AS/A Level Psychology

Psychology is the study of behaviour. Research methods and how psychologists gather their data are an integral part of the course. Human behaviour with regard to social influence, memory, cognition and individual differences will be covered in the first year with forensic psychology, cognition and law and aspects of childhood development studied at A2.

Unit information

Year 1 (AS)

PSYB1 - Introducing Psychology

This module is split into three compulsory sections:

Key Approaches – Looking at the main psychological perspectives including the behaviourist and cognitive contributions and biopsychology focusing on physiological psychology and the genetic basis of behaviour.

Gender Development – Here you will study concepts of sex and gender, explanations for the development of gender identity such as biological and social explanations.

Research Methods – Different types of research methods will be studied including qualitative and quantitative methods and strength and weaknesses of experimental and non-experimental methods.

PSYB2- Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Individual Differences

This module is split into three sections:

Social Psychology

• Social Influence
• Social facilitation and the effect of the presence of others on task performance.
• What is conformity?
• Why do some individuals and societies conform while others remain autonomous?
• What is obedience and who obeys? What are the real life repercussions of obedience?
• Ethical and methodological issues.

Cognitive Psychology – in this unit you will study Memory and forgetting by looking at components of a number of models including the multi-store model of memory and various explanations of forgetting, including decay and repression.

Individual Differences – in this unit you will study, explain and evaluate treatments for phobias and OCD.

Year 2 (A2)

PSYB3-Child Development and Options

This module is split in to three sections:

Child Development – This will include studying the work of Piaget, Vygotsky, and Bruner.

Cognition and Law – Here students will study the influence of cognition on law including techniques of face recognition, debating the reliability of eye witness testimony and the False Memory debate.

Forensic Psychology – Students will look at definitions of crime and theories of criminal behaviour and current treatments and therapies.

PSYB4 - Approaches, Debates and Methods in Psychology will cover areas such as free will and reductionism, and humanistic, biological, behaviourist, cognitive, and psychoanalytic perspectives. You will study methods of research including inferential statistics.

This course provides an introduction to Psychology and forms a valuable preparation for Higher Education. The knowledge you gain will also be useful in a range of careers in education, health, business, retail and other sectors.

Psychology has been defined as the scientific study of mind and behaviour. Psychologists use a variety of experimental and non-experimental methods, and their subject matter is you – a unique human individual. The course gives you an insight into this exciting discipline, as well as developing your critical thinking, literacy, numeracy and other skills. Prior knowledge of psychology is not required, but would be an advantage.

The course can be taken as part of a full-time programme of study in conjunction with other AS subjects, or possibly with other Level 3 courses. Our staff will be happy to help you put together a programme most suited to your needs. The course can also be taken on a part-time basis by mature students.

Unit information

This course provides an introduction to the main approaches of Psychology and will allow you to learn about some of the complexities of human behaviour and the workings of the human mind. In addition, it will give you training in practical research methods which will enable you to carry out small scale projects during the course.

AS Level Course

This is a two module course with a duration of one academic year. In module one you will be given an introduction to the main perspectives used by psychologists. These include the Biological, Behavioural, Psychodynamic and Cognitive approaches. This will give you a solid basis for future study in the subject.

Module two continues your introduction to the discipline by focusing on ten core studies in Psychology. These are examples of psychologists' research which have had a major impact on the subject and include such topics as teaching animals to speak, whether people will obey in any circumstances and an investigation into the effects of admitting sane individuals to a psychiatric hospital.

During your AS year you will be learning how to carry out your own psychological research. This will require you to conduct small-scale interviews, questionnaires, experiments and observations. You will be examined in this work in module two.

A2 Level Course

The A2 level course can be taken on the successful completion of the AS exams. The A2 level is also a two module course. Module three concentrates on extending your knowledge of research methods from year one. As well as continuing your practical research you will also learn how to analyse your results using a range of descriptive and inferential statistical methods, as used by professional psychologists. This module also includes the study of psychology as a scientific subject.

