Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Psychology in Context
Module Leader
Dr. Tony Lawrence
Email: a.lawrence@cov.ac.uk
120PY
Psychology in Context
Table of Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................2
Intended learning outcomes...................................................................................... 2
Organisation of the Module........................................................................................2
Recommended Reading.............................................................................................3
Lecture Timetable........................................................................................................4
Full-time Day Teaching...............................................................................................4
Assessment.................................................................................................................. 5
Referencing.................................................................................................................. 5
Coursework Submission (see Assessment section above for deadlines)..........6
Use of Moodle.............................................................................................................. 6
Important Issues.......................................................................................................... 6
Marking scheme for assignment and examination essays................................... 8
Introduction
The aim of the module is to introduce students to the historical, philosophical and
ethical issues which provide a context for the contemporary study of psychology, in
addition to providing an overview of the major contemporary areas of academic and
applied psychology. The module outlines the field of psychology from its origins in the
philosophy and the natural sciences of the 18th century through to the contemporary
perspectives and sub-disciplines of psychology as a modern, scientific and applied
discipline.
The module runs entirely in semester two. Each week students will attend two hours
of lectures and two hours of seminars.
Lectures: 22 hours, Seminars: 22 hours, Guided study 40, Independent study: 116
hours
Recommended Reading
The core text for this module is:
Benjamin, L.T. (2007). A Brief History of Modern Psychology. Blackwell: Oxford.
Much of the lecture content will be related to this book. However some lectures will
be on topics not covered in the book, in which case you should consult the
recommended reading sources given below.
You might also want to look at the following, especially in relation to the essay:
Fancher, R.E. (1996). Pioneers of Psychology. Norton: London.
Chalmers, D. (Ed.) (2002). Philosophy of Mind: Classical and Contemporary
Readings. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (For Lectures 3-6).
Harre, R. (2006). Key Thinkers in Psychology. London: Sage.
Mithen, S. (1996). The Prehistory of the Mind: A Search for the Origins of Art,
Religion and Science. London: Phoenix. (For lecture 2).
Okasha, S. (2002). Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
Lecture Timetable
This year 120PY is taught entirely in the second semester every Thursday from
11am-1pm in ECG24.
The schedule of day time lectures is given below.
LECTURER
Dr Tony
Lawrence
Dr Tony
Lawrence
Dr Tony
Lawrence
Dr Tony
Lawrence
Dr Tony
Lawrence
Dr Tony
Lawrence
Dr Tony
Lawrence
Dr Tony
Lawrence
LECTURE
Introduction to the module
Intro to Presentations on
Homo Species
Dr Tony
Lawrence
Dr Tony
Lawrence
Dr Tony
Lawrence
Hugh Coolican
6 March
Dr. Tony
Lawrence
Dr. Tony
Lawrence
Debate: Is psychology a
science?
13 March
Dr. Tony
Lawrence
Dr Tony
Lawrence
Controversies in Psychology:
Parapsychology and ESP
30
January
6
February
13
February
20
February
27
February
20 March
27 March
Dr. Tony
Lawrence
Dr. Tony
Lawrence
Dr. Tony
Lawrence
Dr. Tony
Lawrence
SEMINAR
No Seminar
Presentations on Homo
Species
Debate: Materialism v
Dualism v Idealism v
Monism
Special Seminar:
Exploring the Self
The Watchword
Technique
(In lecture theatre
ECG-27)
Essay Preparation
Session for Essay 2
No Seminar
Assessment
The intended learning outcomes will be assessed as follows:
Coursework 1: 1500 word essay due on 14th March 2014.
This covers learning outcomes 1 and 2.
The essay title is;
Either:
1.
Critically discuss the importance of an understanding of human evolution
and the history of psychology for the modern psychologist.
Or:
2.
Critically discuss the importance of an understanding of the philosophy of
mind for the modern psychologist.
Coursework 2: 1500 word essay due on 17th April 2014.
This covers learning outcomes 3 and 4.
The coursework 2 essay title is;
Critically evaluate the value of academic and applied psychology in facing the
challenges of life in the twenty-first century.
Referencing
Coventry University and the Department of Psychology have adopted the Harvard
Referencing System as the standard format for citations and references. There is a
Centre for Academic Writing (located next to the library, also see the links on
CUOnline) who can provide detailed support on the Harvard System. There is also a
useful reference guide on the Harvard Style that we advise you to download and
keep. This can be found under the heading The Harvard style to print and keep at:
http://home.ched.coventry.ac.uk/caw/harvard/downloads.htm
Use of Moodle
Materials essential to the delivery of lectures and workshops will be provided in
printed form by the lecturer concerned. This does not refer to copies of the
Powerpoint demonstration, OHTs or lecture notes. It refers to materials that are
essential but in addition to what is delivered (such as materials for practical work, a
handout containing additional information which could be assessed and so on).
Many other support materials will usually be provided by the Module Leader on
Moodle and students may choose to print these out but are not required to do so.
Important Issues
A number of procedures/policies are consistent across modules in Psychology but
the specifics of these may vary across Faculties or Departments. These are detailed
in your Course Handbooks (usually on the Programme Web) and/or module guides
and include (but are not necessarily limited to);
Plagiarism & collusion (see your handbook Essential Information insert)
Extension requests (refer to your Faculty or Department policy)
Penalties for the late submission of coursework (unauthorised late work receives 0%)
Coursework return
Additional Educational Requirements
Marking criteria for essays and reports (refer to those for Psychology)
Use of social networking sites (HLS policy is that staff do not invite or accept 'friend'
requests from students)
You need to ensure that you are familiar with these processes and how they apply to
each of the modules that you are studying. It is your responsibility to make sure that
you adhere to these policies.
Excellent
88 +
85
82
78
75
72
First
Good
68
65
62
Upper second
58
55
52
Lower second
48
45
42
Passable
Third
Fail
38
35
30
20
10
0
Compensatory band
Clear fail
Essays are assessed on four major criteria. Aspects of these factors are of
course often more important than others but each piece of work can be
considered on all four factors. Where a piece comes in high on all four, as
described for a specific mark band, the piece of work will therefore be at the
top end of that band.
Answer:
To obtain marks in the 80s, in addition to these criteria, work would need to:
Be of near publishable quality
Be innovative by:
containing original insights
and/or
making unusual but valid observations
and/or
including creative, valid suggestions for further research and/or theory
and/or
showing evidence of discovery and understanding of latest research
and/or
other outstanding relevant merits
10
Argument:
Evidence:
Coherence:
Argument:
Evidence:
11
Coherence:
Argument:
Evidence:
On first marking, only marks from the following set should be awarded
to a failed piece of work:
35 and 38 as described above
30%
20%
10%
0%