SOCIAL COGNITION - 2020/1
Module code: PSYM108
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in a departure from previous academic years and previously published information, the University has had to change the delivery (and in some cases the content) of its programmes, together with certain University services and facilities for the academic year 2020/21.
These changes include the implementation of a hybrid teaching approach during 2020/21. Detailed information on all changes is available at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/coronavirus/course-changes. This webpage sets out information relating to general University changes, and will also direct you to consider additional specific information relating to your chosen programme.
Prior to registering online, you must read this general information and all relevant additional programme specific information. By completing online registration, you acknowledge that you have read such content, and accept all such changes.
Module Overview
This module introduces students to the main concepts, methods, and findings of the cognitive approach to social psychology. Although it can be argued that social psychology has always been permeated by cognitive concepts, systematic research in social cognition began in the 1970s. In this module, we will examine the main theories, models, and empirical results of the research that in the last few decades investigated topics such as the following: social attention and memory, person perception, social categorization, and stereotyping.
Module provider
Psychology
Module Leader
RUSCONI Patrice (Psychology)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
JACs code: C880
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Module Availability
Semester 1
Module content
Indicative content includes:
- Introduction: What is Social Cognition?
- Automatic vs controlled processes.
- Social attention.
- Models of memory in social cognition.
- Attribution processes.
- Person perception.
- Social inference.
- Social categorization.
- Stereotyping.
- Social cognition, affect, and behaviour.
- Conclusion, revision, and summary.
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | CRITICAL REVIEW (2000 WORDS) | 50 |
| Examination | EXAM (90 MINUTES) | 50 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate
Assessment 1: critical review (2000 words, 50%).
Students will have the opportunity to describe, analyse, and critically evaluate some social cognitive studies. Students will be given an assessment brief.
Assessment 2: Exam (90 minutes, 50%).
Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to report on the topics of the lectures and to critically discuss them.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
- Critical review (for assessing skills of written presentation and critical evaluation).
- Examination (for assessing breadth and depth of knowledge);
Formative assessment and feedback
Students will receive verbal feedback during and after the lectures so that they will be guided throughout the module and will be able to achieve the module’s learning goals and, consequently, pass all Units of Assessment.
Module aims
- To develop students' ability to autonomously think, criticize, and reflect on theories and methods used in the social cognitive literature.
- To introduce students to the main theories and domains of application of the cognitive approach to social psychology.
- To provide students with the basic knowledge on and understanding of how cognitive processes, such as attention, memory, and peception, are investigated to understand social phenomena.
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understand the main properties of the cognitive processes investigated in social contexts; | KC |
| 2 | Explain, analyse and critically evaluate the main theories, experimental paradigms, and findings of the social cognitive literature; | KC |
| 3 | Be adept at analysing and critiquing, through written evaluation, theoretical and methodological approaches; | PT |
| 4 | Be familiar with cognitive approaches to social psychological phenomena. | PT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Overall student workload
Independent Study Hours: 128
Lecture Hours: 22
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
- Develop the capacity to explain key concepts in articles.
- Develop a critical understanding of advantages and disadvantages of research methods used in social cognition.
- Develop independent and critical thought.
- Develop written skills of argumentation and analysis.
The learning and teaching methods include:
- Lectures.
- Group/class discussions.
- Classroom exercises.
All lecture slides, the reading lists, and additional learning materials will be uploaded on SurreyLearn.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: PSYM108
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Psychology MSc | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.