Module four gives you the opportunity to look at a range of topics in Psychology. For instance, examples of topics available are Memory and studies into theories of Sleep and Dreaming. In addition you will be studying some of the major debates in Psychology today, such as whether our behaviour is determined by our biology or by our environment. Finally, you will be considering a way in which Psychology is used in the real world, for instance by looking at the causes of and treatments for psychiatric illnesses such as Depression and Schizophrenia.

Unit information

Year 1 (AS Level)

The AS course is taught over one year (September – June), and consists of two modules. Each module is assessed separately and the marks are added together to give your overall AS grade.

Unit 1: Psychology: Past to Present

There are several ways to explain human behaviour. In this unit you will study the Biological, Psychodynamic, Behaviourist, Cognitive and Positive approaches. In each case, you will assess their application to a theory and a therapy. For example, the Psychodynamic approach has been used to explain personality and also to develop dream analysis as a method of therapy.

Unit 2: Psychology: Using Psychological Concepts

Section A - Contemporary Debate

Section B - Principles of Research

Section C - Application of Research Methods to a Novel Scenario

Year 2 (A Level)

If you pass the AS Level, you will be able to continue your study of psychology at A2 level. The A2 level is delivered over one year, and includes another two modules. The marks from these modules will be added to your AS level marks to give your overall grade.

Unit 3: Psychology: Implications in the Real World

Unit 4: Psychology: Applied Research Methods

Unit information

Year 1 (AS)

The AS course is taught over one year (September – June), and consists of two modules. Each module is assessed separately and the marks are added together to give your overall AS grade. You will learn how to carry out your own psychological research. This will require you to conduct small-scale interviews, questionnaires, experiments and observations.

PY1: Approaches in Psychology: There are several ways to explain human behaviour. In this unit you will study the Biological, Psychodynamic, Behaviourist and Cognitive approaches. In each case, you will assess their application to a theory and a therapy. For example, the Psychodynamic approach has been used to explain personality and also to develop dream analysis as a method of therapy.

PY2: Core studies and applied research methods: This module continues your introduction to psychology, focusing on ten pieces of research that have had a major impact on the subject. Topics covered include: the effects of admitting sane individuals to a psychiatric hospital, and the question of whether people will obey in any circumstances.

Year 2 (A2)

If you pass the AS Level, you will be able to continue your study of psychology at A2 level. The A2 level is delivered over one year, and includes another two modules. The marks from these modules will be added to your AS level marks to give your overall grade.

PY3: Research methods andamp; issues in research: This module concentrates on extending your knowledge of research methods. As well as continuing your practical research, you will also learn how to analyse your results using the statistical methods of professional psychologists. You will also explore psychology as a scientific subject and consider the ethical issues of using human (and non-human) animals in research.

PY4: Controversies, topics andamp; applications: In this module you will look at key psychology topics in more depth. Topics you may study include: Memory (how do we remember, why do we forget?), Abnormal Psychology (the causes and treatments of mental health disorders), and Forensic Psychology (the causes, treatments and punishments for crime). In addition you will study some of the major debates in psychology, such as whether behaviour is determined by biology or by environment.

Unit information

Year 1 (AS)

The AS course is taught over one year (September – June), and consists of two modules. Each module is assessed separately and the marks are added together to give your overall AS grade. You will learn how to carry out your own psychological research. This will require you to conduct small-scale interviews, questionnaires, experiments and observations.

Unit 1: Psychology: Past to Present

There are several ways to explain human behaviour. In this unit you will study the Biological, Psychodynamic, Behaviourist, Cognitive and Positive approaches. In each case, you will assess their application to a theory and a therapy. For example, the Psychodynamic approach has been used to explain personality and also to develop dream analysis as a method of therapy.

Unit 2: Psychology: Using Psychological Concepts

Section A - Contemporary Debate

Section B - Principles of Research

Section C - Application of Research Methods to a Novel Scenario

Year 2 (for 2016/17)

If you pass the AS Level, you will be able to continue your study of psychology at A2 level. The A2 level is delivered over one year, and includes another two modules. The marks from these modules will be added to your AS level marks to give your overall grade.

Unit 3: Psychology: Implications in the Real World

Unit 4: Psychology: Applied Research Methods