AS and A level Psychology

Course code: PYS

Level: AS Level, A Level

Availability: Day Course

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Summary

Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour in humans and animals.  The course examines a broad range of issues which can help us to understand why we do the things we do and what influences us.

 

Requirements

At least five GCSEs at grade C or above including English Language, Maths and Science
because:

  • you will need to summarise ideas and produce comprehensive notes
  • you will need to evaluate arguments and share your understanding with others
  • You will need to write critically and think analytically.

Course Content

In Year 1 you will study units 1 and 2 for an AS level.  In year 2 you will take units 3 and 4 to complete the full A level.

Unit 1: Psychological Investigation

You will need to be familiar with four techniques for collecting/analysing data. These are:

  • Self-report
  • Experiment (repeated measures and independent measures, matched subjects design)
  • Observation
  • Correlation

You will be assessed by a written examination in January.

Unit 2: Core Studies

  • Fifteen core studies; three studies from each of the five approaches: social, cognitive, physiological, developmental and individual differences.
  • Issues, debates, perspectives and methods arising from the studies

You will be assessed by a written examination in June.

Unit 3: Options in Applied Psychology

  • Forensic psychology
  • Health and clinical psychology

You will be assessed by a written examination in June.

Unit 4: Approaches and Research Methods in Psychology

  • Research methodology, where you will be required to design a practical project
  • Structured synoptic questions on approaches, perspectives, methods, issues and debates

You will be assessed by a written examination in January.

What else do I need to know?

This modular course attempts to present explanations for human behaviour with some reference to animal research. Students will examine video examples, case studies and text book illustrations to learn more about obedience, language acquisition in chimpanzees, memory in context of eyewitness testimony, what is sanity and insanity and lots more.

Psychology combines well with almost any other subject, in that a career in psychology may take you in many directions e.g. teaching, caring, educational and occupational psychology, as well as counselling and sport psychology.

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