PY3PSO: Project for Psychology & Sociology

Module Provider:

Psychology

Number of credits:

40 [20 ECTS credits]

Level:

H (Honours)

Terms in which taught:

Autumn and Spring

Module Convenor:

Prof JP Harris

Pre-requisites:

Co-requisites:

Modules excluded:

Module version for:

2006/7

Aims:
To conduct an independent piece of research that includes many of the necessary components of good research (literature review, planning, ethical considerations, data collection, data analysis, project report). The student may choose also to consider relevant sociological aspects or implications of the topic.

Assessable learning outcomes:
At the end of the project, students should be able to demonstrate their ability to plan, execute and report an empirical study in a chosen area of Psychology.

Additional outcomes:
Work in collaboration with a supervisor, and where appropriate with other members of the supervisor's laboratory or a student co-worker.

Outline content:
Students are required to produce a written plan in Term 6 which can usefully be developed into a full project report by the end of Term 8. The Plan will summarise the background and justification for the project, and proposals for the main project, and should not exceed 2,500 words. Students are required to produce a full project report at the end of Term 8. The project report should implement the project plan, updated where necessary in the light of supervisor's feedback and further reading, and should answer a particular hypothesis on the basis of the data collected. It may also cover sociological aspects or implications of the topic. The final report should not exceed 10,000 words.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
(a) Supervisory support is given at all stages of the project.
(b) Written feedback is provided following submission of the Project Plan. This will help students produce an accomplished final report, whilst also allowing them to demonstrate their ability to work independently at the final report stage.
(c) Feedback is provided on the draft project report, although comments on the final draft are limited, so that students can demonstrate their independence at the final report stage.

Contact hours:

Assessment:
Coursework
Project Plan (2,500 words)
Project (10,000 words)
Relative percentage of coursework: Project Plan 10% Project 100%
Submission date
Students must submit the project by the last day of the Spring term
Penalties for late submission
Ten marks (out of 100 on the normal University scale) will be deducted from a piece of work submitted up to one calendar week after the original deadline or any formally agreed extension of that deadline. Once this period has elapsed, a mark of zero will be awarded.
Examinations
None
Requirements for a pass
A mark of 40% overall
Reassessment arrangements
Project to be submitted by 1st September if it carries an original mark of less than 40%.