HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY - 2021/2

Module Overview

This module introduces students to the key theories and methods of health psychology and focuses on a number of research areas including health behaviour and behaviour change, help seeking and access to health care and chronic conditions and their management.

Module provider

Psychology

Module Leader

OGDEN Jane (Psychology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Module content

The course will be based around such topics as: theories and models in health psychology, the role of health beliefs in understanding health behaviour, changing health behaviour, help seeking, the role of psychology in understanding and managing chronic conditions such as cancer, coronary heart disease, obesity, HIV, and pain.

The lecture plan will probably be as follows:

1.Introduction to health psychology

2.Eating behaviour

3. Obesity

4. Behaviour change

5. Help seeking

6. Stress and coping

7. Women’s health

8. Pain

9. CHD

10. Sexual health, HIV and AIDs

11. Course overview

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The summative assessment for this module consists of:

6 sided leaflet (6 pages, 25%)

Design a 6 sided leaflet drawing upon theories of behaviour and behaviour change to change a behaviour of your choice

Examination (90 mins, 75%)

The exam will involve answering 2 essay questions chosen from 6 questions reflecting 6 out of 9 of the areas covered on the course.

Justification for assessment methods

Both assessments will address all learning outcomes. 

Module aims

• The course aims to develop a critical understanding of the theories, methods, and applications underpinning health psychology. It aims to demonstrate how a scientific understanding of behaviour can be applied to understanding and changing health behaviours and outcomes in physical illness It aims to illustrate how psychological factors influence the experience of health and illness and can impact upon health outcomes.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching methods include:

11 x 2 hour lectures, 2 x 1 hour optional drop in sessions and 128 hours of independent study, which involve:

Week 1 -  Lecture setting the scene for the module with a general overview of critical thinking

Weeks 2-10  – lectures presenting information regarding a specific myth with time for small group tasks and class discussion

Weeks 3 and 4 – hour long optional drop in sessions to resolve queries on the coursework essay assessment.

Week 11 – A revision overview to consider key ideas, areas of critical thinking, skills and theories. 

Formative feedback will be given each week.

Dedicated SurreyLearn page including space to discuss readings and the week’s critical questions.

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: PSY3073

Programmes this module appears in

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 2021/2 academic year.