Designed to allow you to reflect on:

• Conceptual and Historical & Integrative issues in Psychology
• Big picture stuff! Controversies and debates!
• Now that you are Psychological Researchers

I shall be uploading materials from popular topics from previous years (recordings or articles/blogs) that you can access at your leisure, such as:

• Is Psychology a Science?
• Evolutionary Psychology & Cultural Evolutionary Psychology
• Statistical (Re)Thinking
• Eugenics: A very dark history
• Mental Illness: Nature or Nurture?

and more

• Coursework piece designed to allow you to engage reflexively with the ‘big picture’ of your degree

• Think about how these issues link into psychology as a discipline, and how they relate to your own thoughts about what psychology is or should be

• Two ‘reflective accounts’ of max 600 words each (Not including obligatory reference list)

• Marks are awarded for reflection, evidence of learning and bring topics together. Please see marking criteria for both accounts.

• Not looking for a restatement of the facts in the lectures etc.

• They are designed to be personal and reflective – embrace this aspect!

• As a STUDENT of psychology

• As a TRAINEE psychologist

• In relation to a RESEARCH application in your future

• As an HISTORIAN of psychology

• Reporting on the culture or PRACTICE of psychology as it currently exists here or across cultures

• As a critic or supporter of psychology’s status as a SCIENCE

• Ask a specific question – and answer it.
• Intro, body, conclusion structure.
• Reflect on the topic and give your own opinion as to the answer!
• Present a journey in your learning or appreciation of the topic
• Ensure your answer is argued using examples
• Use evidence in your argument from a range of sources, ideally do some strategic wider reading
• Present and reference it well

• This answer should focus on a primary reading and then any further reading you have done (strongly encouraged).
• You must identify that primary reading explicitly in the essay itself.
• You should not simply restate what the authors thought or found, but rather briefly summarise and build
• Think about your perspective on the issues.
• What do you think about this debate or issue? We want to know!
• And what do you think are interesting directions for psychologists to take this debate or issue in the future?

• Explicitly identify a single initial reading and build upon that.
• Discuss a debate or issue that you think is interesting or important
• Give your own opinion and how this has developed or changed as a result of the lecture, the course more widely, and/or the reading.
• Argue your opinion explicitly, own it and back it up with examples
• Use evidence in your argument from a range of sources, ideally do some strategic wider reading
• Present and reference it well

• You can combine across different topics in Essay 2 (e.g., you could talk about Evolution and Consciousness, or Inclusivity and Science), and thinking about links between topics is strongly encouraged.
• However, the material covered in Essay 2 must be different from Essay 1. Students will be penalised for covering identical topics.

• Due: Friday, 4th April 2025, 12:00 Noon - NOTE AFTER END OF TERM

• n.b. Mini-Dissertation Due: Friday, 28 March 2025, 12:00 Noon

• Both answers should be written in essay-style prose (e.g., with APA references where you refer to sources) put in a single document and submitted to the coursework submission page.

• Max 600 words per answer (references not included in word count)

• Remember that this only accounts for a smaller portion of the module grade (15%). Should hopefully be an enjoyable way to reflect on issues on the course you found interesting.

• Weeks 10 – 15 are geared towards data collection, data preparation and desk research

• Weeks 16 – 20 are geared towards analysis, writing up, and preparing your submission 

• In week 10 - Complete Qualtrics Study Swap survey and recruit/participate in studies!
• In week 11 - We begin the process of focusing on Writing & Analysis - Literature & Introduction
• In week 12 - We will be focusing on ‘Writing up your Method section’
• In week 13 - We will be talking about ‘Planning your analysis’
• In week 14 – A workshop on ‘Data Screening & Cleaning’ & Open Data
• In week 15 – We will be showcasing your work to the 1^st Years! (I think)

• An APA 7^th Edition Mini-Dissertation template word document
• An APA 7^th Edition Reference Cheat Sheet
• Extended Mini-Dissertation Marking Criteria
• 2 x Example Mini-Dissertations (more to follow)

• The word document template features all the major stylistic formatting you will need, with some helpful pointers throughout.
• When you write your Mini-Dissertation, you just need to delete all the tips and put in your wonderfully crafted prose and results!
• A common mistake is to deviate from the APA formatting. Please try not to do this! It counts.

• A key part of APA 7^th Edition is reference format. We will also cover this briefly in week 16. 
• We have already a number of other electronic resources that might help you ensure you follow the correct format, but in the first instance, this Cheat Sheet will be very handy.

• These are the criteria used by the markers and moderators to calibrate marks and ensure accuracy and consistency.
• An abbreviated version will be attached to the feedback that you receive.
• You will see that there are numerous categories, but each requires some consideration. Have a look over this when you get some time.
• A screencast will be provided discussing this in more detail, overviewing submission requirements, and highlighting common pitfalls, and tips for the top!

• 2,500 words is NOT as long as you think
• 5 paragraphs (key points) in Intro and Discussion
• Methods section wins marks!
• Both examples achieved firsts, but marks were ‘left on the table’

• The reflective account is a required part of the Mini-Dissertation
• We may be asking for a ‘contribution statement’
• Your involvement in data collection AND participation is monitored next term
• Open Materials and Open Data are key parts of the submission and are featured in the marking
• But it’s just a lab report. You’ve done 3 of those already.