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Contemporary Investigations in Social Psychology - SOC00060H

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Baptiste Brossard
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

Can and should social psychology make a difference in the world? What is the significance of social psychology’s applied approach? In this module, you will expand your understanding of how social psychological knowledge is relevant for understanding contemporary social problems, by introducing you to ongoing and recently completed research conducted in the department.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

Can and should social psychology make a difference in the world? What is the significance of social psychology’s applied approach? In this module, you will expand your understanding of how social psychological knowledge is relevant for understanding contemporary social problems, by introducing you to ongoing and recently completed research conducted in the department. You will have the opportunity to learn about and critically reflect on the approaches taken, and engage in debate with staff about the design and insights of their work. You will work with data and will be encouraged to think critically about the complex links between knowledge production, methodological approaches and social issues.

Module learning outcomes

Articulate the moral and principled nature of contemporary social research and social psychology;

Apply contemporary social psychological insights and approaches to social issues;

Demonstrate your understanding of how critical theory and method have contributed to empirical work in contemporary social psychology;

Critically engage with contemporary debates relating to experimental and critical approaches to social psychology;

Evaluate different explanations for social behaviour and use this knowledge to develop a critical argument.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Critical Essay 3000 words		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Critical Essay 3000 words		 N/A 100

Module feedback

For formative work - annotated bibliography- students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. The formative assessment provides practice for the summative task, which is in line with MLO 1-5.

For summative work - essay - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with MLO 1-5. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well, and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.

Indicative reading

Franzoi, S.L. (2009) Social psychology. London: McGraw-Hill


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.