Unit information: Evidence Based Neuropsychology and Case Study in 2025/26

Unit name	Evidence Based Neuropsychology and Case Study
Unit code	PSYCM0092
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Hanley
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	N/A
School/department	School of Psychological Science
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Unit Information

Adult Versus Paediatric Pathway

This unit is employed on degrees which permit specialisation in either adult or paediatric clinical neuropsychology. Students must select the adult or paediatric pathway when applying to study with us. Once students start studying with us, they cannot change their choice of pathway. Those taking either adult or paediatric pathways are enrolled on the same units and significant portions of taught content are common and students are therefore taught in the same class. When there is a need to deliver content specific to only one pathway, paediatric and adult pathways will be taught separately.

Part A: Evidence-Based Neuropsychology

Candidates are asked to explore important published papers and engage in critical analysis of scientific research related to aspects of Clinical Neuropsychology. A range of paediatric and adult focused papers will be available to support both possible pathways. Competency will be assessed in terms of a pre-recorded (narrated) PowerPoint which will be marked by a member of the course team. For MSc/Diploma Applied students and clinicians starting in January, the narrated PowerPoint will precede Part B below and provide students with experience of preparation and delivery of an oral presentation. Clinicians starting in January may deliver their EBN presentation following their case presentation. The Part A assessment (narrated PowerPoint) is a standalone 'Must Pass' component of the unit and delivers 50% of the overall mark.

Part B: Case Study

This component requires students to select a specific clinical case for detailed analysis. Clinicians taking this unit will give a presentation about one of their own patients. Those taking the MSc/Diploma in Applied Neuropsychology will be provided with case details. The case must reflect the chosen pathway; adult versus paediatric.

Following selection/allocation of the case, candidates should first deliver a presentation of the case to an assessor. At this stage feedback is purely formative. Following this, candidates must submit a written case report (3000 words) which delivers the entire mark for this component of the overall unit. During this unit, candidates will attend cases delivered by other students as well as their own presentation. Candidates are encouraged to make contributions towards the discussion of other candidates’ cases.

The Part B assessment (3000-word case report) is a standalone 'Must Pass' component of the unit and delivers 50% of the overall mark.

Your learning on this unit

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

Part A:

1. Appraise critically the theoretical and applied literature that is relevant to a discrete area of clinical practice.
2. Evaluate and appraise this literature with special focus on consequences for evidence-based practice.
3. Appreciate that evidence should not be taken at face value but should be subjected to detailed scrutiny and assessment. To demonstrate these skills by undertaking a detailed review of a published paper and by contrasting this paper with other sources of evidence.
4. Write and present a clinically focused presentation of evidence. To demonstrate production of independent critical work.
5. Synthesise and integrate information from a variety of peer-reviewed sources and demonstrate the ability to weigh the importance and reliability of different evidential and theoretical perspectives.

Part B:

6. Prepare for critical professional viva experiences which you may experience in your later professional life given one component of this unit is assessed via oral presentation.

7. Appreciate the manner in which case reports should be presented, written, assessed and examined. In setting this benchmark, we refer students to our own sources of support and the British Psychological Society QiCN Candidate Handbook which provides details of broadly similar case report submission requirements.

8. Synthesise and integrate information from a range of sources in a way that leads to an evidence-based recommendation for assessment/treatment and also evaluation of any treatments already administered.

9. Demonstrate an understanding of the critical role a good patient history plays in understanding a current neuropsychological condition and an awareness of the biopsychosocial context of any presentation. To evaluate such issues while also focusing on the specific elements of patient presentation.

How you will learn

Part A: Prior to recording and submitting your presentations there will be an online introduction which provides background concerning the aims and assessment principles that underpin this component. Self-directed learning and independent work will be required utilising existing NHS and academic resources providing guidance on evidence-based healthcare.

Part B: Students must attend case presentations provided by their peers and will be expected to make a significant contribution to discussion. Prior to case presentations there will be an introduction which provides background concerning the aims and assessment principles that underpin this component.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

Part B: A 30-minute case presentation which is assessed on a formative basis and delivers ‘formative feedback’ with respect to a subsequent 3000-word case report submission (see next).

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

Part A: Assessed recorded presentation assessed offline, worth 50% of the overall mark. Part B: 3000-word case report worth 50% of the overall mark.

Both formal assessments are 'Must Pass' and if a student fails either assessed component they will need to resubmit for a capped or uncapped mark depending on individual circumstances.

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 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.

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. PSYCM0092).

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.