1. PSYCHOLOGY
2nd Year Welcome Back

2. Trimester 2 Modules Core Modules Research Skills in Psychology
Lecture Thursday 10-11am in F124
Workshops 11-1,1-3, 3-5 on Thursdays in the Computing Labs
Biological & Developmental Psychology
Lecture & Seminars on Mondays
Optional Modules
Global Society - Tuesdays
Social Policy & Social Change – Wednesdays
I need a list of students taking this module so that you can have your seminar on Wednesday and not the Thursday
Evaluating Forensic Evidence – Wednesdays – anyone registered on Biosphere and Man?

3. Communication
When communicating with staff you must use your University account. s from personal accounts often end up in our junk folder and we do not read them.
Use an appropriate subject heading.
We will respond to your within 48 working hours (but not in our holidays or over the weekend!).
Please do not contact us and expect an immediate answer.
We expect a response within a reasonable time-frame as well.

4. Extensions
Extensions of up to 1 week will be given in certain circumstances (e.g. ill-health).
Extensions for psychology modules can only be granted by your year leader. Speak to module co-ordinator for social science and science modules.
Appropriate evidence must be supplied to support your request (e.g. medical certificate).
Extensions will not be given for any longer than 1 week. If you feel you will be unable to meet your deadline even with a week long extension then you should submit an extenuating circumstance statement.
If you have not been given an extension then you will have a 10% penalty applied.
No coursework will be accepted after this 1 week period.
During the re-sit diet no extensions are given, the deadline issued is the final deadline by which work can be submitted, no work will be accepted after this deadline.

5. Extenuating Circumstances Statement (ECS)
This has replaced the mitigation process.
No evidence needed – be aware of deadlines.
Must submit an ECS within 48 hours of an exam or coursework due date. Submit via Banner.
You can submit in advance – e.g. if you are unwell and know that you will be unable to sit an exam.
You can cancel as long as this is within 48 hours of the due date.
Please inform module coordinator so that your work is not marked.
You do the re-sit as your first attempt in the summer.

6. Attendance
You are required to attend all of the classes for each module (including lectures and seminars).
If you are absent for any reason please ensure that you inform the module co-ordinator and
In certain circumstances, failure to attend a module could result in removal from modules and non-progression at the end of the academic year.
If you are absent for a long period (i.e. more than a week), you will need to provide a medical certificate and you should inform the year leader in addition to the module co-ordinators.

7. Progression to 3rd Year
You cannot carry any re-sits for psychology modules to 3rd year.
You must pass Research Skills in Psychology, Introduction to Social and Cognitive Psychology and Biological and Developmental Psychology.
You can progress into 3rd year carrying a re-sit for one of your optional modules.
If you have a re-sit, please do your best to pass this during the summer. Check communication and attend the support sessions that are offered.

8. Erasmus You can spend T2 of third year on Erasmus exchange.
Our only partner at the moment is the University of Limerick.
Deadline is early April 2017.
BPS restrictions mean that you will need to do the L9 module Biological Psychology in 4th year instead of one of your electives.
Contact Lesley for more information.

9. Employability
Take a few moments to write a list of the skills that you have developed during T1 – link to personal tutor meetings.
Which of these skills are you most comfortable with? (Evidence)
Which do you need to work on (How?)
Take these to your personal tutor and discuss practical ways to improve.

10. Research Skills in Psychology
This module continues from T1 and is worth 40 credits.
Your qualitative portfolio from T1 contributes 40% of your mark.
In T2, we will look at the same research question from a quantitative methodology.
There are 2 assessments in T2 – an ethics reflection worth 20% and a quantitative portfolio worth 40%.
Please check moodle for an updated module handbook for T2 and updated workshop groups.

11. Research Skills in Psychology
Next week, in the workshops you will start to think about how we can research the barriers and facilitators to exercise in the student population using a survey.
We will use the data that you collect using this survey to illustrate the statistical tests you need to learn to analyse the data using SPSS.

12. Assessment 2: Quantitative Portfolio, worth 40%
Due Thursday 13th April 2017.
You will be provided with a data set and will need to input this data into SPSS, analyse the data using the appropriate statistical test and write up the data in the format of a results section for a report.
You will have to come up with 3 hypotheses, carry out 3 analyses and 3 write-ups and include some discussion of your results in relation to the literature.

13. Assessment 2: Quantitative Portfolio, worth 40%
More information will be provided on this as we go through the module, but remember that this is something that you should be working on continually and not leaving to the last minute.
You will have to use a correlation, a t-test and an ANOVA, so there are certain points in the module when you can make a start on the 3 different pieces of analysis.

14. Assessment 3: Ethics Reflection, worth 20%
Due Wednesday 1st March 2017.
You can start this now and submit at any time.
Two choices for this assessment:
1. take part in 3 research studies and write 1000 words about the ethical issues.
2. read 3 research papers and write 1000 words about the ethical issues.

15. What do I need to do? You need to take part in three research studies.
These studies will be advertised on the moodle site under ‘Research Participation’. Keep an eye on this weekly for new studies being advertised, read the description and find something that looks interesting to you. Then contact the researcher to arrange when you can take part.
Try to take part in 3 different types of study – e.g. interview, experiment and survey or take part in a survey online and face-to-face. This will mean you have more to write about than if you take part in 3 online surveys.

16. What do I need to do?
You should receive a ‘certificate’ of your participation from the researcher and should hand this in to your workshop tutor or directly to Lesley.
Once you have taken part in three studies, you now need to reflect on the ethical issues involved in those studies.

17. BPS Ethical Principles
Respect for participants
Risk in relation to either physical harm or psychological distress
Informed consent
Confidentiality
Deception
Withdrawal from investigation
Debriefing

18. Then reflect on how you felt as a participant
Examples
Could compare and contrast face-to-face vs online e.g. did you feel more comfortable being greeted in person by a researcher
Could compare filling out a questionnaire in class vs online

19. Allocation of Marks Participation in three studies: (30 marks)
10 marks for each study you have participated in – need to hand in a certificate for each one
Brief description of the studies: (10 marks)
Briefly describe what you did in each study

20. Allocation of Marks
Ethical principles discussed in relation to the studies: (30 marks)
Discuss the studies in relation to the BPS Ethical Principles – informed consent, deception, debriefing, confidentiality, potential distress, respect, right to withdraw
Personal reflection on ethics: (30 marks)
Reflect on how you felt as a participant

21. Alternative Assessment
We cannot ‘make’ anyone take part in research if they do not want to.
If you would prefer not to take part in any research studies, then please contact Lesley at least 4 weeks before the deadline to discuss the alternative assessment.
This will involve reading 3 papers on moodle and then discussing the BPS ethical principles in relation to these studies.