Unit information: Issues in Social Psychology in 2025/26

Please note: Programme and unit information may change as the relevant academic field develops. We may also make changes to the structure of programmes and assessments to improve the student experience.

Unit name Issues in Social Psychology
Unit code PSYC30017
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Dr. Park
Open unit status Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)

None

Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)

None

Units you may not take alongside this one

None

School/department School of Psychological Science
Faculty Faculty of Life Sciences

Unit Information

This unit covers issues within social psychology and in interdisciplinary areas, such as cyberpsychology and cultural psychology (the specific topics may vary year to year). There will be a focus on understanding real-world societal problems from a scientific perspective, discussion of how research findings are disseminated, and the impact on policy that can follow.

The aims of the unit are to identify scientific knowledge in research on social psychology and relevant interdisciplinary areas, and to consider the role of empirical evidence in the formation of theory and how theory guides the collection and interpretation of empirical data.

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

  1. Illustrate historical and ongoing issues in social psychological research as related to other research disciplines within psychology.
  2. Analyse contemporary issues in social psychology and apply different methodological approaches that enhance research in this field.
  3. Explain the research process and analyse how a scientific perspective applies to real-world societal problems.
  4. Summarise the relevance and impact of social psychological research in society.

How you will learn

Regular live sessions supported by self-directed learning activities. The live sessions will take a variety of different forms, but will typically include lecture content, Q&A, and student discussion groups.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

  • 1 x 1600-word coursework (40%)
  • End of unit examination (2 hours in length) (60%)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PSYC30017).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.

The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.