PY0793 - Individual Differences, Psychometrics and Social Psychology

You will experience learning within diverse contexts; discussion-based sessions, workshops and tutorials, directed and independent learning and online discussions using the e-learning portal (Blackboard). The syllabus topics will be introduced using interactive lectures/workshops, where your participation will be central to the learning experience, on occasions the session content will be driven by you within a group context. Workshops in psychometrics will provide hands-on experience of research tools/test evaluation.
Directed and independent learning will be encouraged through the provision of electronic reading lists, journal articles and other resources relating to session/workshop topics. These lists and resources will then serve as a basis for further independent study where you will have the opportunity to develop your critical understanding of the key constructs in intelligence, intelligence and cognition, and personality. Discussion board forums will be available to encourage students to exchange ideas with their peers. Together, the lecture/workshops, directed and independent learning and online discussion will enable you to gain greater depth of knowledge in the fields of personality and intelligence.
Tutorials will provide an opportunity for you to discuss issues related to the development of your understanding and learning with a member of staff.

You will be supported in the module not only by the learning experience of the sessions themselves but though the presence of resources out with of these scheduled sessions. You will have access to the teaching staff, through tutorials, where you can discuss issues pertinent to your learning experiences. Staff contact details and locations will be listed on the module site on Blackboard. In addition, not only will session (PowerPoint) resources be present on Blackboard but Blackboard will also have, via the reading lists, explicit routes to guided and independent reading resources and where pertinent, web based resources. Module information will be e-mailed through the Blackboard site and Discussion Boards will be established to encourage your explicit conversations with other students on the module. The AllPsych pages on Blackboard will also provide details on university wide services to support your academic study, Library, Careers, Student Wellbeing, University assessment regulations etc.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MKU1: By the end of the module you will be expected to discuss, and critically evaluate current knowledge derived from theoretical and empirical evidence drawn from the field of Individual Differences and Social Psychology.
• MKU2: By the end of the module you will be expected to critically examine and interpret psychometric data.
• MKU3: By the end of the module you be expected to apply your knowledge of Social Psychology to real world contexts.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MIPSA1: By the end of the module you will be expected to employ a range of techniques relevant to psychological enquiry.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MPVA1: You will be able to understand the importance and key considerations when conducting ethical research within Social Psychology.

In the Individual Differences and Psychometrics component you will be assessed by an integrated assignment with two components.
In the Social Psychology component you will be assessed by a written assignment.
In the Individual Differences and Psychometrics assignment with two elements;
A) A critical evaluation of a contemporary construct drawn from Individual Differences
B) A psychometric interrogation of a database related to the construct of component A.
The assessment will be 5000 words, with a module assessment weighting of 66%.(MKU1, MKU2,MIPSA1)
In the Social Psychology written assignment will write a 3000 word assignment with a module assessment weighting of 34%. The assignment will be based on a real world problem. You will use relevant theories and approaches from social psychology to describe current knowledge in the area and pan and develop an appropriate study to investigate the issue. (MKU1, MKU3, MPVA1)

Written individual feedback will be provided on both of your assignments and you may request a tutorial with the tutor to further explain this.

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The aim of this module is to develop your understanding of the human mind and behaviour from Individual Differences, Psychometrics and Social psychology perspectives. All approaches are research-rich; utilizing historic, seminal work and contemporary studies utilizing modern techniques and methods.
Within the Individual Differences component you will gain an understanding of how psychologists have considered how and why people differ in their cognition, and specifically their intelligence. In addition, the content will critically examine the research which looks at improving intelligence and cognition.
In the Psychometrics component you will have the opportunity to critically consider how psychologists assess the tools employed to measures characteristics of individual differences; i.e. to what extent do psychologists employ useful tools in order to measure intelligence and personality.
In the Social Psychology component you will have the opportunity to employ the theory, research findings and methods in order propose solutions for real world issues.