Applied and Clinical Psychology BSc (Hons)

Becoming a Researcher

All psychologists require basic skills in understanding, designing, reporting and communicating research and this module will provide a grounding in these areas. As a science, psychology is driven by the empirical analysis of human behaviour. In this module you’ll start with a question of interest and formulate hypotheses to test, design, and implement a study to collect data to be analysed. You will then go on to develop an understanding of how to apply statistical analysis to data in order to draw valid and reliable inferences as to how and why people think and behave in a certain way.

The Psychology of Everyday Life

This module provides specialists and non-specialists with a psychological perspective on various issues of everyday life. We look at topical issues in order to demonstrate how psychology can provide insight into people's behaviour, and how we benefit from a scientific psychological approach.

Clinical and Health Psychology

This module provides an introduction to clinical and health psychology and the application of psychological knowledge to an understanding of health and illness, as well as interventions which can be used to improve health or relieve the symptoms of illness. You will also examine how we define and classify mental ill-health, and the different models that psychologists have used to understand the causes of mental ill-health. You’ll study specific problems, both physical and mental health issues, including eating disorders, stress, trauma, and sexual disorders, and review the different methods that can be used by clinical and health psychologists to enhance people's physical and mental health, on individual, family and population levels. This module will be of real interest to those who would like to pursue a career in clinical or health psychology, or related areas, such as forensic psychology.

Self and Society

Here you will be introduced to social psychology, developmental psychology and individual differences. You’ll explore topics such as social cognition, attribution and group processes, the foundations that make up social psychology and also how language and cognitive and emotional development affect developmental psychology. You will discover how to apply your learning to contemporary and social challenges, and the real world; allowing you to observe how social groups form and function, as well as applying psychological theories to real issues and global challenges.

Mind and Behaviour

Here you will gain an overview of the theoretical, philosophical and historical foundations that underpin the discipline of psychology. You will then learn and analyse the current model used to understand mind and behaviour, specifically cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience.

Research in Action: Statistical Thinking

This module develops your statistical thinking, enabling you to approach research questions with skill and understanding. You’ll develop a critical understanding of the principles of data collection and analysis in Psychology, and consider the theoretical bases, merits and limitations of various quantitative methods. You will focus on theoretical and conceptual ideas underpinning statistics and research design with an emphasis here on understanding the logic behind the techniques covered, and behind choices that researchers make. You will gain experience with practical and computer-based examples before applying your skills by conducting a formal piece of research.

Social Psychology, Development and Difference

Building on your knowledge from "Self and Society" you will explore the deeper content of this subject, looking at how certain behaviours are shaped through our individual development and through different social contexts. This will challenge you to combine your knowledge across different subject areas and will present a coherent view of a person, where our social and developmental changes are related to the actual, imagined or implied presence of others. You will learn by focusing on an issue (e.g. attraction, relationships) and consider each topic issue from an individual, social and developmental view.

Brain, Body and Mind

Brain, Body and Mind draws heavily on psychology, neuroscience, individual differences, and evolutionary approaches to provide a critical understanding of mind and behaviour. You’ll explore a range of topics that are critical to understanding the biological and evolutionary theory which supports human and animal behaviour before examining cognitive and individual difference models of the mind and behaviour.

Research in Action: Qualitative Methods and Psychology in Practice

This module will include the teaching of qualitative methods in psychology. It will examine the design, collection and analysis of qualitative data. The module will also outline key aspects of a qualitative approach such as reflexivity and epistemology. There will be specific sessions dedicated to particular approaches in qualitative research methods including thematic analysis, grounded theory and discourse analysis. As part of this module, you will analyse qualitative data and utilise your findings to formulate research questions. Through this you will develop an awareness of the ethical and practical implications of conducting professional research, including the application of professional codes of conduct and ethics in research and practice.

Lifespan Development

This module aims to give students an overview of human development across the lifespan, including how childhood experiences affect later development. Different approaches to human development will be discussed and compared, and students will be encouraged to apply theories of development to particular case studies. Some of the different approaches to human and child development to be studied may include attachment theory, Erikson’s psychosocial theory, theories of ageing, and biopsychosocial approaches.

Diagnosis and Formulation in Mental Health

Here you’ll be introduced to diagnosis and formulation in mental health as well as a variety of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorders. You’ll focus on developing your knowledge of the diagnostic criteria for mental illness, looking at the diagnostic classification systems, and also establishing an understanding of the current view of mental health problems through formulation.

Atypical Development

We’ll introduce a variety of developmental conditions including Downs' Syndrome, Williams' Syndrome, dyslexia and autism, and analyse the biological, cognitive and social profiles of each. You will gain an insight into the main symptoms of each clinical condition and the prognosis for those diagnosed. We will do this by discussing published literature and studying symptoms of children and adults with these disorders in video demonstrations. We’ll also cover the effects of early brain injury, and problems in the assessment and diagnosis of developmental disorders. You’ll also consider ethical issues and working with clinical populations. This module will be particularly useful for you if you are considering a career related to development, educational or clinical psychology or a career working with typically developing children or children with special needs.

Psychological Therapies

This module provides an introduction to some of the main methods of psychological interventions used by clinical, counselling and health psychologists in therapeutically treating people. These interventions are used to assist people in strengthening their coping capacities and help work through emotional difficulties. The module will cover some of the core theoretical principles and techniques used in various psychological interventions, when working with individuals (both children and adults) as well as with families and groups.

Clinical Psychology

You'll learn what it takes to work in the profession of Clinical Psychology, including an understanding of the historical context, as well as the current political and cultural context of the practice of clinical psychology. Over the course of the module, you will be introduced to the core skills (Assessment, Formulation, Intervention, Evaluation, Communication, Research and Reflection) used by clinical psychologists, and encouraged to critically evaluate their application across a range of settings and with a variety of client groups.

Emotion

Emotions are arguably of central importance to all aspects of human life. Behaviours such as caring for the young, pursuing goals, avoiding danger, defending resources, and maintaining relationships are unimaginable (in humans at least) without the mediating and motivating effects of emotions. Even rationality and reasoning may depend on emotion according to some researchers. The study of emotion has advanced considerably since early theoretical investigations in the beginning of the 20th century until developments in the last decade in many psychology areas. You will discover these exciting developments in theory and practice.

Psychology Project

Your major project gives you the opportunity to develop your own research project, from initial planning through to conducting and collecting your data and then analysing the results. You will evaluate your research, carry out an in-depth literature review of that area, formulate hypotheses based on that review and design a study to test these, whilst at all times ensuring you maintain an ethical approach. This project also gives you the opportunity to explore a topic that is of interest to you at a much deeper level.

Cyberpsychology

The Internet is an essential part of 21st century living. This module will look at psychological explanations of being online and will approach questions such as do we behave differently online? And how is the Internet used to initiate and maintain relationships? This will include theoretical explanations of how people communicate online, including research that looks at positive attributes of Internet use (e.g. developing relationships) and negative outcomes of Internet use (e.g. 'addiction' or ‘trolling’). This module will explore the role of social network sites in our everyday lives, with particular reference to self, identity, social influence, relationships and group dynamics.

Modules are subject to change and availability.