Undergraduate Course: Origins of competence: Cognitive Ability, Interests, and Conscientiousness (PSYL10158)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides an introduction to, and discussion of, research into the role played by individual difference characteristics in determining key socio-economic outcomes. |
| Course description |
The course will give an overview current research on personality, interests, and cognitive ability as causes of socio-economic competence and attainment. A primary focus will be on traits of conscientiousness and cognitive ability. The course will begin with documenting how these traits higher socioeconomic status. We will then examine the measurement of conscientiousness and of intelligence. This will be followed by research on factors claimed to increase these traits, including genetics and family environment, as well as interventions. The course will cover these topics over 10 weeks of lectures. The course will develop students skills at critical analysis and writing, as well as in depth content knowledge of the key data and theories in the field.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students welcome. Should have degree major in Psychology and passes in psychology courses at least to the equivalent of junior honours level in Edinburgh. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the main concepts of conscientiousness and cognitive ability.
- Show awareness of major findings in behaviour genetics of ability. Interpreting these.
- Understand the major methods for measurement, as applicable to HR and personality assessment, along with their limitations.
- Show awareness of relations between individual differences major socioeconomic outcomes. Ability to interpret causal inferences critically.
- Understand the major strengths and limitations of alternative approaches, including mindset theory, grit, meta-cognition, bias/prejudice, and hyper-environmentalism.
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Reading List
Midterm: Exam - MCQ (30%) [non-centrally arranged Exam]
Final: Exam - MCQ + 4 short answers (70%) |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course will expose students to primary research articles and help them become critical consumers of these. The course assessments require analysis of ideas, conflicting claims, and data, and the ability to form a structured argument and present this using writing skills. As such, this course promotes the graduate attribute skills of research and enquiry, personal and intellectual autonomy, and communication, and fosters an aspirational and enquiring "mindset" (one of the topics we will critically analyse). |
| Keywords | Differential-Personality,Intelligence,Genetics,Methodology-assessment |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Timothy Bates
Tel: (0131 6)51 1945
Email: tim.bates@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Anna Jarvis
Tel:
Email: ajarvis3@ed.ac.uk |
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