition, attention and perception
2.3. Discussing a paper & Introduction to psychological research

Unit 3. Cognitive psychology (second part): Remembering and forgetting
3.1. Types of memory and why we forget
3.2. Researching memory
3.3. Discussing a paper & In-class research design exercise

Unit 4. Individual differences (first part): Personality
4.1. Personality traits
4.2. Researching personality: how do we obtain the most robust evidence
4.3. Discussing a (famous) paper

Unit 5. Individual differences (second part): Intelligence
5.1. What is intelligence?
5.2. Intelligence: how do we best measure it?
5.3. Discussing an article: can intelligence be experimentally increased?

Unit 6. Social psychology (first part): Acting around others
6.1. Social relationships
6.2. Researching social relationships
6.3. Discussing a paper

Unit 7. Social psychology (second part): Social influence
7.1. Social influence
7.2. Researching social influence
7.3. Discussing an article: Critique of a famous experiment

Unit 8. Developmental psychology (first part): Cognitive development
8.1. Cognitive development: history of theories
8.2. Researching cognitive development
8.3. Discussing a paper

Unit 9. Developmental psychology (second part): Social development
9.1. Social and emotional development
9.2. Researching social and emotional development
9.3. Discussing a paper

Unit 10. Mental health (first part): Psychological disorders
10.1. Psychological disorders
10.2. Examples and stigma
10.3. Discussing a paper: a famous theory

Unit 11. Mental health (second part): Treatment
11.1. Psychological treatment
11.2. A case study
11.3. Discussing a paper: How are treatments developed?
11.4. Preparing for essay writing
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  30
Course Start Lifelong Learning - Session 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 50, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 48 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Report of classroom research exercise (week 4/5). This will give students the chance to practice using psychological terminology and will be returned with feedback before the submission of assessment 2.

Assessment 1: 10% Mean average of best 8 (out of 10) multiple choice quizzes based on course topics and readings
Assessment 2: 20% Summary of a psychology article
Assessment 3: 70% Essay
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Identify a number of major research topics within psychology, and understand some of the central issues within these topics
  2. Understand and be able to explain key concepts in psychology and psychological research
  3. Identify key methodologies and understand the advantages/ limitations of various techniques
  4. Summarise and apply ideas from readings
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Students will have started to develop a range of skills that are crucial for success in undergraduate study and employment including critical thinking, summarising, participation in classes and academic planning and writing
KeywordsPsychology,memory,child development,mental health
Contacts
Course organiserDr David Raluca
Tel:
Email: Raluca.David@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Kameliya Skerleva
Tel: (0131 6)51 1855
Email: Kameliya.Skerleva@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information