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Critical Transformations of Social Psychology - SOC00063I

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

Module summary

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the range of critiques, and to explore the diverse theoretical and methodological influences that have informed them. The module explores ways to critically transform social psychology to make it more fundamentally social in approach.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

How can sociological approaches challenge traditional social psychology and the dominant methodology of experimentation in the laboratory? In the past three decades, there has emerged within social psychology a growing set of critiques of the experimental method and its cognitivist focus. The aim of this module is to introduce you to the range of critiques, and to explore the diverse theoretical and methodological influences that have informed them. We focus on a range of new social psychology approaches drawing on different critical theories concerned with forms of social inequalities. The module explores ways to critically transform social psychology to make it more fundamentally social in approach.

Module learning outcomes

Describe and evaluate the range of critical arguments that show the limitations of cognitive and experimental social psychology.

Articulate the different theoretical and methodological positions that inform and underpin critical arguments against cognitive and experimental social psychology

Critically reflect on the challenges and possibilities of different ways of doing social psychology

Convey different critical approaches in social psychology effectively in written formats

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
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 - Short Written Assessment - students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. Both formative assessments provide practice for the summative tasks, which entail an observational exercise and are in line with MLO 1-4.

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 1-4. 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.

Goffman, E. (1969). The presentation of self in everyday life. London: Allen Lane Hewitt, J.P. (2010) Self and society: A symbolic interactionist social psychology. London: Pearson.

Hollway, W., Lucey, H., & Phoenix, A. (2007) Social Psychology Matters. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Rohall, D.E. Milkie, M.A., and Lucas, J.W. (2011) Social psychology: Sociological perspectives. London: Pearson.


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.