THE PSYCHOLOGY OF GLOBAL CHALLENGES - 2022/3
Module code: PSYM150
Module Overview
Overview
This module provides psychology students with a grounding in how the theories and methods of the discipline are being used to address real-world challenges. In doing so, it allows students an overview of some of the research taking place within Surrey's School of Psychology, and introduces some of the academics who work here.
The module uses the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs - https://sdgs.un.org/goals) as an organising structure. Each of the core weeks is focused around the work of a researcher or team, and is framed in terms of how this research addresses one of the SDGs. (For example, work from the Environmental Psychology Research Group might presented as an example of how psychology addresses the "Sustainable Cities and Communities" SDG).
Module provider
Psychology
Module Leader
GENTLE Judith (Psychology)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 122
Lecture Hours: 22
Tutorial Hours: 6
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None
Module content
This module is deliberately designed so that the specific content can change from year to year to reflect the evolving nature of our research expertise and to reflect developments in global outlook or major news events. As such, the outline below is indicative only:
- INITIAL WEEK: Introduction; learning objectives; how to approach this module
- CENTRAL WEEKS: topic-specific lectures from subject-matter experts tied to specific SDGs. Tutorials on assessment preparation. Q&A sessions.
- FINAL WEEK: Group poster presentations
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 50 |
| Oral exam or presentation | Group poster | 50 |
Alternative Assessment
In the event that a student cannot be assessed through the group poster, they can instead be assessed using another essay. The goal of the group work is to encourage critical reflection on common themes across applications of psychological theory and methods, and it will be easy to assess these same skills using an essay.
Assessment Strategy
Assessment combines group and individual elements. There will be 50% individual essay that asks for critical reflection on the role of psychology in addressing real-world problems. The other 50% of credit is for a group poster presentation that asks for an integrative interpretation of material across sessions, explicitly drawing out key themes.
Module aims
- To provide students with an understanding of how psychological theories and insights are relevant to addressing real-world issues
- To make students aware of the research activity taking place within Surrey's School of Psychology
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | The ability to demonstrate how psychological insights have helped address a range of real-world problems | K |
| 002 | The ability to identify common themes in what psychology might say about a range of different applications | CK |
| 003 | The ability to evaluate and critique the utility of psychological approaches to large-scale problems in the context of alternative approaches such as structural change | KPT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
Core material will be delivered through weekly lectures and the opportunity to ask questions and discuss ideas with presenters.
Later in the module, students will also undertake group activities working towards a group poster that will require them critically to integrate ideas from across topics and thereby illustrate an awareness of what psychology can and cannot do to address major real-world challenges
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: PSYM150
Other information
N/A
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Psychology MSc | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Environmental Psychology MSc | 2 | 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 2022/3 academic year.